Agenda and minutes

To receive any apologies.

It was noted that apologies had been received from Councillors D Galton, J Payne and Moulton.

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

Announcements from the Lord Mayor:

(i)  The Lord Mayor referred with sadness as the Earthquake disaster in Turkey and Syria unfolded.  As the death toll continues to rise, our thoughts are with the families affected and those who are on the ground offering medical and humanitarian aid.  On behalf of Southampton City Council letters of condolence have been written to both Turkish and Syrian Embassies and today the Lord Mayor had received a letter from the Turkish Ambassador to the UK who was very thankful for the work that is going on in Southampton for those affected with our Turkish and Syrian communities present in the City. 

(ii)  The Lord Mayor informed Council that Councillor Professor Margetts had resigned from the Labour Group and now sits as an Independent Member representing Coxford Ward.  Legally, that creates vacancies on both Health Overview and Scrutiny Panel and Health and Wellbeing Board as only political groups, by law, can have seats on committees. 

(iii)  Members, I was delighted to receive the Princess Royal when she visited us on 3rd February.  A Royal visit was expected as we had received Lord Mayor status, a Royal visit was expected but we did not know when, so I was delighted when her Royal Highness visited the City to officially receive the Letters Patent which I believe you have now all seen.  She had the opportunity to meet a number of members of staff, she asked not to meet politicians.  We arranged for business leaders who had been part of the representation on the lord mayoralty and officers of this Council who play an important role including representing cleaners, facilities management and the town sergeants office, people who go above and beyond their duties and who I know you believe as I do, that they do not always receive the recognition they deserve.  Whilst she was here, she unveiled The Queen’s Green Canopy Award.  As a City Champion Southampton was one of only three cities who planted more trees than other authorities during the late Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.  I think that is a real accolade and shows our green credentials.

(iv)  Members, I am also pleased to announce that the Lord Mayor’s Ball held this month raised in excess of £5,500 after expenses for my chosen charities.  There were a number of Councillors present who were very supportive on the evening and I wanted to thank you personally for that.  We did have a great evening and I would like to pay tribute to the staff who gave up their own time and who put in a lot of hard effort to help me organise the evening making sure it was such a success. 

(v)  Members, I would like to formally welcome Claire Edgar to the Council, Claire has been appointed as the Executive Director for Wellbeing and Housing. We all look forward to working with Claire in her new role.

(vi)  Members, today we say goodbye to John Harrison, Executive Director for Finance and Commercialism.  Honorary  ...  view the full minutes text for item 50.

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

.The Council received and noted a deputation from Mr Marks, Trade Unionist & Socialist Coalition – Annual Budget.

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 exempt appendix to the following Item.

Appendix 7 is exempt from publication by virtue of category 3 of rule 10.4 of the Council’s Access to Information Procedure Rules i.e. information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person. It is not in the public interest to disclose this information due to an ongoing commercial dispute which is subject to a protected alternative dispute resolution procedure. If the information was disclosed then the Council’s financial position would be available to other parties to the dispute and prejudice the Council’s ability to achieve best value.

The Chair moved 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 exempt appendix to the following Item.

Appendix 7 is exempt from publication by virtue of category 3 of rule 10.4 of the Council’s Access to Information Procedure Rules i.e. information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person. It is not in the public interest to disclose this information due to an ongoing commercial dispute which is subject to a protected alternative dispute resolution procedure. If the information was disclosed then the Council’s financial position would be available to other parties to the dispute and prejudice the Council’s ability to achieve best value.

Report of the Cabinet Member for Finance and Change detailing the Revenue Budget 2023/24, Medium Term Financial Strategy and Capital Programme.

Report of the Cabinet Member for Finance and Change detailing the Revenue Budget 2023/24, Medium Term Financial Strategy for the period 2023/24 to 2026/27.  The report also sets out the Capital Strategy and Flexible Use of Capital Receipts Strategy and provides details of the capital programmes for the General Fund and Housing Revenue Account (HRA) for the period 2022/23 to 2027/28.

The report identifies how the 2023/24 budget has been balanced since the forecast shortfall reported to Cabinet on 8 November 2022, which was £28.9M.  It outlines how additional funds arising from the November 2022 Autumn Statement and confirmed in the local government finance settlement, including extra council tax flexibilities (£3.3M), together with further savings (£4.98M) and use of reserves (£22.0M) have helped both balance the budget and meet new pressures arising since November.

The following additional recommendation was tabled at the meeting:

Arts Council England has recently agreed in principle to offer Southampton City Council a grant of up to £2.23M in capital towards the cost of repairs to the Art Gallery roof.

There is a requirement for the Council to match fund this grant which has already been budgeted for within the Capital programme.  Given the urgent nature of this grant, which the Arts Council requires to begin by 15 May, it is resolved that

(i)  the above sum is applied to the Capital Programme as funding; and

(ii)  Executive Director for Growth, following consultation with the Executive Director, Corporate Services and the Leader be delegated authority to apply this grant as considered appropriate.

The recommendations therein, including the additional recommendations above, were moved by Councillor Leggett and seconded by Councillor Kaur.

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

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

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

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

Movers of motions - 20 minutes

Seconders - 10 minutes

Liberal Democrat/Independent Members – 10 minutes

Other Speakers - 4 minutes

Right of Reply (Executive only) – 10 minutes

RESOLVED that the Revenue Budget 2023/24, Medium Term Financial Strategy, and Capital Programme be adopted as detailed in the report recommendations, including additional recommendation detailed above.

NOTE: All Members of the Council declared a pecuniary interest in the above matter, as payers and setters of Council Tax, noted the dispensation granted by the Monitoring Officer and remained in the meeting during the consideration of the matter.

NOTE – FOR THE SUBSTANTIVE MOTION: Councillors Blatchford, Bogle, M Bunday, T Bunday, Coombs, Cooper, Denness, Fielker, Frampton, Furnell, Goodfellow, Kataria, Kaur, Keogh, Leggett, McEwing, Mitchell, Noon, Paffey, W Payne, Rayment, Renyard, Savage, Shields, Windle and Winning.

NOTE – AGAINST THE SUBSTANTIVE MOTION: Councillors J Baillie, P Baillie, Fitzhenry, Fuller, G Galton, Guest, Guthrie, Hannides, Harris, Houghton, Laurent, Magee, Margetts, Prior, Vassiliou, Vaughan and White.

NOTE – ABSTAINED THE SUBSTANTIVE MOTION: Councillor Blackman