Decisions

1. Approved the award of the contract for the contract for the improvement of Wolverhampton Art Gallery to Croft Building and Conservation Ltd of Unit 7 Hemlock Park, Hyssop Close, Cannock, Staffordshire, WS11 7FB for a duration of 6 months from 21 June 2021 to 3 December 2021 for a total contract value of £1,092,797.76.

Approved the new HMO Licence Fee Structure for 2021/2022 as detailed in Appendix 1 for implementation from 1 June 2021.

That the Cabinet Member for Resources and Cabinet Member for City Assets and Housing, in consultation with the Director of Finance, Deputy Chief Executive and Director of Strategy:

1. Approved the project to be undertaken as detailed in Table 1.

2. Approved the virement of £1.187 million from the Corporate Contingency to facilitate this project within Corporate Asset Management as detailed in Table 1.

1. Approved the completion of the purchase of the former council  properties listed in Appendix 1 at the agreed price of £323,000.

2. Agreed the payment of these properties be made from monies received through affordable housing contributions within Section 106 Agreements as outlined in paragraph 2.6.

       3. Authorised the Chief Legal Officer or other authorised officers to execute legal documentation to put the purchases into effect.

1.  That the Cabinet Member for Resources, in consultation with the Head of Revenues and Benefits approved the award of discretionary rate relief to the following organisation:

           The PDSA

1.   Approved the arrangements for the school term and holiday dates 2023-24, as listed in the report.

Approved that the Cabinet Member for City Environment, in consultation with the Director of City Environment:

1. Approved the recommended action to implement waiting and loading restrictions to parts of Ecclestone Road and Southall Road as shown on plan T4/4178 appended to this report.

2. Approved the recommended action to implement waiting and loading restrictions to parts of Hollington Road, Thornton Road, Ledbury Drive, Malvern Drive, Hurstbourne Crescent, Parklands Road and Woodstock Road as shown on plan T3/1207A appended to this report.

1.   Approved the provision of Business Rates Discretionary relief as announced in respect of 2021-2022 business rate liability, in line with Government Guidance, and authorise the Head of Revenues and Benefits to make the required reductions in business rates in accordance with the relief conditions.  In the event that further announcements are made with regards the use of discretionary rates relief for 2021-2022, authority be delegated to Cabinet Member for Resources, in consultation with the Director of Finance to implement these schemes.

2.   Approved the establishment of supplementary budgets totalling £11,262,546, fully funded for the Restart Business Grant, and make payments to businesses in line with the conditions of grant.

3.   Approved that authority be delegated to the Cabinet Member for Resources, in consultation with the Director of Finance to establish supplementary budgets funded by grant and make payments to businesses, in line with Government guidelines, for any future mandatory business grants that are announced for 2021-2022, in order that they can be implemented in a timely manner.

4.   Approved the establishment of supplementary budgets for funding received through Government Grants for Test and Trace Support payments and to agree for payments to continue to be made to eligible individuals in line with government criteria. 

5.   Approved the variation to the criteria for those eligible under the Discretionary Test and Trace Self-Isolation scheme as detailed in section 5, and authority be delegated to the Cabinet Member for Resources in consultation with the Director of Finance for any further changes to this scheme should this be required.

6.   Approved the establishment of revenue supplementary budgets totalling £365,000 for 2021-2022, fully funded by grant for the West Midlands Strategic Migration Partnership (WMSMP).  Authority be delegated to the Director of Finance to enter into grants agreements associated with this funding.

7.   Approved the establishment of revenue supplementary budgets totalling £267,638 funded from the National Leisure Recovery Fund to support cost pressures associated with the leisure provision and authority be delegated to the Director of Public Health to make payments to the provider in line with the grant conditions.

8.   Approved the establishment of supplementary budgets totalling £234,488 for 2021-2022, funded from the Welcome Back Fund to support the reopening of the high street and authority be delegated to the Director of City Environment to allocate funding in line with the grant conditions.

9.   Approved the establishment of supplementary revenue budgets totalling £1,112,457 fully funded from the Adult Social Care Infection and Prevention grant. This grant will be paid as a ring fenced grant with 70% of the funding being transferred directly to care providers, and a 30% discretionary element, to be spent by the local authority in line with grant conditions. Authority be delegated to the Deputy Director of Adults, to make payments to care providers and approve plans on behalf of the council for the allocation of the 30% discretionary element in line with the conditions of grant. 

10. Approved the establishment of supplementary revenue budgets totalling £801,348 fully funded from the Rapid Testing grant.  This grant will be paid as a ring fenced grant with 60% of the funding being transferred directly to care providers, and a 30% discretionary element, to be spent by the local authority in line with grant conditions. Authority be delegated to the Deputy Director for Adults to make payments to care providers and approve plans on behalf of the council for the allocation of the 40% discretionary element in line with the conditions of grant.

11. Approved the establishment of supplementary revenue budgets totalling £72,469 fully funded by Government grant to provide practical support for those self isolating and authority be delegated to the Director of Public Health in consultation with the Director of Finance to allocate funding in line with the grant conditions.  Approve the establishment of further supplementary budgets under this scheme should further funding be announced.

To present a summary of open and exempt individual executive decisions approved by the Cabinet Members following consultation with relevant employees.

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

To approve the Schools Capital Programme 2021-22

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).

To take action to resolve the on-going issues surrounding a long-term empty property which has remained empty since 2012.

1.      That the Director of City Environment be authorised to negotiate terms for the acquisition of the property 4 Moathouse Lane East, Wednesfield, Wolverhampton, WV11 3BN and, in default of that acquisition, give authority for a compulsory purchase order (CPO) to be made under Part II Section 17 Housing Act 1985 in respect of the property.

2.      That expenditure for the potential acquisition of the property, with subsequent capital receipts being recycled within the Empty Property Strategy programme be approved.

3.      That in the event that the property is improved and re-occupied to the satisfaction of the Director of City Environment, authorise withdrawal of the property from the CPO be approved.

4.      That following any acquisition, the Director of City Environment be authorised to dispose of the property on the open market on condition that the property is refurbished and re-occupied with in six or 12 months (as appropriate to the scale of the works).

5.      That the Director of Governance be authorised to:

a.      Take all reasonable steps as soon as it is reasonably practical to secure the making, confirmation and implementation of the CPO including the publication and service of all Notices and the presentation of the Council’s case at any Public Inquiry.

b.      Approve agreements with the owners of the property setting out the terms for the withdrawal of objections to the CPO, and/or making arrangements for re-housing or relocation of any occupiers.

c.      Approve the making of a General Vesting Declaration (the property is brought into Council ownership via this process).

d.      Approve the disposal of the whole and/ or parts of the property by auction, tender or private treaty. 

1.      That the Community Asset Transfer of Burdett House, 29-30 Cleveland Street, WV1 3HT to Access to Business for a term of 35 years subject to terms be approved.

2.      That authority be delegated to the Cabinet Member for Resources in consultation with the Deputy Chief Executive to approve the terms of the Community Asset Transfer and lease.

1.      That the Community Asset Transfer of Low Hill Youth Resource Centre, Fifth Avenue, WV10 9TB to Bushbury Hill Estate Management Board for a term of 35 years subject to terms be approved.

2.      That authority be delegated to the Cabinet Member for Resources in consultation with the Deputy Chief Executive to approve the terms of the Community Asset Transfer and lease.

To approve the award of contracts for works, goods and services.

To request delegated authority for the Domestic Abuse Bill funding allocation received from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government for 20201-2022.

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.

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. 

To approve delegation of 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.

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.