Agenda and minutes

To receive any apologies.

It was noted that apologies had been received from Councillor Renyard. 

To authorise the signing of the minutes of the Council Meeting held on 19^th July 2023, attached.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the Council Meeting held on the 19^th July 2023 be approved and signed as a correct record. 

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

Announcements from the Lord Mayor:

(i)  The Lord Mayor announced that the meeting was open to being filmed and reminded those filming that the right to film was limited to the duration of the meeting and recording must cease when the meeting closed.  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 her 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.

(ii)  The Lord Mayor reminded Members that during the meeting they should treat each other with due respect during debates.  At the last meeting of Council The Lord Mayor was particularly disappointed in the quality of the debate.  The debate should be Council business only, not what has happened in the past or refer to personal experiences.  All Members were asked to remember the courtesies they would expect from Members when speaking and extend this courtesy to others.

(iii)  The Lord Mayor encouraged all Members and staff to join her for a Charity Fashion Show held in conjunction with John Lewis in West Quay on Wednesday, 27^th September.  Details of the event to be found on Eventbrite.  

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

The Council received and noted the following deputation:

(i)  Proposed Closure of Holcroft House Residential Care Home  - Linda Hayse, Lisa Stead and Amanda Guest.

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)  Save Council owned care home Holcroft House. 

Verbal report of the Leader of the Council.

A verbal report of the Leader of the Council was given 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.  Capital Programme

Councillor Moulton to Councillor Winning (Councillor Keogh to respond

QUESTION: Is the Labour Administration committed to delivering a new play park at Paignton Park and to retaining the £100K investment allocated by the previous Conservative council in the Capital Programme?

ANSWER: The administration is currently undertaking a review of the Capital Programme to ensure that all investment, either revenue or capital, has a clear purpose and strong business case.  Play Area procurement (including Paignton Park proposals) will be considered at a future meeting of the Strategic Capital Board.

2.  Portswood Broadway

Councillor Moulton to Councillor Keogh

QUESTION: In the council’s latest consultation on proposed changes to Portswood Broadway, have any restrictions been put in place to prevent people completing it multiple times online?

ANSWER: The Portswood Broadway consultation is carried out via an online survey. To mitigate multiple copies of the survey being completed by individuals, website cookies are used, which restrict respondents completing multiple copies of the survey.

3.  Budget

Councillor Fitzhenry to Councillor Letts

QUESTION: Can the Cabinet Member for Finance advise council of the most up to date budget gap and outline what measures have been taken since July’s meeting to balance the books? 

ANSWER:  The in-year budget gap for 2023/24, as reported to 19 September Cabinet is £16M. That is as at the end of period 5 (to 31 August 2023).

In terms of future budget gap, the estimate is being continually updated. For 2024/25, the gap was £46.14M as reported to Council in July and the most recent estimate is £43.56M. The most recent estimate for 2025/26 is £48.53M and for 2026/27 is £55.17M shortfalls.

Additional proposed savings will be presented to Cabinet in October to reduce the gap both this year and also next year.  Those proposals are being finalised. Where necessary consultation will need to take place before decisions are made on those proposals.

4.  Southampton City Council Workforce

Councillor P Baillie to Councillor Letts

QUESTION: Have you found out yet what the large number of SCC staff taken on over the last 6 years actually do? 

ANSWER:  Summary information regarding the number of new roles across the last few years has been shared with me. There have been increases in both public and non-public facing roles. I am meeting with our Head of Human Resources and Organisational Development later this month to look at some of the detail.

I am pleased to be able to say, though, that there is now a downward trend in overall posts and headcount, largely as a result of cost control measures and service redesign.

5.  University Technical College

Councillor J Baillie to Councillor Kaur (Councillor Winning to respond)

QUESTION:  Will the council do all it can  ...  view the full minutes text for item 37.

(a)  Moved by Cllr Noon

Over the last 10 years we have seen a loss of confidence by many communities in the Police. In the retail sector, data released by the Co-op (July 27^th 2023) revealed the highest ever level of retail crime.

This Council notes that due to Conservative government austerity 20.000 experience police officers were made redundant.

Council further notes that after accepting that this austerity measure was a massive error the Conservative government has reversed this policy. However, this is yet to have any significant impact on the level of retail crime in Southampton.

Southampton city Council stands with Unions and employers in calling on Hampshire police and Crime commissioner Donna Jones to act on improving retail workers’ protection in Southampton, by prioritising the response to and investigate all retail crime. This Council request that the Cabinet Member writes to the Police and Crime Commissioner and invites her as a matter of urgency to meet local unions and business representatives to discuss a plan of action on retail crime.”

(b) Moved by Councillor Blackman

Council notes the implementation of 20mph zones in residential areas across the city and the widespread support for them. Furthermore, Council agrees that the implementation of the remaining areas where 20mph zones have not yet been established should take place as soon as possible.

Similarly, Council notes the reduction of speed limits on a number of roads from 40mph to 30mph, including Bassett Avenue and Bassett Green Road, and the positive impact this has had.

However, residents regularly express serious concerns about speeding on residential roads and the lack of enforcement of speed limits. Residents are rightly concerned about the dangers posed by speeding vehicles and should be able to feel safe in going about their daily lives.

Council therefore calls for increased efforts to tackle the problem of speeding, including installation of more roundels on the road surface to remind motorists of the speed limits and more effective and permanent use of electronic signs.

(a)  Councillor Noon moved and seconded by Councillor Greenhalgh

Over the last 10 years we have seen a loss of confidence by many communities in the Police. In the retail sector, data released by the Co-op (July 27^th 2023) revealed the highest ever level of retail crime.

This Council notes that due to Conservative government austerity 20.000 experience police officers were made redundant.

Council further notes that after accepting that this austerity measure was a massive error the Conservative government has reversed this policy. However, this is yet to have any significant impact on the level of retail crime in Southampton.

Southampton city Council stands with Unions and employers in calling on Hampshire police and Crime commissioner Donna Jones to act on improving retail workers’ protection in Southampton, by prioritising the response to and investigate all retail crime. This Council request that the Cabinet Member writes to the Police and Crime Commissioner and invites her as a matter of urgency to meet local unions and business representatives to discuss a plan of action on retail crime.

UPON BEING PUT TO THE VOTE THE SUBSTANTIVE MOTION IN THE NAME OF COUNCILLOR NOON WAS DECLARED CARRIED

RESOLVED that the motion be approved.

NOTE:  Councillors Greenhalgh and Whitbread declared pecuniary interests and remained at the meeting. 

(b) Moved by Councillor Blackman and seconded by Councillor Wood

Council notes the implementation of 20mph zones in residential areas across the city and the widespread support for them. Furthermore, Council agrees that the implementation of the remaining areas where 20mph zones have not yet been established should take place as soon as possible.

Similarly, Council notes the reduction of speed limits on a number of roads from 40mph to 30mph, including Bassett Avenue and Bassett Green Road, and the positive impact this has had.

However, residents regularly express serious concerns about speeding on residential roads and the lack of enforcement of speed limits. Residents are rightly concerned about the dangers posed by speeding vehicles and should be able to feel safe in going about their daily lives.

Council therefore calls for increased efforts to tackle the problem of speeding, including installation of more roundels on the road surface to remind motorists of the speed limits and more effective and permanent use of electronic signs.

Amendment moved by Councillor Keogh and seconded by Councillor Blackman

Paragraph 4, delete “including” insert “by all partners and notes the work the Council’s Highways Team has already achieved through Safer Streets, zebra crossings and other traffic calming works and that it will work towards “

After “more” insert “enforcement cameras, build out island and “

After “surface” insert “where appropriate”

AMENDED MOTION TO READ

Council notes the implementation of 20mph zones in residential areas across the city and the widespread support for them. Furthermore, Council agrees that the implementation of the remaining areas where 20mph zones have not yet been established should take place as soon as possible.

Similarly, Council notes the reduction of speed limits on a number  ...  view the full minutes text for item 38.

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.

The following appointments were noted:

Councillors Evemy, McEwing, Powell-Vaughan, Windle and Wood to be appointed to the How do we get a better deal for private sector renters in Southampton? Scrutiny Inquiry.