Agenda and minutes

It was noted that apologies had been received from Councillors Inglis and Tammy Thomas.

To authorise the signing of the minutes of the Council Meeting held on 15^th November 2017 and 21^st February 2018, attached.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meetings held on 15^th September 2017 and 21^st February 2018 be approved and signed as a correct record.

Matters especially brought forward by the Mayor and the Leader.

Last Meeting of the Municipal Year

It was noted that this was the last meeting of the Municipal Year.  On behalf of the Council the Mayor thanked Members for their hard work and the contribution they had made during the year.  In particular it was noted that Councillors Burke, Hecks, Inglis and Lewzey were retiring from the political arena and individual tributes were made.

Last Meeting for Dawn Baxendale, Chief Executive and Head of Paid Service

It was noted that this was the last Council meeting before the departure of Dawn Baxendale, Chief Executive and Head of Paid Service who had given her commitment, loyalty and hard word during her 9 years with the Council.  The Mayor presented a small gift on behalf of the City Council and recognition of what she had achieved.

Salisbury Poisoning Attack

The Mayor acknowledged the recent poisoning attack in Salisbury and on behalf of the Council expressed its thoughts and support to all those affected at this time.

To receive any requests for Deputations, Presentation of Petitions or Public Questions.

The Council received and noted a deputation from Mr Renyard concerning “Tackling Anti-Social Behaviour in the West of the City”.

The report of the Leader of the Council was submitted 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.  Fly-Tipping

Question from Councillor O’Neill to Councillor Rayment

In view of the increase in fly-tipping, will the Council look again at using covert CCTV to increase enforcement against fly-tippers and other anti-social behaviour?

Answer

The use of CCTV, particularly covert surveillance is regulated by laws which are intended to protect individual’s rights to privacy. 

The Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 requires the use of covert surveillance by a local authority to be authorised by a   Magistrate. Authorisation requires periodic review and a covert CCTV surveillance cannot be left in place indefinitely. 

Authorisation can only be granted for serious offences, i.e those which attract a six month custodial sentence. Some fly tipping offences meet this threshold but the use of surveillance must be proportionate and justifiable.

The Council operates both fixed and moveable CCTV cameras. There are costs to providing additional cameras, typically £8,000 to install an additional fixed camera. The Council has two moveable cameras,   which can be located to overtly monitor priority areas. The cameras are currently deployed in areas where police have highlighted concerns around violent crime (for example violence linked to drug supply and prostitution). Relocating a camera can cost around £800.

Overt cameras can be deterrent and may discourage fly-tipping from hotspots. Installation of overt cameras does not require authorisation by a Magistrate. Work to identify enforcement priorities by risk can be undertaken to determine whether a moveable camera may be deployed to cover a fly-tipping hot spot, but should be balanced against the risk presented by violent crime and any decision should be taken in consultation with the police.

2.  Stoneham Tower

Councillor Painton to Councillor Letts

Leader after the motion on Stoneham Tower was passed by all what has happened since and have the university been asked their intentions and what time scale are they looking at for moving forward. 

Answer

A member of University staff was at the meeting at which we discussed Stoneham tower and you will recall I asked them to note the strength of feeling about the issue and to initiate some action. I have recently written to the University to receive an update and will share this as soon as it is received.

3.  Snow Disruption

Councillor McEwing to Councillor Rayment

Can the Cabinet Member agree, what a brilliant job our Highways Partners team and SCC staff done, from Wednesday night 28^th February until the weekend, with the onslaught of winter weather.

Answer

Verbal response as follows provided by Councillor Rayment

“Can I answer this in two parts?  I accept on the first snow fall parts of the City struggled.  We had been gritting since the early hours, and when it started laying we saw a build-up of traffic all leaving early,  ...  view the full minutes text for item 69.

(a)  Councillor P Baillie to move:

This Council is dismayed at the lack of new homes built by this administration.  This Council calls upon the administration to recognise that we are in a housing crisis, that it has wasted six years, now needs to start actually building homes and to have a coherent plan for future home building. 

(b)  Councillor Savage to move:

This Council notes with alarm the sudden closure of the South Western Arms, St. Denys, Portswood.  We urge the Executive to take necessary measures to safeguard and protect this community asset.

(c)  Councillor Denness to move:

Council believes that worrying recent increases in recorded crime – following a long period of steady decline since the mid 1990s – is a direct result of reductions in police numbers following year-on-year cuts in budgets.  

Council believes that our police are doing a fantastic job in holding the line against increasing crime levels but we are worried that a dangerous tipping point may now have been reached.  Council notes the particular impact of these Policing cuts on Southampton and urges the police and crime commissioner to spend more of his resources in the city.

Council, therefore, urges the Leader of the Council to work with other political leaders in Hampshire to lobby the Home Secretary on the issue of the underfunding of Hampshire police.  Council notes a particular issue in the city around motorcycle nuisance. It calls on the Executive to work with the Police to bring in affective preventive interventions in relation to this issue on public land.

(a)  Lack of new homes being built

Councillor P Baillie moved and Councillor Fitzhenry seconded.

This Council is dismayed at the lack of new homes built by this administration.  This Council calls upon the administration to recognise that we are in a housing crisis, that it has wasted six years, now needs to start actually building homes and to have a coherent plan for future home building. 

UPON BEING PUT TO THE VOTE THE MOTION WAS DECLARED LOST.

RESOLVED: that the Motion be rejected.

(b)  Closure of South Western Arms

Councillor Savage moved and Councillor Noon seconded.

This Council notes with alarm the sudden closure of the South Western Arms, St. Denys, Portswood.  We urge the Executive to take necessary measures to safeguard and protect this community asset.

Amendment moved by Councillor O’Neill and seconded by Councillor Claisse

Delete Motion B:

This Council notes with alarm the sudden closure of the South Western Arms, St. Denys, Portswood.  We urge the Executive to take necessary measures to safeguard and protect this community asset.

Replace with:

This council is pleased to note the owners of the South Western Arms have no plans to close the pub however as it is a valued asset to the people of St Denys and beyond, we look forward to working with the community to have the South Western Arms registered as an Asset of Community Value if possible.

Amended Motion to read:

This council is pleased to note the owners of the South Western Arms have no plans to close the pub however as it is a valued asset to the people of St Denys and beyond, we look forward to working with the community to have the South Western Arms registered as an Asset of Community Value if possible.

UPON BEING PUT TO THE VOTE THE AMENDMENT IN THE NAME OF COUNCILLOR O’NEILL WAS DECLARED CARRIED.

UPON BEING PUT TO THE VOTE THE MOTION AS AMENDED WAS DECLARED CARRIED.

RESOLVED: that the Motion be approved.

(c)  Increases in recorded crime

Councillor Denness moved and Councillor Kaur seconded.

Council believes that worrying recent increases in recorded crime – following a long period of steady decline since the mid 1990s – is a direct result of reductions in police numbers following year-on-year cuts in budgets.  

Council believes that our police are doing a fantastic job in holding the line against increasing crime levels but we are worried that a dangerous tipping point may now have been reached.  Council notes the particular impact of these Policing cuts on Southampton and urges the police and crime commissioner to spend more of his resources in the city.

Council, therefore, urges the Leader of the Council to work with other political leaders in Hampshire to lobby the Home Secretary on the issue of the underfunding of Hampshire police.  Council notes a particular issue in the city around motorcycle nuisance. It calls on the Executive to work with the Police to bring in affective preventive interventions in relation  ...  view the full minutes text for item 70.

To consider any question of which notice has been given under Council Procedure Rule 11.2.

It was noted that there were no Questions from Members to the Chairs of Committees or the Mayor.

To deal with any appointments to Committees, Sub-Committees or other bodies as required.

Council noted that the Putting People First Group had withdrawn from one of their allocated seats on Overview and Scrutiny Management Committee and will therefore be noted as a vacancy.

Following interviews taking place on 13^th March 2018 to approve the appointment of Chief Executive and Head of Paid Service. 

Council noted that the Chief Officer Employment Panel had taken the decision not to appoint to the Chief Executive and Head of Paid Service following interviews that had taken place on 13^th March 2018 and would be going back out to advert.  Richard Crouch would continue as interim Chief Executive and Head of Paid Service in the meantime.

Report of the Service Director HR and OD seeking approval of the 2018/19 Council Pay Policy, attached.

The report of the Chief Executive and Head of Paid Services seeking approval of the Pay Policy 2018 – 2019 was submitted.

RESOLVED:

(i)  That the Pay Policy statement for 2018-2019 be approved;

(ii)  That the continued implementation of the Living Wage Foundation increase as the minimum hourly rate for NJC evaluated posts from 1st April 2018 be noted; and

(iii)  That authority be delegated to the Service Director HR and OD to implement the 2018/19 cost of living award which had yet to be agreed for NJC evaluated roles, Chief Officer and Chief Executive Pay

Report of Cabinet Member for Children’s Social Care, proposing the implementation of a new eligibility criteria and short break offer for children with disabilities. 

The joint report of the Service Directors Quality and Integration and Children and Families seeking approval of the financial envelope for the Development of an Offer for Children with Disabilities was submitted.

Amendment moved by Councillor Moulton and seconded by Councillor O’Neill.

Delete Council Recommendation:

(i)  To approve a financial envelope of up to £7,275,000 for a maximum period of 5 years (3+2 year extension when applied to contracts), maintaining the current level of annual investment in Short Breaks.

Replace Council Recommendation with:

(i)  As a minimum the budget envelope be enlarged to take account of inflation over the 5 year period and that analysis be done to determine growth in demand over the 5 year period and that budget envelope be sufficient to match this increased demand.

Amended Recommendation to read:

(i)  As a minimum the budget envelope be enlarged to take account of inflation over the 5 year period and that analysis be done to determine growth in demand over the 5 year period and that budget envelope be sufficient to match this increased demand.

UPON BEING PUT TO THE VOTE THE AMENDMENT WAS DECLARED LOST.

RESOLVED: that a financial envelope of up to £7,275.000 for a maximum period of 5 years (3 + 2 year extension when applied to contracts), maintaining the current level of annual investment in short breaks be approved. 

Report of Cabinet Member for Health and Community Safety seeking approval for an updated and amended Safe City Strategy 2017-2020.

The report of the Service Director Intelligence, Insight and Communications seeking approval of the updated Safe City Strategy 2017-2020 was submitted.

RESOLVED: that the updated Safe City Strategy 2017-2020 be approved.

Report of Cabinet Member for Health and Community Safety seeking approval for an updated Youth Justice Strategy 2017-2020.

The report of the Service Director Children’s and Families seeking approval of the updated Youth Justice Strategy 2017-2020 was submitted.

RESOLVED: that the updated Youth Strategy 2017-2020 be approved.

Report of the Cabinet Member for Finance seeking approval for the procurement of a Client Case Management System. 

The report of the Service Director Business Operations and Digital seeking approval of the Procurement of a Client Case Management System was submitted.

RESOLVED:

(i)  that the addition of the Client Case Management Scheme to the Finance Portfolio Capital Programme in 2018/19 for the sum of £2.5M be approved; and

(ii)  that authority to spend be delegated to the Service Director Business Operations and Digital, subject to consultation formal sign-off of a detailed business case by Council Capital Board.