Agenda item

Verbal Report of the Leader of the Council.

A verbal report of the Leader of the Council was given 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.  Streetlight Hours of Operation

 

Councillor Moulton to Councillor Keogh

 

QUESTION:

 

Can the Cabinet Member advise what times council streetlights are switched off over-night, and if any changes have been made in the last few months, including any changes to the list of roads or alleyways which had previously had lights on all night and were exempted from being switched off?  Can the Cabinet Member also advise if he has been involved in any decisions or briefings (formal or by email) in recent months, relating to coverage or hours of operation of streetlights, or if the council are seeking further savings from turning lights off.  Finally, if changes have been made or are made, can the Cabinet Member advise what consultation or communication has taken place or takes place with stakeholders, including local ward Councillors and the local constabulary.

 

ANSWER:

 

The Council’s policy is for designated streetlights (primarily residential roads) to be switched off every night between 1am to 5:30am.  This timing has not altered over the last few months, nor the inventory of roads or alleyways, etc. that are included within the inventory of lamp columns that are affected.  Officers have not raised the prospect of changes to the coverage or hours of operation of the policy, with a view to potential future energy and carbon reduction savings in the future.  The street lighting client team continue to monitor the effectiveness of the nighttime lighting policy and stay in tune with other neighbouring highway authorities and the national picture in relation to part-night adoption.

 

2.  Council Tax

 

Councillor P Baillie to Councillor Fielker

 

Are you fully aware of the cumulative effect of SCC council tax rises?

 

ANSWER:

 

Yes

 

3.  Townhill Part Estate Regeneration

 

Councillor P Baillie to Councillor Frampton

 

QUESTION:

 

The Estate Regeneration of Townhill Park may have its end in sight, after over 12 ½ years of delay by this Labour Administration. Are you not ashamed by the financial & social impact of such a delay? Especially when your latest plan is almost identical to the plan which Full Council passed in March 2012.

 

 

 

ANSWER:

 

We fully understand the need to move forward with delivery of much needed new homes in Townhill Park.  We also recognise that the delays – caused by a range of factors – has impacted on the local area and those who live and work there. We have worked closely with the SO18 Big Local and now the successor Thrill organisation to ensure that there is communication and engagement with residents. Our aim has been to keep residents informed along this challenging journey in many ways including bulletins, meetings and consultations. We have been using funding from the Brownfield Land Infrastructure Fund to clear land to make way for new homes and we have been pleased to announce that locally based Abri will work in partnership with the council on the first two plots. The first plot covers the existing Benhams Road, Meggeson Avenue, Hallet Close and Cutbush Lane. The second plot encompasses Meggeson Avenue shops and residential, where a new convenience store and community café have been proposed. The council has now also been out to tender for two more plots they are currently being evaluated and further announcements in early 2025.

 

4.  Road Congestion in Southampton

 

Councillor P Baillie to Councillor Keogh

 

QUESTION:

 

What are you actually doing to reduce the disgraceful current road congestion in Southampton? The impression being given is that this Labour Administration doesn’t actually care one bit about how long residents have to spend in traffic jams.

 

ANSWER:

 

Verbal response to be provided.

 

I assure you we as a Labour administration do care about the impact that congestion has on our residents and our businesses.

 

We are a congested city as illustrated by our regular top 10 position in the league table for congested cities in England.  There are many reasons that explain the congestion issued faced by the city at this current time.

 

The continued upgrades on the M27 motorway are pushing more and more traffic into the city to avoid the regular lane closures both planned and unplanned.  Every day the echo reports of a break down or accident on the M27.  However, this is a matter for National England Highways and whilst we welcome the long term benefits of these upgrades we are suffering short term pain.

 

The congestion arising from the repair to the landslide at the St Denys road bridge crossing was clearly an unexpected event but officers from our transport team working with out highways contractor have been instrumental in ensuring the necessary stakeholder engagement took place to ensure the repair is now taking place and the appropriate traffic management system is in places to support.

 

Outside the civic centre the repair is only happening because of the foresight in our transport team in applying for funding to ensure they can be replaced with latest technology available.

 

However, even when the upgrade on the M27 is completed, the St Denys road bridge is reopened and the civic centre traffic lights are upgrades, there will still be congestion in our city. 

 

The simple fact is that as a nation we have not invested in our transport network and the infrastructure is outdated, failing and in need of upgrading.  The previous government did provide investment, but it is not on a scale that would fix the problem long term and nor was it integrated, connected, and sustainable.

 

This is why I am both pleased and relieved that a Labour Government will tomorrow be announcing the first national transport strategy in decades to solve a congestion issue that is nationwide and provide a solution that in connected, integrated, accessible and attractive.

 

And let me just finally say when you say this Labour administration does not care, please remember we have many dedicated staff who work in our transport team and in our highways provider who absolutely do care about the harm congestion is having on our residents and it is an insult to their efforts and commitment to frame this question in the way you have. 

 

 

5.  Electric Scooters

 

Councillor P Baillie to Councillor Keogh

 

Electric scooters are a complete menace on our roads and pavements. What are you doing to try and control them?

 

ANSWER:

Southampton City Council, via the Solent Future Transport Zone, is participating in the Department for Transport e-scooter trial. Voi, the tendered operator, is contractually required to provide a platform for the public to report dangerous behaviour (https://report.voi.com/) and takes action against misuse, e.g. pavement riding, twin riding, or intoxicated riding. Voi enforces a three-strike policy. Users are given a warning on their first offence (1,193 users since March 2021), a £25 fine on their second offence (85 users) and a ban on their third offence (59 users) Voi also undertakes educational campaigns through its hire app, and conducts site specific campaigns to observe user behaviour. The Council is only able to influence e-scooter behaviour through the official Voi rental e-scooter trial. Private e-scooters remain illegal and are more difficult to control, although last week the Transport Secretary announced that the government plans to legalise private e-scooters. The Council continues to work closely with the Police through its Road Safety Partnerships to target e-scooter anti-social behaviour. The Council also continues to build more cycle lanes which will help to encourage both cyclists and e-scooter users to feel confident to ride on the roads rather than on the pavement.

 

 

 

 

 

 

6.  Climate Citizens Assemby Update

 

Councillor Barbour to Councillor Savage

 

QUESTION:

 

A year after the climate citizens assembly on transport where 10 recommendations were made what progress has the administration made in implementation.

 

ANSWER:

 

Since the Assembly, the Council has completed several projects which align with the recommendations made, including improving bus priority and bus hubs in the City Centre to improve journey time reliability, improve cycle connections on Southampton Cycle Network Route 5 Chandlers Ford to City Centre, and implementing Active Travel Zones to create safer pedestrian access. Planned actions include further work on a metro-style transport system with our regional partners as part of recent Bus Service Improvement Plan, upgrading traffic signal technology to improve traffic flow, and additional work on how to promote the work and messaging that the Assembly carried out. The Council will publish an update of achievements made against the recommendations in March 2025 which is the one year anniversary of the launch of the Assembly’s recommendations. The update to the Three Year Implementation Plan 2025-20208 for the Local Transport Plan will include projects which have been recommended from the Citizens Assembly, with the update being ready for Summer 2025.

 

7.  Proposed Millbrook Bus Lane

 

Councillor Galton to Councillor Keogh

 

QUESTION:

 

What consideration has the cabinet member given to the impact of existing cut through traffic along King George's Avenue and surrounding roads, plus the congestion at the Millbrook Road end of Regents Park road when proposing your planned bus lane for Millbrook Road West?

 

ANSWER:

A33 Millbrook Road West was widened to create space for a section of bus lane completed in July 2021. As part of that project, consideration was made of the impact on adjacent roads such as King Geroge’s Avenue and Regents Park Road. A community consultation took place which determined that the adjacent service road would be made one way eastbound to limit the impact on these roads. In addition, a 20mph speed limit has been introduced in the area to improve road safety. The proposed bus lane has been subject to a detailed traffic simulation model which has provided information such as queue lengths at the junctions, which has determined the extent of the bus lanes that are proposed on the corridor.

 

8.  Capital Projects Update

 

Councillor Blackman to Councillor Letts

 

QUESTION:

 

The report on the Capital Outturn 23/24 submitted to July Council included information on slippage in 31 projects, including the modernisation of the Outdoor Sports Centre. How many of these projects have caught up with their schedules since the summer?

 

ANSWER:

 

Appendix 1 of the July 2024 Council report outlines the slippage and rephasing of projects within the capital programme. Under each project there is an explanation of the revised programme and the reason for the need to change the programme.  There are a wide range of reasons for reprogramming the capital projects, these include for example timing relating to other external sources of funding, moving works to school holiday times to avoid disruption to classes, reprogramming road works to ensure that works are planned at the optimum time to reduce impact on road users, going out to tender again to get the best price for the Council. So whilst the slippage and rephasing can often appear to be initially negative this may not be the case. In light of the on-going slippage, which is not uncommon within a large a capital programme, a Capital Delivery Performance Board is being established to ensure that where slippage is occurring swift action can be taken, where needed.

 

9.  Local Investment Update

 

Councillor Chapman to Councillor Bogle

 

QUESTION:

 

Southampton is facing increasing exasperation from businesses and investors due to persistent delays and a lack of responsiveness from the Council, which is hindering vital community investment projects. Examples of this can be found in the delayed Aldi development at Shirley Retail Park or the closure and failure to facilitate a new tenant at Southampton Sports Centre Pleasure Park, there are significantly more. Can the council provide updates on these two projects and explain what actions are being taken to address these issues and support local investment?

 

ANSWER:

 

The future of 271 Winchester Road in Shirley is the subject of a report that will be considered at the December Cabinet and the February 2025 Council meeting. This has been published on the Forward Plan. In relation to the Pleasure Park at the Outdoor Sports Centre, this operates under a sub lease through Active Nation who operate the site. Active Nation at this time are unable to make any long term agreements beyond the end of their contract. However, there are £30m of major works planned for the Outdoor Sports Centre that will be completed over the next two years and this will lead to significant improvements and an increase in use of the centre. Once all the contractors have left site and the major works are completed this may lead to increase in the interest in investing in the site such as the area currently used as a Pleasure Park.

 

10.  SCC Transformation Programme

 

Councillor Chapman to Councillor Letts

 

QUESTION:

 

With the current administration awarding a £9 million consultancy contract for the delivery of their transformation programme without testing the market either independently or through established framework: Can the administration assure residents this decision represents value for money, and clarify which financial year will bear these costs?

 

ANSWER:

 

The appointment of Newton Europe (“NE”) was subject to a competitive procurement process, as set out in the report to Cabinet and Council of 17/09/24 and 18/09/24 respectively. The report can be found HERE –

(https://www.southampton.gov.uk/moderngov/documents/s75345/Transformation%20Update%20-%20RPT.pdf).

 

 

 

The key paragraphs are 8-14 inclusive.

In summary:

·  Newton Europe (“NE”) was appointed through the Crown Commercial Service (CCS) RM6187 Management Consultancy Framework Three Agreement (“MCF3”). This framework is run by CCS and is compliant with Public Contracts Regulations 2015

·  This framework includes a maximum framework price against which bidders provide their price to ensure best value is evidenced. Following the competitive process, the Council received 8 expressions of interest and subsequently 2 bids, and Newton Europe were identified through a Most Economically Advantageous Tender evaluation as the successful bidder. In March 2024 NE were appointed to undertake a Diagnostic Phase of work. This process envisaged and gave the Council discretion (subject to approval) to appoint NE to undertake a follow-on Implementation Phase.

·  Cabinet then approved, on 27/08/24, the appointment of NE as the Council’s interim transformation partner to initiate implementation activity covering the period September and October 2024.

·  Cabinet and Council then approved, on 17/09/24 and 18/09/24 respectively, the recommendations of the report to:

“Cabinet:

·  To approve the release of transformation funding as detailed in ‘Resource Implications’ from reserves or the Exceptional Financial Support (EFS) facility

·  To approve the appointment of Newton Europe Ltd (“Newton Europe”) as transformation partner to support the implementation of “adapt | grow | thrive” transformation savings proposals

·  To delegate authority to the Chief Executive following consultation with the Leader of the Council to take all necessary actions, including finalising contractual and commercial arrangements, in order to complete the appointment of the transformation partner.

Council:

·  To approve the release of transformation funding as detailed in ‘Resource Implications’ from reserves or the Exceptional Financial Support (EFS) facility”

The appointment of Newton Europe supports the delivery of the council’s transformation programme, which expects to achieve c£50m of recurrent annual savings across the Medium-Term Financial Strategy period (to 2028/29).

The £9m one-off fee relating to the Implementation Partner contract will be paid, subject to successful delivery of the agreed contractual outcomes, across the 2024/25 and 2025/26 financial years as set out in paragraph 37 of the report to Cabinet and Council. Current expectation is that this will be profiled as follows:

 Financial Year  2024/25  2025/26

Contract Spend  £4.9m  £4.1m