Agenda and minutes

THE LORD MAYOR (COUNCILLOR RAYMENT) IN THE CHAIR

RESOLVED: that Riya Bharathram be elected as the second Children’s Mayor of Southampton.

RESOLVED: upon the motion of the Lord Mayor (Councillor Rayment) and seconded by the Sherriff (Councillor Laurent), that the City of Southampton Award be presented to: -

Mr Archie Parsons

Mr Paul Woodman

RESOLVED: upon the motion of Councillor Fitzhenry and seconded by Councillor Fielker, that Councillor Laurent be elected to the Office of 801st Mayor of Southampton and the 2^nd Lord Mayor of Southampton and Chair of the Council for the ensuing year.

The Lord Mayor (Councillor Laurent) then made and subscribed to the Declaration of Acceptance of Office.

THE LORD MAYOR (COUNCILLOR LAURENT) IN THE CHAIR

The Lord Mayor announced that she would be supporting as her charities, City Farm, Sea Cadets and Saints Foundation.

RESOLVED: upon the motion of Councillor Windle and seconded by Councillor Beaurain that Councillor Shields be appointed the 586th Sheriff of the City of Southampton and Vice-Chair of the Council for the ensuing year.

The Sheriff (Councillor Shields) then made and subscribed to the Declaration of Acceptance of Office.

RESOLVED: upon the Motion of Councillor Mrs Blatchford and seconded by Councillor Houghton that the Council places on record that Councillor Mrs Rayment carried out the role of our historic 800th Mayor and 1st Lord Mayor with distinction and with an unparalleled devotion to duty during the period of her office.

RESOLVED: that the Southampton Business Success Award be presented to Ocean Infinity and Labl.it Solutions Ltd.

RESOLVED: that former Councillors Les Harris, Marley Guthrie, Joshua Payne, John Hannides, Spiros Vassiliou, David Fuller, Ivan White, Gordon Cooper, Amanda Guest, Matthew Magee, Rob Stead, Lisa Mitchell, Hannah Coombs, David Furnell, Elliot Prior and Barrie Margetts be thanked for their service to the City during their period in office.

AT THE RECONVENED MEETING OF THE SOUTHAMPTON CITY COUNCIL HELD IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBER, CIVIC CENTRE ON 17th MAY, 2022

To authorise the signing of the minutes of the Council Meeting held on 15^th March 2023, attached.

RESOLVED: that the minutes of the Council meeting held on 15th March 2023 be approved and signed as a correct record.

Matters especially brought forward by the Lord Mayor and the Leader.

(i)  Late Councillor Graham Galton – Minute Silence

  The Lord Mayor announced the sad loss of our former Councillor and   Colleague Graham Galton on Polling Day. Our sincere condolences and   thoughts go to his wife Diana, son, Stephen and his wider family at this time.   Please stand and join me for a minute’s silence as a mark of respect. 

(ii)   Appointments – New Councillors

  The Lord Mayor thanked all Members for their support in electing her as the   City’s 801st Mayor and 2^nd Lord Mayor and welcomed everyone back to the   Council Chamber following the recent all-out elections as a result of the   Boundary Commission Review. The Lord Mayor also welcomed to the   meeting all those Councillors who were attending their first meeting together with those who had successfully defended their seats.

(iii)   Filming

The Lord Mayor announced that the meeting is open to being film and reminded those filming that the right to film is limited to the duration of the meeting and recording must cease when I close the meeting. Filming or recording was not permitted if the effect would be to interrupt or disturb the proceedings or if it was intrusive of a specific individual or individuals.  If in the Lord Mayor opinion this was occurring, it would not be permitted, and she would ask you to stop. Similarly, some members of the public attending the meeting may object to being filmed, photographed or recorded.  The Lord Mayor would be making those attending the meeting today aware and would ask those filming, to respect their wishes, and would expect that these were complied with. As was the case when Council met in the Guildhall the meeting is being live streamed. 

(v)  Meeting Protocol

The Lord Mayor referred to the need for these meetings to run efficiently and effectively and asked Members to keep in mind through the year the basic courtesies we need to adhere to for this to happen: – timeliness both in arriving at the meeting and listening carefully to the speeches and arguments. The Lord Mayor further requested that Members remembered the courtesies they would like from members when speaking and for the benefit of the public Members remain in the seat allocated or if you wish to move, you give notice of your intention prior to the next meeting so that copies displayed in public areas could be amended.

(vi)  Mobile phones and electronic devices

The Lord Mayor reminded Members, wi-fi is available in the Council Chamber. The use of mobile electronic devices can therefore be used in the Chamber and in Committee Meetings.  The Lord Mayor urged Members to use their good sense and behave with courtesy, particularly in not tweeting messages which would otherwise be in breach of our rules or the law. For example, tweeting material discussed in confidential session would be a very serious breach.  As in previous years, there was a £25 fine for mobile phones ringing and this would go to the Lord Mayor’s  ...  view the full minutes text for item 10.

To elect a Leader of the Council for the ensuing year. Following the election the Leader will announce membership of the Cabinet.

The nomination of Councillor Kaur was moved and seconded.

RESOLVED: that in the absence of no other nominations Councillor Kaur be duly elected as Leader of the Council for the ensuing year.

Following her election as Leader, Councillor Kaur informed the Council of her Cabinet and their Portfolio responsibilities.

Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Adults, Housing and Health - Councillor Fielker

Cabinet Member for Finance and Change - Councillor Leggett

Cabinet Member for Economic Development - Councillor Bogle

Cabinet Member for Environment and Transport - Councillor Keogh

Cabinet Member for Children and Learning - Councillor Winning

Cabinet Member for Communities and Leisure - Councillor Kataria

The Leader informed Members that the content of each of the Portfolios would be shared following the meeting.

Report of the Director of Governance, Legal & HR outlining proposed changes to the Constitution.

Councillor Kaur moved the report of the Director Legal, Governance and HR and Monitoring Officer detailing the Annual Review of the Council’s Constitution and Councillor Fielker seconded.

Amendment moved by Councillor Moulton and seconded by Councillor P Baillie.

The following wording to be “deleted” from the proposals:-

Council Procedure Rules – Executive Business Report

Paragraph 5. It has been proposed by the Leader of the Council that the written Executive Business Report (EBR) for noting currently tabled at every ordinary meeting of Council is converted to a verbal update comprising the 15 minute period for Cabinet Members to do so and the 15 minute period for members to ask questions on matters raised.

Paragraph 6. There is no obligation to present a written, or any, EBR update. Historically it was placed on the agenda some years ago prior to the current live streaming of council meetings and comprehensive use of all forms of “instant” social media, Council communications including the Council’s Twitter account, online mailings etc. By the time the EBR is tabled and considered by Council most matters have already been in the public domain for some weeks or implemented having been previously decided at Cabinet and/or been

publicised widely. It is therefore considered that whilst originally there was

merit in tabling the report that has now passed to a great extent. Additionally,

there is also, of course, an officer resource needed to complete what is often

a very comprehensive noting report and it is considered better use could be

made of this resource.

Paragraph 7. One important aspect which holds the Administration to account is the ability for opposition members to ask questions, without notice, on matters contained in the EBR. This will be retained but it is noted that if there is no written report on the agenda if a certain matter is not mentioned verbally by the Cabinet Member the opportunity to ask a question is lost. However, numerous other avenues to hold the Executive/Administration to account are available including tabled Council Questions as below, the well-honed scrutiny function and, of course, the ordinary use of emails etc outside of formal meetings. The exact wording in the Constitution will be revised following the Council resolution.

Council Procedure Rules - Questions from Members

Paragraph 8. As members will be aware this is a formal opportunity for members to ask written Questions to the Leader of the Council, Cabinet Members, the Lord Mayor and Committee Chairs. The system is comprehensively used but despite revisions to the process and criteria over the years members and officers have never found a system that suits everyone given the divergence of views.

Paragraph 9. It is a core tenet of good governance in a democratic organisation that there are adequate opportunities to hold the Administration to account on matters of major policy and significant budget matters and/or projects. Council Questions are one of those opportunities, others include the scrutiny function and ability for Executive decisions to be “called in”.

Paragraph 10. The  ...  view the full minutes text for item 12.

A  Appointment of Members

The Leader to move that, subject to alterations as may from time to time be made by the Council, the necessary Committees, Sub-Committees and other bodies and external organisations be appointed by the Council with the number and allocation of seats to political groups as set out in a schedule to be tabled at the meeting.

B  Appointment of Chair

To appoint the Chair to each of the Committees and Sub-Committees appointed by the Council.

RESOLVED: that subject to certain decisions that may from time to time be made by the Council, the following Committees, Sub-Committees and other bodies be appointed with the allocation of seats to political groups shown therein and they be delegated authority to act within their Terms of Reference:

To approve the following dates for meetings of the Council in the 2023/24 Municipal Year.

19^th July 2023

20^th September 2023

15^th November 2023

21^st February 2024 (Budget)

20^th March 2024

15^th May 2024 (Annual General Meeting)

The Council approved the following dates for meetings of the Council in the 2022/23 Municipal Year:

19^th July 2023

20^th September 2023

15^th November 2023

21^st February 2024 (Budget)

20^th March 2024

15^th May 2024 (AGM)

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

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

Presentation from the Leader of the Council, attached.

The Leader and the Cabinet provided verbal statements and responded to questions.

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

1.  Bus Lanes on the Millbrook Western Approach

Question from Councillor Moulton to Cabinet Member for Transport.

QUESTION:  What is the Administration policy with respect to planned bus lanes on the Millbrook Western Approach and can you set out the timescales and next steps?

ANSWER: Improving bus journey times and reliability is identified as an important part of Southampton’s integrated transport system as set out in its Local Transport Plan (2019) and the Bus Service Improvement Plan (2022).

Working alongside HCC, improved journey times and reliability along the A33 western corridor will be needed to support more people using public transport to access the city especially from areas like Millbrook, Redbridge, Totton and the Waterside and also to support the development of Park and Ride. The administration will be reviewing the plans for the western corridor and the extent of any new bus priority in the coming months, and following this, consultation will take place on proposals. 

2.  Pennine Road Resurfacing Programme

Question from Councillor Moulton to Cabinet Member for Transport.

QUESTION: Will the Cabinet Member be leaving Pennine Road in the roads resurfacing programme and if so what are the timescales for the work and the planned scope?

ANSWER: Pennine Road was not previously in the roads resurface programme for 2023/24. Moving forward however, the lower end of Pennine Road (Wimpson Lane to Quantock Road) will now be included in the 2023/24 roads delivery programme, for full re-surfacing and re-kerbing.  The remainder of Pennine Road will be reviewed and considered for future years.

3.  Auditor’s Report

Councillor P Baillie to the Leader

QUESTION:  The Auditors’ report into this year’s budget was probably the most important financial report this council has received.  Please would you explain to Full Council your reasons for not reading it nor being briefed before the scrutiny meeting.  

ANSWER:  Verbal response provided at the meeting.

The Auditor’s Report has been read and understood along with the ongoing budget concerns and challenges.

4.  Tower Block Lifts

Councillor P Baillie to the Leader

QUESTION: After Labour being in control for 10 of the last years, why is it that (according to a senior current Labour Councillor) 18 lifts in our tower blocks are out of action? And why is it that having both lifts out of action (for potentially 4 months) seemed to be of no consequence to yourself?

ANSWER:  There are 8 lifts out of service across council Tower blocks. Lifts at Albion Towers, Redbridge Towers and Shirley Towers are being replaced on a planned programme of works. Redbridge Towers and Shirley Towers have just one working lift in each block with the other being replaced. The works are due to be completed by the end of 2023.

There was an unprecedented situation during April when we had a period where there were no working lifts in Rotterdam Towers for a period  ...  view the full minutes text for item 16.

It was noted that no motions had been received.

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

It was noted that there were no questions from Members to the Chairs of Committees or the Lord Mayor

The report of the Returning Officer detailing the results of the Southampton City Council Elections on 4 May 2023 was noted.

The report of the Chair of the Overview and Scrutiny Management Committee detailing the Overview and Scrutiny Management Committee Annual Report 2022/23 in accordance with the Council’s Constitution was noted.

To note that there has been no use of the Call- in procedure since the previous update.

It was noted that there had been no use of the Call-in Procedure since the previous update to Council.