Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were submitted on behalf of Councillor Smith.

To authorise the signing of the minutes of the Council Meeting and the Extraordinary Council Meeting held on 20 May, 2015, attached.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the Council meeting together with the minutes of the Extraordinary Council meeting held on 20^th May, 2015, be approved and signed as correct records.

(i)  Combined Authority

The Leader updated Members on the ongoing discussions concerning the formation of a combined Hampshire and IOW Authority. He informed Members that a number of discussions had been held. The matter had been discussed at the last two Group Leaders’ meetings and at a meeting with the Leader of Hampshire County Council on 17^th June. At the meeting of the Hampshire and IOW Local Government Association held on 19^th June, a motion, proposed by the Leader of Portsmouth City Council had been passed that a letter be sent to the Secretary of State indicating the Authorities’ interest. The matter would now be submitted to the September Council meeting for debate.

(ii)  July Budget

The Leader referred to the July Budget and the consequences that would result for the Council. Initiatives such as the living wage would have an impact on the cost of social care and the new right to buy initiatives would have an impact on the Housing Revenue Account Business Plan. The Leader felt it important for Members to be aware that these changes together with impacts such as the 7% decrease in Public Health financing would have significant implications on the Council’s budget.

It was noted that no deputations, petitions or public questions had been received.

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 then submitted in accordance with Council procedure Rule 11.1

1. Revenue Balances for Secondary School Academies

Question from Councillor Keogh to Councillor Jeffery

Can the Cabinet Member for Education and Children’s Social Care provide the revenue balances held by the Academy secondary schools in the City for the year end 31^st August 2013, 2014 and the most up to date for 2015?

Answer

Unfortunately as academy schools are not maintained by the local authority, this information is not held routinely by the Council. Information on Academy balances could be sought by Council staff from accounts filed or through requesting this information directly from the Academies themselves. A link to a website that contains all of the accounts filed by Academies is available should it be desired.

However, it should be noted that the balances held by Academies are not public information save what has been shared within the accounts and therefore the schools themselves are under no obligation to provide this information. The nature of balances held by Academies is very different to those held by maintained schools. Academy balances could include provisions for future or past and as yet unpaid liabilities whilst this is not the case for Maintained Schools, thereby leaving a disparity in the data that would make comparison very difficult to reliably achieve.

In essence we could seek to obtain the information, but it is my view that it will be of restricted usefulness, particularly if used for comparison with maintained school balances. Therefore, I do not feel it would not be an effective use of officer time to undertake this task, at a time of competing demands.

2. Day and Respite Services

Question from Councillor White to Councillor Shields

As the changes to Day and Respite Services were initially proposed to be implemented on the 1^st April can the Cabinet Member indicate the new time scales for implementation and what effect have the delays had on the Budget?

Answer

On 20 January 2015, Cabinet confirmed that no day or respite service would be closed or withdrawn until all assessments had been completed and individuals with eligible social care needs had been supported to move to suitable alternatives.

These comprehensive assessments are scheduled to be completed by 31 July 2015 and will be used to inform a new time scale for implementation, which will be considered by Cabinet on 15 September 2015.

On 11 June 2015, it was reported to the Overview and Scrutiny Management Committee, that a review of the budget savings was necessary because additional time has been needed to ensure that clients’ assessed needs can be satisfactorily met by suitable alternatives, in line with the commitments made by Cabinet, and some individuals have transferred to alternative services, while existing ones remain open.

I am now  ...  view the full minutes text for item 30.

(a)  Councillor Payne to move:

This Council recognises that the Government's drive to extend right to buy to housing associations may leave those associations struggling to replace sold stock, impacting on their future budgets. As a consequence, affordable housing supply in Southampton may suffer with the loss of existing homes, and housing associations being less inclined to borrow more money to create new ones.

Council notes that this outcome makes it less likely that housing associations would be able to take on properties in the City created by estate regeneration projects, placing a greater onus on the Council being a direct housing provider itself.

On the subject of estate regeneration, Council pledges its support and thanks to members of the Townhill Park stakeholder group. It also pledges full backing for the newly formed stakeholder group in Millbrook chaired by Cllr Cathie McEwing and welcomes that residents and other local stakeholders will take a leading role in shaping the estate's future.

(b)  Councillor Bogle to move:

This Council notes that Southampton benefits from a rich and varied history, and that there is a strong interest in heritage in the City, illustrated by the many groups and initiatives that already exist.

The Council seeks to build on these strengths to ensure Southampton makes the most of its heritage to the benefit of the local economy, civic pride and as a means of attracting visitors and investment.

The Council will work together with its partners to incorporate the promotion of Southampton’s heritage into the following areas:

·  Economic development

·  Tourism and the visitor economy

·  Boosting civic pride

·  Events and cultural developments

·  City branding

(a)  Estate Regeneration

Councillor Payne moved and Councillor Furnell seconded:

“This Council recognises that the Government's drive to extend right to buy to housing associations may leave those associations struggling to replace sold stock, impacting on their future budgets. As a consequence, affordable housing supply in Southampton may suffer with the loss of existing homes, and housing associations being less inclined to borrow more money to create new ones.

Council notes that this outcome makes it less likely that housing associations would be able to take on properties in the City created by estate regeneration projects, placing a greater onus on the Council being a direct housing provider itself.

On the subject of estate regeneration, Council pledges its support and thanks to members of the Townhill Park stakeholder group. It also pledges full backing for the newly formed stakeholder group in Millbrook chaired by Cllr Cathie McEwing and welcomes that residents and other local stakeholders will take a leading role in shaping the estate's future”.

With the consent of the Mayor, Honorary Alderman Baillie addressed the Council on concerns regarding the estate regeneration programme.

UPON BEING PUT TO THE VOTE THE MOTION WAS DECLARED CARRIED

RESOLVED that the motion be approved.

(b)  Southampton’s Heritage

Councillor Bogle moved and Councillor Tucker seconded:

This Council notes that Southampton benefits from a rich and varied history, and that there is a strong interest in heritage in the City, illustrated by the many groups and initiatives that already exist.

The Council seeks to build on these strengths to ensure Southampton makes the most of its heritage to the benefit of the local economy, civic pride and as a means of attracting visitors and investment.

The Council will work together with its partners to incorporate the promotion of Southampton’s heritage into the following areas:

·  Economic development

·  Tourism and the visitor economy

·  Boosting civic pride

·  Events and cultural developments

·  City branding

UPON BEING PUT TO THE VOTE THE MOTION WAS DECLARED CARRIED

RESOLVED that the motion be approved.

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

It was noted that the following changes to the appointments to Committees, Sub-Committees and other bodies had been made:

Councillor Thomas had been appointed to the Licensing Committee;

Councillor Morrell had been appointed to the Overview and Scrutiny Management Committee;

Councillor Parnell had replaced Councillor B Harris on South East Employers; and

Mr David Basson had been re-appointed as the Council’s Designated Independent Person for the period July 2015 - July 2018.

Report of the Cabinet Member for Finance seeking approval of the General Fund Revenue Outturn 2014/15, attached. 

The Council agreed to debate the business under minutes 34 – 38 together and therefore agreed to suspend Council procedure Rules 14.2, 14.5, 14.6, 14.7, 14.8, 14.9 and 16.2 to allow any amendments to be debated together and to allow maximum procedural flexibility within the debate for items 34 – 38.

The report of the Cabinet Member for Finance was submitted seeking approval of the General Fund Revenue Outturn 2014/15.

RESOLVED

(i)  That it be noted the final outturn for 2014/15 detailed in Appendix 1 of the report is an under-spend of £13.9M which after allocations to reserves provides a net contribution to general fund balances of £5.7M;

(ii)  That it be noted that including the £5.7M in resolution 1 above, the level of General Fund balances at 31March 2015 was  £19.9M, reducing to £12.8M by 31 March 2016;

(iii)  That the transfer of £6.2M to the Medium Term Financial Risk Reserve and £2.0M to the Taxation Reserve as detailed in paragraph 20 of the report be noted and is in line with the reserves prioritisation as detailed in the Medium Term Financial Strategy (MTFS) approved by Council in February 2015;

(iv)  That the performance of individual Portfolios in managing their budgets as set out in paragraph 8 of the report be noted together with the major variances in Appendix 2 to the report;

(v)  That the carry forward requests totalling £0.3M as outlined in paragraph 15  and set out in Appendix 3 to the report be approved and funded from reserves; and

(vi)  That the creation of a Revenue Grants Reserve as detailed in paragraph 16 of the report be noted.

Report of the Cabinet Member for Finance seeking approval of the General Fund Capital Outturn 2014/15, attached

The report of the Cabinet Member for Finance was submitted seeking approval of the General Fund Capital Outturn 2014/15.

RESOLVED

(i)  That the actual capital spending in 2014/15 as shown in paragraphs 4 and 5 of the report be noted together with the major variances detailed in Appendix 1 and Appendix 2 to the report;

(ii)  That the revised estimates for 2015/16, adjusted for slippage and re-phasing as shown in Appendix 3 to the report be noted;

(iii)  That the proposed capital financing in 2014/15 as shown in paragraph 12 of the report be approved;

(iv)  That it be noted that the capital programme remains fully funded up to 2017/18 based on the latest forecast of available resourcesalthough the forecast could be subject to change; most notably with regard to the value and timing of anticipated capital receipts; and

(v)  That the addition and spend of £3.0M to the Environment and Transport portfolio capital programme in 2014/15 to fund the purchase of 10 refuse collection vehicles and 65 other vehicles to be funded by council resources be approved.

Report of the Chief Financial Officer concerning the actual payments made to and from the collection fund during the 2014/15 financial year, attached.

The report of the Chief Financial Officer was submitted concerning the actual payments made to and from the collection fund during the 2014/15 financial year.

RESOLVED that the accounts for the Collection Fund in 2014/15 as shown in

Appendix 1 to the report be noted.

Report of the Chief Financial Officer concerning the treasury management activities for 2014/15, attached. 

The report of the Chief Financial Officer was submitted concerning the treasury management activities for 2014/15.

RESOLVED

(i)  That the Treasury Management (TM) activities for 2014/15 and the outturn on the Prudential Indicators be noted;

(ii)  That it be noted the continued proactive approach to TM had led to reductions in borrowing costs and safeguarded investment income during the year; and

(iii)  That the revised Minimum Revenue Provision (MRP) policy as detailed in Appendix 4 of the report be approved and delegated authority be granted to the Chief Financial Officer to make any future changes which benefit the authority and to report back at the next Treasury update.

Report of the Cabinet Member for Housing and Sustainability detailing the level of spend on the Housing Revenue Account for the financial year 2014/15, attached. 

The report of the Cabinet Member for Housing and Sustainability was submitted detailing the level of spend on the Housing Revenue Account for the financial year 2014/15.

RESOLVED

(i)  that the HRA revenue outturn for the financial year 2014/15, as set out in Appendix 1 to the report, and the working balance at the end of the year of £2,000,000 be noted;

(ii)  that the HRA capital outturn for the financial year 2014/15, as summarised in paragraph 12 of the report be noted;

(iii)  that the amendments to schemes in the HRA Capital Programme for 2015/16, as set out in Appendix 3 to the report to take account of the slippage and re-phasing in 2014/15 be approved; and

(iv)  that the 2014/15 capital financing, as set out in paragraph 17 of the report, be noted and further that the use of available resources would be reviewed as part of the next full update of the HRA Business Plan later in 2015.

Report of the Leader of the Council seeking additional funding to ensure the delivery of the project, attached.

The report of the Leader of the Council was submitted seeking additional funding to ensure the delivery of the project.

RESOLVED

(i)  that in accordance with Financial Procedure Rules, an additional sum of £1,959,000 be added to the Leader’s Capital Programme for delivery of the New Arts Complex Project and that this be funded from Council resources;

(ii)  that the Chief Financial Officer be granted delegated authority, following consultation with the Cabinet Member for Finance, to determine the most appropriate way of financing this sum;

(iii)  that it be noted that the scheme value changes from £23,150,000 to £25,109,000, with a revised phasing of £9,458,000 in prior years, £10,457,000 in 2015/16, £5,016,000 in 2016/17 and £178,000 in 2017/18; and

(iv)  that delegated authority be granted to the Head of Leisure, Culture, Planning and Transport to complete all operational matters including the granting of leases.

NOTE: Councillor Pope abstained from voting on the above matter.