Agenda and minutes

Report of the Cabinet Member for Health and Adult Social Care detailing considerations in relation the Executive’s response to the Scrutiny Inquiry into Carer Friendly Southampton and seeking to sign up to the Southampton Carers Strategy 2012 - 2026 that helps deliver and achieve the recommendations set out in the Inquires findings.

DECISION MADE: (CAB 21/22 32165)

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

(i)  To approve the response to the Carer Friendly Southampton Scrutiny Inquiry; and

(ii)  To approve the Adult Carers and Young Carers Strategies 2021-26.

DECISION MADE: (CAB 21/22 32813)

On consideration of the report of the Cabinet Member for Education and having received written and verbal presentment from Mary Wallbank reprenting South Hampshire Humanists, Cabinet agreed the following:

(i)  To approve the amended Constitution for SACRE attached at Appendix 1 including the addition of two additional voting members in Group A.

One for a representative having no specific religious affiliation, recognising secular representation as a ‘belief’ within the meaning of the Human Rights Act 1998 and accurately reflecting the changing nature of religious and non-religious beliefs in current society and the Southampton area (Note – this Recommendation was NOT supported by Group A of SACRE at their meeting on 2nd November 2021, however was supported by Groups B-D).

One for a representative of Southampton City Mission as representative of their work on behalf of a group of churches not covered by the other members (Supported by all SACRE groups at their meeting on 2nd November 2021).

(ii)  If recommendation (i) above is approved Cabinet is asked to delegate authority to the Executive Director of Wellbeing, following consultation with the Chair of Sacre to agree an application process and determine any applications / appoint members to the ‘belief’ vacancy set out above.

(iii)  To delegate authority to the Executive Director of Wellbeing, following consultation with the Chair of Sacre to carry out a further review of SACRE membership once the Census 2021 data has been published in 2022 and to bring back any further recommendations on Membership changes to the next annual review of the SACRE Constitution in November 2022.

(iv)   To approve the additional changes to the constitution including that SACRE 2.1; must follow the SCC complaints process for any complaints received; 12.2 that future decisions from SACRE do not require unanimity; minor word changes to represent the changing landscape of maintained and academy schools, and job role titles. (SACRE unanimously supported this recommendation).

Report of the Cabinet Member for Environment in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Growth detailing considerations regarding the alignment of the flood alleviation scheme.

DECISION MADE: (CAB 21/22 32670)

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

(i)  To note and recommend to Council the option; a mix of setback and frontline flood defences.

(ii)  To note this option involves a contribution of £3M from the Council to secure scheme funding of £31.5M from a Flood and Coastal Erosion Risk Management (FCERM) grant-in-aid (GiA) external grant.

(iii)  To note and recommend to Council the approval of the alignment on Drivers Wharf as a frontline.

(iv)  To note this option involves a further contribution of £7.2M from the Council, bringing the total contribution to £10.2M, to be funded from CIL in full.

Report of the Cabinet Member for Customer Service and Transformation seeking approval of the Joint Municipal Waste Management Strategy of the Project Integra partnership.

DECISION MADE: (CAB 21/22 32680)

On consideration of the report of the Cabinet Member for Customer Service and Transormation, Cabinet agreed the following:

(i)  To approve the Joint Municipal Waste Management Strategy; and

(ii)  To agree with the principle of a twin-stream recycling system, rather than a kerbside sort, and delegate authority to the Service Director for Business Development, following consultation with the Cabinet Member for Customer Service and Transformation, to develop a detailed plan for the implementation of a twin-stream collection service in the city.

Report of the Cabinet Member for Growth, detailing updates to the five-year Highways and Transport investment programme.

DECISION MADE: (CAB 21/22 32686)

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

(i)  To note the updated capital programme for Integrated Transport and Highways, the revised financing of the programme and the associated capital spend for 2021/22, including amendments detailed within this report and in accordance with financial procedure rules, of £74.55M as detailed in paragraph 17 and Appendix 1.

(ii)  To note the overall budget addition of £2.33M, to the Place capital programme funded by government grant and S106 developer contributions, as detailed in paragraph 18 and Appendix 1.

(iii)  To note budget virements between existing schemes within the programme as detailed in paragraph 19 and Appendix 1.

(iv)  To note the details of the projects within Transforming Cities Programme and Future Transport Zone Programme as detailed in Appendices 2 and 3.

Report of the Cabinet Member for Finance and Capital Assets and the Cabinet Member for Environment detailing the Council’s Decarbonisation Scheme. 

DECISION MADE: (CAB 21/22 32617)

On consideration of the report of the Cabinet Member for Environment and the Cabinet Member for Finance and Capital Assets, Cabinet agreed the following:

(i)  The Council continues to deliver a carbon reduction and cost saving scheme under the Corporate Assets Decarbonisation Scheme (replacement of the Clean Growth Fund) funded by Council Resources or grant funding where available.

(ii)  To approve spend on Phase 1 of the Corporate Asset Decarbonisation Scheme (CADS) of £3.78M within the existing Growth capital programme spread over 2 years 2021/22 (£1.78M) and 2022/23 (£2.00M). This includes £0.78M for enhancements to existing buildings and £3.00M for streetlighting improvements. This is to be funded £3.58M by Council Resources and £0.20M by grant funding.

(iii)  To approve the virement £0.20M grant funding from the Electric Vehicle Action Plan (EVAP) project to the Corporate Asset Decarbonisation Scheme.

(iv)  To note that due to current market conditions costs may be subject to increase. If there are cost variations the business case will be reassessed to ensure value for money before any spend is committed. Any revision to costs included in the capital programme will follow the usual Financial Procedure Rules and delegations.

Report of the Cabinet Member for Finance and Capital Assets setting out the financial position for the Council as at the end of September 2021

DECISION MADE: (CAB 21/22 32565)

On consideration of the report of the Cabinet Member Finance and Capital Assets, Cabinet agreed the following:

General Revenue Fund

It is recommended that Cabinet:

i)  Notes the forecast outturn position for business as usual activities is a £7.11M deficit, as outlined in paragraph 4 and in paragraph 1 of appendix 1. 

ii)  Notes the financial position arising from COVID-19 is a deficit of £0.36M, as outlined in paragraph 5 and in paragraph 3 of appendix 1.

iii)  Notes the performance of treasury management, and financial outlook in paragraphs 8 to 11 of appendix 1.

iv)  Notes the forecast year end position for reserves and balances as detailed in paragraphs 12 and 13 of appendix 1.

v)  Notes the Key Financial Risk Register as detailed in paragraph 14 of appendix 1.

vi)  Notes the performance against the financial health indicators detailed in paragraphs 18 and 19 of appendix 1.

vii)  Notes the forecast outturn position outlined in the Collection Fund Statement detailed in paragraphs 23 to 26 of appendix 1.

viii)  Notes that Children’s Social Care continue to look at ways to mitigate the in-year deficit reported here and future year costs, as part of their Destination 2022 initiative. It is anticipated the in-year position will require use of corporately held funds via either the corporate contingency and/or the Social Care Demand Reserve, with such use being considered during quarter 3.  However, Cabinet is asked to approve an initial £1.3M in 2021/22 for staffing related spend being incurred as a part of this package to ensure existing service critical posts have adequate budget provision, to be funded by the corporate contingency budget or the Social Care Demand Reserve. A final decision on the funding of this element to be delegated to the S151 officer, following consultation with the Cabinet Member for Finance and Capital Assets, with the future years financial impact arising from the Destination 2022 measures in Children’s Social Care to be included in the MTFS to be agreed in February 2022.

Housing Revenue Account

It is recommended that Cabinet:

ix)  Notes the forecast outturn position on business as usual activities is a surplus of £0.92M as outlined in paragraph 6 and paragraph 20 of appendix 1.

x)  Notes that a favourable variance of £0.57M is forecast arising from COVID-19, as outlined in paragraph 6 and paragraph 21 of Appendix 1.

Capital Programme

It is recommended that Cabinet:

xi)  Notes the revised General Fund Capital Programme, which totals £437.08M as detailed in paragraph 1 of appendix 2.

xii)  Notes the HRA Capital Programme is £340.81M as detailed in paragraph 1 of appendix 2.

xiii)  Notes that the overall forecast position for 2021/22 at quarter 2 is £174.91M, resulting in a potential surplus of £5.73M, as detailed in paragraphs 4 and 5 of appendix 2.

xiv)  Notes that the capital programme remains fully funded up to 2025/26 based on the latest forecast of available resources although the forecast can be subject to change; most notably  ...  view the full minutes text for item 35.

Report of the Cabinet Member for Growth and the Cabinet Member for Finance and Capital Assets seeking Cabinet approval for the commercial terms over the Toys R Us site to enable it comprehensive development.

DECISION MADE: (CAB 21/22 32672)

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

(i)  That the commercial & financial terms and related recommendations set out in confidential Appendix 1 be agreed by Cabinet.

(ii)  Following consultation with the Deputy Leader who is the Cabinet Member for Growth and Executive Director of Finance and Commercialisation, that the Executive Director of Place be given delegated authority to finalise the detailed terms of this transaction.

(iii)  Following consultation with the Executive Directors of Finance, Commercialisation and Place, that the Director of Legal & Business Operations be given delegated authority to enter into any commercial agreements required to facilitate this transaction and any other legal documentation related to the proposed scheme (the Council acting in its capacity as a landowner).

(iv)  Approve the removal of the Former Toys R Us Site Redevelopment project from the Growth portfolio in the capital programme. This is a reduction of £0.25M in 2021/22 and £26.70M in 2022/23 as this is now being funded by the developer.

To consider the report of the Cabinet Member for Growth detailing the associated structures and approvals required in support of the Solent Freeport.

This report is submitted for consideration as a general exception under paragraph 15 of the Access to Information procedure Rules in Part 4 of the Council’s Constitution, notice having been given to the Chair of Overview and Scrutiny Management Committee and the public.

This report is submitted for consideration as a General Exception under paragraph 15 of the Access to Information procedure Rules in Part 4 of the City Council’s Constitution, notice having been given to the Chair of the relevant Scrutiny Panel and the Public.  The matter requires a decision with the urgency linked to the impending submission of the updated Solent Freeport OBC and given Government’s approval process.  For these reasons the decision cannot be deferred for inclusion in the next Forward Plan for decision following 28 clear days’ notice.

DECISION MADE: (CAB 21/22 32741)

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

Having complied with paragraph 15 of the Council’s Access to Information Procedure Rules:

(i)  Cabinet supports the strategic submission of the next outline business case (OBC) as a Board Member of Solent Freeport Consortium Limited, on or before the 26 November 2021, as part of National Freeport Programme Application process and to agree an appropriate Site Specific Agreement for the Redbridge (Tax) site.

(ii)  Cabinet raises any issues outlined in this paper over the current Solent Freeport proposals, to then be shared with the Solent Freeport Consortium Limited (SFCL).

Report of Chair of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee, detailing the Call-In of Executive Decision CAB 21/22 32527 – Northern Above Bar Properties.

DECISION MADE: (CAB 21/22 32919)

On consideration of the report of the Scrutiny Manager, Cabinet considered its response to the recommendations made by the Overview and Scrutiny Management Committee at its meeting on 9 November 2021.

(i)  That Cabinet do not proceed with the decision agreed at 18 October 2021 meeting and that the future of 176 to 202 Above Bar Street is considered within the wider property portfolio review being undertaken by Eddison’s.

Recommendation (i) was rejected by Cabinet.

(ii)  That Cabinet seeks a full appraisal of the site, 176 to 202 Above Bar Street, to include, in addition to the Section 123 best consideration report, consideration of how the site fits with the economic growth and development ambitions of the city, and that Cabinet use this information to inform their decision.

Recommendation (ii) was rejected by Cabinet.

(iii)  That, on receipt of the Section 123 best consideration report, the Executive return to the Overview and Scrutiny Management Committee to discuss the Administration’s intentions with regards to 176-202 Northern Above Bar Properties.

Recommendation (iii) was rejected by Cabinet.

(iv)  That the Cabinet Member for Finance and Capital Assets provides the Overview and Scrutiny Management Committee with an explanation of the comments he made at the 14 October 2021 meeting of the Committee relating to the marketing of properties on Northern Above Bar (176-202) when subsequent enquiries have revealed that this has not happened.

Recommendation (iv) was accepted by Cabinet.