Agenda and minutes

Report of Chair of Overview and Scrutiny Management Committee, seeking a response to recommendations made by the Committee at the meeting held on 18th August, 2015, regarding Decision Number CAB 15/16 15193 – The Future of the Southampton Library Service, attached. 

Following the Call-in, Cabinet reconsidered the decision taken on 18^th August, 2015 taking into account recommendations put forward by Overview and Scrutiny Management Committee held on 10^th September, 2015, as follows:

The following recommendations from OSMC were addressed by Cabinet, at the meeting on 15^th September:

(i)  that Cabinet commits to ensure flexibility within timescales for community led initiatives to be established within the six libraries should formal arrangements not be in place by 31 March 2016;

Some flexibility could be permitted, however the savings figure identified is based on the council ceasing to provide a service from these libraries by the 31^st March 2016.

(ii)  that, to enable effective scrutiny, Cabinet clarifies the timetable and the process for the establishment of community led libraries;

The detailed timescale will be clarified once a decision has been taken. If a decision is taken on the 15^th September, the timescale would be as follows:

(iii)that Cabinet identifies the financial support the Housing Revenue Account would be able to provide in relation to the Library Service;

As previously advised, the HRA cannot support the core costs of the library service. HRA funding must be used only for the benefit of its tenants.

The concept of providing support to help people get online, is something that the HRA could support, given the importance of digital skills. This kind of activity also has the option of being supported by National Lottery funding in association with a community group. Housing officers will be pursuing this project.

(iv)  that Cabinet provide details, including outcomes, of discussions that had taken place with other local authorities regarding sharing library services;

Officers have met with officers from Hampshire County Council, Portsmouth City Council and IOW on 8 occasions to examine opportunities for joint working, share progress on Library transformation projects and establish if any opportunities existed for integration. Whilst dialogue continues, no proposals for integration have yet been made, with projects continuing in different timelines.

It should be noted that integration with other authorities cannot provide any guarantee of maintaining service levels and delivery models. Both Hampshire and IOW for example are currently engaged in Community libraries, and service rationalisation.

(v)  that, due to the change in location and increased usage since the consultation commenced, Cabinet review the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 11.

Report of the Cabinet Member for Education and Children’s Social Care summarising the key programmes and projects relating to school expansion, repair and maintenance, seeking approval to additions to the overall programme and approval to spend on key projects, attached.

DECISION MADE: (CAB 16/16 15374)

On consideration of the report of the Cabinet Member for Education and Children’s Social Care Cabinet agreed to note the contents of this report and recommend to Council for approval.

NOTE: Councillor Payne declared a pecuniary interest and remained at the meeting.   

Report of the Cabinet Member for Education and Children’s Social Care detailing proposals and costs for a multi-phase expansion of Springwell Special School to meet current and forecast demand, attached.

DECISION MADE: (CAB: 15/16 15376)

On consideration of the report of the Cabinet Member for Education and Children’s Social Care, Cabinet agreed the following:

(i)  To add, in accordance with Financial Procedure Rules, a sum of £1.3M to the Education & Children’s Social Care Capital Programme for phase 1 of the expansion of Springwell School funded from non-ringfenced Department of Education Basic Need capital grant.

(ii)  To agree for further work to continue so that detailed proposals and costings can be brought back to a future Cabinet meeting on the longer-term plan to create the further capacity required at Springwell School.

Report of the Cabinet Member for Health and Adult Social Care detailing progress since the Cabinet decisions to close Woodside Lodge Residential Care Home and to restructure Day and Respite Services and seeking approval for the next steps, attached.

DECISION MADE:  (CAB 15/16 15249)

On consideration of the report of the Cabinet Member for Health and Adult Social Care and having received representations from MENCAP and a Member of the Council, Cabinet agreed to the following:

(i)  To note that in accordance with its decision of 16 December 2014, Woodside Lodge residential care home closed on 31 July 2015, as all of its previous residents had been supported to move to suitable alternative placements.

(ii)  To confirm the Cabinet decision made on 15 January 2015 to cease the provision of council-provided day services at St Denys and Freemantle Community Centres, along with all four satellite day services (Nutfield, Tools for Self Reliance, Stella Maris and Wooden Reflections), and agrees that these council-run services will close by 31 December 2015.

(iii)  To note that the Council will continue to provide day services from Woolston Community Centre and Sembal House to help meet the assessed needs of 122 individuals.

(iv)  That, taking into account the outcome of the assessments of individual needs and the availability of suitable alternatives, Cabinet agrees to postpone the implementation of its decision made on 15 January 2015 to close the replacement care (respite) service provided by the council at Kentish Road pending the outcome of a further review and the continued evaluation and development of suitable alternatives.

(v)  To request a report on the outcome of a further review, led by the Integrated Commissioning Unit, of how replacement care (respite) for individuals with a learning disability can best be provided, to include an update on the evaluation and development of suitable alternatives to Kentish Road, by 31 March 2016.

(vi)  To confirm the commitment made by Cabinet not to close the replacement care (respite) service at Kentish Road until individuals have been supported to move to suitable alternatives and agrees that Kentish Road will not close until 30 September 2016 at the earliest.

Report of the Leader of the Council seeking approval for the sale of Portsmouth Road car park and Peartree and Sholing local housing office, attached.

DECISION MADE: (CAB 15/16 15319)

On consideration of the report of the Leader, Cabinet agreed to the following:

(i)  To approve the sale of the Portsmouth Road car park and Local Housing Office as shown at Appendix 1;

(ii)  To delegate authority to Head of Property to agree the final price and other terms with the preferred bidder and in the event that the preferred bid is withdrawn or no longer remains best consideration to agree terms with an alternative purchaser and to continue such process as necessary, including re-marketing the property if necessary;

(iii)  To authorise Head of Property to take any further action necessary to give effect to this decision;

(iv)  To note the estimated value of the capital receipt from this disposal has already been built into the funding of the capital programme. Any receipt that differs from the estimate will need to be considered corporately as part of any future prioritisation of resources;

(v)  To note that any proceeds from this disposal will be allocated in line with the principles set out in the capital strategy.  At the time of setting the capital programme consideration will be given to the allocation of up to 25% of any surplus from this disposal and related disposals in the area, to enable local priorities within the Woolston and Peartree wards to be undertaken.