Agenda item

Report of the Leader of the Council, attached.

The report of the Leader of the Council was submitted, setting out the details of the business undertaken by the Executive (copy of report circulated with the agenda and appended to signed minutes).

The Leader and the Cabinet made statements and responded to Questions.

The following questions were then submitted in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 11.1:-

1. Sea City Museum

Question from Councillor Burke to Councillor Hannides

What progress has been made in securing all of the funding for the Sea City Project?

Answer

Southampton Cultural Development Trust has been formed as a Company limited by Guarantee and is awaiting charitable registration following an application to the Charity Commission. The Trust has developed an action plan to secure funding from a targeted list of potential supporters, individuals, Trusts, Foundations and other organisations. Directors of the Trust have an action plan to initiate approaches. Positive responses have been forthcoming and discussions continue. I remain confident in the fundraising target.

The funding agreement with the Heritage Lottery Fund has been signed to secure the £5m contribution.

2. Shredded Paper

Question from  Councillor Drake to Councillor Dean

Although shredded paper is currently not being recycled in Southampton, what is being done to find ways to re-use shredded paper and consequently increase the city's recycling rates?

Answer

Advice is provided to residents using the Council’s City View magazine via tips on how to reduce the amount of waste they generate and also at events around the City attended by waste personnel.

The main advice with confidential papers given to residents to increase the cities recycling rate is to only shred the parts of documents that are confidential, which in a lot of cases is only part of the document, the rest could be safely recycled in the blue lidded recycling bin.

However some documents will always need to be shredded and the following advice is given:

·  Shredded paper can be placed into home composters; information is available on the Council’s web site on subsidised home composters.

·  It can be used as bedding for pets; staples and other non paper items should be removed, prior to shredding.

·  Any shredded paper that residents do place in the green residual waste bin is sent to the Marchwood Incinerator where it is burnt to recover energy.

3. Empty Dwelling Management Orders

Question from Councillor Drake to Councillor Baillie

How many dwellings in Southampton have currently been empty for a year or more and on how many occasions has the Council applied Empty Dwelling Management Orders?

Answer

There are around 600 dwellings in the City which have been vacant for a year or more.

No Empty Dwelling Management Orders (EDMOs) have been formally initiated to date. 

4. Parkville Road

Question from Councillor Turner to Councillor Moulton

Could the Cabinet Member for the Resources and Workforce Planning clarify what development is planned for Parkville Road? The area in question at present contains a car park, local housing office and a youth centre?

Answer

The proposed purchaser entered into a conditional contract with the Council and secured Planning Permission for the development, however, the economic situation has resulted in proposed purchaser needing to change the nature of the upper floors from residential to student accommodation, the proposed ground floor uses are unchanged. A new planning application will be submitted by the developer.  At present it is proposed that there will be 376 bed spaces arranged mainly in cluster and studio flats.

A further report will be presented to Cabinet providing changes to the sale transaction between the council and the developer. 

A road traffic regulation order has been obtained for the closure of the public car park without objection.

There are plans for the relocation of Local Housing Office services

Youth Services have indicated that there are insufficient numbers of local young people attending and alternative youth club provision has been sought at vacant space at Wood Mill Activity centre. 

The scheme, should it go ahead, will achieve the Councils aspiration for a landmark development on this ‘Gateway’ site, a significant regeneration to the Swaythling area, enhanced services to the local people included an improved medical provision with two other community units and a convenience store, a capital receipt for the Council and reductions in Council service overheads.

5. Criminal Record Bureau Checks

Question from Councillor McEwing to Councillor Moulton

Can the Cabinet Member advise Council what budgetary consideration has been given to cover the cost of Criminal Record Bureau checks for those who are willing to volunteer in our libraries or other public services?

Answer

Criminal Record Bureau (CRB) checks cost £38 per person, these are funded by the service area engaging the volunteer.  Checks are renewable every three years.  There is no cost to the volunteer.

6. Use of Volunteers

Question from Councillor Slade to Councillor Smith

Is it the Executive’s endeavour to use volunteers wherever practical, so long as it does not infringe upon Health and Safety or quality of service, in other council areas like museum attendant as well as the library service?

Answer

Yes