Decisions

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

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

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

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).

Approval to receive an Education and Skills Funding Agency Grant budget

1.      That the Council enters the Contract for Services with the Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) to deliver Traineeships.

2.      That the creation of supplementary revenue expenditure budgets up to £33,000 fully funded from income to support the Traineeships programme be approved.

3.      That authority be delegated to the Cabinet Member for Education and Skills, in consultation with the Director of Regeneration, to annually approve entering into a Contract for Services with the ESFA for up to a further three years.

4.      That it be noted that this contract is anticipated to generate up to £308,000 of income from the (ESFA) for the delivery of Traineeships.

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

To approve the acquisition.

1.      That the Director of City Environment be authorised to negotiate terms for the acquisition of the property 91 Griffiths Drive, Wolverhampton, WV11 2JW 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, the withdrawal of the property from the CPO be authorised.

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 proposed prescribed alteration to St Michael’s CE (A) Primary School be approved.

2.      That the capital allocation and the release of funds to establish new accommodation for a Resource Base at St Michael’s CE (A) Primary School be approved.

3.      That the outcomes of Pre-publication Consultation and Representation in relation to the proposed prescribed alterations to St Michael’s CE (A) Primary School be received and noted.

4.      That the Council entering into a Grant Agreement with St Michael’s CE (A) Primary School be approved.

5.      That the virement from the Special Provision Capital Fund to the St Michael’s CE (A) Primary School Project to fund the establishment of a new Resource Base to cater for pupils with Social, Emotional and Mental Health difficulties be approved.

6.      That the awarding of a grant to St Michael’s CE (A) Primary School to fund the establishment of new accommodation be approved.

To approve the rehousing of the existing tenant of 49 School Lane and the demolition of 49 & 51 School Lane, Bushbury.

1.      That the revised Agreement between the Council and Registered Providers of Social Housing for Nominations be approved.

2.      That authority be delegated to the Cabinet Member City Assets and Housing, in consultation with the Director of City Environment to agree future revisions to the Nominations Agreement.

To seek approval for extensions to the Business Rates Discretionary Relief Policy from 1 April 2021 to include charitable and voluntary organisations

That the extension to the local Business Rates Discretionary Relief Policy in respect of charitable and voluntary organisations for one year from 1 April 2021 be approved.

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).

To seek authority for the Council to cast its vote during the Bilston BID ballot and other procedural matters concerning the BID process.

To receive an update on the Future High Streets Fund bid.

1.      That the Adult Social Care Local Account for 2019-2020 be approved for publication.

2.      That the comments of the Adult and Safer City Scrutiny Panel on the Adult Social Care Annual Report: The Local Account 2019-2020 (Appendix 1) be noted.

3.      That the proposed priorities for 2020-2021 be noted.

That Council be recommended to approve:

1.    The net budget requirement for 2021-2022 of £258.5 million for General Fund services (paragraph 10.1).

2.    The Medium Term Financial Strategy (MTFS) 2021-2022 to 2023-2024 as detailed in Table 4 and the budget preparation parameters underpinning the MTFS as detailed in Appendix 2 to the report.

3.    A Council Tax for Council services in 2021-2022 of £1,765.49 for a Band D property, being an increase of 4.99% on 2020-2021 levels, which incorporates the 3% increase in relation to Adult Social Care, in line with Government expectations. (paragraph 8.4, Table 1).

4.    That work starts on developing budget reductions and income generation proposals for 2022-2023 onwards in line with the Five Year Financial Strategy (paragraph 10.5).

5.    Revisions to the local council tax support scheme (paragraph 8.7).

That Cabinet approves:

1.    The updated assumptions used in the Budget 2021-2022 and the MTFS 2021-2022 to 2023-2024 as detailed in sections 7 and Appendix 1 to the report.

2.    That authority be delegated to the Cabinet Member for Resources, in consultation with the Director of Finance, to approve the calculation and allocation of growth in the central share of business rates for 2021-2022 and future years to be passported to the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) (Appendix 1, paragraph 1.29).

3.    That authority be delegated to the Cabinet Member for Resources and Cabinet Member for Education and Skills, in consultation with Director of Finance and Director of Children’s and Adult Services, to approve changes to the local funding formula for Schools including method, principles and rules adopted (paragraph 12.4). 

4.    That authority continues to be delegated to the Cabinet Member for Resources in consultation with the Director of Finance to consider further opportunities to accelerate pension contribution payments to secure additional budget reductions (Appendix 1 paragraph 1.5).

5.    That the external provider of Risk Based Verification (RBV) is no longer beneficial to the service and that the Council ceases to operate the external RBV system from 31 March 2021, using an in-house RBV approach to the verification of new Housing Benefit and Council Tax Support claims (paragraph 8.10).

That Cabinet notes:

1.    That the budget for 2021-2022 is in balance without the use of general reserves (paragraph 10.1).

2.    That, in the opinion of the Director of Finance (Section 151 Officer), the 2021-2022 budget estimates are robust (paragraph 10.1).

3.    That, in the opinion of the Director of Finance (Section 151 Officer), the proposed levels of reserves, provisions and balances is adequate in respect of the forthcoming financial year (paragraph 11.4).

4.    That a further £25.4 million needs to be identified for 2022-2023 rising to £29.6 million over the medium term to 2023-2024 in order to address the projected budget deficit (paragraph 10.5).

5.    That, due to external factors, in particular the impact of Covid 19, budget assumptions remain subject to significant change, which could therefore result in alterations to the financial position facing the Council (paragraph 7.5).

6.    That, there continues to be a considerable amount of uncertainty with regards to future funding streams for local authorities over the forthcoming multi-year Spending Review period.  At the point that further information is known it will be incorporated into future reports to Councillors.  Any reduction in the Government’s allocation of funding to the Council would have a significant detrimental impact and further increase the budget deficit forecast over the medium term (paragraph 7.20).

7.    That, the overall level of risk associated with the 2021-2022 Budget and Medium Term Financial Strategy 2021-2022 to 2023-2024 is assessed as Red (paragraph 9.1).

8.    That Councillors must have due regard to the public sector equality duty (Section 149 of the Equality Act 2010) when making budget decisions (paragraph 17.7).

That Council be recommended to approve:

1.    The authorised borrowing limit for 2021-2022 to support the capital strategy as required under Section 3(1) of the Local Government Act 2003 to be set at £1,166.2 million (PI3, Appendix 3 to the report); the forecast borrowing is below the authorised borrowing limit.

2.    The Treasury Management Strategy Statement 2021-2022 as set out in Appendix 1 to the report.

3.    The Annual Investment Strategy 2021-2022 as set out in Appendix 2 to the report.

4.    The Prudential and Treasury Management Indicators as set out in Appendix 3 to the report.

5.    The Annual Minimum Revenue Provision (MRP) Statement setting out the method used to calculate MRP for 2021-2022 as set out in Appendix 4 to the report.

6.    The method used to calculate MRP for 2020-2021 as set out in the Annual MRP Statement approved by Council on 4 March 2020 be amended to the method as set out in Appendix 4 to the report.

7.    The Treasury Management Policy Statement and Treasury Management Practices as set out inAppendix 6 to the report.

8.    That authority continues to be delegated to the Director of Finance to amend the Treasury Management Policy and Practices and any corresponding changes required to the Treasury Management Strategy, the Prudential and Treasury Management Indicators, the Investment Strategy and the Annual MRP Statement to ensure they remain aligned.  Any amendments would be reported to the Cabinet Member for Resources and Cabinet (Resources) Panel as appropriate.

9.    That authority continues to be delegated to the Director of Finance to lower the minimum sovereign rating in the Annual Investment Strategy, in the event of the UK’s credit rating being downgraded by the third credit rating agency, due to the unprecedented impact of Covid-19 on the economy.

The Cabinet approves:

1.    That authority is delegated to the Cabinet Member for Resources in consultation with the Director of Finance to progress feasibility and investment propositions in a timely manner.  Updates on any propositions would be provided to Cabinet or Cabinet (Resources) Panel in future reports.

The Cabinet recommends that Council be asked to note:

1.    That the MRP charge for the financial year 2021-2022 would be £18.2 million; it is forecast to increase to £25.5 million in 2022-2023 (paragraph 2.14 of the report).

2.    That Cabinet or Cabinet (Resources) Panel and Council would receive regular Treasury Management reports during 2021-2022 on performance against the key targets and Prudential and Treasury Management Indicators in the Treasury Management Strategy and Investment Strategy as set out in paragraph 2.12 and Appendices 2 and 3 to the report.

That Council be recommended to approve:

1.    The revised City of Wolverhampton Council Capital Strategy.

2.    The revised, medium term General Revenue account capital programme of £316.4 million, an increase of £1.6 million from the previously approved programme, and the change in associated resources.

That Cabinet approves:

1.    The virements for the General Revenue Account capital programme detailed at Appendix 5 to the report for:

i.    existing projects totalling £3.8 million;

ii.    new projects totalling £971,000.

2.  Continuation of both delegations to the Cabinet Member for Resources, in consultation with the Director of Finance, to approve the allocation of:

i.    The Corporate Contingency to individual projects in order that corporate priorities may be addressed in an agile and timely manner;

ii.    The Transformation Development Efficiency Strategy to individual transformation projects in order to benefit from the capital receipts flexibility announced in the Autumn Statement 2015 and in line with the Medium Term Financial Strategy.

3.  Delegated authority to the Cabinet Member for City Environment, in consultation with the Director of City Environment and Director of Finance, to approve the payments of grants related to the Black Country Blue Network Phase 2 programme where appropriate in order that projects can be progressed in a timely manner.

1.      That the Co-ordinated Admission Schemes for secondary and primary school admissions at the normal year of entry for 2022-2023 be approved and that the Secretary of State be notified by 28 February 2021.

2.      That the proposed admission arrangements for community and voluntary controlled schools for 2022-2023 be approved.

1.      That the revised Wolverhampton Private Sector Housing Assistance Policy be approved effective from 1 April 2021.

2.      That it be noted that the Private Sector Housing Assistance Policy continues to delegate authority to the Cabinet Member for City Assets and Housing, in consultation with the Director for City Environment to approve discretionary awarding of grants outside the policy in exceptional circumstances via an Individual Executive Decision Notice.