Agenda and minutes

Report of the Cabinet Member for Transport and District Regeneration detailing the 2023-2024 Concessionary Fares Scheme.

DECISION MADE: (CAB 22/23 36263)

On consideration of the report of the Cabinet Member for Transport and District Regeneration, Cabinet agreed the following:

(i)  That Cabinet agrees to the 2023/24 Concessionary Fare Methodology to reimburse bus operators in line with the Department for Transport Concessionary Fares Guidance and forecast to cost £0.06M less than budget, as detailed in Appendix 1.

(ii)  That Cabinet agrees the local enhancements above the statutory minimum, which is to allow concessionary travel from 0900 rather than 0930 and between 2300 and 0030 for Southampton residents.

(iii)  That Cabinet agrees the adjustment to the 2022/23 Concessionary Fare Methodology at the cost of £0.21M and payments are as detailed in Appendix 3.

(iv)  That Cabinet notes that the 2022/23 methodology adjustment goes beyond Essential Spend and to note the considerable financial challenges the authority faces as set out in the 2023/24 budget report and Medium Term Financial Strategy (MTFS) agreed by Council on 22 February 2023, in particular the comments of the S151 Officer on the major risks faced and the inadequacy of reserves.  Cabinet is therefore urged to carefully consider very carefully any and all extra spending prior to making any commitment. The budget challenge is set out in paragraphs 38 and 39.

Report of the Cabinet Member for Transport and District Regeneration detailing the Enhanced Bus Partnership.

DECISION MADE: (CAB 22/23 36003) On consideration of the report of the Cabinet Member for Transport and District Regeneration, Cabinet agreed the following:

(i)  To approve the creation of the Southampton Enhanced Bus Partnership and to publish a Notice of Intent as required by section 138F of Transport Act 2000.

(ii)  To approve the draft Enhanced Partnership Plan and Scheme and finalise the EP Agreement, following consultation with the Director Governance & HR and Executive Director Place, and to commence the Partnership from 17th April 2023.

(iii)  To delegate authority to the Executive Director for Place, following consultation with the Cabinet Member for Transport and District Regeneration, to determine all matters recommended at the Enhanced Partnership Board as set out in the EP Scheme and in line with agreed Council budgets and the Policy Framework.

Report of the Cabinet Member for Communities and Customer Engagement detailing the Household Support Fund April 2023-March 2024.

DECISION MADE: (CAB 22/23 36003) On consideration of the report of the Cabinet Member for Communities and Customer Engagement, Cabinet agreed the following:

(i)  To approve in principle for Southampton City Council to participate in the delivery of the next phase of Household Support Fund from 1 April 2023 to 31 March 2024.

(ii)  To delegate authority to the Executive Director Wellbeing & Housing to finalise the details of the local Household Support Fund scheme following consultation with the Executive Director - Finance, Commercialisation and S151 Officer and the Cabinet Member for Communities and Customer Engagement and to administer funding in accordance with that scheme.

Joint report of the Cabinet Member for Finance and Change and the Cabinet Member for Communities and Customer Engagement detailing the Household Waste and Fly-tipping Policy 2023-2026.

DECISION MADE: (CAB 22/23 36294) On consideration of the report of the Cabinet Member for Finance and Change and having considered the recommendations from Overview and Scrutiny Management Committee held on 9^th March, 2023 Cabinet agreed the following:

(i)  To approve the Household Waste and Fly-tipping Policy.

(ii)  To delegate authority to the Executive Director for Place, following consultation with the Cabinet Member for Finance and Change and the Cabinet Member for Communities and Customer Engagement, to make minor changes to the Policy during its period of effect.

Report of the Leader detailing Budget Matters – Grant Funding for Southampton Culture Trust.

DECISION MADE: (CAB 22/23 33674) On consideration of the report of the Cabinet Member for Finance and Change, Cabinet agreed the following:

(i)  To approve the award of grant funding of £0.07M in 2022/23, £0.35M in 2023/24, £0.044M in 2024/25 and £0.40M in 2025/26 towards the operation of the Southampton Culture Trust as per the allocations in the Council approved budget report and detailed in paragraph 12.

(ii)  To delegate authority to the Head of Culture & Tourism to conclude the grant funding arrangements with the Trust as per paragraph 12.

(iii)  To approve a £50k contribution to the Trust to carry out a Tourism audit and action plan as per paragraph 12.

Report of the Cabinet Member for Children and Learning detailing the SEND Programme. 

DECISION MADE: (CAB 22/23 35639) On consideration of the report of the Cabinet Member for Children and Learning, Cabinet agreed the following modified recommendations:

(i)  To approve the commencement of consultation, based on the option recommended in section 23. The option outlined is for the expansion and reconfiguration of Southampton Special Schools to create 278 additional spaces across 3 identified sites as per Table 1, section 23, subject to consultation and statutory school organisation decisions. 

(ii)  To agree a further report to be brought back to Cabinet prior to the commencement of the strategy. This report will detail the outcome of the consultation including any required amendments to the programme.

(iii)  To approve spend of £0.67m in 2023/24 for the next phase for the SEND programme to proceed with preparatory work as outlined in the report from General Fund capital. Should any of the schemes not proceed following the outcome of the consultation these costs will be abortive costs which will be charged to the General Fund revenue account. The risk of the capital programme not proceeding is very low after 3 years of extensive consultation and phase 1 feasibility work. Equally, the risks of not doing the work are also high as surplus places within the city are needed to lower costs and not having these will lead to extensive use of out of city and independent specialist provision, at much greater cost. It is unlikely the costs would fall in full to revenue, but if any cost does, we will need to rely on staff savings via more vacancies being managed including those from early help and young people services. This would in turn impact on early intervention services, ultimately increasing demand.

(iv)  To agree to the commencement of work prior to consultation closing, understanding that there is a risk of abortive costs should any scheme not proceed needing to be charged to revenue.