Agenda and minutes

Venue: Council Chamber - Civic Centre. View directions

Contact: Sandra Coltman 023 8083 2430 

Items
No. Item

101.

Apologies

To receive any apologies.

Minutes:

Apologies for Absence were submitted on behalf of Councillors Bogle and Keogh.

102.

Minutes pdf icon PDF 24 KB

To authorise the signing of the minutes of the Council Meetings held on 14th November 2012, 16th January 2013 and 13th February 2013, attached.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

RESOLVED that the minutes of the Council meetings held on 14th November 2012, 16th January 2013 and 13th February 2013 be approved and signed as correct records.

103.

Announcements from the Mayor and Leader

Matters especially brought forward by the Mayor and the Leader.

Minutes:

Jim Dowdall

 

The Mayor informed Members of the recent sad death of Jim Dowdall. Jim was a very active person in the Thornhill regeneration project as well as a fund raiser for charities by running marathons. Members took a moment of reflection in remembrance.

104.

Deputations, Petitions and Public Questions

To receive any requests for Deputations, Presentation of Petitions or Public Questions.

Minutes:

(i)  The Council received and noted a deputation and a petition from Jane Freeland, Maggie Harding and David Smith concerning Government changes to the NHS.

 

(ii)  The Council received and noted a deputation from Stuart Kershaw concerning the blacklisting of workers by large companies.

 

(iii)  The Council received and noted a deputation from the Right Reverend Dr Jonathan Frost, Bishop of Southampton, concerning Casinos.

105.

Executive Business pdf icon PDF 89 KB

Report of the Leader of the Council, attached.

Additional documents:

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:-

 

1 Highway Maintenance

 

Question from Councillor Vinson to Councillor Thorpe

 

Is the Cabinet Member for the Environment and Transport satisfied with the quality of pothole repairs? 

 

Answer

 

The responsiveness and speed of repair of Balfour Beatty Living Places (BBLP) in carrying out the varying severity pothole repairs consistently exceeds the target standards of the Highways Services Partnership (HSP) Contract.

The large majority of pothole repairs carried out are of a very high standard and therefore meet required quality levels.  There are some (typically less than 5%, and especially concerning kerbs and thin surfacing repairs) that do not meet required Council standards and require a repeat visit to correct. This performance is subject to constant review. 

 BBLP, over the last year, have successfully been utilising a proprietary pothole repair material that can be used in virtually any weather condition and provides a first-time permanent repair as opposed to a temporary making safe, followed by a return visit to lay permanent, new material.  Ongoing monitoring by the Partnership will prove whether this is a sustainable long-term method of repair and this review is part of a study into various other pothole repair materials / techniques in conjunction with Southampton University.  Results of this study will be available in approx June.

 The HSP are pursuing membership of the Road Treatment Association's patch repair sub-group.  When confirmed shortly, this is likely to be a worthwhile newly created forum to share best practice across this specialist area of highway maintenance.

 

2. City of Culture

 

Question from Councillor Vinson to Councillor Payne

 

How does the Cabinet Member for Housing and Leisure Services reconcile severe cuts in Council grant to culture and heritage organisations with the recently announced joint bid with Portsmouth for City of Culture status in 2017?

 

 

Answer

 

Whilst the public sector, including local government and key cultural organisations such as the Arts Council, experiences significant funding reductions, there are inevitably some difficult decisions to be made about grant funding.

However, both Cities have vibrant cultural economies and for a sustainable future, we need to encourage less reliance on the public sector. Taking opportunities to raise the profile of the City and promoting its cultural offer and the activities of the organisations within the City can only contribute to their future success.

 

3. Off-Payroll Remuneration

 

Question from Councillor Vinson to Councillor Letts

 

Has the Council made use of off-payroll remuneration arrangements during the past five years, and if so on how many occasions?

 

Answer

 

The Council has made very limited use of off-payroll remuneration arrangements, using them on 7 occasions over the last 5 years. These arrangements have been entered into in special circumstances and have covered a  ...  view the full minutes text for item 105.

106.

Motions

(a)  Councillor Pope to move:-

 

Energy Bill Revolution - Reducing Fuel Bills through Energy Efficiency

 

Southampton City Council notes:

 

(i)  Already 1 in 4 households in the UK are in fuel poverty, meaning they need to spend more than 10% of their income on keeping their homes warm. The problem is likely to get worse, with 1 in 3 households projected to be in fuel poverty by 2016.

 

(ii)  The main reasons for this crisis are that gas, oil and coal prices are high, and the UK’s homes are some of the most energy inefficient in Europe – leaking heat from their doors, walls and windows.

 

(iii)  Cold homes are damaging the health of vulnerable members of society, including children, older people and people with disabilities. Diseases such as asthma are made worse, and people are more likely to have strokes and heart attacks. Illnesses caused by cold homes cost the NHS nearly one billion pounds each year.

 

(iv)  Over the next 15 years the Government will raise an average of £4 billion every year in carbon taxes through the European Emissions Trading Scheme and the Carbon Floor Price. Recycling this revenue back into households could bring 9 out of 10 homes out of fuel poverty, lower people’s bills, cut carbon emissions and create jobs.

 

Southampton City Council therefore resolves to:

 

(i)  Support the Energy Bill Revolution campaign calling for the Government to recycle revenues from carbon taxes into improving the energy efficiency of UK homes.

 

(ii)  Notify local Members of Parliament of its support for the campaign and urge them to sign Early Day Motion 47 – “Reducing Fuel Bills through Energy Efficiency”

 

(b)  Councillor Pope to move:-

 

Motion against Blacklisting

 

“A number of construction companies have been challenged about supporting the existence of and subscribing to construction industry ‘blacklists’, which detail covertly gathered information on construction trade unionism, militant tendencies, poor timekeeping, trouble making, etc.  Blacklisting is an unacceptable practice and cannot be condoned.  The GMB union is leading a national campaign aimed at forcing those who have been involved in blacklisting to apologise to those who have been affected by it.

 

 It is understood that the construction industry blacklist was collated by the Consulting Association (a private consultancy) and was then provided at a cost to construction companies as they sought to recruit/avoid new workers.  The Information Commissioner has investigated and taken action against the Consulting Association for this practice.  Furthermore, the Information Commissioner has taken enforcement action against a number of construction companies based on the evidence recovered from the Consulting Association.

 

Owing to the concentration of construction activity in and around large cities, many of those alleged to have been discriminated against live in the country’s major cities, and undoubtedly this practice has disadvantaged residents of Southampton.

 

Given the known impact on residents of the Southampton area reflected in the Deputation made to the Council, this Council deplores the use of blacklisting. The Council resolves to support the GMB campaign, and will seek  ...  view the full agenda text for item 106.

Minutes:

(a) Energy Bill Revolution - Reducing Fuel Bills through Energy Efficiency

 

With the consent of the meeting, Councillor Pope withdrew his motion.

 

(b) Motion against Blacklisting

 

Councillor Pope moved and Councillor McEwing seconded:

 

“A number of construction companies have been challenged about supporting the existence of and subscribing to construction industry ‘blacklists’, which detail covertly gathered information on construction trade unionism, militant tendencies, poor timekeeping, trouble making, etc.  Blacklisting is an unacceptable practice and cannot be condoned.  The GMB union is leading a national campaign aimed at forcing those who have been involved in blacklisting to apologise to those who have been affected by it.

 

 It is understood that the construction industry blacklist was collated by the Consulting Association (a private consultancy) and was then provided at a cost to construction companies as they sought to recruit/avoid new workers.  The Information Commissioner has investigated and taken action against the Consulting Association for this practice.  Furthermore, the Information Commissioner has taken enforcement action against a number of construction companies based on the evidence recovered from the Consulting Association.

 

Owing to the concentration of construction activity in and around large cities, many of those alleged to have been discriminated against live in the country’s major cities, and undoubtedly this practice has disadvantaged residents of Southampton.

 

Given the known impact on residents of the Southampton area reflected in the Deputation made to the Council, this Council deplores the use of blacklisting. The Council resolves to support the GMB campaign, and will seek written assurances from its partners and suppliers that they do not use blacklisting.”

 

UPON BEING PUT TO THE VOTE THE MOTION WAS DECLARED CARRIED

 

RESOLVED that the motion be approved.

 

(c) The Health and Social Care Act 2012 and its Impact on Services to Southampton Citizens

 

With the consent of the meeting, Councillor Pope altered and moved his motion and Councillor Rayment seconded:

 

“This Council Notes that there is little evidence to show that the Health and Social Care Act 2012 will improve the efficiency, effectiveness or value-for-money of the National Health Service. There is no credible evidence that the open competition under the Any Qualified Provider system, as promoted by the National Health Service (Procurement, Patient Choice and Competition Regulations 2013) - Statutory Instrument 257 2013, will improve the NHS. There is great alarm amongst NHS staff, patients and public - that the Act and open competition will HARM the NHS, placing almost £16m of cost on Southampton's NHS.  Accordingly this Council resolves that this is an unnecessary reorganisation that the NHS does not need when it is already under huge pressures, as shown by the Francis Report, and can ill afford. It resolves to write to the Secretary of State and the Shadow Secretary of State with the outcome of this motion and it resolves to write to the Chairs of the Health and Well-Being Board and the Health Overview and Scrutiny Panel with the same”.

 

UPON BEING PUT TO THE VOTE THE ALTERED MOTION WAS DECLARED  ...  view the full minutes text for item 106.

107.

Questions from Members to the Chairs of Committees or the Mayor

To consider any question of which notice has been given under Council Procedure Rule 11.2.

Minutes:

It was noted that no questions to the Chairs of Committees or the Mayor had been received.

 

108.

Appointments to Committees, Sub-Committees and Other Bodies

To deal with any appointments to Committees, Sub-Committees or other bodies as required.

Minutes:

The following changes to the appointments to Committee and Sub-Committee membership were noted:

 

(a) Councillor Parnell had replaced Councillor Claisse on Scrutiny Panel A;

 

(b) Councillor Parnell had replaced Councillor Hannides on the Governance Committee; and

 

(c) Councillor Norris had replaced Councillor Smith on the Planning and Rights of Way Panel.

 

109.

Gambling Act 2005 Large Casino - Final Procedure Note and Evaluation Criteria for Stage 2 pdf icon PDF 87 KB

Report of the Head of Legal, HR and Democratic Services regarding the process to grant a large casino premises licence in the City, attached.

 

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The report of the Head of Legal, HR and Democratic Services was submitted regarding the process to grant a large casino premises licence in the City (copy of the report circulated with the agenda and appended to signed minutes)

 

Amendment moved by Councillor Baillie and seconded by Councillor Parnell:

 

AMENDMENT TO APPENDIX 6

 

2 Problem Gambling

 

After ‘… demonstrated by Applicants.’ add ‘, and ongoing compliance with these provisions may be monitored by public health as well as the Gambling Commission’.

 

Amended clause to read:

For these purposes, compliance with both the Social Responsibility and Ordinary Code provisions of the Licence Conditions and Code of Practice will be regarded as part of the minimum requirement and ought to be demonstrated by Applicants, and ongoing compliance with these provisions may be monitored by public health as well as the Gambling Commission.

 

(2) After ‘A commitment to…’ delete ‘collaborate’ and add ‘identify lead organisational services that have the necessary skills to support people with gambling problems and establish clear pathways between the casino and services for identification and referral of individuals, as well as collaborating’

 

Amended clause to read:

A commitment to identify lead organisational services that have the necessary skills to support people with gambling problems and establish clear pathways between the casino and services for identification and referral of individuals, as well as collaborating with local and national problem gambling groups and other stakeholders including healthcare providers and public health, and to provide SCC with monitoring information in this regard.

 

Add new subparagraph (3) to read ‘a commitment to significantly contribute to the cost of managing any detrimental health and social issues in Southampton which have been attributed by public health to the existence of a large casino.

 

UPON BEING PUT TO THE VOTE THE AMENDMENT WAS DECLARED CARRIED

 

UPON BEING PUT TO THE VOTE THE MOTION AS AMENDED WAS DECLARED CARRIED

 

RESOLVED

 

(i)  that Council note the amendments to the draft procedure note and evaluation criteria following consultation, and the subsequent amendment of the evaluation criteria agreed at the meeting; and

(ii)  that the final draft procedure note and evaluation criteria for use at Stage 2 of the large casino licensing process be approved, subject to any final amendments, and that delegated authority be granted to the Head of Legal, HR and Democratic Services to make these amendments.

110.

Pay Policy - Annual Update pdf icon PDF 55 KB

Report of the Head of Legal, HR and Democratic Services regarding the pay policy statement for the financial year 2013/14 as required under the Localism Act 2011, attached.

 

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The report of the Head of Legal, HR and Democratic Services was submitted regarding the pay policy statement for the financial year 2013/14 as required under the Localism Act 2011 (copy of report circulated with agenda and appended to signed minutes).

 

RESOLVED that the Pay Policy Statement as attached as Appendix 1 to the report be approved.

111.

Establishment of formal Health and Wellbeing Board/New Health Scrutiny Function Regulations pdf icon PDF 85 KB

Report of the Head of Legal, HR and Democratic Services regarding the establishment of the formal Health and Wellbeing Board and new health scrutiny function regulations, attached

 

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The report of the Head of Legal, HR and Democratic Services was submitted regarding the establishment of the formal Health and Wellbeing Board and new health scrutiny function regulations (copy of report circulated with the agenda and appended to signed minutes).

 

RESOLVED:

 

(i)  That the Terms of Reference for the Health and Wellbeing Board as set out in Appendix 1 of the report for incorporation into Part 3 of the Council’s Constitution be approved;

 

(ii)  That the membership of the Board should comprise:

·  5 Elected Members of Southampton City Council (to be appointed by the Leader of the Council having had due regard to the recommendations of the Shadow Health and Wellbeing Board)

·  Statutory Director for Public Health

·  Statutory Director for Adult and Children’s Services (which will be the People Director from April 2013)

·  A representative from the Southampton Clinical Commissioning Group

·  A representative of Local Link ( to be replaced by Healthwatch when the organisation is established in October 2013)

A representative from the NHS Commissioning Board’s Wessex Area Team

 

(iii)  that it be noted that while Council shall determine the number of places allocated to Elected Members on the Board, the decision as to whom to appoint to such vacancies is an Executive Function to be determined by the Leader of the Council at the next available Cabinet Meeting;

 

(iv)  that having regard to resolution (iii) above, to recommend that the Leader of the Council has regard to the recommendations of the Shadow Health and Wellbeing Board as to the preferred Elected Member composition of the Board as set out in paragraph 9 of the report when appointing Elected Members to vacancies on the Board;

 

(v)  that it be noted that the Head of Legal, HR and Democratic Services, in accordance with powers delegated to him under the Constitution, intends to approve a Special Procedure Rule as set out in Appendix 2 of the report in relation to the administrative arrangements for the operation of the Board in accordance with the Regulations and following consultation with the Chair of the Health and Wellbeing Board;

 

(vi)  that the powers to undertake Health Scrutiny conferred on the Council as set out in Part 4 of the 2013 Regulations be delegated to the Council’s Health Overview and Scrutiny Panel until such time as the Council’s arrangements for overview and scrutiny of health functions is reviewed at Annual Council; and

 

(vii)  that delegated authority be granted to the Head of Legal, HR and Democratic Services, following consultation with the Director of Public Health and the Chair of the Health and Wellbeing Board, to make any amendments to the Terms of Reference or other Constitutional Rules or Procedures that may be required to give effect to any new guidance or legal advice received in relation to the proper operation of the Board and / or health scrutiny functions contained in the Regulations received after the date of the report.

112.

Proposals to Expand Three Primary Schools in the City pdf icon PDF 97 KB

Report of the Head of Infrastructure, seeking a decision on the implementation or withdrawal of proposals to expand Bassett Green Primary, Bevois Town Primary and St Johns Primary and Nursery, attached. 

 

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The report of the Head of Infrastructure was submitted seeking a decision on the implementation or withdrawal of proposals to expand Bassett Green Primary, Bevois Town Primary and St Johns Primary and Nursery Schools (copy of report circulated with agenda and appended to signed minutes).

 

It was noted that the DfE Basic Need Grant funding had been received and that therefore there would be no shortfall in the additional £1.55M capital funding required as per Cabinet resolution (iv) of the report.

 

RESOLVED that as there would be no shortfall in the DfE Basic Need Grant funding, the report be withdrawn.

113.

Transfer of Public Health Functions to Southampton City Council pdf icon PDF 76 KB

Report of the Cabinet Member for Communities, outlining the operational arrangements for the transfer of the Public Health function, including the approval of the relevant delegations and associated matters, attached.

 

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The report of the Cabinet Member for Communities was submitted outlining the operational arrangements for the transfer of the Public Health function, including the approval of the relevant delegations and associated matters (copy of report circulated with agenda and appended to signed minutes).

 

RESOLVED that the proposed scheme of delegation to the Director of Public Health as set out in Appendix 1 to the report, be approved and incorporated into Part 10 of the Council Constitution.

114.

Environment and Transport Capital Programme 2013/14 - Approval to Spend pdf icon PDF 85 KB

Report of the Cabinet Member for Environment and Transport regarding the Environment and Transport Capital Programme in 2013/14, attached.

 

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The report of the Cabinet Member for Environment and Transport was submitted regarding the Environment and Transport Capital Programme in 2013/14 (copy of report circulated with agenda and appended to signed minutes).

 

RESOLVED:

 

(i)  That, subject to due diligence, the additional award of £5,309,000 of Regional Growth Fund (RGF) capital funding from Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) towards the Platform for Prosperity scheme be accepted.  Acceptance would bring the total RGF award for this scheme to £10,904,000;

 

(ii)  that an additional £5,309,000 be added to the Environment and Transport Capital Programme for the Platform for Prosperity scheme, funded by the RGF Government grant. This will bring the total budget for the Platform for Prosperity scheme to £12,349,000, to be funded by £10,904,000 from the RGF and £1,445,000 from the Council, as detailed in Appendix 5 to the report;

 

(iii)  that, in accordance with Financial Procedure Rules, capital expenditure for the revised total scheme of £12,349,000, which will now be phased £61,000 in 2011/12, £1,474,000 in 2012/13, £6,640,000 in 2013/14, £3,573,000 in 2014/15 and £601,000 in 2015/16 be approved;

 

(iv)  that it be noted that Associated British Ports (ABP) is to increase its contribution to the complementary works to the Platform for Prosperity scheme within the port from £1,000,000 to £1,750,000; and

 

(v)  that it be noted there is a slight increase in the contractual obligation on the Council from BIS for the Platform for Prosperity scheme in the requirement to demonstrate job increases and potential claw back of monies, as detailed in Appendix 6 to the report.

115.

Overview and Scrutiny: Summary of Call- In Activity pdf icon PDF 67 KB

Report of the Director of Economic Development summarising the use of the Call-in procedure over the last six months, attached.

 

Minutes:

The report of the Director of Economic Development was received and noted summarising the use of the Call-in procedure over the last six months (copy of report circulated with agenda and appended to signed minutes).