Decisions

1.     Approved the award of a contract for Hybrid Mail following a further competition to Critiqom Limited, Document House, Phoenix Crescent, Bellshill, Lanarkshire, ML4 3NL. This will be for an initial term of three years with the option to extend for an additional two years with a contract value of £750,000.

1.     Approved payments totalling £76,350 as detailed at section 5.3.

1.       Approved the Extension of the contract between LGPS CENTRAL LIMITED and City of Wolverhampton Council for the duration of further 2 years, the total value of the contract is £xxx.

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

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.   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.

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

1.     Approved the reduced parking rates for payment by mobile phone and App methods only at all pay and display car parks as follows:

a.     50% discounted of full rate from 12 April 2021 to the 17 May 2021, then

b.     25% discounted of full rate until 21^st June 2021.

(note that these dates coincide with government’s key steps to recovery and may change if these key dates are altered).

Approved the sale of the initial sales equity of the shared ownership property at the site known as Sweet Briary, Ettingshall, as detailed in the body of the report.

Approved £250,000 from the Corporate Contingency for Budget Growth to Procurement Services following the completion of a business case.

 That the minutes of the meeting held on 13 January 2021be approved as a correct record.

Approved the Cabinet Member for Children and Young People, in consultation with the Director of Children’s Services, awards the contract for Specialist Intensive Therapeutic Support (CWC20145) to Barnardo Services Limited, registered at Tanners Lane, Barkingside, Ilford, Essex IG6 1QG (company registration number 01227919) for a duration of up to 4 years, from 1 May 2021 to 31 March 2024 ( three years with a possibility to extend for one years) for an estimated total contract value of £1,400,000.

1. Approved the proposed TUPE transfer of the West Midlands Strategic Migration Partnership (WMSMP) into the Council and the Council entering into a Transfer Agreement with Birmingham City Council.

2.     Approved the short-term allocation of funds totalling £258,000 from the Budget Contingency Reserve in order to facilitate the transfer of the West Midlands Strategic Migration Partnership whilst grant terms and conditions are being finalised.

Approved the proposed complaints policy in relation to action taken under The Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (All Tiers) (England) Regulations 2021 (as amended). The policy will apply to any subsequent revisions to this legislation or superseding legislation in relation to business restrictions.