Meeting of the Council Minutes - 17 September 2014

Transcription

1 Meeting of the Council - 17 September 2014 Attendance Mayor Deputy Mayor Cllr Michael Heap (LibDem) Cllr Ian Brookfield (Lab) Labour Cllr Ian Angus Cllr Harbans Bagri Cllr Harman Banger Cllr Mary Bateman Cllr Philip Bateman Cllr Payal Bedi Cllr Peter Bilson Cllr Alan Bolshaw Cllr Greg Brackenridge Cllr Paula Brookfield Cllr Ian Claymore Cllr Craig Collingswood Cllr Susan Constable Cllr Claire Darke Cllr Bishan Dass Cllr Jas Dehar Cllr Steve Evans Cllr Val Evans Cllr Bhupinder Gakhal Cllr Val Gibson Cllr Dr Michael Hardacre Cllr Julie Hodgkiss Cllr Keith Inston Cllr Jasbir Jaspal Cllr Milkinderpal Jaspal Cllr Andrew Johnson Cllr Roger Lawrence Cllr Linda Leach Cllr Elias Mattu Cllr Lorna McGregor Cllr Peter O'Neill Cllr Phil Page Cllr Rita Potter Cllr John Reynolds Cllr John Rowley Cllr Judith Rowley Cllr Sandra Samuels Cllr Caroline Siarkiewicz Cllr Stephen Simkins Cllr Tersaim Singh Cllr Jacqueline Sweetman Cllr Paul Sweet Cllr Bert Turner Cllr Martin Waite Cllr Daniel Warren Conservative Cllr Mark Evans Cllr Barry Findlay Cllr Christopher Haynes Cllr Christine Mills Cllr Patricia Patten Cllr Zahid Shah Cllr Paul Singh Cllr Wendy Thompson Cllr Andrew Wynne Cllr Jonathan Yardley Liberal Democrat Cllr Richard Whitehouse UKIP Cllr Malcolm Gwinnett Employees Keith Ireland Tony Ivko Tim Johnson Martyn Sargeant Mark Taylor John Wright Strategic Director, Delivery Assistant Director - Older People and Personalisation Strategic Director, Education and Enterprise Head of Democratic Services Assistant Director, Finance Democratic Support Manager The proceedings opened with Prayers Page 1 of 7

2 Item No. Title 1 Apologies for absence Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Photay 2 Declarations of interests The following councillors declared the interests detailed below in respect of agenda item 6 Housing Revenue Account Business Plan Update Quarter One 2014/15 Councillor Interest Reason Payal Bedi Disclosable pecuniary Landlord who lets a interest property to Wolverhampton Ian Claymore Disclosable non Susan Constable Disclosable non Disclosable non Dr Michael Hardacre Disclosable non Linda Leach Disclosable non Lorna McGregor Disclosable non Peter O'Neill Disclosable non Rita Potter Disclosable non Paul Singh Disclosable non Council tenant Council tenant Leaseholder Leaseholder Council tenant Page 2 of 7

3 Tersaim Singh Disclosable non Keith Ireland and Tim Johnson declared s in agenda item 13 Senior Management Restructure. 3 of previous meeting The minutes of the meeting held on 16 July 2014 were approved as a correct record. 4 Communications 1. The Late Honorary Alderman Frank Docherty The Mayor referred to the recent death Honorary Alderman Frank Docherty and a former councillor. Council stood for a minute s silence in memory of Frank Docherty 2. Commonwealth Games, European Championships & Invictus Games The Mayor extended congratulations to the five athletes who enjoyed medal success at the recent Commonwealth Games, European Championships and Invictus Games namely Kristian Thomas, Matthew Hudson-Smith, Chinu Singh, Andrew Tennant and Andrew Roberts. Congratulatory messages on behalf of the Council had been sent to all the athletes and a civic reception for them would be held. 3. Wolverhampton City Marathon The Mayor reported that 17th Carver Wolverhampton City Marathon was held on Sunday, 7th September. The event had been a success and had raised money to help local charities. This year proceeds will benefit; Broad Meadow Special School, Compton Hospice, West Park Stroke Cycle Group and the Mayor s general charities fund. 4. Remembrance Services The Mayor reported that the Annual Festival of Remembrance would take place on Sunday, 2nd November, at 2pm in the Wulfrun Hall. This year s Remembrance Sunday services would take place on 9th November. 5 State of the City Address 2014 The Leader of the Council, Cllr Roger Lawrence delivered his State of the City report which had been timed to coincide with the first annual Wolverhampton Business Work. He went highlighted the following issues: Page 3 of 7

4 The financial challenging facing the council Establishment of the Skills Commission The importance of sustaining the local economy Steps being taken to reduce unemployment The leaders of the two opposition groups on the council, Cllr Wendy Thompson (Conservative Group) and Cllr Richard Whitehouse (Liberal Democrat Group) in turn responded to Cllr Lawrence s state of the city report. 6 Housing Revenue Account Business Plan Update Quarter One 2014/15 It was moved by Councillor Bilson and seconded by Councillor Johnson and 1. That the revised Housing Revenue Account (HRA) business plan, including the capital programme for 2014/15 to 2018/19 be adopted. 2. That it be noted that the outturn against the 2013/14 revenue budget was a surplus before allocations of 14.5 million compared to a budgeted surplus of 10.6 million, and total capital expenditure for the year was 43.1 million. 3. That it be noted that the forecast outturn against the 2014/15 revenue budget was a surplus before allocations of 18.5 million compared to a budgeted surplus of 11.9 million. 7 Treasury Management - Annual Report 2013/14 and Activity Monitoring Quarter One 2014/15 It was moved by Councillor Johnson and seconded by Councillor Bilson and 1. That the Cabinet Member for Resources, in consultation with the Assistant Director Finance, be given delegated authority to amend the Treasury Management Strategy to take advantage of opportunities to increase investment returns. 2. That it be noted that the Council operated within the approved Prudential and Treasury Management Indicators, and also within the requirements set out in the Council's approved Treasury Management Policy Statement during 2013/14. 3 That it be noted that the Council was forecast to marginally exceed the self-determined upper limit on debt maturing within one year for part of 2014/15. This was as a result of taking advantage of the low interest rates available for short term borrowing and that this position would be rectified by the end of the year. 4 That it be noted that revenue savings of 10.7 million for the General Fund and 2.4 million for the Housing Revenue Account were generated from treasury management activities in 2013/14. Page 4 of 7

5 5. That it be noted that revenue savings of 214,000 for the General Fund and 5.9 million for the Housing Revenue Account were forecast from treasury management activities in 2014/15. 8 Black Country Growth Hub: Grants to Third Parties It was moved by Councillor Bilson and seconded by Councillor Lawrence and 1. That an increase of a grant from 130,000 to 325,000 to the University of Wolverhampton, a third party provider for the management of the externally funded Black Country Growth Hub for them to act as employer for the Growth Hub team be approved. 2. That the payment of a grant of 73,806 to the Black Country Consortium to fund an Access to Finance Project Manager and contribute towards one day a week of an Economic Development Co-ordinator and Administration and Finance Support together with recruitment costs for the Access to Finance Project Manager as part of the externally funded Black Country Growth be approved. 3. That the Chief Legal Officer be authorised to approve the execution of the contracts Primary School Expansion Programme - Funding Strategy It was moved by Councillor Page and seconded by Councillor Johnson and 1. That the proposed funding strategy for the 2015 Primary School Expansion Programme be approved. 2. That the establishment of a new capital budget to support the proposed funding strategy for the 2015 Primary School Expansion Programme be approved. 3. That the need for the Council to underwrite the costs of prudential borrowing prior to uncommitted Building Schools for the Future capital receipts being realised and basic need allocations being made from central government be approved. 10 Tettenhall and Heathfield Park Neighbourhood Plans It was moved by Councillor Bilson and seconded by Councillor Milkinder Jaspal and 1. That the Tettenhall and Heathfield Park Neighbourhood plans be adopted Page 5 of 7

6 2. That the progress made with the Tettenhall and Heathfield Park Neighbourhood plans be noted. 11 Adoption of the Stafford Road Corridor and Bilston Corridor Area Action Plans It was moved by Councillor Bilson and seconded by Councillor Claymore and That the Stafford Road Corridor Area Action Plan and the Bilston Area Action Plan be adopted 12 Local Government Declaration on Tobacco Control It was moved by Councillor Samuels and seconded by Councillor and That the Council supports and signs the Local Government Declaration on Tobacco Control 13 Senior management restructure Having declared a Keith Ireland and Tim Johnson left the meeting and took no part in the consideration It was moved by Councillor Lawrence and seconded by Councillor Bilson and 1. That the deletion of the Chief Executive post and a Strategic Director post resulting in a minimum saving of 195,000 per annum be approved. 2. That the creation of a Managing Director (Head of Paid Service) post which will result in the above saving of 195,000 per annum being achieved be approved. 3. That a Special Appointments Committee be created to appoint to the post of Managing Director comprising five Labour and two Conservative Councillors in accordance with the Constitution 4. That the following Councillors, or their nominees if they are unable to attend, be appointed to serve on the Special Appointments Committee: Councillor Roger Lawrence Councillor Peter Bilson Councillor Andrew Johnson Councillor Linda Leech Councillor Paul Sweet Councillor Mrs Wendy Thompson Councillor Paul Singh Page 6 of 7

7 5. That a minimum savings target of 350,000 for senior management restructure, as detailed in the report, be approved. 14 Executive Business The Council received and noted the summary of executive business 15 Questions 1 Councillor Mark Evans asked the Cabinet Member for Children and Families the following question: Given that the Wolverhampton Youth Zone is not now due to open until at least January 2016, and with the closure of other youth clubs in the City, what alternative provision is the Council making for the youth of the City in the meantime? The Cabinet Member for Children and Families, Cllr Gibson, replied that work was underway to support access to provision across the city through other providers. A targeted approach would point young people to the over 60 voluntary and community organisations across the city. Grants would be available for organisations that were creating new opportunities and to support targeted work in areas of particular need. The Epic café would remain open. Work was underway with On Side who were working with schools regarding the Youth Zone Cllr Mark Evans asked a supplementary question about challenging the perception that Council was not doing anything to support young people and Youth Services. Cllr Gibson stated that it was difficult to get the message across about the range of activities provided by other organisations 2 Councillor Wendy Thompson asked the Cabinet Member for Economic Regeneration and Prosperity: Following figures for August which show that Wolverhampton has the joint highest percentage of its population claiming Job Seeker s Allowance in Great Britain, can the Cabinet Member explain why Wolverhampton shows such persistently high levels of unemployment? The Cabinet Member for Economic Regeneration and Prosperity, Cllr Bilson replied that there had been a reduction in the number of those claiming Job Seeker s Allowance since the previous month. The recession had hit the City hard as had cuts in public expenditure. He outlined the support that was being given to manufacturing industry in the City and the regeneration projects that were underway or planned. Page 7 of 7