Agenda and minutes

To receive any apologies.

It was noted that apologies had been received from Councillors Guthrie and Vaughan.

Matters especially brought forward by the Mayor and the Leader.

(i)  The Mayor thanked all Southampton City Council staff and partners at Balfour Beatty for ensuring the City was kept safe by taking necessary quick decisions and diverting resources during the recent storms.  The enormous efforts made by everyone involved was appreciated.

(ii)  The Mayor also paid tribute to Sandy Hopkins, Chief Executive and Kate Martin, Director of Place for their valued service to the Council both of whom were leaving the authority next week. 

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 for qualifying petitions must be debated at Council:

We oppose the proposed closure of St. Mary’s Leisure Centre and call on the Council to ensure facilities, staff and services remain in the hands of the Council fully funded to meet the needs of the local community. 

The Council received and noted the following deputations:

(i)  Ms Christine Honour and Ms Margaret Jones – Day Care Service Charges; and

(ii)  Ms Catherine Clarke, Ms Parveen Ishfaq and Ms Syed – Closure of St. Mary’s Leisure Centre.

The Council received and debated the following Petition which under the Council’s Procedure Rules where qualifying petitions must be debated at Council was achieved:

(i)  Closure of St. Mary’s Leisure Centre

Report of the Leader of the Council seeking approval for the appointment of Interim Chief Executive, Head of Paid Service. 

Report of the Leader of the Council seeking approval to appoint an Interim Chief Executive, Head of Service.

RESOLVED to approve the appointment of Mike Harris to the role of Interim Chief Executive and Head of Paid Service from 1st March 2022.

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 appendices 5 and 6 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 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.

Appendix 6 of this report is not for publication by virtue of categories 3 (financial and business affairs), and 7A (obligation of confidentiality) of paragraph 10.4 of 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 Appendix 6 to the report contains confidential and commercially sensitive information in relation to one of the Council’s counterparties. It would prejudice the Council’s ability to operate in a commercial environment and obtain best value in contract negotiations and would prejudice the Council’s commercial relationships with third parties if they believed the Council would not honour obligations of confidentiality.

The Mayor 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 appendices 5 and 6 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 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.

Appendix 6 of this report is not for publication by virtue of categories 3 (financial and business affairs), and 7A (obligation of confidentiality) of paragraph 10.4 of 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 Appendix 6 to the report contains confidential and commercially sensitive information in relation to one of the Council’s counterparties. It would prejudice the Council’s ability to operate in a commercial environment and obtain best value in contract negotiations and would prejudice the Council’s commercial relationships with third parties if they believed the Council would not honour obligations of confidentiality.

Report of the Cabinet Member for Finance and Capital Assets detailing the Revenue Budget 2022/23, Medium Term Financial Forecast (MTFS) for the period 2022/23 to 2025/26. It provides detail to inform Council in setting Council Tax and rents for 2022/23.  The report also details the General Fund and Housing Revenue Account (HRA) Capital Strategy and Programme for the period 2021/22 to 2026/27.

Report of the Cabinet Member for Finance and Capital Assets detailing the Revenue Budget 2022/23, Medium Term Financial Strategy and Capital Programme.  The report also detailed the General Fund and Housing Revenue Account Capital Strategy and Programme for the period 2021/22 to 2026/27.

The report identifies how the 2022/23 budget has been balanced since the shortfall report at Cabinet in December, which was £9.01M.  It outlines how additional funds arising from the local government finance settlement and also applying a further £6.8M allocation (to make £8.5M in total) of funds from a one off surplus from the 2020/21 outturn position have helped both balance the budget and meet new pressures arising since December.

Details of the budget and capital programme are included in the following appendices to the report:

Appendix 1 The Revenue Budget 2022/23 and Medium Term Financial Strategy 2022/23 to 2025/26

Appendix 2 The Capital Strategy & General Fund Programme 2021/22 to 2026/27

Appendix 3 The HRA Budget 2022/23 and Capital Programme 2021/22 to 2026/27

There are 3 very minor changes to the figures within the report at Annex 2 of Appendix 2 (the Capital Programme for the General Fund) where 2 overall spending totals on the line by line figures on particular capital projects and also 1 funding total were incorrectly shown. These did not impact on anything within the recommendations or the overall total of the Capital Programme proposed.

The recommendations therein were moved by Councillor Hannides and seconded by Councillor Fitzhenry.

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

Other Speakers - 4 minutes

Right of Reply (Executive only) – 10 minutes

Amendment moved by Councillor Chaloner and seconded by Councillor Kaur, attached as Appendix 1 to these minutes. 

UPON BEING PUT TO THE VOTE THE AMENDMENT WAS DECLARED LOST

NOTE – FOR THE AMENDMENT: Councillors Bogle, Bunday, Chaloner, Coombs, Cooper, Denness, Fielker, Hammond, Kataria, Kaur, Leggett, Margetts, McEwing, Mitchell, Noon, Paffey, W Payne, Rayment, Renyard, Savage, Shields, Spicer and Windle.

NOTE – AGAINST THE AMENDMENT: Councillors J Baillie, P Baillie, Bell, Fitzhenry, Fuller, D Galton, G Galton, S Galton, Guest, Hannides, B Harris, L Harris, Harwood, Houghton, Laurent, Magee, Moulton, J Payne, Prior, Stead, Streets, Vassiliou and White.

The Mayor used his casting vote against the Amendment.

UPON BEING PUT TO THE VOTE THE SUBSTANTIVE MOTION WAS DECLARED CARRIED

RESOLVED that the Revenue Budget 2022/23, Medium Term Financial Strategy, and Capital Programme be adopted as detailed in the report recommendations. 

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

NOTE – FOR THE SUBSTANTIVE MOTION: Councillors  ...  view the full minutes text for item 60.