The City of Wolverhampton Council convened on 17 September 2025 and addressed a range of issues, including changes to council appointments, updates to the council's constitution, and strategies for community safety and youth justice. The council also reviewed the progress of the Local Government Association Corporate Peer Challenge and discussed the governance of the Key Route Network.

Here's a breakdown of the key topics discussed:

• Safer Wolverhampton Partnership Strategy 2025-2029
• Corporate Peer Challenge: Progress Review
• Wolverhampton's Youth Justice Plan 2025-26
• Schedule 1 of the West Midlands Authority (Functions and Amendment) Order 2017, Combined Authority Roads
• In Year Appointments for the 2025-2026 Municipal Year
• Report of the Governance and Ethics Sub-Committee
• Proposed Changes to the Council’s Constitution
• Written Questions by Councillors
• Report of Leader of the Council

Safer Wolverhampton Partnership Strategy 2025-2029

The council endorsed the Safer Wolverhampton Partnership (SWP) Community Safety Strategy 2025-2029, along with its priorities and key performance indicators. The SWP aims to reduce crime and disorder, reduce victimisation and increase safety and public perception across Wolverhampton. The strategy addresses issues of crime and community safety requiring a partnership response and contributes to the Police and Crime Plan published by the West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner¹.

The agreed priorities are:

• Prevention of and addressing Anti-Social Behaviour (ASB)
• Safety of Women and Girls (in public places)
• Neighbourhood Crime
• Public Place Violence
• Drug and Alcohol Related Crime
• Statutory Priorities (which must legally be delivered)

The strategy also incorporates 'golden threads' across all priorities, including prevention and early intervention, building community confidence, safeguarding victims and vulnerable offenders, and using trauma-informed practices.

The SWP Strategy 2025-2028 outlines the board's plans for working in partnership to ensure residents feel safe and can live healthy lives in their community.

Corporate Peer Challenge: Progress Review

The council noted and endorsed the contents of the Local Government Association (LGA) Corporate Peer Challenge Review report. The Corporate Peer Challenge is part of the LGA's framework for council assurance and peer support, providing a review of the council's performance and improvement.

The LGA presented its initial findings to the Cabinet and senior officers in the form of a presentation at the end of the CPC Progress Review. Those findings have now been brought together into a report at appendix 1.

The report reflects the council's progress, provides examples of good practice and highlights the initial impact and outcomes.

Summary findings include:

• On their return to the Council, the peer team felt that the Council has made good progress against many of the CPC's recommendations.
• The peer team again heard consistently positive feedback in meetings with a range of staff and external partners during the progress review.
• The Council is clearly sustaining its strong partnership working within the city, with strong examples of how this translates into rapid problem solving that has a demonstrable impact on residents' lives and good progress on city centre regeneration and development schemes.
• The peer team heard positive feedback about the council's continued investment in people; despite the financial pressures it faces, it appears to have maintained the people centric, collaborative and caring organisational culture the peer team observed during the peer challenge.

Wolverhampton's Youth Justice Plan 2025-26

The council approved the adoption of the Youth Justice Plan 2025-2026. This plan details the key achievements within the Youth Justice Service during 2024-25 and the key priorities for 2025-26. The Youth Justice Service (YJS) works with young people who have committed offences, aiming to prevent reoffending and promote positive outcomes.

The Youth Justice Plan requires Full Council approval, as detailed in The Constitution under the Budget and Policy Framework.

The Youth Justice Performance and Oversight Board reviewed Wolverhampton's YJS performance in February 2025. The Board found that Wolverhampton YJS demonstrated consistently strong performance and as such were recognised as a quadrant one service, delivering excellent youth justice services. It was noted that the service had delivered an outstanding performance in decreasing first time entrants and custody rates, a proactive and committed Management Board and shown an inclusive approach and contribution to regional initiatives.

Schedule 1 of the West Midlands Authority (Functions and Amendment) Order 2017, Combined Authority Roads

The council approved the delegation of authority to Councillor Qaiser Azeem, Cabinet Member for City Transport, in consultation with the Director of Resident Services, to approve proposed changes to the governance of the Key Route Network (KRN). This will allow the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) to submit a proposal to the Secretary of State to amend the West Midlands Combined Authority (Functions and Amendments) 2017 Order.

The WMCA is the only Combined Authority whose statutory orders designate particular roads as Combined Authority Roads.

The explicit designation of the Combined Authority Roads in Schedule 1 causes the WMCA two main issues.

• The WMCA now has the power to designate KNRs, but Schedule 1 only allows the WMCA to use its powers over the roads already specified as Combined Authority Roads in Schedule 1.
• The ability to undesignated roads as KNRs is blocked as their designation as Combined Authority Roads would remain as provided for in the 2017 order.

In Year Appointments for the 2025-2026 Municipal Year

The council approved the following changes to in-year appointments for the 2025-2026 municipal year:

• Removal of Councillor Greg Brackenridge from the Resources and Equalities Scrutiny Panel, Climate Change, Housing and Communities Scrutiny Panel and Equalities Advisory Group.
• Appointment of Councillor Tersaim Singh to the Resources and Equalities Scrutiny Panel.
• Appointment of Michaela Morgan as an independent member to the Audit and Risk Committee.

Report of the Governance and Ethics Sub-Committee

The council noted the decision of the Governance and Ethics Committee held on 4 September 2025 and the Governance and Ethics Sub-Committee held on 28 July 2025 in relation to a complaint against Councillor Greg Brackenridge. The Sub-Committee concluded that Councillor Greg Brackenridge had breached the Code of Conduct.

The Sub-Committee concluded that, on the balance of probability, Councillor Greg Brackenridge was acting in his official capacity when he made the statement/gave the impression of having served in the Royal Marines. The Sub-Committee determined that, in making those statements, Councillor Greg Brackenridge should have reasonably foreseen that members of the public and the Armed Forces community might interpret them as implying he had served as a Royal Marine.

As a result, the Sub-Committee concluded that on the balance of probability Councillor Brackenridge had breached the following provisions of the Code of Conduct:

• Paragraph 1.1 I treat other councillors and members of the public with respect.
• Paragraph 6.1 I do not use, or attempt to use, my position improperly to the advantage or disadvantage of myself or anyone else.
• Paragraph 5.1 I do not bring my role or local authority into disrepute.
• Paragraph 8.2 I cooperate with any Code of Conduct investigation and/or determination.

The Sub-Committee then considered the potential sanctions available under the law, in accordance with the Council's adopted arrangements.

The sanctions imposed were:

• Public apology in a specified form by the Hearing Panel to the Complainant and the Armed Forces Community, and in future, requesting that Councillor Greg Brackenridge makes clear that he was a Royal Marine Recruit and not a Royal Marine as he had not passed out.
• Recommend to the Leader of the Council that Councillor Greg Brackenridge is removed from the Resources and Equality Scrutiny Panel given that the Council has adopted 'Armed forces' as a locally protected characteristic.
• Advise the Leader of the Council of the outcome of the Sub-Committee in order that they consider whether any other group disciplinary action is appropriate.
• That the Sub-Committee publishes the decision notice in respect of this outcome as soon as possible.
• Reports the findings of this Sub-Committee to the Council.

Proposed Changes to the Council’s Constitution

The council approved amendments to the Full Council Procedure Rules, as detailed in Appendix 1 of the Changes to the Constitution Report. These changes aim to ensure the constitution remains up-to-date and reflects current laws, rules and best practices.

The amendments include:

• Limiting questions from members of the public and councillors to a maximum of 25 words.
• Requiring councillors who are not present to notify the Monitoring Officer of a substitute councillor to ask questions on their behalf, otherwise, the question will be deferred.
• Adding Is defamatory, frivolous or offensive to the reasons the Monitoring Officer can reject motions.
• Adding a Point of Clarification section to allow councillors to challenge materially misleading or factually inaccurate statements during debates.

The council reaffirmed the authority granted to the Monitoring Officer to implement the changes and make any other minor consequential changes necessary to ensure the Constitution remains up to date.

Written Questions by Councillors

Executive members responded to written questions submitted by councillors on various topics:

• Councillor Celia Hibbert asked about the involvement of Wolverhampton licensed vehicles in grooming gang scandals, referencing the Deregulation Act 2015.
• Councillor Paul Brookfield inquired about the decision to maintain free transport for post-16 SEND students.
• Councillor Jasbinder Dehar questioned how the £19.7 million funding from the 'Affordable Homes Programme' would deliver quality, affordable homes.
• Councillor Jane Francis requested an update on the Yo! Summer Activities and their accessibility across communities.
• Councillor Tersaim Singh asked about proposals for major road resurfacing and the process for their consideration.
• Councillor Anita Stanley questioned whether the council would remove Union Jack or St George's flags flown by residents.
• Councillor Simon Bennett inquired about the council's response to a High Court injunction regarding asylum seekers being housed at The Bell Hotel in Epping and plans for similar appeals in Wolverhampton.
• Councillor Stephanie Haynes requested an update on the refurbishment of Campion House and the wider Heath Town development.
• Councillor Wendy Dalton asked if the Cabinet Member anticipated any inconvenience to the city as a result of Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) being planned in South Staffordshire, and if they have any plans to have similar developments in our city?

Report of Leader of the Council

A supplementary agenda item was added to receive a report from Councillor Stephen Simkins, Leader of the Council, on Business Week.