Agenda and minutes

To receive any apologies.

It was noted that no apologies for absence had been received.

Matters especially brought forward by the Mayor and the Leader.

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

The following petition has been received containing in excess of the 1,500 signatures required by the Council’s Constitution, this now facilitates the need for debate.  Under the Council’s Procedure Rules this is a qualifying petition which must be debated at Council.

i.  Keep the Youth and Play Services Open

“We the undersigned, petition the Council to take another look at the 2013 – 14 Budget Proposal (Section C18) which aims to cease all services offered by Youth Support Services.  We ask – for the benefit of the children and young people of Southampton – that Southampton City Council make Youth Support and Play Services a priority for the City and re-evaluate the 2013 – 14 Budget in order to keep the services open.  We want the Council to recognise the immediate and the long term Social and Economic benefits to children, young people and their families that are provided by professional Youth Support and Play in ‘Prevention and Inclusion’.

Without the Youth and Play Services:

·  Social  of vulnerable young people will increase

·  Young people and children in deprived areas will have no safe place to play or socialise

·  Unemployed young people in the City will find it harder to access employment or training, and have less opportunity to engage in positive activities

·  Anti-Social Behaviour, Youth Crime and Gang-related activity will increase

We do not believe that voluntary and charitable organisations will be able to offer the same level of services that is on offer now, and to shut the services now will cost our City more both socially and economically, than the cost of the savings you are trying to make.

Your own documents show that these services reach thousands of children and young people in the City’s most deprived areas.  As well as cutting vital support for children and young people who access the services now, the cuts are a false economy.  By stopping preventative interventions now, more expensive services will be top-loaded, at a higher cost to the City in the long term.

Reconsider the Budget and make the well-being of all the children and young people in Southampton your priority.”

(i)  The Council received and noted a deputation from Josh Asker, Southampton Youth Fight for Jobs, concerning the effects of the budget on young people in the City;

(ii)  The Council received and noted a deputation from Ann MacGillivray, concerning a proposal to retain and improve the availability of Libraries as a community asset; and

(iii)  The Council received the following petition from Danielle Miller, Katherine Weidland, Jamie Mayer and Macaulay Pancaldi. As the petition contained over 1,500 signatures, under the Council’s Procedure Rules, the petition was a qualifying petition and as it was related to the Council’s budget proposals, it was debated at Council as part of the Council Tax Setting and Related Matters item under minute 98:

“We the undersigned, petition the Council to take another look at the 2013 – 14 Budget Proposal (Section C18) which aims to cease all services offered by Youth Support Services.  We ask – for the benefit of the children and young people of Southampton – that Southampton City Council make Youth Support and Play Services a priority for the City and re-evaluate the 2013 – 14 Budget in order to keep the services open.  We want the Council to recognise the immediate and the long term Social and Economic benefits to children, young people and their families that are provided by professional Youth Support and Play in ‘Prevention and Inclusion’.

Without the Youth and Play Services:

·  Social exclusion of vulnerable young people will increase

·  Young people and children in deprived areas will have no safe place to play or socialise

·  Unemployed young people in the City will find it harder to access employment or training, and have less opportunity to engage in positive activities

·  Anti-Social Behaviour, Youth Crime and Gang-related activity will increase

We do not believe that voluntary and charitable organisations will be able to offer the same level of services that is on offer now, and to shut the services now will cost our City more both socially and economically, than the cost of the savings you are trying to make.

Your own documents show that these services reach thousands of children and young people in the City’s most deprived areas.  As well as cutting vital support for children and young people who access the services now, the cuts are a false economy.  By stopping preventative interventions now, more expensive services will be top-loaded, at a higher cost to the City in the long term.

Reconsider the Budget and make the well-being of all the children and young people in Southampton your priority.”

(A) GENERAL FUND CAPITAL PROGRAMME 2012/13 TO 2015/16

(B) GENERAL FUND REVENUE BUDGET 2013/14 TO 2015/16

The reports of the Cabinet Member for Resources were submitted seeking approval to the updated Capital Programme for 2012/13 - 2015/16 together with the latest estimated overall financial position on the General Fund Revenue Budget for 2013/14 - 2015/16 and outlining the main issues that needed to be addressed in considering the Cabinet’s budget proposals. The recommendations therein as amended by Executive Budget Resolution 2013/14 to comprise the Executive’s budget proposals were moved by Councillor Letts and seconded by Councillor Williams (copies of reports circulated with agenda and appended to signed minutes and a copy of the amended Executive Budget resolution as circulated at the meeting attached as Appendix 1 to these minutes).

The Council agreed to suspend Council Procedure Rules 14.2, 14.4, 14.5, 14.6, 14.7, 14.8, 14.9 and 16.2:-

(i) to enable the above items to be considered together;

(ii) to enable any amendments to be proposed, seconded and considered at the same time;

(iii) to enable any amendment to be re-introduced later into the meeting; and

(iv) to revise the time allowed for speakers as follows:-

Movers of motions - 20 minutes

Seconders - 10 minutes

Other Speakers - 4 minutes

The Mayor informed Members that an amendment from the Labour Councillors Against the Cuts Group had been received. However, upon hearing from the Chief Financial Officer and the Monitoring Officer as to its ability to be moved, under the Council Procedure Rules, the Mayor ruled this out of order.

An altered amendment setting out the Liberal Democrat Group’s budget proposals (Liberal Democrat Budget Resolution 2013/14) was moved by Councillor Vinson and seconded by Councillor Turner (copy attached as Appendix 2 to these minutes).

UPON BEING PUT TO THE VOTE THE LIBERAL DEMOCRAT GROUP’S PROPOSALS WERE DECLARED LOST.

UPON BEING PUT TO THE VOTE THE EXECUTIVE’S BUDGET PROPOSALS AS AMENDED WERE DECLARED CARRIED.

RESOLVED that the General Fund Capital Programme 2012/13 to 2015/16 and the General Fund Revenue Budget 2013/14 to 2015/16, as amended by Executive Budget Resolution 2013/14 (Appendix 1 to these minutes) be adopted.

Report of the Cabinet Member for Housing and Leisure Services setting out the Housing Revenue Account budget proposals and long term business plan, attached.

The report of the Cabinet Member for Housing and Leisure Services was submitted setting out the Housing Revenue Account budget proposals and long term business plan (copy of report circulated with agenda and appended to signed minutes).

RESOLVED:

(i)  That the tenant representatives be thanked for their input to the capital and revenue budget setting process and their views as set out in the report be noted;

(ii)  That, with effect from the 1 April 2013, the current average weekly dwelling rent figure of £75.06 be increased by 4.62%, which equates to an average increase of £3.47 per week, and the following be approved to calculate this increase:

·  That the percentage increase applied to all dwelling rents should be 3.1%, equivalent to an increase of £2.33 per week; and

·  That the rent restructuring component of the increase should follow the arrangements agreed by Council in February 2012, giving an increase in average rent levels of 1.52% (£1.14 per week) and that it be noted the total percentage increase in individual rents will vary according to the restructured rent of their property;

(iii)  That the following weekly service charges from 1 April 2013 based

on a full cost recovery approach be noted:

·  Digital TV £0.42 (unchanged from 2012/13)

·  Concierge £1.20 (unchanged from 2012/13)

·  Tower Block Wardens £4.97 (unchanged from 2012/13)

(iv)  That it be noted that the service charges in supported accommodation would not change from 1 April 2013 but that these will be reviewed, in consultation with tenants, with any changes taking effect later in 2013/14;

(v)  That subject to further consultation with tenants, the introduction of a new cleaning charge for walk up blocks of £0.91 per week be approved, the start date for which will be agreed with tenants;

(vi)  That it be noted that the charges for garages and parking spaces for 2013/14 would be increased by 2.6% in line with the increase in RPI used in the calculation of the increase in average rents;

(vii)  That the Housing Revenue Account Revenue Estimates as set out in Appendix 1 to the report be approved;

(viii)  That, in accordance with Financial Procedure Rules, the addition of a scheme to the Safe, Wind and Weather Tight section of the HRA Capital Programme for a contribution of £1,000,000 to major investment works at Rotterdam Towers, funded by unapplied Direct Revenue Financing available within the overall HRA Business Plan be approved;

(ix)  That the revised Housing Revenue Account Capital Programme set out in Appendix 2 to the report be approved;

(x)  That the 30 year revenue and capital business plans set out in Appendices 4 and 5 to the report be approved;

(xi)  That the principles underlying capital spending plans set out in Appendix 6 to the report be noted;

(xii)  That the HRA business planning assumptions set out in Appendix 7 to the report be noted;

(xiii)  That it be noted that rental income and service charge payments would continue to be paid by tenants over a 48 week period.  ...  view the full minutes text for item 99.

Report of the Head of Finance regarding the Council’s proposed treasury management strategy for the coming year in relation to the Council’s cash flow, investment and borrowing, and the management of the numerous risks related to this activity, attached.

The report of the Head of Finance and IT was submitted regarding the Council’s proposed treasury management strategy for the coming year in relation to the Council’s cash flow, investment and borrowing, and the management of the numerous risks related to this activity (copy of report circulated with agenda and appended to signed minutes).

RESOLVED:

(i)  That the Council’s Treasury Management (TM) Strategy and Prudential Indicators for 2013/14, 2014/15 and 2015/16, as detailed within the report, be approved;

(ii)  That the 2013 Minimum Revenue Provision (MRP) Statement as detailed in paragraphs 53 to 57 of the report be approved;

(iii)  That the Annual Investment Strategy as detailed in paragraphs 26 to 43 of the report be approved;

(iv)  That it be noted that the indicators in the report are based on the assumption that the recommendations in the Capital Programme Update report will be approved, but should the recommendations change, the Prudential Indicators may have to be recalculated;

(v)  That delegated authority continue to be granted to the Chief Financial Officer (CFO), following consultation with the Cabinet Member for Resources, to approve any changes to the Prudential Indicators or borrowing limits that will aid good treasury management and it be noted that any amendments would be reported as part of quarterly financial and performance monitoring and in revisions to the TM Strategy.