Agenda and minutes

To deal with any executive appointments, as required.

RESOLVED that the Local Authority Governors’ Appointment Panel be disbanded and appointment of Local Authority Governors and that the appointment of Governors be the responsibility of the Director of People in consultation with the appropriate Cabinet Member.

To consider any questions to the Executive from Members submitted on notice.

The following questions were submitted:

1. Betting Shops and Planning Use Classes

Question from Councillor Vinson to Councillor Letts – Leader of the Council

Following the motion on betting shops, pawn brokers and pay-day lending businesses passed by Council on 17 July 2013, has the Administration made representations to Government for the creation of a separate planning use class for such premises?

Answer

I have requested that the Planning and Development Manager write to the Government. However, I understand that the Government is consulting on this matter and is favourable to the suggestion. I am therefore hoping that the Government will go ahead with this.

2. Central Bridge Closure

Question from Councillor Baillie to Councillor Rayment – Cabinet Member for Environment and Transport

Why were all of the works not done at the same time and why did the traffic run so smoothly on the 4th April?

Answer

In 2010 Network Rail undertook repairs to the rail bridge, which is a different structure, which required dismantling and rebuilding their cast iron structure.  At that stage we were not aware of the severity of the problems in the Central Bridge structure.  In addition to this, even if we knew of the scale of the problem and had the means to fund the repairs, logistically we would not have been able to carry out our works alongside Network Rail’s. 

The City Council working with ABP, Balfour Beatty, Carnival and others put in place a number of measures to help mitigate against the impact of the Platform Road works.  These include a number of physical measures, such as widening the junction at Dock Gate four to allow HGVs to be able to enter and exit the port without needing the use of traffic lights to do so.  We have used advanced Vehicle Messaging in the run up to busy days in order to warn local motorists of potential congestion.  We have liaised with the media to get a message out to the general public that there are going to be busy days when some congestion may be expected, warming when they are.  We have also communicated the reasons why we are doing this work and the long term benefit it will bring to the economy of Southampton.  We intend doing more to promote the schemes and why they are so important in the near future

3. Council Home Allocation

Question from Councillor Baillie to Councillor Payne Cabinet Member for Housing and Sustainability (responded to by Councillor Letts in Councillor Payne’s absence)

Why does the Executive believe it is right to earn high wages and still live in a Council home?

Answer

This is a political decision. Local Authorities do have the power to grant short term tenancies; however, my personal view is that few high earners have tenancies. Housing is a stable thing in people’s lives and this administration has taken the view therefore that tenancies are of value. There is benefit from having a mixed tenure and a mixed community bring more cohesion to  ...  view the full minutes text for item 98.

To consider the report of the Head of Legal and Democratic Services on the proposals for the late night levy design for consultation purposes, attached.

DECISION MADE: (Ref: CAB 13/14 12594 )

On consideration of the report of the Cabinet Member for Communities and having received representations from a local resident, Cabinet agreed the following:

(i)  To consider and agree the proposals for the levy design for consultation purposes as set out in this report and as detailed below:

a.  The late-night supply period to run from one minute past midnight to 6am

b.  Exemptions from the levy will include:

·  Premises with overnight accommodation (but not where bars are open to the public/non residents);

·  Theatres and cinemas;

·  Bingo halls;

·  Community Amateur Sports Clubs;

·  Community Premises; and

·  Premises only open on New Year’s Eve

c.  Exemptions from the levy will not include:

·  Country Village Pubs; and

·  Business Improvement Districts.

d.  Reductions of the levy will not be granted for Council accredited  business-led best practice schemes

e.  Reductions of the levy will notbe granted for small businesses

(ii)  To consult on:

a.  the need for a Levy Board to advise on levy spend/priorities; and

b.  a range of activities on which to spend the levy which are or may be provided to tackle the late night alcohol related crime and disorder, and community safety services connected to the management of the night time economy, including:

·  Night time economy management;

·  Taxi marshalling;

·  ICE bus;

·  CCTV improvements;

·  Street cleaning;

·  Enforcement initiatives;

·  Personal safety initiatives; and

·  Providing temporary public conveniences.

(iii)  To delegate the final format of the consultation document to the Head of Legal & Democratic Services after consultation with the Cabinet Member for Communities.

(iv)  To note the arrangements for the operation of a late night levy with a target date for implementation of 1^st February 2015.

To consider the report of the Head of Legal and Democratic Services detailing objections received, attached.

DECISION MADE: (Ref: CAB 13/14 12600)

On consideration of the report of the Head of Legal and Democratic and having received representations from representatives of the Southampton Hackney Association, Cabinet agreed the following:

(i)  to approve the table of fares as advertised;

(ii)  to note that a further variation notice will be published to increase the fees in tariff 1 from £2.60 to £2.80 and from £3.45 to £3.70 in tariff 2; and

(iii)   to further note that any objections received will be brought back to Cabinet for further consideration be before confirmation or otherwise.

Report of the Cabinet Member for Education and Change, detailing the oversubscription criteria for schools in the City, attached.

DECISION MADE: (Ref: CAB 13/14 12298)

On consideration of the report of the Cabinet Member for Education and Change, Cabinet agreed the following:

(i)  To note the responses from the admissions consultation with Southampton Admissions Forum, schools, other relevant admission authorities, and the Church of England and Roman Catholic dioceses.

(ii)  To approve the admissions policies and the published admission numbers (PANs) for community and voluntary controlled schools, including Bitterne Park selection by aptitude and 6^th form arrangements; the schemes for co-ordinating primary and secondary admissions for the academic year 2015-16 as set out in Appendices 1- 6;

(iii)  To authorise the People Director to take any action necessary to give effect to the admissions policy and to make any changes necessary to the Admissions Policies where required to give effect to any Acts, Regulations or revised Admissions or Admissions Appeals Codes or binding Schools Adjudicator. Court or Ombudsman decisions whensoever arising.

Report of the Cabinet Member for Environment and Transport seeking approval of capital programme item - purchase replacement mechanical street sweeping fleet, attached.

DECISION MADE: (Ref: CAB 13/14 12325)

On consideration of the report of the Cabinet Member for Environment and Transport, Cabinet agreed to approve, in accordance with Financial Procedure Rules, capital expenditure of £350,000 in 2014/15 for the Purchase of Compact Sweepers scheme, contained within the Environment and Transport Portfolio (City Services) Capital Programme, in order to procure five mechanical sweepers to help secure the economy and effectiveness of the street cleansing service over next 5 – 7 years.

Report of the Cabinet Member for Health and Adult Social Care, seeking approval of a new service specification for Southampton School Nursing services, attached.

DECISION MADE: (Ref: CAB 13/14 12170)

On consideration of the report of the Cabinet Member for Health and Adult Social Care, Cabinet agreed the following:

(i)  To delegate authority to the People Director, in consultation with the Director of Public Health to revise the service specification for the School Nursing Service and, following consultation with the manager of the Integrated Commissioning Unit to recommission the service subject to the new service remaining within approved budgets.

(ii)  To delegate authority to the People Director, in consultation with the Director of Public Health, following consultation with the Head of Property and Procurement, to do anything necessary to secure the commissioning of the School Nursing Service up to and including entering into appropriate contract(s).

Report of the Cabinet Member for Health and Adult Social Care, seeking approval for the award of the Adult Carer Support Service and a Young Carer Service contracts, attached.

DECISION MADE: (Ref: CAB 13/14 12408 )

On consideration of the report of the Cabinet Member for Health and Adult Social Care, Cabinet agreed the following:

(i)  To approve the award of the contract to Support Services For Adult Carers in the City of Southampton to Tenderer A to commence on 1^st September 2014 for a period of 3 years.

(ii)  To delegate authority to the Director of People, following consultation with the Head of Legal and Democratic Services, to enter into a Section 256 agreement with Southampton City Clinical Commissioning group for a period concurrent with the Support Services For Adult Carers contract.

Report for of the Head of Finance, seeking delegated authority to award the contracts for general banking and merchant acquiring following a joint procurement exercise, attached.

DECISION MADE: (Ref: CAB 13/14 12468 )

On consideration of the report of the Cabinet Member for Resources, Cabinet agreed to delegate authority to the Chief Financial Officer to award the bank contract to the preferred bidder for both general banking and merchant acquiring.

Report of the Cabinet Member for Resources seeking delegated authority to enter into a Heritage Partnership Agreement (HPA) with English Heritage, attached.

DECISION MADE: (Ref: CAB 13/14 12396)

On consideration of the report of the Cabinet Member for Resources, Cabinet agreed to delegate authority to the Head of Planning, Transport and Sustainability, following consultation with the Head of Legal and Democratic Services, to enter into a five-year Heritage Partnership Agreement (HPA) with English Heritage in respect of the Southampton Civic Centre building.

To move that in accordance with the Council’s Constitution, specifically the Access to Information Procedure Rules contained within the Constitution, the press and public be excluded from the meeting in respect of any consideration of the confidential appendix to the following Item

Confidential Appendix 4 contains information deemed to be exempt from general publication by virtue of category 3 to paragraph 10.4 of the Councils Access to Information Procedure Rules as contained in the Constitution. Publication of this information could influence bids for the property which may be to the Council’s financial detriment.

RESOLVED that in accordance with the Council’s Constitution, specifically the Access to Information Procedure Rules contained within the Constitution, the press and public be excluded from the meeting in respect of any consideration of the confidential appendix to the following matter.

Confidential Appendix 4 contains information deemed to be exempt from general publication by virtue of category 3 to paragraph 10.4 of the Councils Access to Information Procedure Rules as contained in the Constitution. Publication of this information could influence bids for the property which may be to the Council’s financial detriment.

Report of the Cabinet Member for Resources detailing proposals for the sale of surplus properties by way of auction, attached.

DECISION MADE: (Ref: CAB 13/14 12432 )

On consideration of the report of the Cabinet Member for Resources, Cabinet agreed the following:

(i)  To approve the principle of the sale by auction of:

·  Former Derby Road Contact Centre, 169-193 Derby Road

·  Former Bitterne Family Centre, 46 Peartree Avenue

·  Former Forest View Family Centre,1 Sutherland Road

(ii)  Delegate authority to the Head of Property and Procurement to approve the reserve prices

(iii)  To confirm that the appointed auctioneer be authorised to sign the contract for sale immediately after the auction

(iv)  To authorise the Head of Property and Procurement to undertake all ancillary matters to give effect to this resolution

(v)  To note the estimated value of the capital receipt from these disposals has already been built into the funding of the capital programme. Any receipts that differ from the estimates will need to be considered corporately as part of any future prioritisation of resources.