Agenda item
Executive Business
Report of the Leader of the Council, attached.
Minutes:
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:
- 20 mph Zones
Question from Councillor Vinson to Councillor Fitzhenry
What plans does the Executive have to take advantage of the recently announced relaxation of conditions for the introduction of 20 mph zones?
Answer
The plans to relax the conditions for introduction of 20 mph schemes (zones and limits) were announced by the Department for Transport in a press release on the 9 June 2011. However the statutory introduction of these changes is not expected to take place until late 2011as part of the Traffic Signs Policy Review.
The Executive will continue to consider the implementation of 20 mph schemes, where they are appropriate and where such schemes would have positive benefits, particularly in relation to road safety.
- Shared Services
Question from Councillor Vinson to Councillor Hannides
What possibilities are currently under consideration to expand the range of shared services with other councils or public bodies?
Answer
As an administration we are committed to meeting our statutory obligations and delivering the services valued the most by local residents and businesses in the most cost effective way.
This means that we are continually challenging all aspects of the council’s activities to eliminate inefficiency and bureaucracy - as well as exploring other service delivery options if they provide better value for money than our existing arrangements.
As a result the Council has a number of shared services in place with neighbouring local authorities such as Eastleigh Borough Council (Licensing Services) and Fareham Borough Council (Legal Services). Work is also underway to develop a shared Internal Audit Service covering Hampshire, West Sussex and Southampton and a report on this will be presented to Cabinet.
Through our regular discussions with other public sector bodies we are continuing to explore all joint working opportunities where mutually beneficial for both parties to do so - particularly within the Adult Social Care, Children’s Services and Environment areas.
- City Centre Policing
Question from Councillor Vinson to Councillor Smith
Is the Cabinet Member concerned by the proposed reduction in the manning of Southampton Central Police Station, especially the projected closure of the front desk between 10.00pm and 8.00am?
Answer
It is not appropriate to comment on this at this time as I am aware that this review is still subject to formal internal consultation.
- Secondary School Exclusions
Question from Councillor Turner to Councillor Moulton
What action is the Cabinet Member supporting to tackle Southampton's poor record on Secondary school exclusions?
Answer
The high level of exclusions in Southampton Secondary schools is a matter of concern to the Council. Southampton’s performance against this measure has been among the highest in England for many years. The Council is working with both local secondary and primary schools on a number of initiatives to address this. These include;
· Working closely with Headteachers and schools to agree arrangements that support the effective re-integration of pupils who have been excluded for fixed term periods and reduce their risk of further exclusions.
· Working closely with schools to encourage all schools to be inclusive in providing a school place for children who have been permanently excluded from school.
· Working with those schools which have particularly high levels of exclusions, as performance varies significantly between schools on this measure.
· Working closely with schools and other services to develop a range of alternative learning provision that will provide a stable and appropriate place of learning for children where we are struggling to find a place in another school.
- Section 106 Money
Question from Councillor Drake to Councillor Fitzhenry
How much 106 money is being held by the Council and how long, on average, is this money held before being spent on projects?
Answer
The Council had £8.22 million in the Section 106 account as of 31st March 2011 and sampling has shown that on average it takes just over two years from receipt to spend.
- Bin Collections
Question from Councillor Drake to Councillor Fitzhenry
Are the Executive considering bringing in alternative weekly bin collections in all or part of the City?
Answer
No
- Public Health Funding
Question from Councillor Rayment to Councillor White
Does the Cabinet Member agree with the approach adopted by Tory-led government to cut the public health funding to poorer health areas like Portsmouth and Southampton in favour of giving more to better public health areas like Hampshire?
Answer
The Department of Health is going through an exercise to identify the money spent by PCTs on public health in 2010/11, to inform the decision as to the amount that will be in the “ring-fenced” PH budget. Such a budget has never been identified before. It will go eventually three ways – Public Health England, NHS Commissioning Board and Local Authorities, so that defined services are discharged and responsibilities delivered. The SoS has said that allocation of the budget will be on a capitation basis, adjusted for needs (i.e. high needs areas would get proportionally more per head). He has also said that some money “a health premium” will go to authorities who make good progress on delivering the improved health outcomes that they have set themselves (and presumably have been agreed). The allocation formula is still being developed, and is due to be announced in November. It is understood the SoS will decide the size of the budget (increased, reduced, staying the same) … and any element of “overhead reduction”. He will also agree an allocation formula, and decide a pace of change – it could be very de-stabilizing for the change to be other than phased. The “shadow” budget for each local authority is expected to be known in December, and the money will flow through the local NHS for 12 months for the “shadow” public health year. In April 2013 the statutory responsibilities, pass to local authorities, subject to the passing of the legislation, and the budget will transfer to the local authority and other parts of the new public health system. Therefore as can be seen from the above there is no indication that we as a City will be less favoured than the rest of Hampshire and in fact there is even reason for some optimism with the approach of the Government.
8. Post-16 Education
Question from Councillor Bogle to Councillor Moulton
What are the current 2011 recruitment numbers for post-16 education in Southampton per institution and how many surplus places are there per institution?
Answer
It is currently too early to provide an answer to this question. FE colleges and schools with sixth forms returned the week commencing 5 September. There is always an amount of fluctuation in numbers as young people amend their choices during the first few weeks of the Autumn Term.
An activity survey, which takes place over September and October, will show where the young people of Southampton have gone since leaving secondary school; whether in Southampton or beyond. The colleges submit their enrolment lists and Council tracking officers then investigate those young people who appear not be in college or training to get the full picture. The activity survey will be completed by the end of October; details will be available in November 2011.
We are also working with the Young People’s Learning Agency to identify recruitment patterns of post 16 providers outside of Southampton so we have a better understanding of which Post 16 learners are studying at non-Southampton Post 16 colleges.
- Former Town Depot Site
Question from Councillor Bogle to Councillor Smith
What are the current aspirations for the redevelopment of the Town Depot site?
Answer
The aspiration for the Town Depot site is for a leisure mixed use scheme that improves public access to the Itchen Waterfront. A ‘sports village’ of regional significance proposed incorporating a wet snow ski slope and other sport activities along with supporting retail and leisure activities. Existing water sport activities are to be retained and protected. Residential development is also proposed.
Proposed development has been the subject of an OJEU process and we are continuing to discuss progress with a potential developer, with a view to signing an exclusivity agreement in the near future. In the mean time we intend to demolish the existing depot site and seek temporary use.
- Sea City
Question from Councillor Barnes-Andrews to Councillor Hannides
How much has the private sector now raised for Sea City since the last Council meeting?
Answer
The Southampton Cultural Development Trust is a charitable body which is seeking to assist the Council with funding Sea City and the New Arts Complex. Trustees are pursuing a number of potential opportunities, and an event will be held by the Trust during the Boat Show. The outcome of an application to the DCMS / Wolfsen Foundation is due in January 2012.
- General Fund Capital Programme
Question from Councillor Barnes-Andrews to Councillor Hannides
What are the Cabinet Member's plans to reduce borrowing on the General Fund Capital Programme?
Answer
The latest General Fund Capital Programme Update presented to Council on 14 September for approval totals £250.0M.
Of this £57.2M is to be funded from Unsupported Borrowing the costs for which are built into our Revenue Budget forecast. The current programme includes overprogramming of £8.1M which can be compared to the £9.2M deficit reported in February 2011. The deficit has reduced slightly due to a number of factors including a net increase in future capital receipts and a reduction in the use of Council Resources within the Children’s Services & Learning capital programme.
We will continue to review the deficit and reduce it as new resources become available in future years. A review of possible disposals is being undertaken and these will be actively pursued where it is financially beneficial to the Authority.
In addition, given the deficit in the programme and the lack of available capital resources over the past three years, additions to the programme are only considered in very exceptional circumstances.
- Portfolio Overspend
Question from Councillor Barnes-Andrews to Councillor Hannides
How does the Cabinet Member plan to reduce the £1.4m portfolio revenue forecast outturn overspend for this year?
Answer
The Portfolio forecast position as at the end of Quarter 1, which was presented to Cabinet on 5th September was a £1.4M over spend. This was then offset by a number of corporate items which were outlined in the report and the overall forecast position for 2011/12 as at the end of Quarter 1, was an over spend of £0.4M.
Portfolios plan to take remedial action to manage a number of the corporate and key issues which were highlighted in the report and further detail of this work and the financial impact will be included in the Quarter 2 report which will be presented on 21st November.
In 2010/11 and 2009/10 the forecast position at the end of Quarter 1 was adverse for Portfolios and in both years the final Outturn position was favourable as action plans were implemented and the financial benefits delivered, clearly demonstrating a track record of managing financial issues in year.
In 2010/11 specifically, the Portfolio forecast at the end of Quarter 1 was a £1.5M over spend and this reduced to a £0.1M forecast under spend by Quarter 3 and the actual year end Portfolio position was a £2.5M under spend following the introduction of a moratorium on spend in the final Quarter of the financial year.
- Vacancy Social Worker Posts
Question from Councillor Thorpe to Councillor White
How many vacancies for Social Workers are we currently carrying across the Council? Has this increased since last year?
Answer
We are currently carrying 5 vacancies for qualified Social Worker grade in Health & Adult Social Care. These posts are currently actively being recruited to. This is an increase to last year when there were 2 vacancies – both posts were recruited to.
- Agency/Temporary Social Workers
Question from Councillor Thorpe to Councillor White
How many agency/temporary Social Workers do we currently employ? Has this number increased since this time last year?
Answer
20, an increase of 8 from September 2011.
- Trends in staff leaving the authority
Question from Councillor Thorpe to Councillor Hannides
Assuming we run exit interviews to learn the lessons from those staff choosing to leave our organisation, can you confirm if the trend is for people to leave their profession or join a different local authority?
Answer
Exit questionnaires are issued at the point when a resignation is received, which the leaver has the option to complete and return or not. If the leaver wishes to attend a formal exit interview they may request this with either their line manager or HR.
Currently it is not possible to identify any trends in why people leave the organisation, or where they go. Obtaining exit information depends on the individual and if people chose not to give any details it will be necessary to look at other sources of information. However moving forward it may be possible to do more to encourage feedback and develop management information in this area. An Organisational Development Strategy is being developed and this is an area that could be included within the Action Plan.
- Grow Your Own Scheme for Social Workers
Question from Councillor Thorpe to Councillor White
Can Members have an update on the ‘grow your own scheme’ for Social Workers?
Answer
Health and Adult Social Care currently has one worker seconded to training as a Social Worker.
- Revisited Potholes
Question from Councillor Thorpe to Councillor Fitzhenry
Now that potholes have been eradicated from across our fair City can the Cabinet Member confirm when will the depths at which holes in the pavement and roads are revisited, to ensure all dangerous obstacles are dealt with as priority?
Answer
The intervention levels are in accordance with national standards and there are no proposals to move away from these standards.
- Refuse collection
Question from Councillor Letts to Councillor Fitzhenry
Why has the refuse collection not returned to normal despite a month without industrial action?
Answer
The industrial action is on-going with the refuse collectors taking ‘action short of a strike’. This is preventing the waste collection service returning to normal despite the introduction of measures to reduce the disruption.
- GCSE Exam Success
Question from Councillor Letts to Councillor Moulton
What is the Cabinet Members’ preferred measure of GCSE exam success?
Answer
The standard recognised national measure records the percentage of pupils achieving 5+ A*-C (including English and Maths).
Supporting documents:
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