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.  Housing Voids

 

Councillor Laurent to Councillor A Frampton

 

QUESTION:

 

Regarding Council Housing Voids, how long is it taking to turn properties around so available to re-let?

 

ANSWER:

 

The total time from when one tenant moves out and another tenant moves in for August 2024 was 157 days. 

 

The time it takes to turn around void properties is a metric that provides a snapshot at a given point in time and is volatile based on the properties that are being prioritised for re-letting. This figure is likely to remain high in the medium term as the transformation work is embedded.

due to the methods being deployed to reduce the number of void properties and the sheer volume of work needed. 

 

Although the key-to-key time performance is below target, good progress is being made to reduce the number of void properties.

 

We have made great progress in bring void homes back in to use for our residents. Although we may well still have some challenges to bring our Homes to the standard, we all want. This administration will scrutinise this process and make sure our voids are back in use in a reasonable time fame.

 

2.  Damage to Residents Properties

 

Councillor Laurent to Councillor A Frampton

 

QUESTION:

 

Why when Council damages a resident’s property does the Council immediately put right the damage?

 

ANSWER:

 

Southampton City Council seeks to put right any damage it has accidentally caused with immediate effect.  On those occasions where this is not be an appointment is arranged within the quickest possible timeframe.

 

3.  Parking Issues on Highways

 

Councillor Wood to Councillor Keogh

 

QUESTION:

 

A resident contacted me about dangerous parking on the corner of his road. Cars could squeeze through but risked minor scrapes but the bin lorry couldn’t get through. The car was parked there for nearly 24 hours and when I visited could have been pulled forward a few metres to a sensible place.  I contacted the Police on 101 and was told they would help remove vehicles that, for example, blocked a junction after being involved in an accident but not inconsiderate parking.

 

If life were in danger fire brigade would push through and damage the car.  I contacted traffic enforcement and was told “With regards to cars parking on corners and making it awkward for other vehicles to get past, unless there is a restriction in place (such as double/single yellow lines) then we (as Civil Enforcement Officers for SCC) do not have any powers to do anything about those vehicles. If there are restrictions in place, then we could potentially issue a Penalty Charge Notice. If it is a regular occurrence, and causing issues in the road, then you could request the traffic regulation order be amended and Yellow Lines put in, to stop this from happening – but this is a lengthy process and not a quick fix.” 

 

Inconsiderate parking is a  criminal offence under the Highway Code and becoming a concern to a lot of residents as pressure on parking increase. Police are not interested. SCC have no powers. What can residents do?

 

ANSWER:

 

Officers from Highways and Parking Services will be happy to review Councillor Wood’s query and examine the specific location to see if restrictions should be introduced. As has been noted, the Council are not able to carry out enforcement action in the absence of parking restrictions.

 

4.  Dementia Friendly City

 

Councillor Barbour to Councillor Finn

 

QUESTION:

 

In 2016 Southampton City Council pledged to become a dementia friendly city following the scrutiny inquiry in 2015/16.  What actions has SCC taken over the past year?  As a councillor I have been in role for 16 months and not been offered dementia awareness training.  This was one of the recommendations from the inquiry and there were many others, can you update on progress against these.

 

ANSWER:

 

The focus from the 2016 Scrutiny Enquiry has been subsumed within the city’s Joint Health and Wellbeing Strategy with specific work in regards to dementia being taken forward in partnership with HIOW ICS through the OPMH & Dementia Transformation Delivery Group.  Individual and partnership actions are being developed at a number of sub-groups, including acute and crisis and post diagnosis support. 

 

One positive recent development at place is the grant that has been received by the Council to purchase more technology that will enable people with dementia to stay at home for longer.

 

The Dementia Friendly Southampton group has facilitated dementia friendly training which was available to all to access.  Dementia Friendly Southampton was paused in March, but has been re-established as of September and we are thankful to Southampton Voluntary Services for enabling this. I will remind member services that they should be offering dementia awareness training to public facing staff and to members and ask for this to be provided.

 

It is some time since the 2016 inquiry and, as we are now consulting on the local plan, I am meeting with the labour group mental health champion who is Cllr Kenny. She has worked extensively as an older persons mental health nurse so is very aware of the issues. The aim of meeting is to re look at the recommendations to see if there are aspects that we want to recommend for inclusion in the local plan. Cllr Barbour is welcome to join us, as is any other member who may have an interest in this subject.

 

5.  October By-Election

 

Councillor P Baillie to Councillor Fielker

 

QUESTION:

 

The council has been in a financial crisis for a year. Is it not a disgraceful use of public money to be funding a by-election in October when the incumbent could have resigned before the last May elections?

 

ANSWER:

 

Verbal response to be provided at the meeting.

 

This is an interesting question that reeks of the double standards and lack of consistency we expect for the Conservatives in this Chamber. Cllr Lambert and Cllr Gravatt were both candidates in the recent general election.  Should Cllr Lambert have stood down and Cllr Gravatt not stood in that election at all. If Cllr Baillie felt this was such an issue, why did he not ask the question in our March meeting?

I would also like to point out that in

 

·  2010 Royston Smith

·  2015 Cllr Moulton

·  2019 Cllr Galton

 

All stood for Parliament but did not step down prior to the election taking place

 

 

6.  Priorities for Southampton

 

Councillor P Baillie to Councillor Fielker

 

QUESTION:

 

What comes first – doing what is best for the people of Southampton or following the national Labour Party policies?

 

 

 

ANSWER:

 

Verbal response to be provided at the meeting.

 

My first priority is always to the residents of Southampton I am pleased that we have a government who match that rather than the former one. We all remember Rishi Sunak, son of Southampton telling Conservative party members that he changed the funding formula so that residents in wealthy shires would get more funding at the expense of his deprived hometown of Southampton.

 

In the place we have a Labour Government with five clear missions to improve people’s lives by

 

·  Kickstarting economic growth

·  Making Britain a clean energy superpower to cut bills, create jobs and deliver security with cheaper, zero-carbon electricity by 2030, accelerating to net zero.

·  Take back our streets by halving serious violent crime and raising confidence in the police and criminal justice system to its highest levels.

·  Breaking down the barriers to opportunity by reforming our childcare and education systems, to make sure there is no class ceiling on the ambitions of young people in Britain.

·  And building an NHS fit for the future that is there when people need it; with fewer lives lost to the biggest killers; in a fairer Britain, where everyone lives well for longer.

 

Delivering on these missions will have a big impact on the residents and business of Southampton and they align with the work we are doing, with what has felt like one hand tied behind our back for a long time.

 

7.  Hill Lane Transport Corridor

 

Councillor Blackman to Councillor Keogh

 

QUESTION:

 

Could you provide an update on developments for the Hill Lane transport corridor, notably the introduction of the new planned bus route, the future of the current X11 route, and reverting to a 30mph speed limit on Hill Lane itself?

 

ANSWER:

 

The X11 and X12 (Aldermoor, Shirley, Freemantle areas) have been retendered by the authority and will be operated by a different bus operator from Monday 28 October 2024. Both routes and timetables will be similar to now and the procurement team are in the process of awarding the tender. Once this has been completed and bus service registrations have been received from the new operator, we will be able to provide further information. Regarding the proposed Hill Lane bus service, negotiations are underway with the successful tender and a service may be in place for January 2025.  A consultation on proposed changes to speed limits in the Shirley / Freemantle area including Hill Lane will be advertised by a Traffic Regulation Order in November 2024

 

8.  Mayfield Bowling Club

 

Councillor Powell-Vaughan to Councillor Letts

 

QUESTION:

 

Can you please advise why after agreeing my motion for Mayfield Bowling Club last Full Council you have not arranged the Greens upkeep and costs?

 

ANSWER:

 

The City Services team is working with Mayfield Bowling Club to develop and agree options regarding the upkeep and costs associated with the facility.