The meeting on 5 December 2024 of the Climate Change, Housing and Communities Scrutiny Panel was scheduled to include a presentation of the council's draft budget for 2025-26, and its plans for addressing the financial challenges it faces, particularly as they relate to climate change, housing and communities. The meeting was also scheduled to consider the draft work programme for the Climate Change, Housing and Communities Scrutiny Panel in 2024-25.

Our Future Council – Responding to the Financial Challenge

The Climate Change, Housing and Communities Scrutiny Panel was scheduled to review the council's draft budget for 2025-26, and its Medium Term Financial Strategy, including proposals and targets for making savings.

The report presented to the panel noted that:

The Council is not immune from the challenges in the sector. Pressures on the Council’s 2024-2025 Budget and Medium-Term Financial Strategy (MTFS) are significant and include pay and other inflation related pressures such as increases in costs within children’s social care.  In addition, there are also cost pressures from increased demand for services - especially with regard to adult social care and temporary accommodation.

The report identified specific proposals for savings totalling £10.4 million over the next few years.

The report listed minimum savings targets totalling £19.9 million over the next few years. The report noted that the council would need to identify detailed plans to deliver these savings.

The report also included an updated projected annual budget deficit of £11,197,000 for 2025-26, and £7,966,000 for 2026-27.

The report included a proposal to cease funding the redevelopment of the Wholesale Market. The report noted that:

There is no statutory requirement to provide a Wholesale Market and the existing arrangements currently cost the Council £272,000 per year to operate.

The report proposed to instead use the site to relocate services from the council's Culwell St Depot, and free up the Culwell St Depot site for housing development.

The report also proposed to begin charging for post-16 transport for special educational needs, subject to a consultation.

The report also proposed a review of the council's commissioning arrangements for temporary accommodation in order to attract the maximum levels of central government grant.

The report proposed a review of the council's management agreement with Wolverhampton Homes, in advance of its expiry in 2028.

The report noted that achieving the savings targets for the Resident Services department would:

require a review of these frontline services. There is the ability to ensure we operate as efficiently as possible, using intelligence and data to focus services in areas of greatest need. However, in order to achieve the amount of savings indicated there will be an inevitable need to reduce service levels (which may include reducing the head count), increasing charges and reducing delivery of essential day to day services.

The report included a summary of the strategic risks the council faces in relation to climate change, housing and communities. The risks are listed in the report as:

• Housing Regulator (Damp and Mould) - Council owned Properties
• Housing Regulator (Damp and Mould) - Private Rented Properties
• Housing Supply
• Housing Standards
• Private Hire Vehicle Growth
• Council Waste Plant Insurance Arrangements
• Climate Change
• Impact on Council Resources as a result of volatile weather events
• Terrorism threats – Place and locations
• Terrorism threats – People
• Unrest and disorder

Climate Change, Housing and Communities Scrutiny Panel - Draft Work Programme 2024- 2025

The Climate Change, Housing and Communities Scrutiny Panel was scheduled to consider its draft work programme for 2024-25.

The draft work programme included a list of completed and programmed agenda items for the panel. It noted the following programmed items:

• Our Future Council – Responding to the Financial Challenge (scheduled for 5 December 2024)
• Improvement of Housing Standards through Licensing (scheduled for 13 February 2025)
• Wolverhampton Homes Customer Contact (scheduled for 13 February 2025)
• Delivery Against Community Safety Priorities (scheduled for 13 February 2025)
• Fly Tipping (scheduled for 10 April 2025)
• Recycling (scheduled for 10 April 2025)
• Wolverhampton Homes Building (scheduled for 10 April 2025)

The work programme also listed future items for inclusion in the panel's work programme:

• West Midlands Local Transport Plan - Review (TfWM)
• City Housing Complaints Performance and Service Improvement Report 2024-25
• PSPO – update
• Housing Strategy
• Homeless Prevention Strategy
• Annual complaints performance and service improvement report – Housing