Agenda and minutes

Venue: Council Chamber - Civic Centre, St Peter's Square, Wolverhampton WV1 1SH

Contact: Jaswinder Kaur  01902 550320 or Email: jaswinder.kaur@wolverhampton.gov.uk

Media

Items
No. Item

1.

Apologies for absence

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Bhupinder Gakhal, John Reynolds and Mak Singh.

2.

Declarations of interest

Additional documents:

Minutes:

There were no declarations of interest made.

3.

Minutes of previous meeting pdf icon PDF 470 KB

[To receive minutes of the previous meeting held on 21 July 2021]

 

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Mayor proposed, the Deputy Mayor seconded, and it was resolved:

 

          That the minutes of the previous meeting, held on 21 July 2021, be agreed as a correct record and signed accordingly by the Mayor.  

4.

Communications

[To receive the Mayor’s announcements]

Additional documents:

Minutes:

1.       Former Councillor Gill Walton

The Mayor was saddened to announce the death of former Councillor Gill Walton who had passed away on 31 August.  Gill represented Wednesfield North 1986 – 1994 and served on a number of committees before working as a Political Assistant in the Labour Leaders Office.  Gill retired from the Council in June 2014. 

 

The Mayor informed Council that the funeral would take place on Thursday 30 September at 2.15 at the West Chapel, Bushbury Crematorium.

 

The Mayor extended the deepest sympathies of the Council to Councillor John Reynolds and their daughter Alice.

 

2.       Former Councillor Tom Larkin

The Mayor was saddened to announce the death of former Councillor Tom Larkin who had passed away on 13 August at the age of 90.  Tom served on the Bilston Municipal Borough Council in the 1960’s prior to changes to local councils, then continued as a ward councillor for Bilston East into the early 1980’s and served on a number of committees. He was a well-known local historian with a breadth of knowledge about Bilston and the Black Country.

 

The Mayor informed Council that the funeral would take place on Friday, 17 September, at 12noon in Holy Trinity Catholic Church, Bilston.

 

3.       Anne Guest MBE

The Mayor was saddened to announce the death of Mrs Anne Guest MBE, who passed away aged 84yrs on Friday 25 June 2021 after a short illness.

Mrs Guest was well known across Wolverhampton and among

public sector figures for her commitment to her community, having established the Spring Valley Tenants and Residents Association in 1987, while living on the estate on Cannock Road. She also served on numerous committees including Wolverhampton Homes’ Leasehold Forum and tenant action groups and was chair of the Federation of Tenants Associations.

Her outstanding service to the community was recognised in October 2000 when she was made an MBE by Prince Charles at Buckingham Palace.

 

The Council stood in silent tribute to the late Gill Walton, Tom Larkin and Ann Guest.

 

4.       Olympics 2020 (2021) and Paralympics 2020 (2021)

The Mayor reported it had been a successful summer for sport this year with Team GB seeing great success in both the Olympics and Paralympic Games, with Wolverhampton having been put on the global map following the delayed Olympics and the success of Ben Whittaker in winning Silver in the boxing.

 

The Mayor had the pleasure of letting Ben be Honorary Mayor for the Day on Sunday, 22 August where Ben robed as Mayor and undertook engagements at the Art Gallery and The Way prior to being hosted by the Wolves Chairman to watch the Wolves v Tottenham game. 

 

The Mayor acknowledged and payed tribute to all our local competitors in both Games.

 

5.       Relight Festival

The Mayor reported he attended the first ever Relight Festival which took place under the Big Top in West Park. The festival was put on to give something back to the people of the city after an extremely challenging 18 months dealing  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.

5.

Report of Leader of the Council

[To receive a report from the Leader of the Council, update on asylum issues]

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Leader of the Council, Councillor Ian Brookfield, provided Council with an update on asylum issues.

6.

Brewers Yard (Phase 1) Culwell Street Site pdf icon PDF 132 KB

[To approve funding for Brewers Yard (Phase 1)]

 

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Councillor Steve Evans, presented the report Brewers Yard (Phase 1) Culwell Street Site for approval. The report sought approval for appropriate capital budgets to relocate fleet services and meals on wheels to a new more energy efficient facility on the wholesale market site. In total four services would be based at this site.

 

Councillor Steve Evans, added the clearance of the Culwell Street site would enable the brownfield site to be redeveloped as part of the Brewers Yard masterplan. This would enable city centre housing to be developed, support the local economy by creating more jobs and contribute to the Council’s priorities by creating a vibrant and thriving space.

 

Councillor Steve Evans, placed on record his thanks to the Programme Manager for progressing this work.

 

Councillor Steve Evans, proposed the recommendation and Councillor Stephen Simkins seconded the recommendation.

 

The report was debated by Council.

 

Resolved:

 

That the creation of appropriate capital budgets funded, through grant and prudential borrowing as detailed within the exempt report be approved, subject to confirmation of successful grant bids.

 

7.

Council Response to the Local Government Boundary Commission for England Draft Warding Proposal pdf icon PDF 128 KB

[To approve the Council’s Response to the LGBCE Draft Warding Proposal]

 

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Councillor Paula Brookfield, presented the report: Council Response to the Local Government Boundary Commission for England Draft Warding Proposal for approval. The report sets out the Council’s response to the Local Government Boundary Commission for England draft warding proposal for Wolverhampton.

 

Councillor Paula Brookfield, thanked the boundary commission for allowing the council to submit its response after the deadline. The boundary commission would consider all submissions put forward as part of the consultation undertaken, a final report would be received from the boundary commission in November.

 

Councillor Paula Brookfield, proposed the recommendation and Councillor Tersaim Singh seconded the recommendation.

 

The report was debated by Council.

 

Resolved:

 

That the Council’s response to the draft recommendations published by the Local Government Boundary Commission for England (LGBCE) be approved.

8.

Decisions Made Under Urgent Action Powers pdf icon PDF 131 KB

[To receive a report on urgent decisions taken by the Council.]

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Leader of the Council, Councillor Ian Brookfield presented the report: Decisions Made Under Urgent Action Powers for noting. The report detailed the decision taken under Urgent Action Powers.

 

The Leader of the Council, Councillor Ian Brookfield proposed the recommendation and Councillor Stephen Simkins seconded the recommendation.

 

Resolved:

 

That the decision made under the Council’s Urgent Action Powers be noted.

9.

Written Questions by Councillors pdf icon PDF 130 KB

[That the relevant Councillors respond to written questions received]

Additional documents:

Minutes:

On behalf of the Cabinet Member for City Assets and Housing, the Leader of the Council, Councillor Ian Brookfield responded to questions put to the Cabinet Member by Councillor Lynne Moran on right to buy, Councillor Udey Singh on empty housing and Councillor Andrew McNeil on development plans. He also responded to supplementary questions on the same subject matter.

 

The Cabinet Member for Governance and Equalities, Councillor Paula Brookfield responded to a question put to her by Councillor Andy Randle on public questions.

 

The Cabinet Member for Health and Wellbeing, Councillor Jasbir Jaspal responded to a question put to her by Councillor Stephanie Haynes on West Midlands Police and Crime Panel. She also responded to a supplementary question on the same subject matter.

 

The written question submitted by Councillor Adam Collinge on ShopMobility was withdrawn.

 

The Cabinet Member for City Environment and Climate Change, Councillor Steve Evans responded to questions put to him by Councillor Sohail Khan on electric vehicles, Councillor Chris Haynes on carbon footprint and Councillor Wendy Thompson on avoiding gridlock. He also responded to  supplementary questions on the same subject matter.