Agenda item

Verbal report of the Leader of the Council.

A verbal report of the Leader of the Council was given setting out the details of the business undertaken by the Executive.

 

The Leader and the Cabinet made statements and responded to questions.

 

The following questions were submitted in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 11.1:-

 

1.  Improved Bus Routes

 

Councillor Blackman to Councillor Keogh

 

QUESTION: With some areas of the city in ‘bus deserts’, including the Sports Centre which is planned for modernisation, could the Cabinet Member report on progress to improve the coverage of bus routes in the city?

 

ANSWER:  The Bus Service Improvement Plan (BSIP)  sets out a vision for buses in Southampton. As part of the BSIP, the Council has now entered into an Enhanced Partnership with local bus operators (March 2023). The Enhanced Partnership sets out obligations on The Council and on local bus operators to achieving the ambitions in the BSIP. The Enhanced Partnership has set up a new governance board where issues such as new bus network planning will be discussed and worked through with bus operators and the Council.

 

The bus network is currently under a review following the withdrawal of a bus operator (First Bus) in Feb 2023 and the subsequent taking over of the majority of those routes by Bluestar (Go South Coast Group). The Council will work with Bluestar via the Enhanced Partnership to review the bus network to ensure that it is sustainable and fit for purpose for Southampton.

 

2. Budget

 

Councillor Fitzhenry to Councillor Kaur

 

QUESTION: Can the leader confirm when she first knew of the councils revised budget black hole?

 

ANSWER: The Cabinet and I have been discussing the financial position since February. We have had regular meetings with the Executive Management Team to develop the plan that is presented today. The financial situation at the start of any year is a developing one especially this year with the increasing economic pressure the council and residents are facing, hence we have requested some external validation of the forecast.

 

3. St. Mary’s Leisure Centre

 

Councillor Fitzhenry to Councillor Kaur

 

QUESTION: Can the leader give a personal commitment that St. Mary’s Leisure Centre will stay open given the significant financial challenges the council faces?

 

ANSWER: Yes.

 

4. Grass Cutting Service

 

Councillor Galton to Councillor Keogh

 

QUESTION: Given the numerous complaints over the length of uncut grass, especially in the west of the City and within our cemetery grounds, will the Cabinet Member commit to not cutting these staff and improving the service levels to meet our tax payers expectations of a basic service?

 

ANSWER: The number of complaints about our green spaces is low.  In the last 12 months there have been 44 service requests (24 of these in the West operating district), and 14 complaints received via customer services.  Considering that the warm and wet spring in 2023 that saw accelerated grass growth in the city I feel the performance of our teams has been good and should be commended.  Several of the service requests were invalid, involving customers asking for us to cut areas that are designated to encourage wildlife - these are not on our spring and summer mowing programmes.

 

Regarding cemeteries, there is a proposal to remove a vacant part-time post in bereavement which will not impact on existing level of grounds maintenance. We employ a small number of permanent posts alongside seasonal temporary workers to maintain city cemeteries. It is more cost effective to employ seasonal temporary workers than to employ additional permanent staff.  In some areas of our cemeteries we are not allowed to cut the grass due to ecology restrictions regarding wild orchids and butterflies.

 

5. SEND Programme

 

Councillor J Baillie to Councillor Winning

 

QUESTION: Does the updated financial situation of the council mean that there will be further reductions/cuts to the SEND expansion programme?

 

ANSWER: No.

 

6. Medium Term Financial Strategy Update

 

Councillor Blackman to Councillor Leggett (Councillor Letts responded)

 

QUESTION: Further to the publication of the Medium Term Financial Strategy Update will the Cabinet Member and the Administration do everything to ensure that Southampton City Council’s destiny remains in its own hands?

 

ANSWER: Yes, but we have a lot of work to do, from my initial analysis we have a clear and workable plan which I hope to deliver and give clear updates to you as Chair of Overview and Scrutiny Management Committee and other Members as appropriate. 

 

7. Financial Risk

 

Councillor Moulton to Councillor Leggett (Councillor Letts responded)

 

QUESTION: In light of the council’s perilous financial position and given the risks involved, was it really wise or responsible for the Labour Council to have planned to borrow £27M to fund an office block on the Toys R Us site?

 

ANSWER: The decision on any investment made by the Council, in public buildings or commercial buildings, is usually based on whether we can get a good return or by investing we can generate a quicker return than we would otherwise get from a site.  So in the past we have made investments where this has enabled a particular development to come forward faster and we can then take an income from accrued business rates.  As I am aware the Council has no current proposal to support this particular development, and bearing in mind I have been in the role for approximately 24 hours and I haven’t had the time to definitely check that, but my gut reaction is that an investment of this type at this time, would not be a decision that I would support. 

 

8. City of Culture Legacy Funding

 

Councillor Moulton to Councillor Leggett (Councillor Letts responded)

 

QUESTION: Given the Labour Administration is now looking at significant cuts to core council services, was it really appropriate to commit an extra £1.2M to supporting the new Cultural Trust to fund Southampton’s City of Culture bid ‘legacy’?

 

ANSWER: My understanding is that a sum of money has been pledged, but in return for that sum it would lead to significant investment in the City by Arts Council England. Part of that investment is to replace the roof on the Art Gallery, which has been hanging over this Council for 15 years and to see that roof replaced and the Art Gallery, which is one of the jewels in our crown protected, I think offers good value for money.  In addition to that there is significant other investment coming in from the Arts Council on the basis of our continued support for arts and heritage built on the bid for City of Culture last year.  A bid that we were encouraged to put forward by Arts Council England.  So it is about working with partners to get the best deal for the City. 

 

9. Finance

 

Councillor Galton to Councillor Kaur

 

QUESTION: Do you regret not getting more involved in understanding, as you previously described it, the “financial stuff”?

 

ANSWER: To reassure you and Members I am heavily involved and have been throughout on the Council’s finances. Just because at a previous meeting I highlighted that we have a finance lead on my Cabinet, does not mean that I am not also involved.  In fact there is a collective response from the Cabinet who are all equally committed to Council finances and having a sustainable organisation. I meet and discuss the finances of Council with the Executive Management Team and my Cabinet on a very regular basis.  The plan presented in today’s Medium Term Financial Strategy is a plan that I have personally been heavily involved with, it is a plan supported by Auditors, CIPFA and Government who have confidence in our leadership to deliver it. 

 

10.  Carbon Neutral Target

 

Councillor Barbour to Councillor Keogh

 

QUESTION: Does the carbon neutral target in the Green City Charger relate to the operations of the city council or all the activities, businesses and services that operate within the city?

 

ANSWER: The Green City Charter (2019) established a vision and a set of commitments that seek to deliver far-reaching change to our environment.  It provides a framework for city stakeholders to aspire to and over 100 residents, businesses and organisations joined the Council in doing so.  The Charter was developed in partnership with the founding signatories and a carbon neutral target of 2030 was included, providing the opportunity for signatories to use offsetting to reduce their carbon footprint.

 

The Council went on to establish its own plans, adopting the Green City Plan in 2020 and confirming that carbon emissions from its own operations and services would seek to be net zero by 2030. That involves taking practical steps to reduce emissions and using offsetting as a last resort.

 

In the Council’s Corporate Plan 2022/30 the concept of Southampton becoming a zero Carbon City by 2035 was introduced.  This would encompass all emissions within the city including those which, to date, have not been captured by more specific goals set by individuals and organisations.