Agenda, decisions and minutes

No apologies for absence were received for the meeting.

No declarations of interests were made.

[For approval]

Resolved:

That the minutes of the previous meeting held on 17 March 2021 be approved as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

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

There were no matters arising from the minutes of the previous meeting.

[To approve the Domestic Abuse Policy and guidance for managers]

That the Domestic Abuse policy be approved for use by managers and employees of the Council.

Councillor Paula Brookfield presented the report on a proposal to replace the existing Domestic Violence policy with a Domestic Abuse policy. The new policy expanded both examples of what constitutes abuse and victim profiles.  The policy had been developed following workforce and trade union consultation and offered guidance for both employees and managers.  Managers would be given training on how best to support employees and how to signpost them to internal and external help.

Resolved:

That the Domestic Abuse policy be approved for use by managers and employees of the Council.

[To delegate authority for the Domestic Abuse Bill funding allocation received from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government for 2021-2022]

1.      That the establishment of supplementary revenue budgets totalling £650,902 fully funded by grant be approved.

2.      That authority be delegated to the Cabinet Member for Public Health and Wellbeing, in consultation with the Safer Wolverhampton Partnership, to utilise the £650,902 Wolverhampton Domestic Abuse Bill Allocation from the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) for 2021-2022 and to approve the award of a grants for services when the evaluation process is complete.

The intention to make a key decision on the report ‘Domestic Abuse Bill Grant Allocation 2021-2022’ at the meeting was not publicised in advance as required by the Local Authorities (Executive Arrangements) (Meetings and Access to Information) (England) Regulations 2012.  The decision was urgent and could not be reasonably delayed for the following reason:

·       Due to a technical oversight, it was not realised that the key decision had not been published in the forward plan. The reason the decision cannot be delayed is the report asks for delegated authority around the £651,000 grant allocation from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government to provide support for victims of domestic abuse within safe accommodation. This funding allocation and associated delivery must be completed during 2021-2022, therefore activity must be commissioned as soon as possible in order to ensure that delivery is met within the timescales and that the City of Wolverhampton Council are able to discharge their statutory duties outlined in the Domestic Abuse Bill.

In light of the above, consent had been obtained for the key decision to be made at the meeting under the General Exception provisions

Councillor Jasbir Jaspal presented the report on a proposal to delegate grant funding allocated to the Council by the Ministry of Housing Communities and Local Government in order to be compliant with the statutory duty outlined in Part Four of the Domestic Abuse Bill, to provide support for victims and their children within domestic abuse safe accommodation. The funding would be utilised to build on existing support provision within Domestic Abuse Safe Accommodation.

The Chair welcomed the extra allocation of funds. He reported that the Council takes its responsibilities seriously and anything it could do to mitigate and even bring down the levels of domestic abuse within any home within the city, it was willing to do. 

Resolved:

1.    That the establishment of supplementary revenue budgets totalling £650,902 fully funded by grant be approved.

2.    That authority be delegated to the Cabinet Member for Public Health and Wellbeing, in consultation with the Safer Wolverhampton Partnership, to utilise the £650,902 Wolverhampton Domestic Abuse Bill Allocation from the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) for 2021-2022 and to approve the award of a grants for services when the evaluation process is complete.

[To delegate the Police and Crime Commissioner Community Safety Partnership Fund allocation for 2021-2022 to Safer Wolverhampton Partnership, to aid delivery of agreed city-wide crime and community safety objectives]

1.      That the use of the Wolverhampton Police Crime Commissioner (PCC) Community Safety Partnership Fund allocation for 2021-2022 by Safer Wolverhampton Partnership (SWP), to deliver and commission activity to support strategic community safety priorities in line with grant conditions be approved.

2.      That the establishment of supplementary revenue budgets totalling £38,400 fully funded grant, subject to the carry forward of 2020-2021 unspent grant being approved by the PCC be approved.

Councillor Jasbir Jaspal presented the report seeking approval of Safer Wolverhampton Partnership’s plans for the Police and Crime Commissioner Community Safety Partnership fund allocation for 2021-2022.  The funding would be used for specific projects to add value to mainstream delivery against the Community Safety and Harm Reduction Strategy 2020-2023.

Resolved:

1.    That the use of the Wolverhampton Police Crime Commissioner (PCC) Community Safety Partnership Fund allocation for 2021-2022 by Safer Wolverhampton Partnership (SWP), to deliver and commission activity to support strategic community safety priorities in line with grant conditions be approved.

2.    That the establishment of supplementary revenue budgets totalling £38,400 fully funded grant, subject to the carry forward of 2020-2021 unspent grant being approved by the PCC be approved.

[To seek approval to accept a grant award from the Woodland Trust for £129,500, to plant 10 hectares of woodland, and to sign the Grant Agreement]

1.      That the Council accept the grant offer under the Woodland Trust’s Emergency Tree Fund.

2.      That authority be delegated to the Cabinet Member for City Environment, in consultation with the Director of Governance, to sign the Grant Agreement and any other required agreements to enable to grant to be accepted.

3.      That the establishment of a revenue budget of £129,500 for the project be approved. 

The intention to make a key decision on the report ‘Woodland Trust's Emergency Tree Fund - Grant Award’ at the meeting was not publicised in advance as required by the Local Authorities (Executive Arrangements) (Meetings and Access to Information) (England) Regulations 2012.  The decision was urgent and could not be reasonably delayed for the following reason:

·      Due to an oversight by officers, it was not realised that accepting this grant required this level of approval until after the deadline had passed. The reason the decision cannot be delayed is to allow the signing of the Grant Agreement in line with the timetable agreed with the funder; a delay would jeopardise the funding and delivery of the project.

In light of the above, consent had been obtained for the key decision to be made at the meeting under the General Exception provisions

Councillor Steve Evans presented the report on a proposal to accept a grant offer of £129,500 from the Woodland Trust's Emergently Tree Fund to fund the planting of 10 hectares of woodland in the Council's parks and open spaces during the 2021-2022 planting season.  Six to eight parks and open spaces would be identified, with a focus on parts of the city where there was a deficit of tree planting. Councillor Evans thanked the Woodland Trust and officers of the Council for the work in securing the grant.

Cabinet colleagues welcomed the proposals and commented on the mini forests planted in the Graiseley area and Bilston North, that had been well received by local schools and communities.

Resolved:

1.    That the Council accept the grant offer under the Woodland Trust’s Emergency Tree Fund.

2.    That authority be delegated to the Cabinet Member for City Environment, in consultation with the Directors of City Environment and Governance, to sign the Grant Agreement and any other required agreements to enable to grant to be accepted.

3.    That the establishment of a revenue budget of £129,500 for the project be approved. 

The Chair reported that this was the last of the Cabinet meetings during this Municipal Year.  He placed on record his thanks to everyone who had been involved, cabinet colleagues and officers who support and work on behalf the people in the city, for the fantastic work they have all done during a different and difficult year. He added that whilst Councillors are involved in the May 2021 elections, the work would continue, and he was confident that all councillors and officers would continue to do their best for the people of the city.

Councillor Dr Michael Hardacre thanked the Chair for the relaxed and business-like way he had conducted the business of Cabinet during the Municipal Year.