Agenda and minutes

To authorise the signing of the minutes of the Annual General Meeting and Extraordinary Council Meetings held on 15^th May 2024, attached.

The minutes of the Annual General and Extraordinary Council Meetings held on 15^th May were signed as a correct record subject to two amendments to the Annual General Meeting Minutes.

Amendment 1 – Minute 5, Vote of Thanks to the Retiring Lord Mayor, should read 801^st Mayor and not 802^nd Mayor.

Amendment 2 – Minute 5, Vote of Thanks to the Retiring Lord Mayor, would revert to the original recorded wording the same as previous years, as what had been recorded was specific to the 2023 Annual General Meeting only.

Revised minute to read:

RESOLVED: upon the motion of Councillor Beaurain and seconded by Cllr Fielker that the Council places on record its appreciation for the distinguished manner in which Councillor Laurent had discharged the duties of the 801^st Mayor  and 2^nd Lord Mayor of the City during the period of her term of office.

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

(i)  Children’s Mayor

The Children’s Mayor was created to help primary aged children understand our democratic system and tell us issues they care about. The Children’s Mayor is an annual competition where year 5 children will have the opportunity to put together a project that aims to improve the lives of children in the city.

The winner is chosen by council officers, Southampton’s Youth Council and the Lord Mayor. The Children’s Mayor attends high profile events with the current Lord Mayor and is an ambassador for primary aged children.

The project aims to actively engage and raise awareness for children of our local Council democracy and to promote an understanding of children’s rights and responsibilities, as well as being an active citizen and role model. It is an opportunity for schools to encourage and support pupils to be aspirational and to help children recognise that their voices will be heard and can influence change.

We would like to thank our outgoing Children’s Mayor Riya. She has carried out a fantastic role of being Southampton’s Children’s Mayor. We hope she has enjoyed attending the various events and activities throughout the year.

Our new Children’s Mayor cares deeply about the environment and wants to implement upcycling – a project designed to reuse objects and ‘rubbish’. We’re delighted that her headteacher from Fairisle Junior School has also been able to attend today.

Without schools engaging in the process, we wouldn’t have a Children’s Mayor and we appreciate all the hard work they put it to make this a success. Without further ado, I would like to introduce our new Children’s Mayor: Freya Orendecki and present this memento of her appointment.

(ii)  Filming

Members, today’s meeting is open to being filmed.  I remind those filming that the right to film is limited to the duration of the meeting and recording must cease when I close the meeting. 

Filming or recording is not permitted if the effect would be to interrupt or disturb the proceedings or if it is intrusive of a specific individual or individuals.  If in my opinion this is occurring, it will not be permitted and I will ask you to stop.

Similarly, some members of the public attending the meeting may object to being filmed, photographed or recorded.  I will be making those attending the meeting today aware and will ask those filming, to respect their wishes, and will expect that these are complied with.

As is the case with Council meetings the meeting is being live streamed. 

(iii)  Behaviours in the Chamber

Members, may I take the opportunity to remind you of behaviours within the Chamber:-

·  that Council business is conducted in public

·  Members are asked to consider the language used in debate/ discourse so as not to cause any (unintended) offence

(iv)  General Election

·  thanks to SCC and other staff on election day -- at very short notice

·  congratulations to the victorious candidates and commiserations to those who were unsuccessful

·  our appreciation to the outgoing/ retiring MPs for their  ...  view the full minutes text for item 24.

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

The Council received the following Public Question from Ms Clearkin which was responded to by Councillor Savage, Cabinet Member for Green City and Net Zero.

Electromagnetic Emission Levels

QUESTION:  What is the present electromagnetic emission level in the vicinity of 5G masts that have been erected around Southampton, and on what grounds does the Council place its confidence that this level is safe both for humans and wildlife within the emission zone?

ANSWER: The City Council follows current best practice, and government guidance, in respect of dealing with planning applications for telecommunications.  At the current time the Government guidance is that such masts are safe for roll out across the country:  Mobile phone base stations: radio waves and health - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Whilst health concerns, such as those raised, are a material consideration in the determination of planning applications the Government has established a planning system whereby the Internation Commission for Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP) Certification deals with these concerns meaning that SCC Planning doesn’t need to go into more detail on a case by case basis.

Report of the Leader of the Council, attached.

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:-

The following questions were submitted in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 11.1:-

1. Parking Provision for Council Tenants

Councillor Moulton to Councillor A Frampton

QUESTION:  Will you take action to ensure that where car parks are provided for council tenants, that non tenants are not able to park there?

ANSWER: In recognition of the continuing increase in the number of vehicles that are filling our streets on our housing estates, we are currently reviewing the use of our car parks across the city, which have been created for the use of council tenants, to ascertain where we may need to implement alternative delivery models that would prohibit non-council tenants parking in designated spaces. We will always consult with residents to ensure that additional parking models are implemented with full knowledge of the residents so that decisions are made for the benefit of the tenants and residents.

2. One Guildhall Square Costs

Councillor Powell-Vaughan to Councillor Letts

Verbal response given at the meeting:

These matters are subject to confidentiality, and I know that Councillor Powell-Vaughan has had a briefing on this matter and of course if she requires further details on how exactly we negotiated on this contract and what factors were taken into account, either by ourselves or the prospective purchaser, of course we can provide that.  But I am not prepared to discuss our negotiating strategy in Council.  Simply because this will be the first of a number of such negotiations that will be taking place over the next year to year and a half as we attempt to take advantage of our capitalisation directive and raise the significant sums we need to minimise the revenue support we will need to provide on taking out loans to cover our budget gap.

3. Waste Services Additional Costs

Councillor Chapman to Councillor Fielker

QUESTION: Further to our Full Council Meeting in May 2024 we were briefed by the Leader of the Council that the additional costs of the bin disruption amounted to an extra £56k. By chance, a simultaneous FOI request submitted by the Lib Dem Group was responded to by council officers stating that there were additional agency costs of £440k for the same period, no published savings made from the changes and no net increase in the contracted hours of staff. Can the Labour administration help account for the difference and how much it cost?

ANSWER: The FOI request referred to in this question asked for the total spend on agency refuse collectors since 1 January 2024. The waste service employs a proportion of its workforce through an employment agency as part of its business-as-usual operations. This is to ensure the waste service can be delivered when establishment staff are absent (e.g. annual leave,  ...  view the full minutes text for item 26.

(a)  Moved by Councillor Powell-Vaughan

This Council resolves to extend funding for Mayfield Park Bowling Club (MPBC) for an additional 12 months to allow the club time to seek alternative funding and ensure its continued operation and contributions to community well-being.

(a)  Moved by Councillor Powell-Vaughan and seconded by Councillor P Baillie

This Council resolves to extend funding for Mayfield Park Bowling Club (MPBC) for an additional 12 months to allow the club time to seek alternative funding and ensure its continued operation and contributions to community well-being.

UPON BEING PUT TO THE VOTE THE MOTION IN THE NAME OF COUNCILLOR POWELL-VAUGHAN WAS DECLARED CARRIED

RESOLVED: that the motion be approved.

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:-

·  Councillor P Baillie has been appointed to the PfSH Overview and Scrutiny Committee under Delegated Powers as the appointment was omitted at the AGM appointments.

·  Councillors Finn, McMannus and Winning have been appointed to the H&WBB under Delegated Powers as membership had been listed incorrectly in the table of appointments at the AGM.

Report of the Cabinet Member for Children and Learning detailing the Corporate Parenting Annual Report 2022-23.

Report of the Cabinet Member for Children and Learning detailing the Annual Corporate Parenting Report 2022/23.

RESOLVED:

(i)  That the September 2022 – August 2023 Annual Corporate Parenting Report be adopted;

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

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

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

Report of the Cabinet Member for Finance and Corporate Services detailing the Capital Outturn 2023/24.

Report of the Cabinet Member for Finance and Corporate Services detailing the Capital Outturn 2023/24.

RESOLVED:

(i)  That the actual capital spending in 2023/24 for the General Fund was £61.73M and for the HRA was £36.77M, as detailed in paragraphs 2 to 5 of the report be noted;

(ii)  That the capital financing in 2023/24 as shown in table 3 of the report be noted;

(iii)  That the revised capital programme for 2023/24 to 2028/29 and financing as summarised in paragraph 18 and detailed in Appendix 2 of the report be approved; and

(iv)  That the latest prudential indicators for the revised capital programme as detailed in Appendix 3 of the report be approved.

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 5 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 commercial sensitivity. If the information was disclosed, then the council’s financial position would be available to other parties and prejudice the council’s ability to achieve best value.

RESOLVED: 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 5 was 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 commercial sensitivity. If the information was disclosed, then the council’s financial position would be available to other parties and prejudice the council’s ability to achieve best value.

To consider the report by the Cabinet Member for Finance and Corporate Services on the Revenue Outturn for 2023/24.

Report of the Cabinet Member for Finance and Corporate Services detailing the Revenue Outurn 2023/24.

RESOLVED:

General Fund

(i)  That the General Fund revenue outturn for 2023/24 as a balanced position after a transfer of £1.10M from reserves to meet the year-end deficit, as outlined in paragraph 3 of the report be approved;

(ii)  That the requests to carry forward un-ringfenced grant funding totalling £0.08M as outlined in paragraph 15 of the report be approved; and

Housing Revenue Account

(iii)  That the HRA revenue outturn for 2023/24 as outlined in paragraph 29 and Appendix 3 of the report be approved.