The Resources and Equality Scrutiny Panel of Wolverhampton Council met on 11 September 2025 to discuss several key areas, including agency provider updates, the Our Future Council: Our Assets programme, and treasury management. The panel also planned to review voluntary and community sector grants, and consider their work plan for the upcoming year.

Our Future Council: Our Assets

The panel was scheduled to consider a presentation on the Our Future Council: Our Assets programme. The Our Assets Programme Scrutiny Sept 2025v1 presentation summarised a Cabinet report from 3 September 2025, which requested that the Cabinet approve the approach and principles of the Our Future Council – Our Assets Programme.

The Cabinet was asked to declare the assets listed within Appendix 1 for Our Future Council - Our Assets.pdf as surplus to requirements, and to delegate authority to approve asset disposals and leases above seven years as part of the programme. The Cabinet was also asked to delegate authority to approve the council entering into agreements for the lease of i9 and i10.

The Our Assets Programme Scrutiny Sept 2025v1 presentation outlined several key principles that would be applied when identifying opportunities for efficiencies within the estate:

• Strategic Alignment
• Community & Social Value
• Financial Sustainability
• Sustainability & Net-Zero
• Utilisation ensuring maximisation of assets
• Data-Driven Governance
• Partnership and Collaboration

The programme is divided into six workstreams:

• Estate Review
• Income
• Maintenance and Investment
• Catering and Cleaning
• Workplace Strategy
• Energy Efficiency and Carbon Reduction

The presentation stated that partnership working is a key enabler in managing the council's asset portfolio, and that the One Public Estate (OPE) initiative plays a vital role in the Our Assets Programme.

The Our Future Council - Our Assets Cabinet Report listed the properties where City Assets sought Cabinet approval to declare the assets surplus. Subject to approval, all assets listed would be subject to an Individual Executive Decision Notice outlining engagement, consultation process and detail of the specific disposal method. These assets included:

• Low Hill Offices, Showell Circus
• Priory Green Offices, Whitburn Close Pendeford
• St Chads Community Centre, Owen Road Penn Fields
• St Georges House, Old Hall Street
• 1-3 Worcester Street, Worcester Street
• 4 Salop Street, Salop Street
• The Maltings, Herbert Street Stafford Road
• Unit 6 Shaw Park Business Village, Shaw Road Bushbury

Agency Provider Update

The panel was scheduled to receive an update on the council's recruitment agency provider, following a robust procurement process. The Agency Contract Update Presentation noted that a previous update was presented to the panel on 16 July 2024, and a report was approved at Cabinet on 22 May 2025, providing approval to wind down Yoo Recruit.

The presentation stated that agency workers are an important part of the workforce, allowing the council to quickly respond to recruitment and retention issues, unforeseen demand for resources, and the need for capacity and specialist support. They also provide cost savings in terms of recruitment activities, employer pension contributions and pay associated with absence, and support the council's commitment to growing its own workforce.

The agency contract between Yoo Recruit and Adecco ended on 31 July 2025. A tender for agency provision to the council was published on 13 October 2024 and closed on 24 January 2025. Following a robust evaluation process, Adecco were awarded the contract to be the council's strategic agency partner. The contract was effective from 1 August 2025 for three years, with an option to extend by a further one year plus one year.

The presentation also detailed actions taken to reduce agency spend, including a one council approach where every Head of Service received data confirming their agency workforce breakdown to review and confirm the ongoing rationale for agency worker assignments, planned end dates, and potential for upskilling employees. As a consequence of this review, there had been a reduction in agency workers from 863 to 718 - a total reduction of 145 workers.

As part of the contract, Adecco have committed to:

• Being a strategic partner and actively working with the council to reduce agency spend as per Our Future Council
• Prioritising engagement with local residents to employ local residents
• Providing on site support to agency workers contributing to the local economy
• Reduction in margins
• Dedicated team driving alignment to Our City, Our Plan, Our Future Council to continue to reduce agency spend and maximise Wolverhampton Pound¹
• Supporting demand and workforce planning to meet future staffing needs helping us to Grow Our Own
• Continuous improvement and innovation
• Supporting local business in reskilling/upskilling employees
• Ensuring a fully staffed and stable social care service
• Working with local organisations to promote careers to the local community, targeting the unemployed

The presentation also provided an update on the process to dissolve Yoo Recruit, which ceased trading with effect from 31 July 2025.

Treasury Management

The panel was scheduled to note the Treasury Management – Annual Report 2024-2025 and Activity Monitoring Quarter One 2025-2026 report.

The report set out the results of treasury management activities carried out in 2024-2025, together with performance against the Prudential Indicators previously approved by the council. It also provided a monitoring and progress report on treasury management activity for the first quarter of 2024-2025, in line with the Prudential Indicators approved by the council in February 2025.

The Cabinet recommended that the council approve a revised authorised borrowing limit for 2025-2026 of £1,263.2 million, an increase of £13.5 million, due to new accounting requirements for 'Other Long Term Liabilities'. The Cabinet also recommended that the council approve the revised Prudential and Treasury Management Indicators as set out in Appendix 2 to the Treasury Management - Annual Report 2024-2025 and Activity Monitoring Quarter One 2025-2026 report for 2025-2026 to 2027-2028.

The Cabinet was asked to note that the council operated within the overall approved Prudential and Treasury Management Indicators, and also within the requirements set out in the council's Treasury Management Policy Statement during 2024-2025. However, due to the implementation of new accounting requirements, International Financial Reporting Standard (IFRS) 16², the authorised limit and operational boundary for 'Other Long Term Liabilities' was exceeded.

The Cabinet was also asked to note that revenue underspends of £3.6 million for the General Fund, due to the receipt of one-off income, and £1.0 million for the Housing Revenue Account (HRA) were generated from treasury management activities in 2024-2025, and that the revenue implications of treasury management activities in 2025-2026 for the General Fund is currently forecast to be within budget, but there are early indicators that suggest there may be pressure on the HRA budget.

Voluntary and Community Sector Grants

The panel was scheduled to consider a report on Voluntary and Community Sector Grants. The agenda states that the report was 'to follow', but no report has been provided.

Terms of Reference and Work Plan and You Said, We Did

The panel was scheduled to consider the Work Plan for the Resources and Equality Scrutiny Panel and an update on You Said, We Did . The agenda states that there are no outstanding actions for this Municipal year to be reported to the Panel.