Agenda and minutes

Venue: Council Chamber - Civic Centre

Contact: Judy Cordell and Claire Heather  023 8083 2766/2412

Items
No. Item

74.

Minutes pdf icon PDF 7 MB

To authorise the signing of the minutes of the Special Council Meeting held on 16th November 2016 and the Council Meetings held on 16th November 2016 and 15th February 2017, attached.

Minutes:

RESOLVED that the minutes of the Special Council meeting held on 16th November 2016 and the Council meetings held on 16th November and 15th February 2017 be approved and signed as a correct record subject to an amendment to the 15th February’s meeting, minute 69(i) that it was Lucia Foster Welch 90th Anniversary not Birthday. 

75.

Announcements from the Mayor and Leader

Matters especially brought forward by the Mayor and the Leader.

Minutes:

(i)  The Mayor announced this was the last meeting of the Municipal Year and thanked Members for their contributions made during the year.

(ii)  The Mayor announced there were a number of journalism students from Southampton Solent University in the public gallery observing the meeting.

(iii)  Members stood in a minute’s silence following the recent death of Southampton Athletics coach Mike Smith who had nurtured the talents of Olympic, Commonwealth and European medal winners including Iwan Thomas MBE, Kriss Akabusi, Todd Bennett, Roger Black and Donna Hartley.

(iv)  The Mayor announced that Southampton City Council had received highly commended in both the Driving Growth Award for the Economic Development and Skills Team and the Rising Star Award for James Marshall, Service Lead, Customer Insight and Engagement at this year’s Local Government Chronicle Awards ceremony.

(v)  The Mayor announced that following agreement from Group Leaders items 9-12 would be considered ahead of Executive Business and subsequent items.

(vi)  The Mayor announced that this was her last meeting of her mayoral year and as such thanked her charities for all their work.

(vii)  The Mayor announced that her Charity Ball would be taking place on 28th April 2017.

(viii)  The Mayor announced that as part of her charity fundraising she would be abseiling down the Spinnaker Tower on 30th April 2017.

(ix)  The Leader thanked the Mayor for her chairing of the Council meetings over the last Municipal/Mayoral Year.

76.

Executive Business Report pdf icon PDF 106 KB

Report of the Leader of the Council detailing the business undertaken across the Council since 16th November 2016.

Minutes:

The report of the Leader of the Council was submitted setting out the details of the business undertaken by the Executive.

 

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

 

The following questions were submitted in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 11.1. 

 

1.  “To Let” Boards

Question from Councillor Claisse to Councillor Shields

 

The Cabinet Member recently introduced a number of measures to reduce the number of ‘To Let’ boards used by landlords to advertise their properties.  These have been proved to be ineffective.  What further action will the Cabinet member take to resolve this problem?

 

Answer

 

The law allows Letting Boards to be used legitimately. However there are occasions when they remain after the time when they should be removed. In such cases the enforcement of Letting Boards is undertaken using planning legislation. The HMO Licensing team are assisting with the enforcement of the planning law around letting boards with some success.

To check the status of each letting board requires the Council to contact the letting agency and confirm whether the property is being marketed, and the date that it has been let. Only then can formal action be taken against unauthorised boards. The Council is at liberty to write to all letting agents within the city to remind them of the regulations and that there may be spot checks done on properties that we have reason to believe may have unauthorised letting boards. The Planning Enforcement team does not currently have the resources to undertake a targeted campaign against letting boards. With current resources in the Licensing and Planning teams it is not possible to undertake high-profile, proactive campaigns to address the issue of Letting Boards in particular areas. However, if members are aware of specific properties where residents are aware that Letting Boards are breaching planning legislation then we can investigate these.

Furthermore the Licensing and Planning teams have looked at whether an article 7 direction could be pursued to enable further control over Letting Boards, as has been done by some other councils such as in Newcastle-upon-Tyne and Brighton & Hove. Again, to introduce this would require significant resources in place to scope, implement and enforce the direction 

 

2.  Disabled Adaptations Budget

Question from Councillor Laurentto Councillor Payne

 

I note that the Disabled Adaptations Budget is to be increased to meet the needs of ageing residents.  Will it now be Council Policy to update and install disabled exit and access to the older blocks of flats and can a rolling programme be put in place?

 

 

Answer

 

The disabled adaptations budget is designed to enable adaptations to individual properties to meet the needs of the resident.

 

The council owns and manages a large number of low rise ‘walk up’ blocks which were not originally constructed with lifts. In order to provide full disabled access to these blocks, lifts would be required. Budget constraints mean that a rolling programme cannot currently be implemented but we are looking in detail at ways that we might be  ...  view the full minutes text for item 76.

77.

Pay Policy 2017-2018 pdf icon PDF 109 KB

Report of the Chief Executive concerning the Annual Pay Policy Statement for 2017-2018, attached.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The report of the Leader was submitted seeking approval of the Council’s Pay Policy Statement for 2017-2018 in accordance with the requirement under Section 38 (1) of the Localism Act 2011.

 

RESOVLED

(i)  That the Pay Policy Statement for 2017-2018 be approved;

(ii)  That the implementation of the Living Wage Foundation increase as the minimum hourly rate for NJC evaluated posts from 1st April 2017 be noted; and

(iii)  That the cost of living award (year 2 of the national pay award agreed for 2016 and 2017) be noted.

78.

Motions

(a)  Councillor Moulton to move:

 

Council believes that Guildhall Square was not designed to be a skateboard park and recognises that use by skateboarders over time has caused damaged to the benches and that some visitors to the square, particularly the elderly, can find the presence of skateboarders to be a concern.

 

Council agrees that Guildhall Square and Northern Above Bar were developed with the aim of appealing to a broad range of age groups and with the new art centre due to open shortly that now is the time encourage skateboarders to move to a more suitable location.

 

Council resolves to enter into a dialogue with skateboarders, to discuss with them what alternative facilities would encourage them to relocate and to work up plans to either produce a new facility in the city centre or to upgrade / amend the existing facility in Hoglands Park. Council resolves to fund any work via the use of developer contributions where possible.

 

(b)  Councillor Moulton to move:

 

Council resolves to make Southampton the most attractive place in the UK for the use of Ultra Low Emission Vehicles. Council recognises the enormous contribution that electric or zero emission vehicles can provide to Southampton's air quality problem and therefore will look at best practice in other towns and cities, with a view to introducing both local incentives for electric car use and to significantly improving availability of charging points. Amongst other initiatives Council agrees to allow electric cars to use bus lanes, to have free city centre and district centre parking, to scrap residents' parking charges for electric vehicles and Itchen bridge tolls. Council also agrees to review planning policies to introduce requirements for rapid charge electric vehicle charging points for suitable new developments, such as petrol stations, supermarkets etc.

 

(c)  Councillor Shields to move:

 

The City Council recognises that the world faces an environmental crisis resulting from man-made climate change for which we all have a responsibility.

 

The City Council wants to set ambitious targets for making Southampton 100% clean by 2040 in line with the commitments made by the UK government and several other national governments at the 2015 Paris World Leaders’ Summit.

 

The City Council therefore commits to a shift to 100% clean energy by 2040, building on our existing targets in the Council’s 2011 Low Carbon City Strategy to reduce City-wide CO2 emissions by 2020 and in line with our commitments as a signatory to the European Covenant of Mayors for Climate Change and Energy in 2012.

Minutes:

(a)  Skateboarding in Guildhall Square

 

Councillor Moulton moved and Councillor Fitzhenry seconded:

 

Council believes that Guildhall Square was not designed to be a skateboard park and recognises that use by skateboarders over time has caused damaged to the benches and that some visitors to the square, particularly the elderly, can find the presence of skateboarders to be a concern.

 

Council agrees that Guildhall Square and Northern Above Bar were developed with the aim of appealing to a broad range of age groups and with the new art centre due to open shortly that now is the time encourage skateboarders to move to a more suitable location.

 

Council resolves to enter into a dialogue with skateboarders, to discuss with them what alternative facilities would encourage them to relocate and to work up plans to either produce a new facility in the city centre or to upgrade / amend the existing facility in Hoglands Park. Council resolves to fund any work via the use of developer contributions where possible.

 

Amendment moved by Councillor Paffey and Councillor Kaur seconded:

 

First paragraph, delete.

 

Second paragraph, first line, delete “agrees” and replace with: “celebrates the fact that the redevelopment of”.  Delete “were developed with” and replace with “is achieving”.  Third line, delete “that now is the time to encourage skateboarders to move to a more suitable location” and replace with “Council is keen to encourage all groups to use this public space considerately.

 

Third paragraph, first line, delete “enter into a” and replace with “continue the positive” delete “with skateboarders” and replace with “that has begun”. Delete “discuss” and replace with “produce”.  Second line, delete “what alternative facilities would encourage them to relocate” and replace with “a Code of Conduct to continue to promote the Cultural Quarter as a place for everyone”. Third line, delete “work up plans to either produce a new facility in the city centre or to upgrade/amend the existing facility in Hoglands Park.  Council resolves to fund any work via the use of developer contributions where possible” and replace with “carry on developing and improving facilities for skateboarders across the City”

 

 

Amended Motion to read:

 

Council celebrates the fact that the redevelopment of Guildhall Square and Northern Above Bar is achieving the aim of appealing to a broad range of age groups, and with the new arts centre due to open shortly, Council is keen to encourage all groups to use this public space considerately.

 

Council resolves to continue the positive dialogue that has begun with skateboarders, to produce with them a Code of Conduct, to continue to promote the Cultural Quarter as a place for everyone, and to carry on developing and improving facilities for skateboarders across the City.

 

With the consent of the Mayor Councillor Moulton proposed an altered amendment to the amendment and Councillor Fitzhenry seconded:

Altered amendment to read:

 

Council celebrates the fact that the redevelopment of Guildhall Square and Northern Above Bar is achieving the aim of appealing to a broad range of age groups, and  ...  view the full minutes text for item 78.

79.

Safe City Strategy 2017-2020 pdf icon PDF 93 KB

To consider the report of the Cabinet Member for Environment and Transport seeking approval for an updated and amended Safe City Strategy 2017-2020, attached.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The report of the Cabinet Member for Environment and Transport was submitted seeking approval of the Safe City Strategy 2017 2020.

 

Council noted that in relation to paragraph 3 of the report wording had been omitted from the text therefore the re-worded paragraph was noted as follows:

 

The Community Safety Strategic Assessment 2016 identified that Hampshire Constabulary recorded a 19% increase in recorded crime in 2015/16. However, the rise in reported crime is largely driven by crime data integrity improvements by Hampshire Constabulary following an HMIC audit in 2014. This is the first full year of the new recording practices and hence, this latest increase is not unexpected.

 

RESOLVED that the Safe City Strategy 2017-2020 be approved.

80.

Health and Wellbeing Strategy 2017 - 2025 pdf icon PDF 80 KB

Report of the Cabinet Member for Health and Sustainable Living seeking the approval of the Health and Wellbeing Strategy 2017 - 2025, attached.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The report of the Cabinet Member for Health and Sustainable Living was submitted seeking approval of the Health and Wellbeing Strategy 2017-2025.

 

RESOLVED that the Health and Wellbeing Strategy 2017-2025 be approved.

81.

APPOINTMENT OF RETURNING OFFICER AND ELECTORAL REGISTRATION OFFICER pdf icon PDF 61 KB

Report of the Chief Executive seeking Council approval to appoint the Returning Officer and Electoral Registration Officer, attached.

Minutes:

The report of the Leader was submitted seeking confirmation of the Returning Officer and Electoral Registration Officer arrangements.

 

RESOLVED that the actions taken by the Chief Executive in December 2016 under delegated powers that Mark Heath be appointed in a personal capacity as the Returning Officer for local elections and the Electoral Registration Officer in the City and the Acting Returning Officer for UK Parliamentary Elections and European Elections from 1st January 2017 be noted.