Agenda and minutes

It was noted that following receipt of the temporary resignation of Councillor McManus from the Committee, the Monitoring Officer, acting under delegated powers, had appointed Councillor Whitbread to replace him for the purposes of this meeting.

To elect the Vice Chair for the Municipal Year 2025-2026.

Councillor Renyard was elected Vice-Chair for the Municipal Year 2025/26.

To approve and sign as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting held on 24 April 2025 and the final Scrutiny Inquiry Panel – Reducing Gambling Related Harms in Southampton meeting held on 8 May 2025 and to deal with any matters arising, attached.

RESOLVED that the minutes for the Committee meeting held on 24 April 2025 and the final Scrutiny Inquiry Panel – Reducing Gambling Related Harms in Southampton meeting held on 8 May 2025, be approved and signed as a correct record. 

To move that in accordance with the Council’s Constitution, specifically the Access to Information Procedure Rules contained within the Constitution, the press and public be excluded from the meeting in respect of any consideration of the confidential Annex to the following item.

Annex 1, attached to Appendix 1, is not for publication by virtue of category 3 (Information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the Authority holding that information) of paragraph 10.4 of Southampton City Council’s (“the Council’s”) Access to Information Procedure Rules, as contained in the Council's Constitution.

It is not in the public interest to disclose this information as the report contains confidential and commercially sensitive information in relation to one of the Council’s suppliers. It would prejudice the Council’s ability to operate in a commercial environment and obtain best value in contract negotiations.

The Chair moved that in accordance with the Council’s Constitution, specifically the Access to Information Procedure Rules contained within the Constitution, the press and public be excluded from the meeting in respect of any consideration of the confidential Annex to the following item.

Annex 1, attached to Appendix 1, is not for publication by virtue of category 3 (Information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the Authority holding that information) of paragraph 10.4 of Southampton City Council’s (“the Council’s”) Access to Information Procedure Rules, as contained in the Council's Constitution.

It is not in the public interest to disclose this information as the report contains confidential and commercially sensitive information in relation to one of the Council’s suppliers. It would prejudice the Council’s ability to operate in a commercial environment and obtain best value in contract negotiations.

The Committee received and noted the report of the Scrutiny Manager which enabled the Overview and Scrutiny Management Committee to examine the content of the Forward Plan and to discuss issues of interest or concern with the Executive.

St. Mary’s Community and Leisure Centre

Councillor Fielker, Leader of the Council, and James Marshall, Director of Customer, Leisure and Regulatory Services were present and with the consent of the Chair addressed the meeting.

Also in attendance and with consent addressed the meeting during the open session was Sue Atkins,Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition raising concerns regarding accountability, democracy and privatisation related to the Centre.

The Committee went into confidential session for the remainder of this item. 

RESOLVED:

(i)  That the proposal submitted by Testlands were circulated to the Committee; and

(ii)  That the key details of the signed lease for St Mary’s Leisure and Community Centre were shared with the Committee when available.

The Committee considered the report of the Leader of the Council detailing the Southampton 2035 City Plan. 

Councillor Fielker, Leader of the Council, Jillian Kay, Chief Executive

Munira Holloway, Director of Strategy and Performance and David Courcoux, Head of Policy and Strategic Partnerships were present and will the consent of the Chair addressed the meeting.

The Committee discussed:

·  Partner engagement and the mechanisms for monitoring the City Plan’s focus on creating a more equal city;

·  The low public perception of the City’s ambition and the need for better communication;

·  The use of the term ‘net zero’ instead of ‘carbon neutral’ acknowledging the need for clarity; and

·  Concerns regarding the potential impact of local government reorganisation on the City Plan.

RESOLVED:  that:

(i)  to raise the profile of the plan and to hold stakeholders to account for delivery, the OSMC schedules an annual review of progress against the agreed priorities and targets in the City Plan and includes City Plan priorities in lines of enquiry whenever appropriate to do so;

(ii)  to ensure credibility, consideration is given to replacing the term Net Zero with Carbon Neutral in the final version of the City Plan;

(iii)  to maintain momentum, the Executive reflects on whether an annual review of the City Plan, alongside the bi-annual state of the city summit, would be advantageous; and

(iv)  membership of the Renaissance Board is shared with the Committee.

The Committee considered the report of the Chair of the Overview and Scrutiny Management Committee following a request detailing the LGA Corporate Peer Challenge and the Council’s Action Plan. 

Jillian Kay, Chief Executive and David Courcoux, Head of Policy and Strategic Partnerships were present and will the consent of the Chair addressed the meeting.

The Committee discussed with the Chief Executive the report including the potential for improvement and the strengths of the Council’s staff and partners. In particular, the Improvement Board, staff engagement and the new People and Culture Strategy. 

RESOLVED that:

(i)  the feedback received from the LGA Peer Review team from their follow up visit to the Council in October was shared with the Committee.

(ii)  the Committee requested a report outlining progress against the approved CPC action plan for the June 2026 Committee meeting.

The Committee considered the report of the Chair of the Scrutiny Inquiry Panel, recommending that the Committee consider and approve the final report of the Scrutiny Inquiry Panel and forward it to the Executive for consideration and further action.

Councillor Cooper, Chair of the Scrutiny Inquiry Panel, Reducing Gambling-Related Harms in Southampton, was in attendance and with the consent of the Chair, addressed the meeting. 

RESOLVED that:

(i)  To approve the final report of the Scrutiny Inquiry Panel and to forward it to the Executive for consideration and further action;

(ii)  To delegate authority to the Chair of the Committee to approve any minor amendments arising from considerations raised at the meeting held on 12 June 2025.

The Committee considered the report of the Scrutiny Manager which recommended that the Committee considered and approved the draft terms of reference for the Housing Scrutiny Panel.

Councillor Shields in his capacity as the newly appointed Chair of the Scrutiny Panel and Mark Pirnie, Scrutiny Manager were present and with the consent of the Chair addressed the meeting.

RESOLVED to approve the terms of reference for the Housing Scrutiny Panel.

The Committee considered and discussed the responses from the Executive to recommendations from previous meetings.