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 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.  Free Swimming Provision

 

Question from Councillor Burke to Councillor Hannides

 

Can the Cabinet Member for Leisure, Culture and Heritage tell me how many people have used the free swimming provision?

 

Answer

Total free swimming attendance for 2009/10 was 106,351.

Under 16’s  =  79,958

Over 60’s  =  26,393

 

Total attendance for 2010/11 to end of June is 21,231

Under 16’s  =  15,681

Over 60’s  =  5,550

 

Which totals 127,582 people who have used the free swimming provision.

 

2.  Surveillance

 

Question from Councillor Vinson to Councillor Smith

 

How many covert surveillance and ‘bugging’ operations have been conducted by Southampton City Council under the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act in the past year?

 

Answer

The Council has a balanced approach to surveillance i.e. we are not prolific users and operate well within the current guidelines.  The recent RIPA inspection in May 2010 commended the Council and were positive about our approach, appropriate use of powers and training.

 

The form of operation is usually CCTV surveillance and/or officer observance.  In 2009/10 the Council undertook 25 directed surveillance operations.

 

There were no instances of ‘bugging’.  In fact, the local authority is not empowered to carry out such activity as this is the preserve of the law enforcement agencies such as the police and the security organisations such as MI5 and MI6.

 

3.  Portswood Recreation Ground

 

Question from Councillor Vinson to Councillor P Williams

 

Will the Cabinet Member for Housing and Local Services please arrange for the installation of improved signage of the dog-walking area at Portswood Recreation Ground, in the interests of the health and safety of children?

 

Answer

The Council is already working closely with the local residents and the friends group on improvements to Portswood Rec. We are currently finalising the designs for the park entrances and linked to this is the improved signage. Temporary signage clarifying the dog walking has been in place but has been removed and needs replacing which is in hand.

 

4.  Future Jobs Fund

 

Question from Councillor Bogle to Councillor Smith

 

Can the Cabinet Member for Economic Development confirm how the Council aims to mitigate the impact of the axing of the Future Jobs Fund?

 

Answer

The Future Jobs Fund in Southampton is delivered through a consortium lead by Hampshire County Council.  The programme in Hampshire and Portsmouth will close to new entrants on 30^th September 2010.  However, in Southampton the programme will close to new entrants on 31^st March 2011, enabling placements to continue until 30^th September 2011.

 

To enable the continued delivery of an apprenticeship programme the following actions are also planned:

·  Make use of ongoing ‘surplus’ FJF funded places that Hampshire/Portsmouth do not wish to use – to date this has increased Southampton’s allocation by 18 places (£117,000)

·  Consortia partners unable to use their allocation by 30^th September 2010 will be approached to transfer unused, but funded, places to Southampton

·  The Southampton Skills Development Zone (SSDZ) hosted 33 twelve month apprenticeships in 2009/10, part funded by FJF. This will be repeated in 2010/11. Funding has been secured, largely through FJF, to ensure coordination, promotion and sustainability of the programme (until September 2011)

·  An external funding programme has been drafted, and will be expanded, to assist the SSDZ’s sustainability – i.e. to develop a bid for Big Lottery’s awaited new programme Youth in Focus

·  External funding has been applied for from Europe;

o  To offer a small number of 12 month apprenticeships to Looked after Children – the outcome will be known in late August 2010 (£48,000)

o  To offer apprenticeship employment in cultural, creative and media industries (lead by Southampton Solent University) (£800,000

o  Investigate developing a bid to deliver/be part of the delivery mechanism of the new single Work Programme

o  Continue securing opportunities with developers through S106 agreements (lead by Childrens Services and Learning)

 

5.  Opportunities for economic growth

 

Question from Councillor Bogle to Councillor Smith

 

Can the Cabinet Member for Economic Development provide evidence of opportunities for economic growth in Southampton?

 

Answer

The City Council is working with its partners on a programme of major development that provides for the retention of existing jobs and the creation of new opportunities.  In the longer term the Masterplanning exercise will provide the basis for large scale office-based job growth.  The major development schemes that will provide jobs in retail, leisure, public sector, cultural industries and office employment include:

§  The Cultural Quarter – 1 Guildhall Square nearing completion, Grosvenor working on proposals for Tyrrell and Green site

§  Southern Road – new police HQ under construction

§  West Quay 3B – new Premier Inn under construction and developer seeking occupier for office premises (Aqua)

§  Ocean Village Innovation Centre – recently completed and letting

§  Watermark WestQuay – Hammerson developing proposals for additional phase and seeking occupiers

§  Town Depot site – Response received from developer following OJEU notice

§  Royal Pier – Currently out to developers for expressions of interest.

§  Mayflower Theatre – improvements completed to allow larger productions

§  Centenary Quay – marine and leisure employment

§  Adanac Park – relocation of Ordnance Survey

§  Port of Southampton – increased cruise liner visits next year (approximately 350) including programme of sailings from the 2000 passenger MSC Opera and the new Queen Elizabeth

The University of Southampton and Lloyds Register remain committed to their proposals for a Centre of Marine Excellence at the Boldrewood Campus.

PUSH is refreshing its Economic Development Strategy and has identified the following sectors where there is potential for growth –

§  Marine, aerospace, environmental technologies, transport and logistics, advanced manufacturing (all high growth in terms of Gross Value Added);

§  Financial and business services and health and care (creating job opportunities for many)

§  Creative industries, leisure and visitor economy, and retail (underpinning quality of life and place)

 

6.  Businesses in the City

 

Question from Councillor Bogle to Councillor Smith

 

Can the Cabinet Member for Economic Development clarify what options the Council can promote to businesses in the City (particularly small to medium enterprises) to reduce their costs?

 

Answer

The City Council is committed to supporting effective and compliant businesses by providing clear, practical, timely and accessible advice. Council actions to assist businesses to reduce their costs include the following:

§  Open for Business: A servicethat provides free advice to businesses as part of a risk based programme of inspections carried out at business premises.

§  Buy With Confidence (BWC): A web based directory of Trading Standards Approved businesses offering free business advice, web listing on dedicated website and the use of scheme logo.

§  Estates Excellence: A partnership project between the Health & Safety Executive, Southampton City Council and Hampshire Fire & Rescue Service aimed at promoting safe and healthy work places in the city’s industrial estates.

§  Business focused seminars: Aimed at identifying practical routes to achieve compliance for estate agents and lettings agents/landlords.

§  Business View articles: These are targeted specific business activities, identifying key issues, practical steps to improve business performance and links to quality advice.

§  Web-based business advice and services: linked to Southampton On-line and include content developed in-house and links to other agencies. A range of registration, licensing and other permits are now available electronically.  

§  Promoting ways of reducing costs: We have successfully worked with Business Link and Chamber of Commerce to promote free business advice and the Chambers cheaper utilities opportunity. In partnership with the Valuation Office Agency and the Woolston Traders Association we are working to identify positive ways to reduce the Business Rates payable. In addition, the Economic Development Team has created a number of opportunities within the district centres to enhance the local areas, including the street markets to generate income for Traders’ Associations for their use and the benefit of the wider community. Southampton City currently encourages easy in easy out start up facilities at The Solent Business Centre.

 

7.  Office and Retail Space

 

Question from Councillor Bogle to Councillor Dean

 

Could the Cabinet Member for Environment and Transport clarify what the current assumptions are for future requirements in terms of office space and retail space (quantity and timescales) in the development of the City Centre Action Plan, and if they have been reviewed or are likely to be reviewed?

 

Answer

Southampton’s core strategy sets the following targets for growth in the city centre in the period to 2026:

 

Offices – At least 322,000 sq m

Retail – Approximately 130,000 sq m (non food). 

 

As an approximate guide the retail target is based on the following phasing:

2006 – 2016:  55,000 sq m

2016 – 2026:  75,000 sq m

 

The office and retail targets represent a major increase in economic development, in line with the Partnership for Urban South Hampshire’s strategy to promote economic growth focussed first on the city centres.  Both targets represent more than a 50% increase on existing floorspace.  The targets are based on forecasts undertaken by PUSH in 2005 and 2006, and (for retail) a short review undertaken by the Council in 2009.  The City Centre Action Plan and Master Plan will create a strategy to help promote and manage this growth, and identify specific development sites.

A review of both targets is planned, to update the figures and take account of both the recession and the recovery.

 

PUSH have commissioned an update of the economic forecasts, including the office targets, to underpin a review of its economic strategy.  The general economic forecasts have just been published.  These are being translated into targets for office (and other employment) space and we are expecting this work to be available in September.

 

The Planning and Sustainability Division are intending to commission an update of the retail targets later this year, to report by March 2011.

 

8.  Utilities and roads

 

Question from Councillor Turner to Councillor Dean

 

Can the Cabinet Member for Environment and Transport confirm that the City Council monitors the Utilities in their digging up of Southampton roads?

 

Answer

Yes

 

9.  Children’s Services and Learning budget

 

Question from Councillor Stevens to Councillor Holmes

 

Can the Cabinet Member for Children’s Services and Learning outline the cuts in Children’s Services and Learning made last week and what further cuts in CSL services he intends to make?

 

Answer

The full set of budget savings affecting Children’s Service and Learning are detailed in the Cabinet papers.  The scale of the savings reflects the difficult financial situation facing the City Council and the wider public sector.  

 

Colleagues can be assured that we are committed to maintaining services that improve attendance and attainment of children and young people as well as safeguarding them.

 

10.  Building Schools for the Future

 

Question from Councillor Stevens to Councillor Holmes

 

What happens to money allocated to Building Schools for the Future now the programme has been cancelled?

 

Answer

I can announce today that the Council is protecting the funding it had committed to Building Schools for the Future and will be developing a city-wide schools capital investment plan to use this money to best effect. This funding will be combined with whatever comes out of the Department for Education’s spending review and invested across the primary, secondary and special school estate.

 

Between now and the Comprehensive Spending Review in October, our officers will be working closely with the Government to maximise the share of national funding coming to this city. Our Building Schools for the Future programme may have been stopped, but this does not mean the end of investment in our schools. We look forward to working within new capital programme arrangements and trust they will be less bureaucratic than previous system.

 

11.  Academy new build

 

Question from Councillor Stevens to Councillor Holmes

 

What is the process for negotiation for the Academy new build and have plans/planning now come to a halt?

 

Answer

The process for negotiation on the Academies Programme will be issued shortly by Partnerships for Schools. We are confident that the current status of our programme will mean a favourable outcome for Southampton in the Government’s review.

 

Plans and planning proceed apace. The facts are that we have already reached an advanced stage in the procurement of both Academy projects. In April we appointed Carillion as the Preferred Bidder for our programme. Oasis Academy Mayfield is now just five weeks from financial close and Carillion has this week submitted fully developed design proposals to the Council for Oasis Academy Lord’s Hill.

 

In the meantime, officers, Oasis Community Learning and Carillion are pressing ahead with the established programme. On 20^th July, the planning application for Mayfield will be considered by the Planning and Rights of Way Panel. On the same day there is to be a public consultation on the designs for Lord’s Hill.

 

12.  Pigeon population in the City

 

Question from Councillor Drake to Councillor Dean

 

Following the increase in the feral pigeon population in Southampton, and the threat that pigeons cause to people's health, the nuisance they cause and damage caused by their droppings to the fabric of buildings, what action is the Council taking to discourage people from feeding the pigeons around the City?

 

Answer

The Council follows several approaches to discourage people from feeding pigeons:

 

1.  Education is promoted and reinforced at the City Council’s Environment Roadshow launches. Signs have been erected at the two worst areas which tend to be Bitterne and Shirley precincts.

2.  Fixed penalty notices are issued in appropriate circumstances under the Environmental Protection Act 1990 Section 88 where the offence is of leaving litter. This role has been undertaken by the Council’s City Patrol Officers.

3.  The pest control service also provides advice to individuals on the best way to feed birds within their gardens so that the food does not become an attractant to rodents.

4.  When requested the Pest Control service undertakes proofing and spiking measures to deter pigeons from gathering for example at the e.g. West Quay entrance.