Agenda and minutes

Apologies were received from Councillor Quadir.

To approve and sign as a correct record the Minutes of the meetings held on 1^st February, 2024 and to deal with any matters arising, attached.

RESOLVED that the minutes for the Committee meeting held on 1^st February 2024 be approved and signed as a correct record.

At the request of the Chair, the Committee discussed the disruption to household waste services and the action being taken to address the situation. 

Councillor Keogh, Cabinet Member for Environment and Transport, Councillor Fielker, Leader of the Council, Adam Wilkinson Executive Director of Place, Ian Collins, Director of Environment and Dave Tyrie, Head of City Services were present and with the consent of the Chair addressed the meeting.

The Committee discussed with the Cabinet Member and Leader of the Council the disruption to household waste services across the City, the reasons behind the drop in services, actions being taken to rectify the situation, reporting of missed bins, reporting of data, as well as future ambitions to make improvements. 

RESOLVED:

(i)  That a summary of missed collections for February 2024, by collection type, was circulated to the Committee.

(ii)  That consideration was given to updating the Council’s website, enabling the reporting of missed bins to be undertaken beyond the current 48-hour limit.

(iii)  That the Leader provides the Committee with confidential details related to the Administrations communications with the waste collectors and their trade union representatives.

(iv)  That, reflecting on the challenges experienced, the Executive review the approach followed and identify learning points to be utilised for future transformation projects.

(v)  That clarification was provided to the Committee on whether the Council was following due process with regards to enforcing employment contracts related to the current disruptions.

The Chair 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 confidential appendices to the following Item.

Attached as Appendix 2 is a briefing paper on the Asset Development and Disposal Programme due to be considered by Cabinet on 19^th March. The Forward Plan of Executive Decisions from 19^th March 2024 identifies that appendices attached to the Cabinet report on the Asset Development and Disposal Programme contain information exempt from general publication based on Category 3 (information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the Authority holding the information)) of paragraph 10.4 of the Council’s Access to Information Procedure Rules. In applying the public interest test this information has been deemed exempt from the publication due to commercial sensitivity. It is not considered to be in the public interest to disclose this information as it would reveal information which would put the Council at a commercial disadvantage.

The Chair moved 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 confidential appendices to the following Item.

Attached as Appendix 2 was a briefing paper on the Asset Development and Disposal Programme due to be considered by Cabinet on 19th March. The Forward Plan of Executive Decisions from 19th March 2024 identifies that appendices attached to the Cabinet report on the Asset Development and Disposal Programme contain information exempt from general publication based on Category 3 (information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the Authority holding the information)) of paragraph 10.4 of the Council’s Access to Information Procedure Rules. In applying the public interest test this information had been deemed exempt from the publication due to commercial sensitivity. It was not considered to be in the public interest to disclose this information as it would reveal information which would put the Council at a commercial disadvantage.

The Committee considered the report of the Scrutiny Manager which enabled the Overview and Scrutiny Management Committee to examine the content of the Forward Plan and to discuss issues of interest or concern with the Executive. 

SOLENT LOCAL ENTERPRISE PARTNERSHIP INTEGRATION INTO THE SOLENT UNITARY AUTHORITIES

The Committee considered the briefing paper attached to this item detailing the forthcoming Cabinet decision regarding the Solent Local Enterprise Partnership Integration into the Solent Unitary Authorities.

Councillor Bogle, Cabinet Member for Economic Development, Nawaz Khan, Head of Economic Development and Regeneration and Matt Hill, Service Manager, Economic Development were present and with the consent of the Chair addressed the meeting. 

RESOLVED:

(i)  That, in recognition of the current uncertainty with regards to long term funding, the issue returns to the Committee in 2024/25 with a focus on developing a sustainable model for supporting economic development in Southampton and the Solent region.

(ii)  That the Executive consider scheduling a briefing for members on economic development issues, with a focus on the Economic Development Strategy and deliverable outcomes and performance targets.

ASSET DEVELOPMENT AND DISPOSAL PROGRAMME

The Committee considered the confidential briefing paper attached to this item detailing Asset Development and Disposal Programme.

Councillor Bogle, Cabinet Member for Economic Development, Tina Dyer-Slade – Head of Corporate Estates and Assets and Gaetana Wiseman, Head of Support Services were present and with the consent of the Chair addressed the meeting. 

RESOLVED:

(i)  That, reflecting concerns about governance of the programme, the Committee and Chair of the Governance Committee engage with the Monitoring Officer to identify opportunities for appropriate and proportionate oversight of the Asset Development and Disposal Programme.

(ii)  That a communications plan is developed to support the Asset Development and Disposal Programme.

The Committee noted the report and tabled at the meeting, modified Appendix 1, of the Scrutiny Manager which enabled the Overview and Scrutiny Management Committee to monitor and track progress on recommendations made to the Executive at previous meetings.