(a) Moved by Councillor Blackman
This Council notes:
Southampton City Council is facing significant financial challenges, including rising costs, reduced government funding, and increasing demand for local services. As a result, it is essential that the Council make cost-effective investments to reduce operating costs, generate revenue, and improve long-term financial stability. The Council also recognizes the urgent need to address climate change by reducing carbon emissions, in line with the UK’s legally binding commitment to Net Zero by 2050.
One of our neighbouring councils, Portsmouth, gave the green light to a scheme in August 2023 to install over 7,000 solar panels over car parks in Portsmouth, plus provision for electric car charging. This project will not only help to meet environmental objectives but will also provide financial savings and new revenue streams from the sale of renewable energy.
This Council believes:
Investing in solar panels on council-owned car parks is a smart financial decision that can help Southampton reduce costs, generate additional income, and strengthen the city’s financial resilience. By following the example of Portsmouth, Southampton can demonstrate leadership in both environmental sustainability and sound financial management. Installing solar panels will not only help meet the city’s climate goals but also offer long-term savings, helping to alleviate some of the financial pressures facing the Council. It will also complement the Council's Climate Change and Green Infrastructure Strategies.
This Council resolves to:
To bring a report back to the Council within six months outlining the findings of the feasibility study, including a financial analysis, environmental benefits, and a plan for the phased installation of solar panels across council-owned car
(b) Moved by Councillor P Baillie
“As Corporate Parents, Southampton City Council believes that our children in care should be given every chance to succeed.
Presently, children stop being in care when they reach the age of 18, even if they’re still living with their foster family. There is no minimum allowance paid to carers when the young person is old enough to leave foster care.
For most young people, they turn 18 during the academic year and the lack of an allowance may then lead some carers to stop caring for our young people, who are often then moved into alternative accommodation. This is a major upheaval during a very important time of their lives – a time where their full focus should be on their studies, rather than their living situation.
Rather than it stopping based on when the young person turns 18, which could be at any point during the academic year, we want to see the fostering allowance paid to carers extended until the end of the Academic Year (31 August). This will allow greater stability for our looked after children and allow time for job hunting or pre-University preparation. This Councils asks that the Leader of Southampton City Council lobbies our local MPs and Government on this matter in order for this negative anomaly to be changed.”
(c) Moved by Councillor Galton
Council acknowledges the alarming performance of blue badge processing for both new applications and renewals. This saw a back log of 2074 open applications in June with 342 of these exceeding a 12 week process.
Despite improving in recent months, it is still far below what an inclusive and accessible City should be delivering for some of its most vulnerable residents; with around 1800 open cases and over 100 of these still exceeding a 12 week period.
In 2022 our scrutiny panel inquiry, Accessible Southampton, made this valid point: “Accessibility is key to inclusive cities. By tackling barriers and building inclusive cities it can enable disabled people, and those with access issues, to access services and contribute fully to public life.”
Council accepts:
As such, Council calls on the executive:
· to immediately prioritise and put in place temporary additional resources to clear the back log of applications.
· to establish and then provide the permanent resources needed to maintain an adequate and timely blue badge processing service.
· To recognise that adopting the mindset that every valid blue badge application is an urgent application is the best way to ensure we remain an accessible City, welcoming and caring for our most vulnerable.
(d) Moved by Councillor McManus
This Council notes that White Ribbon Day 2024 was observed on 25th November and runs until December 10th.
We acknowledge the significance of this period in raising awareness about men’s violence against women and girls, and the importance of prioritising Primary Prevention to stop violence from happening in the first place.
We recognise the ongoing need to address and prevent violence against women and girls, and the need to engage men and boys throughout society. This includes in education, in workplaces, communities and online.
We acknowledge the critical role that we, as decision makers, play in shaping and implementing policies that prioritise preventing violence against women and girls and helping to create a more equal society where all individuals, regardless of gender, can live freely without the fear of violence.
The White Ribbon Campaign’s mission is to raise awareness about men's violence against women and girls and encourage men to take action to end it.
This Council encourages all members to support the campaign by undertaking at least one of the following actions: