Agenda and minutes

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Contact: Donna Cope  01902 554452 or Email:  donna.cope@wolverhampton.gov.uk

Media

Items
No. Item

1.

Apologies for absence

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Simon Bennett.

 

Councillor Ellis Turrell attended the meeting as a substitute member for Councillor Bennett.

 

2.

Declarations of interest

Additional documents:

Minutes:

There were no declarations of interest made.

 

3.

Minutes of the previous meeting pdf icon PDF 307 KB

[To approve the minutes of the previous meeting held on 10 December 2021 as a correct record].

Additional documents:

Minutes:

That the minutes of the previous meeting held on 10 December 2021 be approved as a correct record.

 

4.

Matters arising

[To discuss any matters arising from the minutes of the previous meeting].

 

Additional documents:

Minutes:

There were no matters arising.

 

5.

Preparations for May 2022 Local Elections pdf icon PDF 407 KB

[To note the preparations underway for the May 2022 elections]

Additional documents:

Minutes:

David Pattison, Chief Operating Officer, introduced the report on Preparations for May 2022 Local Elections. The report outlined the provisions that were underway for the local elections taking place on 5 May 2022 and Members were encouraged to provide feedback on the arrangements. It was noted that a follow up evaluation report would be presented to Committee after the elections had taken place.

 

Laura Noonan, Electoral Services Manager, provided an overview of the key preparations that were underway and advised Members that a further update would be presented to Committee in March.

 

It was noted that a candidate and agents briefing would be held on 7 March 2022 and that invites had been sent to all Councillors.

 

The report was debated by Committee and it was agreed that Electoral Services would liaise with Councillors to ensure, were possible, schools would not be closed unnecessarily and used as polling stations.

 

Councillor John Reynolds moved the recommendation in the report. Councillor Jonathan Crofts seconded the recommendation.

 

Resolved:

  1. That the preparations underway for the May 2022 elections be noted.

 

6.

Local Election Fees and Charges 2022-2023 pdf icon PDF 272 KB

[To approve the proposed schedule of fees for May 2022 as shown in Appendix 1]

 

Additional documents:

Minutes:

David Pattison, Chief Operating Officer, presented the report on Local Election Fees and Charges 2022-2023. The report outlined the proposed schedule of fees and charges relating to Local Elections for May 2022 and outlined the rationale behind the proposals.

 

The Chief Operating Officer explained how the local election budget was managed and reported that any costs in excess of the agreed budget would be funded from the Elections Reserve and would eventually balance out over the four year period.

 

The report was debated by Committee and it was agreed that Members would receive a breakdown of the costs for each type of election.

 

Resolved:

1.    That the proposed schedule of fees for May 2022 as shown in Appendix 1 be approved.

7.

Evaluation of 2021 Annual Canvass pdf icon PDF 301 KB

[To provide feedback on the 2021 annual canvass]

 

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Laura Noonan, Electoral Services Manager, presented the report on the Evaluation of 2021 Annual Canvass. The report outlined the key findings of the canvass and discussed the methodology used when gathering the data. Areas for improvement were identified but the Electoral Services Manager confirmed that the overall results were pleasing.

 

The report was debated by Committee, and the Electoral Services Manager assured members that areas of concern, such as care homes and houses of multiple occupation, were being addressed.

 

During further discussions, it was agreed that Councillor Milkinder Jaspal would be provided with the number of properties for each constituency and ward, and data protection information in relation to canvassing.

 

Councillor John Reynolds moved the recommendation in the report. Councillor Jonathan Crofts seconded the recommendation.

 

Resolved:

  1. That the evaluation on the 2021 annual canvass be noted.

 

8.

Update from Monitoring Officer pdf icon PDF 344 KB

[To receive an update from the Monitoring Officer - Report to follow]

Additional documents:

Minutes:

David Pattison, Chief Operating Officer, provided an update on the work programme and other matters within the scope of the Governance and Ethics Committee’s remit.

 

The Chief Operating Officer noted that whilst it had been proposed to bring the Code of Conduct Annual Report to the meeting on 14 January 2022 it had not been possible due to preparations for the Independent Remuneration Panel review of allowances and other urgent matters.

The report would therefore be brought to the next meeting of the Committee or if it could be arranged, an additional meeting prior to 18 February 2022.

 

The Chief Operating Officer noted that an embargoed version of the final recommendations of the Local Government Boundary Commission for England (LGBCE) was expected on 14 January 2022, and the public version would be received on 18 January 2022. Both versions of the report would be circulated to councillors when received, and a full report would be brought to next meeting.

 

The Chief Operating Officer noted that the Councillor Enquiries Unit (CEU) was now fully in operation and all recruitment had been completed. Processes, particularly ICT processes, were being improved and Councillors had been invited to take part in these developments in order to ensure the CEU was fit was purpose. 90% of CEU cases were closed, 5% were open, and 5% were overdue. The majority of overdue cases were due to front line staff shortages because of Covid-19 and should improve over time.

 

The update from the Monitoring Officer was debated by Committee, and the Chief Operating Officer responded to questions asked.

 

Resolved:

1.             That the update from the Monitoring Officer be noted.

 

9.

Annual Report on Code of Conduct Matters

[To receive an update on Code of Conduct matters - Report to follow]

Additional documents:

Minutes:

This item was deferred to the next meeting.

 

10.

Changes to the Constitution

[To consider changes to the Constitution - Report to follow]

Additional documents:

Minutes:

This item was deferred to the next meeting.