Agenda and minutes

It was noted that following receipt of the temporary resignation of Councillors Chaloner and Kaur from the Committee, the Service Director, Legal and Business Operations, acting under delegated powers, had appointed Councillors Bogle and Paffey respectively to replace them for the purposes of this meeting.

In addition, with the exception of Councillor Vaughan who was in attendance for the Conservative Group the Committee noted apologies from Councillors Fuller, Guthrie and Stead.

To approve and sign as a correct record the Minutes of the Special meeting  held on 17^th February, 2022 and to deal with any matters arising.

RESOLVED: that the minutes for the Committee meeting on 17^th February 2022 be approved and signed as a correct record.

The Committee considered the report of the Service Director - Legal and Business Operations, detailing the Call-In of Executive Decision CAB 21/22 33197 –  St Mary’s Leisure Centre.

Councillor Fitzhenry, Leader of the Council, Mrs Ramana, Nick Chaffey, Katherine Clarke and Mr Farooq, local residents were in attendance and with the consent of the Chair addressed the meeting. 

RESOLVED that Cabinet reconsider the called in decision at the next decision meeting.

The following recommendations were made to be addressed by Cabinet at 14 March 2022 meeting:

• That Cabinet do not proceed with the decision agreed at 21 February 2022 meeting to close St Marys Leisure Centre and that Cabinet seek to find a partner to keep it open for community use.

If the Administration is not minded to accept this recommendation it is recommended that:

A)  The Administration honours the Leader’s commitment to the community and restricts the sale of the building solely for affordable housing or community use.

If the Administration is not minded to accept this recommendation, or is unable to meet this commitment, it is recommended that: 

• The outcome of the Best Value consideration report which determines the viability of restricting disposal of the site for residential use, as outlined in recommendation two of the Cabinet report, is reported back to this Committee at the appropriate time.

B)  The Administration honours the Leader’s commitment to the community that all or some of the capital receipt raised is re-invested in the local community, that the community are meaningfully involved in determining how the money is spent, and, that the Administration report back to this Committee at the appropriate time on how this has been achieved.The Committee have expressed support for initiatives that promote the health and wellbeing of the local community.

If the Administration is not minded to accept this recommendation it is recommended that:

• The criteria for determining the level of capital receipt to be re-invested in the local community is provided to the Committee.

• The Administration report back to this Committee at an appropriate time outlining how it has utilised the capital receipt to benefit the local community.

C)  That a public meeting is held within the community to enable answers to be provided to the questions that still remain unanswered, specifically those relating to how the capital receipt will be spentand how they will be involved in determining the need in the community.

The Committee considered the briefing paper of the Cabinet Member for Children’s Social Care detailing the Children and Young People’s Strategy 2022-2027 and Youth Justice Plan.

Councillor P Baillie, Cabinet Member for Children’s Social Care and Councillor Margetts were in attendance and with the consent of the Chair addressed the meeting.

RESOLVED:

(i)  that in recognition that children’s outcomes were influenced by wider economic, social and environmental factors, that the report referenced the work being delivered via other key Council strategies that were integral to delivering the stated ambitions within the Children and Young People’s Strategy; and

(ii)  That dates in the Youth Justice Strategic Plan were reviewed to ensure that timescales and targets aligned.

The Committee considered the briefing paper of the Cabinet Member for Growth detailing the Connected Southampton Transport Strategy (LTP) Implementation Plan 2022-2025.

Councillor Moulton, Cabinet Member for Growth was in attendance and with the consent of the Chair addressed the meeting.

RESOLVED:

(i)  That the Cabinet Member returns to the Committee when the Bus Service Improvement Plan funding was announced by Government and the Administration have had time to reflect on the outcome; and

(ii)  That clarification was provided with regards to the expected date when the Enhanced Partnership would become operational.

The Committee considered the briefing paper of the Cabinet Member for Communities, Culture and Heritage regarding the introduction of a Housing Asset Management Strategy.

Councillor Vassiliou, Cabinet Member for Communities, Culture and Heritage was in attendance and with the consent of the Chair addressed the meeting.

RESOLVED:

(i)  That the Committee were provided with a briefing on the Council’s approach to empty homes; and

(ii)  That, to ensure the housing stock meets the needs of the future, the Administration commits to Carbon Net Zero and at least M4(2), accessible or adaptable housing, for all new homes in the City.

The Committee noted the report of the Service Director – Legal and Business Operations enabling the Overview and Scrutiny Management Committee to monitor and track progress on recommendations made to the Executive at previous meetings.