Agenda, decisions and minutes

Apologies for absence were submitted on behalf of Councillor Jasbir Jaspal.

No declarations of interests were made.

[To approve the minutes of the previous meeting as a correct record.]

Resolved:

That the minutes of the previous meeting held on 16 December 2020 be approved as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

[To consider any matters arising from the minutes.]

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

[To approve the recommendation to restart the Art Gallery Improvement Scheme project from June 2021]

1.      That the restart of the Art Galley Improvement Scheme Project - Phase Two from June 2021 be approved.

2.      That the acceptance of the grant funding of £159,758 from Arts Council England Cultural Capital Kickstart funding be approved and that the supplementary capital budget be created from this grant.

3.      That a virement of £290,000 from the Corporate capital contingency budget to create the required capital project budget to complete the Art Galley Improvement Scheme Project - Phase Two, as detailed in the report be approved.

4.      That it be noted that the additional cost required to restart the project would bring the total budget of the Art Galley Improvement Scheme Project - Phase Two to £1,526,000 and that this total includes £132,000 that was approved through an Individual Executive Decision Notice in February 2020. Total project costs for Phase one and Two are now £1,829,000.

Councillor Stephen Simkins presented the report on a proposal to restart phase two of the Art Gallery Improvement Scheme project from June 2021 and to approve the associated funding arrangements for the project. Phase two had been halted in March 2020 due to national lockdown restrictions arising from the coronavirus pandemic which prevented construction from commencing as planned. Following an options appraisal of the project, it was now proposed to continue with the full improvement scheme based on a restart from June 2021. He reported that the proposal would support a number of key objectives in the Council’s Relighting Our City strategy.

Resolved:

1.    That the restart of the Art Galley Improvement Scheme Project - Phase Two from June 2021 be approved.

2.    That the acceptance of the grant funding of £159,758 from Arts Council England Cultural Capital Kickstart funding be approved and that the supplementary capital budget be created from this grant.

3.    That a virement of £290,000 from the Corporate capital contingency budget to create the required capital project budget to complete the Art Galley Improvement Scheme Project - Phase Two, as detailed in the report be approved.

4.    That it be noted that the additional cost required to restart the project would bring the total budget of the Art Galley Improvement Scheme Project - Phase Two to £1,526,000 and that this total includes £132,000 that was approved through an Individual Executive Decision Notice in February 2020. Total project costs for Phase one and Two are now £1,829,000.

[To consider a proposal for the leasing of the former Compton Youth Centre]

1.      That the letting of the former Compton Youth Centre to Windmill Community Church on a 99-year peppercorn lease, subject to terms be approved.

2.      That authority be delegated to the Cabinet Member for City Assets and Housing in consultation with the Deputy Chief Executive to approve the terms of the lease.

Councillor Jacqueline Sweetman presented the report on a proposal to lease the former Compton Youth Centre to Windmill Community Church.  The property had been vacant for some time, was in a significant state of disrepair and would require investment to bring it back to an occupiable standard. The Council had been approached by the Church who expressed an interest in the property to transform it into a vibrant community hub and place of worship.  The proposal had been positively received during a community consultation.

Resolved:

1.    That the letting of the former Compton Youth Centre to Windmill Community Church on a 99-year peppercorn lease, subject to terms be approved.

2.    That authority be delegated to the Cabinet Member for City Assets and Housing in consultation with the Deputy Chief Executive to approve the terms of the lease.

[To approve the receipt of an LGA grant to deliver the Behavioural Insights Programme]

1.      That the Council delivers a physical activity intervention in line with the Local Government Association’s (LGA’s) Behavioural Insights Programme using the awarded grant of £20,000.

2.      That the creation of the necessary supplementary budget to deliver this project in line with the Council’s Financial Procedure Rules be approved.

3.      That it be noted that an external commissioned provider would be appointed to deliver of this project as per the Council’s Contract Procedure Rules. 

The intention to make a key decision on the report ‘Local Government Association (LGA) Behavioural Insights Programme’ 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:

·      An offer was made to City of Wolverhampton Council to apply for funding within a 48 hour timescale which did not coincide with forward plan milestones.

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 Louise Miles presented the report on a proposal to accept grant funding from the LGA Behavioural Insights Programme to deliver a behavioural change intervention project to tackle inactivity amongst residents in Wolverhampton which had arisen during the coronavirus pandemic. The programme would have positive benefits for the health and wellbeing of the city’s citizens.

Resolved:

1.    That the Council delivers a physical activity intervention in line with the Local Government Association’s (LGA’s) Behavioural Insights Programme using the awarded grant of £20,000.

2.    That the creation of the necessary supplementary budget to deliver this project in line with the Council’s Financial Procedure Rules be approved.

3.    That it be noted that an external commissioned provider would be appointed to deliver of this project as per the Council’s Contract Procedure Rules. 

[To note the summary of open and exempt decision notices approved by cabinet members in consultation with employees]

That the summary of open and exempt individual executive decisions approved by the appropriate Cabinet Members following consultation with the relevant employees be noted.

Resolved:

That the summary of open and exempt individual executive decisions approved by the appropriate Cabinet Members following consultation with the relevant employees be noted.

[To pass the following resolution:

That in accordance with Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972 the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following items of business as they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information on the grounds shown below.]

That in accordance with Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972 the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following items of business as they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information relating to  the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information).

Resolved:

That in accordance with Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972 the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following item of business as it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information).

The Chair reported that as stated previously the meeting was in confidential session as the information included in the reports could, if released into the public domain, prejudice the financial position of the Council or its partners. As such all present are under a legal duty of confidentiality and must not disclose any confidential information - to do so would not only be a breach of the Council's codes (for councillors and employees) but also a breach of the legal duty of confidentiality.

[To approve the award of contracts works, goods and services]

1.      That authority be delegated to the Cabinet Member for City Environment, in consultation with the Director of Public Health, to approve the award of a contract for Leisure Management Software when the evaluation process is complete.

2.      That the award of a contract for Fixed Phone Lines to Virgin Media Business 500 Brook Drive, Reading, RG2 6UU for a duration of one year from 20 January 2021 to 19 January 2022 for a total contract value of £539,000 be approved.

3.      That the exemptions to the Contract Procedure Rules approved by the Head of Procurement and Director of Finance from 1 to 30 November 2020 as set out in Appendix 1 to the report be noted.

Councillor Louise Miles presented for approval the report on the award of contracts for works, goods and services. She drew to the Panel's attention the exemption to Contract Procedure Rules approved by the Head of Procurement and Director of Finance for the period 1 to 31 December 2020.

Resolved:

1.    That authority be delegated to the Cabinet Member for City Environment, in consultation with the Director of Public Health, to approve the award of a contract for Leisure Management Software when the evaluation process is complete.

2.    That the award of a contract for Fixed Phone Lines to Virgin Media Business 500 Brook Drive, Reading, RG2 6UU for a duration of one year from 20 January 2021 to 19 January 2022 for a total contract value of £539,000 be approved.

3.    That the exemptions to the Contract Procedure Rules approved by the Head of Procurement and Director of Finance from 1 to 30 November 2020 as set out in Appendix 1 to the report be noted.