Decisions
Use the below search options at the bottom of the page to find information regarding recent decisions that have been taken by the council’s decision making bodies.
Alternatively you can visit the officer decisions page for information on officer delegated decisions that have been taken by council officers.
12/01/2022 - Agreement with JKA ref: 476 Recommendations Approved (subject to call-in)
Decision Maker: Cabinet
Made at meeting: 12/01/2022 - Cabinet
Decision published: 13/01/2022
Effective from: 12/01/2022
12/01/2022 - Schools Funding 2022/2023 ref: 472 Recommendations Approved (subject to call-in)
Decision Maker: Cabinet
Made at meeting: 12/01/2022 - Cabinet
Decision published: 13/01/2022
Effective from: 12/01/2022
Decision:
Approval was sought for the Schools Funding 2022/23 proposals.
12/01/2022 - SEND Transport arrangements: February 2022 to July 2024 ref: 471 Recommendations Approved (subject to call-in)
Decision Maker: Cabinet
Made at meeting: 12/01/2022 - Cabinet
Decision published: 13/01/2022
Effective from: 12/01/2022
Decision:
Cabinet considered proposals in relation to travel arrangements for children with special educational needs and disabilities to facilitate their attendance at an appropriate education provision.
12/01/2022 - Mobysoft Limited- RentSense Software Contract ref: 470 Recommendations Approved (subject to call-in)
Decision Maker: Cabinet
Made at meeting: 12/01/2022 - Cabinet
Decision published: 13/01/2022
Effective from: 12/01/2022
Decision:
Approval was sought to award a contract for Mobysoft’s RentSense product to deliver an efficient and effective arrears recovery process.
12/01/2022 - Request to procure for the Holiday Activity and Food Programme 2022-2023 ref: 469 Recommendations Approved (subject to call-in)
Decision Maker: Cabinet
Made at meeting: 12/01/2022 - Cabinet
Decision published: 13/01/2022
Effective from: 12/01/2022
Decision:
Approval was sought to undertake a procurement exercise for holiday activity provision via the Holiday Activity and Food programme 2022-2023.
12/01/2022 - Procurement of a new Asset Management Database ref: 475 Recommendations Approved
Decision Maker: Cabinet
Made at meeting: 12/01/2022 - Cabinet
Decision published: 13/01/2022
Effective from: 12/01/2022
12/01/2022 - Recommendations of the Scrutiny Review of Elective Home Education ref: 473 Recommendations Approved
Decision Maker: Cabinet
Made at meeting: 12/01/2022 - Cabinet
Decision published: 13/01/2022
Effective from: 12/01/2022
Decision:
Cabinet considered the recommendations from the Children’s Services and Education Scrutiny Board in respect of the Elective Home Education Working Group
12/01/2022 - Determination of Admission Arrangements for Sandwell's Community and Voluntary Controlled Schools for 2023/24 ref: 468 Recommendations Approved (subject to call-in)
Decision Maker: Cabinet
Made at meeting: 12/01/2022 - Cabinet
Decision published: 13/01/2022
Effective from: 12/01/2022
Decision:
Approval was sought for the publication of the Local Authority’s Admission Arrangements for 2023/24 academic year for places in all community and voluntary controlled schools.
12/01/2022 - Exclusion of the Public and Press ref: 474 Recommendations Approved
Decision Maker: Cabinet
Made at meeting: 12/01/2022 - Cabinet
Decision published: 13/01/2022
Effective from: 12/01/2022
12/01/2022 - Additional Items of Business ref: 467 Recommendations Approved
Business Rates Covid Additional Relief Fund
Approval was sought for Sandwell’s policy to administer the Business Rates Covid Additional Relief Fund (CARF) arising from new regulations introduced through the Government’s Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities.
Reasons for Decision
In late December 2021, the Government, through the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities introduced new financial support for businesses called CARF. The policy would ensure businesses receive the financial support they were entitled to, the Council intended to make the CARF scheme as simple as possible and make the awards without the need for businesses to apply. This would ensure the financial support would be paid to businesses a lot quicker than via an application process. Furthermore, in view of the tight deadlines to expend the grant funding, a decision was required urgently.
Alternative Options
As an alternative to the direct award of CARF, an application process would be implemented which would enable those businesses who feel theymight qualify for the relief to apply via an online form.
This would delay getting the financial support out to the businesses whorequire this financial support, and the potential for businesses to missout on the support by not applying. An application process would also take up a lot of staff resource tomanage due to the potential number of applications we may receive andthe limited resource we have available to us.
APPROVED
Additional Restrictions Grant 3
Approval was sought for Sandwell’s policy to administer the Additional Restrictions Grant 3 (ARG 3) arising from 21 December 2021 announcement from Government to the introduction of grant support for hospitality and leisure businesses in England.
Reasons for Decision
On 21 December 2021, the Government announced that a further £102 million would be made available for Local Authorities, through a top-up to the Additional Restrictions Grant. All funding must be spent by the 31 March 2022 and as such, the way in which the council utilised this funding must be aligned to available resources; the council’s decision-making processes; and procurement regulations. Flexibility would also be required to enable the council to respond to any changing circumstances over the grant period and therefore this was the reason for the urgent decision.
Alternative Options
As the government had expressed their preferences on this funding there is minimal scope for alternative options, however one alternative would be to increase both grant sizes by £500; to £2500 and £5500 respectively. However, this would result in less grants being available overall and fewer local businesses would also benefit as a result.
APPROVED
Decision Maker: Cabinet
Made at meeting: 12/01/2022 - Cabinet
Decision published: 12/01/2022
Effective from: 12/01/2022
Decision:
Two additional items of business were considered:-
5/22 (a) Business Rates Covid Additional Relief Fund
Approval was sought for Sandwell’s policy to administer the Business Rates Covid Additional Relief Fund (CARF) arising from new regulations introduced through the Government’s Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities.
Reason for Decision
The policy would ensure businesses received the financial support they were entitled to. The Council intended to make the CARF scheme as simple as possible and make the awards without the need for businesses to apply. Sandwell Council would therefore, based upon the guidance issued by the government, identify the businesses entitled to the CARF and then award relief directly to their business rates accounts. This would ensure the financial support would be paid to businesses a lot quicker than via an application process. Furthermore, in view of the tight deadlines to expend the grant funding, a decision was required urgently.
Alternative Options Considered
As an alternative to the direct award of CARF, an application process would be implemented which would enable those businesses who felt they might qualify for the relief to apply via an online form.
This would delay getting the financial support out to the businesses who required this financial support and the potential for businesses to miss out on the support by not applying.
As any awards given out were reimbursed to the Council in the form of a Section 31 grant, it was in Sandwell Council’s own interests and local businesses interest to make these awards as quickly and efficiently as possible.
Agreed:-
(1) that Sandwell’s policy for administering the Business Rates Covid Additional Relief Fund (CARF) arising from new regulations introduced through the Government’s Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities be approved;
(2) that details of the sum of £7,582,533 that Sandwell has received to support businesses that we identify as meeting the eligible criteria be noted;
(3) that the Director of Finance be authorised to make any changes necessary to the Business Rates Covid Additional Relief Fund policy in order to ensure all the funding is expended within the time frame.
6/22 (b) Additional Restrictions Grant 3
Approval was sought for Sandwell’s policy to administer the Additional Restrictions Grant 3 (ARG 3) arising from 21 December 2021 announcement from Government to the introduction of grant support for hospitality and leisure businesses in England.
Reason for Decision
On 21 December 2021, the Government announced that a further £102 million would be made available for local authorities, through a top-up to the Additional Restrictions Grant.
The ARG funding scheme aimed to support businesses severely impacted by coronavirus restrictions and the rise of the Omicron variant, when most needed.
All funding must be spent by the 31 March 2022 and as such, the way in which the council utilised this funding must be aligned to available resources; the council’s decision-making processes; and procurement regulations. Flexibility would also be required to enable the council to respond to any changing circumstances over the grant period and therefore this was the reason for the urgent decision.
Alternative Options Considered
As the government had expressed their preferences on this funding, there was minimal scope for alternative options. Whilst there was one alternative to increase both grant sizes by £500; to £2500 and £5500 respectively, this would result in less grants being available overall and fewer local businesses would also benefit as a result.
Agreed:-
(1) that approval be given to Sandwell’s policy for administering the Additional Restrictions Grant 3 (ARG 3) arising from 21 December 2021 announcement from Government to the introduction of grant support for hospitality and leisure businesses in England;
(2) that the Director for Regeneration and Growth in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Growth and the Director of Finance, be authorised to allocate and administer £406,000 of Additional Restriction Grants 3;
(3) that the Director of Regeneration and Growth be authorised to make any changes necessary to the Additional Restriction Grants policy in order to ensure all the funding is expended within the time frame.
11/01/2022 - Co-operative Working Agreement with Sandwell and West Birmingham Hospitals NHS Trust ref: 466 Recommendations Approved
Decision Maker: Director Public Health
Decision published: 12/01/2022
Effective from: 11/01/2022
Decision:
1.1 That the Director of Public Health be
authorised to award and enter into a contract with Sandwell and
West Birmingham Hospitals NHS Trust (SWBHT), on terms to be agreed
with the Director of Public Health for the provision under the
Cooperative Working Agreement to commence on 1 February 2022 for a
period of 2 years and 8 months to 30 Sept 2024 with the option to
extend up to a further two years.
1.2 That the Director- Monitoring Officer be authorised to execute
any documents necessary to give effect to the proposals in
recommendation 1.1 for the provision under the Co-operative working
Agreement with Sandwell and West Birmingham Hospitals NHS
Trust.
Lead officer: Lisa McNally
05/01/2022 - Grant of Dispensations to Members ref: 465 Recommendations Approved
Decision Maker: Director Law and Governance
Decision published: 11/01/2022
Effective from: 05/01/2022
Decision:
That, in consultation with the Chair of the
Ethical Standards and Member Development Committee, general
dispensations be granted to all members of the Council under
Section 33 of the Localism Act 2011, for a period of 4 years from
the date of approval, in respect of the following:-
a. housing, where the member is a tenant of the authority; provided
that those functions do not relate particularly to that
member’s tenancy or lease;
b. school meals or school transport and travelling expenses, where
the member is a parent or guardian of a child in full time
education, or is a parent governor of a school, unless it relates
particularly to the school which the child attends;
c. an allowance, payment, pension or indemnity given to
members;
d. any ceremonial honour given to members;
e. setting a council tax reduction scheme for the purposes of the
Local Government Finance Act 2012 (and/or all other relevant
legislation);
f. setting council tax or a precept under the Local Government
Finance Act 1992 (and/or all other relevant legislation);
g. setting a local scheme for the payment of business rates
including eligibility for rebates and reductions for the purpose of
the Finance Act 2012 (and/or all other relevant legislation).
Lead officer: Surjit Tour
22/12/2020 - Properties to be acquired using outstanding 1-4-1 Right To Buy receipts ref: 463 Recommendations Approved
Decision Maker: Director Housing
Decision published: 06/01/2022
Effective from: 22/12/2020
Lead officer: Mateusz Sliwinski
20/08/2020 - Contract Award - Lion Farm Concentric Cabling Overhaul ref: 462 Recommendations Approved
Decision Maker: Director Housing
Decision published: 06/01/2022
Effective from: 20/08/2020
Lead officer: Mateusz Sliwinski
19/08/2020 - Properties to be aquired using outstanding 1-4-1 Right To Buy receipts ref: 461 Recommendations Approved
Decision Maker: Director Housing
Decision published: 06/01/2022
Effective from: 19/08/2020
Lead officer: Mateusz Sliwinski
26/03/2020 - Properties to be acquired using outstanding 1-4-1 Right To Buy receipts ref: 460 Recommendations Approved
Decision Maker: Director Housing
Decision published: 06/01/2022
Effective from: 26/03/2020
Lead officer: Mateusz Sliwinski
25/02/2020 - Properties to be acquired using 1-4-1 Right To Buy receipts ref: 459 Recommendations Approved
Decision Maker: Director Housing
Decision published: 06/01/2022
Effective from: 25/02/2020
Lead officer: Mateusz Sliwinski
20/02/2020 - Properties to be acquired using outstanding 1-4-1 Right to Buy receipts ref: 458 Recommendations Approved
Decision Maker: Director Housing
Decision published: 06/01/2022
Effective from: 20/02/2020
Lead officer: Mateusz Sliwinski
25/11/2019 - Repurchase of 24 The Grove, Walsall, WS5 4BX ref: 457 Recommendations Approved
Decision Maker: Director Housing
Decision published: 06/01/2022
Effective from: 25/11/2019
Lead officer: Mateusz Sliwinski
04/11/2019 - Repurchase of 49 Sandford Road, Rowley Regis, B65 9LS ref: 456 Recommendations Approved
Decision Maker: Director Housing
Decision published: 06/01/2022
Effective from: 04/11/2019
Lead officer: Mateusz Sliwinski
04/11/2019 - Repurchase of 17 Marston Grove, Great Barr, B43 5ED ref: 455 Recommendations Approved
Decision Maker: Director Housing
Decision published: 06/01/2022
Effective from: 04/11/2019
Lead officer: Mateusz Sliwinski
04/11/2019 - Exemption - Provision of Lift Maintenance Services ref: 454 Recommendations Approved
Decision Maker: Director Housing
Decision published: 06/01/2022
Effective from: 04/11/2019
Lead officer: Mateusz Sliwinski
04/11/2019 - Repurchase of 83 Mansion Crescent, Smethwick, B67 6QW ref: 453 Recommendations Approved
Decision Maker: Director Housing
Decision published: 05/01/2022
Effective from: 04/11/2019
Lead officer: Mateusz Sliwinski
04/11/2019 - Repurchase of 81 Britannia Road, Rowley Regis. B65 9NA ref: 452 Recommendations Approved
Decision Maker: Director Housing
Decision published: 05/01/2022
Effective from: 04/11/2019
Lead officer: Mateusz Sliwinski
30/10/2019 - Repurchase of 3 Bush Avenue, Smethwick. B66 3LD ref: 451 Recommendations Approved
Decision Maker: Director Housing
Decision published: 05/01/2022
Effective from: 30/10/2019
Lead officer: Mateusz Sliwinski
24/10/2019 - Properties to be acquired using outstanding 1-4-1 Right To Buy receipts ref: 450 Recommendations Approved
Decision Maker: Director Housing
Decision published: 05/01/2022
Effective from: 24/10/2019
Lead officer: Mateusz Sliwinski
08/10/2019 - Repurchase of 275 Beaconview Road, West Bromwich. B71 3PS ref: 449 Recommendations Approved
Decision Maker: Director Housing
Decision published: 05/01/2022
Effective from: 08/10/2019
Lead officer: Mateusz Sliwinski
26/09/2019 - Repurchase of 23 Barncroft Road, Oldbury. B69 1TU ref: 448 Recommendations Approved
Decision Maker: Director Housing
Decision published: 05/01/2022
Effective from: 26/09/2019
Lead officer: Mateusz Sliwinski
04/10/2019 - Repurchase of 98 Oldacre Road, Oldbury. B68 ORG ref: 447 Recommendations Approved
Decision Maker: Director Housing
Decision published: 05/01/2022
Effective from: 04/10/2019
Lead officer: Mateusz Sliwinski
11/09/2019 - Exemption - procurement of Grounds and Estate Maintenance – Training Requirements 2019 ref: 446 Recommendations Approved
Decision Maker: Director Housing
Decision published: 05/01/2022
Effective from: 11/09/2019
Decision:
1) That a contract be awarded to Jimmy Hughes
Services for a
period from 16th September 2019 to 15th September 2020 at an
anticipated value of approximately £9075 to deliver
training
requirements identified with the Grounds and Estate
Maintenance Division.
2) That any necessary exemptions be made under the
Council’s
Procurement & Contract Procedure Rules to enable the
course
of action referred to in 2.1 above to proceed.
Lead officer: Mateusz Sliwinski
15/08/2019 - Repurchase of 175 Birmingham Rd, Oldbury ref: 445 Recommendations Approved
Decision Maker: Director Housing
Decision published: 05/01/2022
Effective from: 15/08/2019
Lead officer: Mateusz Sliwinski
24/07/2019 - Repurchase of 19a Gate St, Tipton and 47 Handley St, Wednesbury ref: 444 Recommendations Approved
Decision Maker: Director Housing
Decision published: 05/01/2022
Effective from: 24/07/2019
Lead officer: Mateusz Sliwinski
07/08/2019 - Properties acquired using outstanding 1-4-1 Right To Buy Receipts ref: 443 Recommendations Approved
Decision Maker: Director Housing
Decision published: 05/01/2022
Effective from: 07/08/2019
Lead officer: Mateusz Sliwinski
31/07/2019 - Repurchase of 138 All Saints Way, West Bromwich. B71 1RQ ref: 442 Recommendations Approved
Decision Maker: Director Housing
Decision published: 05/01/2022
Effective from: 31/07/2019
Lead officer: Mateusz Sliwinski
31/07/2019 - Repurchase of 88 All Saints Way, West Bromwich. B71 1RQ ref: 441 Recommendations Approved
Decision Maker: Director Housing
Decision published: 05/01/2022
Effective from: 31/07/2019
Lead officer: Mateusz Sliwinski
31/07/2019 - Repurchase of 8 Lime Road, Wednesbury, WS10 9NG ref: 440 Recommendations Approved
Decision Maker: Director Housing
Decision published: 05/01/2022
Effective from: 31/07/2019
Lead officer: Mateusz Sliwinski
17/07/2019 - Repurchase of 4 Whitley Street, Wednesbury. WS10 9PF ref: 439 Recommendations Approved
Decision Maker: Director Housing
Decision published: 05/01/2022
Effective from: 17/07/2019
Lead officer: Mateusz Sliwinski
09/07/2019 - Repurchase of 25 Harvest Road, Smethwick, B67 6NQ ref: 438 Recommendations Approved
Decision Maker: Director Housing
Decision published: 05/01/2022
Effective from: 09/07/2019
Lead officer: Mateusz Sliwinski
09/07/2019 - Repurchase of 23 Oldacre Road, Oldbury. B68 ORL ref: 437 Recommendations Approved
Decision Maker: Director Housing
Decision published: 05/01/2022
Effective from: 09/07/2019
Lead officer: Mateusz Sliwinski
09/07/2019 - Re-purchase of 5 Elm Tree Way, Cradley Heath. B64 6EN ref: 436 Recommendations Approved
Decision Maker: Director Housing
Decision published: 05/01/2022
Effective from: 09/07/2019
Lead officer: Mateusz Sliwinski
05/01/2022 - Uplift of Hourly Rate – Domiciliary Care Costing Model ref: 729 Recommendations Approved
Decision Maker: Leader of the Council
Decision published: 05/01/2022
Effective from: 12/01/2022
Decision:
(1) That approval be given to an addition to
the costing model used to calculate the domiciliary care hourly
rate to include the increase to National Insurance Contributions
from April 2022.
(2) That the updated costing model referenced in 1.1 be used to
uplift the hourly rate for existing domiciliary care framework
contracts and for the new domiciliary care agreements that are to
be procured for service delivery from 1 September 2022.
Lead officer: Connor Robinson
11/06/2019 - Supply of Personal Protective Equipment, Safety Footwear & Uniforms ref: 435 Recommendations Approved
Decision Maker: Director Business Strategy and Change
Decision published: 04/01/2022
Effective from: 11/06/2019
Wards affected: (All Wards);
Lead officer: Mateusz Sliwinski
16/07/2019 - The Supply of Caskets for the Containment of Ashes following Cremation ref: 434 Recommendations Approved
Decision Maker: Director Business Strategy and Change
Decision published: 04/01/2022
Effective from: 16/07/2019
Wards affected: (All Wards);
Lead officer: Mateusz Sliwinski
04/06/2020 - Appointment of Sandwell Children's Trust External Auditors for 2019/20 ref: 433 Recommendations Approved
Decision Maker: Director Finance
Decision published: 04/01/2022
Effective from: 04/06/2020
Wards affected: (All Wards);
Lead officer: Mateusz Sliwinski
09/01/2020 - Establishment of Vision 2030 Grants Programme ref: 432 Recommendations Approved
Decision Maker: Director of Borough Economy
Decision published: 04/01/2022
Effective from: 09/01/2020
Wards affected: (All Wards);
Lead officer: Mateusz Sliwinski
03/07/2019 - Cashless Parking Services ref: 431 Recommendations Approved
Decision Maker: Director Regeneration and Growth
Decision published: 04/01/2022
Effective from: 03/07/2019
Wards affected: (All Wards);
Lead officer: Mateusz Sliwinski
12/11/2019 - Brexit preparation - funding additional capacity in advice services ref: 430 Recommendations Approved
Decision Maker: Director Business Strategy and Change
Decision published: 04/01/2022
Effective from: 12/11/2019
Wards affected: (All Wards);
Lead officer: Mateusz Sliwinski
17/08/2020 - Procurement of a supplier to provide an emergency food response to support vulnerable residents during Covid-19 ref: 429 Recommendations Approved
Decision Maker: Director of Borough Economy
Decision published: 04/01/2022
Effective from: 17/08/2020
Decision:
Agreed that:-
1) the contract for the supply and delivery of food parcels to
vulnerable families be awarded to MKG Foods Limited for a minimum
of 2000 food parcels up to 30 September 2020.
2) the contract provision to enable the number of parcels to be
increased if required as a result of any second spike of
Covid-19.
Wards affected: (All Wards);
Lead officer: Mateusz Sliwinski
13/05/2020 - Planning Applications Determined 13.05.2020 ref: 428 Recommendations Approved
Decision Maker: Director Regeneration and Growth
Decision published: 04/01/2022
Effective from: 13/05/2020
Lead officer: Mateusz Sliwinski
24/06/2019 - Sandwell and Family Learning - Learning Environment - Exemption Award ref: 427 Recommendations Approved
Decision Maker: Director Children and Education
Decision published: 04/01/2022
Effective from: 24/06/2019
Decision:
This exemption is sought to accept a single
quotation following a
procurement exercise which failed to secure the required
three
bids.
That a contract be awarded to NETbuilder Education for the
period 1st July 2019 to 30th June 2022 with the option to
extend
for a further one year period until 30th June 2023 at a value
of
£63,393 to deliver the SAFL Learner environment.
Wards affected: (All Wards);
Lead officer: Mateusz Sliwinski