Agenda and minutes

In accordance with the Localism Act 2011, and the Council’s Code of Conduct, Members to disclose any personal or pecuniary interests in any matter included on the agenda for this meeting.

NOTE:  Members are reminded that, where applicable, they must complete the appropriate form recording details of any such interests and hand it to the Democratic Support Officer.

Councillors McEwing, Barnes-Andrews, Morrell, Pope, Lewzey and Moulton declared non-pecuniary interest in a number of the organisations that had applied for Grants from the Council and were listed in within Item 7a of the Agenda.

To approve and sign as a correct record the Minutes of the meetings held on  24^th January 2013 and to deal with any matters arising, attached.

RESOLVED: that the Minutes for the Committee meeting on 24^th January 2013 be approved and signed as a correct record.  (Copy of the Minutes circulated with the agenda and appended to the signed Minutes).

Report of the Senior Manager – Communities, Change and Partnership, detailing items requested for discussion from the current Forward Plan, attached.

The Committee considered the report of the Senior Manager – Customer and Business Improvement detailing items requested for discussion from the current Forward Plan (Copy of the report circulated with the agenda and appended to the signed minutes).

Representatives from City Eye, CLEAR, EU Welcome, Groundwork Solent, Hampshire Schools Sports Federation, Mount Pleasant Media Workshop, Soco Music Project, Society of St James, Solent Credit Union, Solent Sea Rescue Organisation, Southampton Nuffield Theatre Trust and Southampton School Sports Association were in attendance and, with the Consent of the Chair addressed the meeting.

RESOLVED:

(i)  on consideration of the briefing paper relating to the forthcoming Cabinet Decision “Grants to Voluntary Organisations 2013/14 to 2015/16” the Committee recommended that:

a.  Cabinet assure themselves that adequate funding has been allocated to those organisations that:

·   protect and support the most vulnerable and provide advice for those in need at a time of acute pressures;

·  compliment the Council’s substantial investment in promoting Southampton’s cultural offering and the related economic development opportunities; and

·  have the capacity to lever in additional investment into the city.

b.  the Cabinet Member for Efficiency and Improvement circulates to the Committee details of the cost of the grant assessment process; and

c.  the Cabinet Member for Efficiency and Improvement reconsiders proposed funding awards for those organisations that are able to fund initiatives from their own resources.

(ii)   on consideration of the briefing paper relating to the forthcoming Cabinet Decision “Licensing Scheme for Houses in Multiple Occupation –Consultation Results And Final Approval” the Committee welcomed the introduction of the licensing scheme but, urged the Cabinet Member for Housing and Leisure Services to:

a.  involve all wards where the 10% threshold of Houses of Multiple Occupation has been reached  (including the Bassett ward) in initial the role out of the scheme; and

b.  ensure that the Council’s default position, subject to evaluation, is to roll out the scheme Citywide by 2016, and earlier if market distortion is detected. 

Report of the Senior Manager – Communities, Change and Partnership, detailing the actions of the executive and monitoring progress of the recommendations of the Committee, attached.

The Committee noted the report of the Senior Manager – Communities, Change and Partnership detailing the actions of the executive and monitoring progress of the recommendations of the Committee. (Copy of the report circulated with the agenda and appended to the signed minutes).