Agenda and minutes

To receive any apologies.

It was noted that apologies had been received from Councillors Furnell, Guest, Harris, Moulton and Windle.

To authorise the signing of the minutes of the Council Meeting held on 16^th November, 2022 and 22^nd February, 2023.

RESOLVED: that the minutes of the Council meetings held on 16^th November 2022 and 22^nd February 2023 be approved and signed as a correct record.

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

(i)  Last meeting of the Municipal Year

Members this is the last meeting of the Municipal Year. I thank all

members of the Council for their hard work and contributions made during

this past year in sometimes challenging circumstances.

Some Councillors are not seeking re-election Councillors Coombes, Furnell, Mitchell, Margetts, Guthrie, Harris, Prior and J Payne.  We thanks them for their service to their communities and wish them well.  Would Group Leaders/Members like to say a few words?

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

The following petition has been received which under the Council’s Procedure Rules is a qualifying petition which must be debated at Council.

(i)  Say NO to Southampton City Council's proposal to close part of Portswood Broadway to through traffic (2868 signatures)

The Council received and noted the following deputation:-

(i)  Sophie Cooper, Oliver James and Aislynn Bushell from Bitterne Park Primary School – Safer Crossing on Manor Farm Road.

The Council received and debated the following Petition which under the Council’s Procedure Rules was a qualifying petition which must be debated at Council having triggered the threshold of 1500 verified signatures.

(i)  Say No to Southampton City Council’s proposal to close part of Portswood Broadway to through traffic.

Report of the Leader of the Council recommending approval of the Pay Policy 2023- 2024.

RESOLVED:

(i)  That the Pay Policy statement for 2023-2024 be approved;

(ii)  To note the continued implementation of the Foundation Living Wage increase as the minimum hourly rate for National Joint Council (NJC) evaluated posts from 1st April 2023; and

(iii)  To note that negotiations for a cost of living award for 2023 as part of the pay agreement for NJC evaluated roles and Chief Officer and Chief Executive pay are ongoing and that implementation of this, once agreed, is delegated to the Head of HR and OD to be applied for 2023-2024.

Report of the Cabinet Member for Children and Learning detailing the Corporate Parenting Annual Report for 2021-2022. 

Report of the Cabinet Member for Children and Learning detailing the Annual Corporate Parenting Report 2021-2022.

RESOLVED:

(i)  That the September 2021 – August 2022 annual corporate parenting report be adopted;

(ii)  That all Councillors recommit to our collective responsibility as Corporate Parents, to ensure we champion children and young people in our care, demonstrate aspiration for them, and provide safer and better opportunities for them;

(iii)  That all Councillors consider opportunities for care leavers to be able to train and work in the city; and

(iv)  That all Councillors promote fostering within the city in support of our fostering recruitment challenges.

Report of the Cabinet Member for Communities and Customer Engagement detailing the Household Support Fund April 2023-March 2024.

Report of the Cabinet Member for Communities and Customer Engagement detailing the Household Support Fund April 2023 – March 2024.

RESOLVED: that the Household Support Fund for the period 1st April 2023 to 31st March 2024 be approved and accepted.

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 submitted in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 11.1:-

1.  Children’s Services Savings

Councillor P Baillie to Councillor Paffey

QUESTION:  A major part of balancing the recent budget was the inclusion of £7M of savings /reduced spending from CS. I think the expectation from all councillors was that the route to achieving these savings had been mapped out.

Please would you tell me how these savings are to be achieved, when they will be achieved, and how successful savings’ /reduced spending targets have been over the last five years for CS.

ANSWER: Councillors will all recognise the fact that Children’s Services in the UK face extreme financial challenges: LGA figures show that placement costs have risen almost 60% in recent years, and £1.6billion of investment is needed just to maintain current service levels – even before recent soaring levels of inflation.

In this financial context, with high levels of demand in the city and with significant impacts from the Covid-19 pandemic, the Labour administration and the Children’s Services Leadership Team set in motion the Destination 22 improvement programme which is showing encouraging signs: this year we achieved a reduction of £1.7 million on spending for CLA services and placements, and a £500k reduction of on agency staff costs as we build a stable, permanent workforce.

This work to achieve financial stability and, crucially, better outcomes for children will continue through the transformative “Building Brilliance 23” programme including measures such as reductions to agency staff numbers, demand for residential placements, accommodation costs for care leavers, better commissioning and work with Housing, and redesigning how we deliver services most effectively.

2.  Housing Improvements

Councillor P Baillie to Councillor Mitchell

QUESTION: According to the recent HRA budget which you passed, some £50M has been removed from the housing improvement pot to pay for homes in Meggeson Avenue. Do you feel it is fair to delay for years improvements to homes, for thousands of people, just because of your ideology?

ANSWER: The Housing Revenue Account Capital Programme that was approved at Council in February 2023 represents a significant increase in funding forecast to be spent on “Improving Quality of Homes” and “Making Homes Energy Efficient” when compared with historic expenditure. ?

Given the growing need for affordable housing in our city and an increasingly unaffordable private rental market we will continue to explore all options for providing our residents with high quality affordable homes. 

3.  Mini Budget Post Election

Councillor Fitzhenry to Councillor Kaur

QUESTION:  Can the Leader of the Council confirm if her administration will be bringing forward a mini budget in the summer of 2023 if they are successful in winning a majority May’s Local Election?

ANSWER – Verbal response provided at the meeting.

“That is not the current intention”.

4.  Housing Waiting Lists

Councillor Margetts to Councillor  ...  view the full minutes text for item 61.

(a)  Proposed by Councillor Blackman

“The Southampton Young Carer Strategy 2021 to 2026 has a vision that Southampton is a city where children and young carers have the same opportunities as other children to get a good start in life, so they can fulfil their potential and become successful adults.

The Southampton Young Carer Strategy notes that in 20/21 some 420 young people in Southampton were in touch with the Young Carer Service with 80 receiving regular support.

Caring for someone can be very isolating, worrying, and stressful. For young and young adult carers, this can negatively impact on their experiences and outcomes in education, having a lasting effect on their life chances.

Each year Carers Trust organises Young Carers Action Day (YCAD) to raise public awareness of the challenges faced by young people because of their caring role, and to campaign for greater support for young and young adult carers to meet their needs. Young Carers Action Day is 15 March 2023 and this year’s theme is ‘Make Time for Young Carers’.

Council resolves that we commend the young and young adult carers across Southampton and that we promote YCAD on an annual basis. We also continue in the context of the Southampton Young Carer Strategy to promote and work with local care organisations.

Council resolves that the Leader of the Council writes to the Government calling on them to ensure that young carers are actively identified and provided with the support they need. In addition, the Leader writes to our three local Members of Parliament and ask them to join the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for Young Carers and Young Adult Carers.”

(b)  Proposed by Councillor Keogh

“Councils up and down the country are facing unprecedented financial pressures which are not of their own making but due to national policy; Southampton is no exception.

Government measures to reduce public sector spending in the previous decade have seen a significant reduction in local government funding, with the Council’s settlement funding assessment reducing by almost a half.  

What is clearly needed is a long-term plan from national government to change their direction and offer fairer, long-term funding to local authorities.

Southampton City Council alongside other councils has been let down by this Government failing to properly fund and protect public services, so this Council joins other Councils of all political backgrounds, in calling for clear action to improve the financial outlook for local authorities.

This morning the Chancellor will have delivered his budget statement to Parliament. For the good of the residents of Southampton, should the Chancellor’s statement fail to deliver a funding step change that offers long-term financial stability to councils that Southampton communities deserve, Council resolves that the Leader of the Council writes immediately to the Prime Minister highlighting the injustices, the shortfalls contained within  impact on the city’s residents and requests fair and sustainable funding for local government.”

(c)  Proposed by Councillor Winning

“Southampton City Council believes that care experienced people face significant barriers that impact them  ...  view the full agenda text for item 62.

(a)  Councillor Blackman moved and Councillor Fielker seconded

Southampton Young Carers

“The Southampton Young Carer Strategy 2021 to 2026 has a vision that Southampton is a city where children and young carers have the same opportunities as other children to get a good start in life, so they can fulfil their potential and become successful adults.

The Southampton Young Carer Strategy notes that in 20/21 some 420 young people in Southampton were in touch with the Young Carer Service with 80 receiving regular support.

Caring for someone can be very isolating, worrying, and stressful. For young and young adult carers, this can negatively impact on their experiences and outcomes in education, having a lasting effect on their life chances.

Each year Carers Trust organises Young Carers Action Day (YCAD) to raise public awareness of the challenges faced by young people because of their caring role, and to campaign for greater support for young and young adult carers to meet their needs. Young Carers Action Day is 15 March 2023 and this year’s theme is ‘Make Time for Young Carers’.

Council resolves that we commend the young and young adult carers across Southampton and that we promote YCAD on an annual basis. We also continue in the context of the Southampton Young Carer Strategy to promote and work with local care organisations.

Council resolves that the Leader of the Council writes to the Government calling on them to ensure that young carers are actively identified and provided with the support they need. In addition, the Leader writes to our three local Members of Parliament and ask them to join the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for Young Carers and Young Adult Carers.”

UPON BEING PUT TO THE VOTE THE MOTION WAS UNANIMOUSLY DECLARED CARRIED.

(b)  Councillor Keogh moved and Councillor Leggett seconded

Financial Pressures

“Councils up and down the country are facing unprecedented financial pressures which are not of their own making but due to national policy; Southampton is no exception.

Government measures to reduce public sector spending in the previous decade have seen a significant reduction in local government funding, with the Council’s settlement funding assessment reducing by almost a half. 

 What is clearly needed is a long-term plan from national government to change their direction and offer fairer, long-term funding to local authorities.

Southampton City Council alongside other councils has been let down by this Government failing to properly fund and protect public services, so this Council joins other Councils of all political backgrounds, in calling for clear action to improve the financial outlook for local authorities.

This morning the Chancellor will have delivered his budget statement to Parliament. For the good of the residents of Southampton, should the Chancellor’s statement fail to deliver a funding step change that offers long-term financial stability to councils that Southampton communities deserve, Council resolves that the Leader of the Council writes immediately to the Prime Minister highlighting the injustices, the shortfalls contained within impact on the city’s residents and requests fair and sustainable  ...  view the full minutes text for item 62.

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

It was noted that no requests for Questions from Members to the Chairs of Committees or the Lord Mayor had been received.

To deal with any appointments to Committees, Sub-Committees or other bodies as required.

It was noted that there were no changes to the Appointments to Committees, Sub-Committees and Other Bodies.