Decisions

1.    Awarded contracts to those organisations who have scored highest in the tender evaluation process on the following basis:

• Lot 1- Wolverhampton Voluntary and Community Action. The contract value is £200,000 per annum and the length of the contract is five years, with the possibility of extension of a further two years (options to extend are for 12 months and a further 12 months at the Council’s sole discretion.
• Lot 2- Citizens Advice Dudley and Wolverhampton. The contract value is £300,000 per annum and the length of the contract is five years with the possibility of extension of a further two years (options to extend are for 12 months and a further 12 months at the Council’s sole discretion).

Approved the completion of the transactions listed below:

1.    Burdett House, 29-30 Cleveland Street, WV1 3HT – freehold sale.

That in accordance with Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972 the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the remaining 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).

Public Procurement Award of Contracts for Works, Goods and Services

1.     That authority be delegated to the Cabinet Member for Governance and Equalities, in consultation with the Deputy Director of Assets, to approve the award of a contract for the Demolition of Lawnswood Campus when the evaluation process is complete.

2.     That authority be delegated to the Cabinet Member for Governance and Equalities, in consultation with the Deputy Director of Assets, to approve the award of a contract for removal, storage and furniture supply when the evaluation process is complete.

3.     That authority be delegated to the Cabinet Member for Environment and Climate Change, in consultation with the Director of Resident Services, to approve the award of a contract for the Supply of Seven Crew Cab Tippers when the evaluation process is complete.

4.     That authority be delegated to the Deputy Leader: City Housing, in consultation with the Director of Resident Services, to approve the award of a contract for Single Homeless Persons Accommodation when the evaluation process is complete.

5.     That authority be delegated to the Cabinet Member for Adults and Wellbeing, in consultation with the Director of Adult Social Care to approve the award of the contract(s) for advocacy services when the evaluation process is complete.

6.     That authority be delegated to the Cabinet Member for Adults and Wellbeing, in consultation with the Director of Public Health, to approve the award of a contract for Lifestyle Service Delivery when the evaluation process is complete.

7.     That authority be delegated to the Cabinet Member for Adults and Wellbeing, in consultation with the Director of Public Health, to approve the award of a contract for the supply of Nicotine Replacement Therapy when the evaluation process is complete.

8.     That authority be delegated to the Cabinet Member for Adults and Wellbeing, in consultation with the Director of Public Health, to approve the award of a contract for the Lifestyle Service Tier 2 weight management app when the evaluation process is complete.

9.     That authority be delegated to the Cabinet Member for Adults and Wellbeing, in consultation with the Director of Public Health, to approve the award of two contracts for the Tier 2 weight management group support to two providers when the evaluation process is complete.

10.  That authority be delegated to the Cabinet Member for Adults and Wellbeing, in consultation with the Service Director for Adult Social Care, to approve the award of the contract for Telecare Mobile Response Service for three years, with an option to extend up to two years once the evaluation process is complete.

1.     That the TUPE (Transfer of Undertakings Protection of Employment) transfer of all council staff at the Energy from Waste Plant to North Midlands Operations Limited (NMOL) be approved.

2.     That authority be delegated to the Cabinet Member for Environment and Climate Change in consultation with the Director of Resident Services to agree the final variation terms to incorporate the TUPE transfer, and other minor contract variations as set out in the report.

To report on the current structural condition of council owned properties (7, 9 11) and the privately owned property at 5 Gogh Avenue; and to recommend the preferred option to address the current issues.

1.      That the rehousing of the tenant at 7 Gough Avenue and award priority status Band One to assist with rehousing timescales be approved.

2.      That statutory Home Loss compensation and Disturbance payments be awarded to the tenants of 7 and 9 Gough Avenue in line with Land Compensation Act 1973 and agree to pay 25% in advance, once alternative suitable accommodation is offered and accepted, if required.

3.      That negotiations be entered into to acquire the privately owned property at 5 Gough Avenue.

4.      That authority be delegated to the Deputy Leader: City Housing in consultation with the Director of Resident Services to agree the expenditure on the purchase of 5 Gough Avenue.

5.      That the council owned properties at 7, 9 and 11 Gough Avenue be declared surplus to requirements.

6.      That the demolition of 5, 7, 9 and 11 Gough Avenue when 5 Gough Avenue is within council ownership be approved.

7.      That the findings on the structural condition and ground investigation report for 9 and 11 Gough Avenue, Wednesfield be noted.

Exempt Procurement Award of Contracts for Works, Goods and Services

1.     That the Director of Resident Services be authorised to enter into negotiations for property acquisitions, operating within the financial parameters set out in the report.

2.     That  authority be delegated to the Cabinet Member for Environment and Climate Change in consultation with the Director of Resident Services to negotiate final terms for the acquisition of the properties identified in Appendix 2 (of the exempt report) within the financial parameters proposed and once budgetary approval has been secured.

3.     That the Chief Operating Officer be authorised to:

a.      Engage in the Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO) process if acquisitions by negotiation are unsuccessful.

b.      Approve the appropriation of Council assets required to deliver the scheme to the transportation portfolio subject to securing funding and budgetary approval for the scheme.

4.     That it be noted that a report from 2 April 2019 approved on-going discussions with interested parties and potentially affected landowners.

5.     That it be noted that in making the property acquisition offers, these would operate within the financial parameters guided by the property valuation exercise. If the financial parameters are exceeded, the matter would be brought to the Cabinet (Resources) Panel for final approval.

6.     That it be noted that approval to enter into and the commencement of negotiations places liability on the Council for legal costs incurred by impacted property owners. Such costs would be covered by the major scheme funding from the Department for Transport (DfT). However, if needed, development funding for the City Region Sustainable Transport Settlement (CRSTS) could be used.

7.     That it be noted that the intention is to acquire by CPO under Section 226 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 / Section 239 of the Highways Act 1980 and Section 13 of the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976, if negotiations to acquire are unsuccessful. If the pursuit of CPO powers is followed, a further report would be brought to the Cabinet (Resources) Panel.

That Cabinet note:

1.    That the General Fund projected outturn for 2023-2024 is currently forecast to be an overspend of £1.0 million due to the forecast pressures outlined in this report.  Work is ongoing in order to identify ways to reduce this pressure and bring the outturn back within budget.

2.    That early indications are that the outturn for 2023-2024 Housing Revenue Account (HRA) would be within budget.

3.    That the Director of Finance has approved write-off of debts against the expected credit loss provision as detailed in Appendix 5 to the report.

That Cabinet:

1.    Approve to increase the management fee payable to Wolverhampton Homes of £1.5 million from the Housing revenue Account (HRA) for 2023-2024 to support inflationary  and demand pressures associated with repairs and maintenance.

2.    Approve a programme of £250,000 for remedial works to canopies at Bushbury Hill Estate to be delivered by Wolverhampton Homes and funded by the HRA.

3.    Approve that authority be delegated to the Director of Finance to approve any necessary virements required to support the 2023-2024 pay award.

4.    Approve the Strategic Risk Register which is shown at Appendix 6 to the report.

5.    Approve the use of £600,000 from the Transformation Reserve as detailed in paragraph 8.5 of the report and establishment of associated supplementary budgets.

6.    Approve the use of £321,900 from the Regeneration Reserve as detailed in paragraph 8.6 and establishment of associated supplementary budgets.

7.    Approve 38 virements totalling £6.5 million on the General Fund, for transfers within directorates, as detailed in Appendix 8 to the report.

8.    Approve the write-off of debts against the expected credit loss provision as detailed in Appendix 5 to the report.

9.    Approve the General Fund Budget Risks 2023-2024 register as detailed in Appendix 7 to the report.

10.Approve virements totalling £11.4 million, on the General Fund as detailed in Appendix 8 to the report.

11.Approve virements totalling £1.8 million, on the Housing Revenue account as detailed in Appendix 8 to the report.

12. Approve the establishment of supplementary budgets within 2023-2024 as detailed in Section 7 of  the report.

To approve the capital programme 2023-2024 to 2027-2028 quarter two review.

That Cabinet recommend that Council approves:

1.    The revised, medium term General Fund capital programme of £358.8 million, an increase of £9.0 million from the previously approved programme, and the change in associated resources.

2.    The revised, medium term Housing Revenue Account (HRA) capital programme of £523.5 million, a net decrease of £5.0 million from the previously approved programme, and the change in associated resources.

That Cabinet approves:

1.    The virements for the General Fund capital programme detailed at Appendix 4 to the report for:

i.     existing projects totalling £5.4 million;

ii.    new projects totalling £1.3 million.

2.    The virements for the HRA capital programme detailed at Appendix 4 to the report for:

i      existing projects totalling £8.9 million.

That Council be recommended to note:

1.    That a mid-year review of the Treasury Management Strategy Statement has been undertaken and the Council has operated within the limits and requirements approved in March 2023.

2.    That revenue underspends of £793,000 for the General Fund and £1.5 million for the Housing Revenue Account (HRA) are forecast from treasury management activities in 2023-2024.

1.     That the work of the Principal Social Worker (PSW) and the continued impact it has on social work practice across Children’s and Adult’s Services be endorsed.

2.     That the main priorities for the Principal Social Worker identified for 2023-2024 be approved.

3.     That the work carried out in respect of quality assurance activity, the commitment to supporting the continual professional development of social workers and the actions taken to support the recruitment and retention of social workers which is helping the Council meet demand and supply needs now and for the future be noted.

1.  Approved the allocation of £550,000 for the purchase of 10 Battery Electric light commercial vehicles, from the Corporate Provision and Contingency for Future Programmes budget.

1.    Awarded the contract for Arboriculture Services to Acorn Environmental Management Group of 2a Eagle Road, North Moons Moat, Redditch, B98 9HF for a duration of four years with the option to extend for a further period of 4 years from 10^th November 2023 to 09^th November 2031 for a total contract value of £753,920.

2.    Approved that the Chief Operating Officer  be authorised to enter into or seal any legal documentation in relation to the contract.

1.      Created a supplementary budget of £94,000 for the grant and agree to the terms of the funding agreement as detailed in the AIM Creative Communities Terms and Conditions (Appendix 1).

1.          Awarded the contract for the Wolverhampton Young Peoples Activity Programme to Wolves Foundation of Molineux Stadium, Waterloo Road, Wolverhampton, West Midlands, WV1 4QR for 2 years from 20th November 2023 to 19^th November 2025 for the total contract value of £278,138.       

1.    That the removal of Councillor Jacqui Coogan from the Planning Committee for the remainder of the Municipal year 2023/2024 be approved.

2.    That the appointment of Councillor Paul Brookfield to the Planning Committee for the remainder of the Municipal year 2023/2024 be approved.

3.    That the appointment of Councillor Paul Brookfield to the Governance and Ethics Committee for the remainder of the Municipal year 2023/2024 be approved.

4.    That the removal of Councillor Jacqui Coogan from the Equalities Advisory Group for the remainder of the Municipal year 2023/2024 be approved.

5.      That the appointment of Councillor Paul Brookfield to the Equalities Advisory Group for the remainder of the Municipal year 2023/2024 be approved.

1.    That the amendments to the Constitution be approved.

2.    That the Monitoring Officer be authorised to implement the changes.

1.    That the creation of a Deputy Director for Families First post with immediate effect to strategically lead the implementation and delivery of the Families First Programme be approved.

2.    That it be noted, the post would be fully funded by a grant from the Department for Education.

That responses to written questions be noted.

That the Audit and Risk Committee Annual Report for 2022-2023 be endorsed.

That the Scrutiny Annual Report, May 2022 – May 2023 be endorsed.

1.    Approved Variation 003 of the Enhanced Partnership for Bus Services as detailed in appendix 1.