Agenda item

Report of the Leader detailing Executive Business for the last two months, attached.

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 then submitted in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 11.1

 

1.  Blacklisting

 

Question from Councillor Pope to Councillor Letts

 

On 7th October 2015, in the Consulting Association blacklisting cases at the High Court, construction firms* admitted that they had infringed workers’ rights to confidentiality, privacy, reputation and data protection, plus admitting defamation. Plus, they were ordered by the High Court in July 2015 to conduct comprehensive searches for evidence of blacklisting. Several of these firms have operated in Southampton, including on the Sea City Museum, the former Ordnance Survey site, and on Watermark West Quay.

 

What will this Council do to ensure that blacklisting was not and will not be conducted on the City’s construction sites? Will this include planning conditions and conditions in Employment and Skills Plans and S106 Agreements?

 

*The firms named were: Carillion, Balfour Beatty, Costain, Kier, Laing O’Rourke, Skanska, Sir Robert McAlpine, Vinci, Amec, BAM, Cleveland Bridge, Lend Lease"

 

Answer

 

The Council will use whatever binding contractual terms it can when negotiating contracts with suppliers to play its part in ensuring blacklisting does not happen.  It already forms part of the ethical procurement policy. It is unlikely in law this can extend to planning conditions, but subject to further consideration may be able to be included in employment and skills plans and s.106 agreements.

 

2.  Fuel poverty in Council blocks

 

Question from Councillor Pope to Councillor Payne

 

As of October 2015, tenants of this Council in blocks such as Millbrook Towers and Redbridge Towers are paying almost £1,000 a year for their heating alone, and in the Council's own words, "may still be suffering from fuel poverty". Despite this, there are no firm plans to improve the heating or insulation infrastructure. Would the Cabinet Member agree that this is an outrageous situation, and commit today to taking action to reduce such costs for tenants by half in this financial year and in every financial year? Can you also please explain why such infrastructure spending was in your Woolston ward first?

 

Answer

 

Residents at Millbrook Towers, along with all tenants on the citywide communal heating scheme, will receive a 2.5% reduction in their charges in the coming year. The Council aims to close the communal account in the future and provide all residents with modern energy supplies, their own bill and heating controls. To bring this about, the Council intends to continue its greening programme of Council housing beyond the CESP and ECO related projects already completed, proposed or underway.

The Council is awaiting guidance from Central Government on precisely what scheme will replace ECO in March 2017 and what funding opportunities will exist. Under ECO, greater grants could be secured and more benefit delivered to tenants in solid-wall concrete blocks such as those undergoing improvements, rather than towers like Millbrook which have a part-brick and cavity wall construction. With that in mind, the Council will be looking for any elements of the ECO-successor that could be help at Millbrook Towers, and hopes the petition taken up by residents which they aim to present to energy secretary, Amber Rudd, might influence what kinds of grants will exist in the future.

Finally, for the record, the choice of location for the CESP works at International Way in Weston (part of my ward in Woolston) was taken before my appointment as Cabinet Member and under a different administration.

 

3.  Traffic Congestion

 

Question from Councillor Moulton to Councillor Rayment

 

In light of excessive traffic congestion on Archers Road, what mitigating measures is the Council taking and will the Council look at funding a full traffic survey to identify all possible options and solutions, perhaps from CIL funding?

 

Answer

 

The current traffic congestion in Archers Road is due to the ongoing emergency works in Wilton Avenue. The junction of Hill Lane / Archers Road and Howard Road is observed to be particularly busy.

Engineers have reconfigured the traffic signals at this location a number of times but are limited to the benefit they can achieve by the restricted layout of the junction and the amount of traffic using the route.

The traffic signals in this area have no reported faults and are operating to deliver the maximum vehicle throughput whilst retaining essential pedestrian facilities.

The works on Wilton Avenue are programmed to be completed in mid-December and traffic should resume to previous levels soon afterwards.

The council has no current proposals to carry out a study of traffic movements in this area.

 

4.  Rough Sleepers

 

Question from Councillor Moulton to Councillor Payne

 

How many people in the City are currently sleeping rough and what action is being taken to address this?

 

Answer

 

The street outreach session that took place this week (2 early morning sessions take place each week to locate and assist rough sleepers in the city) identified 8 people who had slept rough that night. The team encourage those found to attend the day centre for single homeless people where assessment of their needs and referral to services can be made. The centre provides a range of services including washing facilities, food, health care and access to support with welfare benefits as well as hosting the outreach team who act as the referral point for hostels/supported housing. The first role of the team is to actively get the engagement of rough sleepers not all of whom are initially willing to accept the help on offer. Those who are new to the City and have a connection with other areas are facilitated to return including EU nationals without benefits who cannot access housing. Those with support needs are referred for vacancies at hostels. The approach to tackling rough sleeping is a collaborative one, with close work between the SHPT, housing providers and other agencies such as drug services, hospital discharge, Probation the Police and Home Office. Most recently there has been a specific piece of joint work undertaken with City Safety colleagues and the Police in relation to the increase in nuisance associated with street drinking and begging. The presence of beggars, on the city centre high street and other district shopping centres, often leads to an impression of larger numbers of street sleepers than is the case. Our work shows that only around half of those people begging regularly are actually without accommodation.

 

5.  In Year Budget Variance

 

Question from Councillor Moulton to Councillor Chaloner

 

What is the current in year budget variance by Portfolio and how has this changed since the end of Q1 2015/16?

 

Answer

 

The Quarter 2 budget report which has been considered by Cabinet shows that at Quarter 2 the Council is forecasting an overspend at year end of £3.04M compared with the Quarter 1 forecast year end overspend of £9.30M. The movement in the forecast is as follows:

	Forecast Outturn Variance £M	Forecast Outturn Variance %
Forecast Outturn Q1	9.30 A	5.3
Capita Asset management	0.70 F
Other Income and Expenditure	5.33 F
Non-specific Government Grants	0.23 F
Forecast Outturn Q2	3.04 A	1.7

Overall the forecast position has improved since Quarter 1, but primarily through ‘other income and expenditure’ rather than any significant reduction overall in Portfolio spend. Other income and Expenditure of £5.33M favourable comprises allocating the risk fund of £4.76M in full to the bottom line, and also £0.56M of additional income from settling a contractual dispute.

 

The Portfolio position was forecast to be overspent at Q1 by £9.66M, and for Q2 this forecast variance has reduced to £9.30M, a reduction of £0.36M. This small downwards movement masks the fact that intwo Portfolio’s the forecast outturn has deteriorated, whilst in all other Portfolio’s the forecast position has improved.  Where Portfolio’s are showing an improved position, this will in part reflect reduced expenditure arising from the recruitment freeze and the non essential non pay freeze. The most significant adverse movement is in the Children’s Social Care where the position has deteriorated by £1.91M, with the forecast outturn now projected to be an overspend of £7.75M; within this sum Children Looked After is the big issue with a forecast outturn of £5.22M

 

An analysis of forecast outturn by Portfolio is provided:

Portfolio	Q1 Forecast Outturn Variance £M	Qtr 2 Forecast Outturn Variance £M	Movement Variance
			£M	%
Communities, Culture & Leisure	0.49 A	0.69 A	0.20 A	2.8 A
Education & Children's Social Care	5.84 A	7.75 A	1.91 A	4.9 A
Environment & Transport	0.51 A	0.11 F	0.60 F	2.6 F
Finance	0.13 F	0.68 F	0.55 F	1.5 F
Health & Adult Social Care	2.94 A	2.64 A	0.30 F	0.5 A
Housing & Sustainability	0.01 A	0.15 F	0.16 F	8.8 F
Leader's Portfolio	0.00	0.85 F	0.85 F	7.5 F
Transformation	0.00 -	0.00 -	0.00 -	0.0 -
Portfolio Total	9.66 A	9.30 A	0.36 F	0.20 F

 

The appendices to the Cabinet report set out the position for each Portfolio in more detail

 

6.  CCG Funding

 

Question from Councillor Moulton to Councillor Letts

 

Could the Leader confirm Southampton's CCG funding for this year and last year?

 

Answer

 

The CCGs total allocation (funding from government including recurrent, non-recurrent commissioning funding and running costs) for 2014/15 was £300.632m and for 2015/16 is forecast to be £304.717m.

 

7.  Parking on footpaths in residential areas

 

Question from Councillor Hecks to Councillor Rayment

 

With the ever increasing degree of car ownership and the minimal provision of off street parking spaces in new developments more and more vehicles are being parked on, or partially, on footpaths across the City causing danger to pedestrians, especially young children and to persons using disabled buggies and pushchairs.  What steps are the Council taking to remedy this increasing problem by way of education, better enforcement and additional provision of parking spaces within residential areas?

 

Answer

 

The Council does not condone the selfish act of parking vehicles on footways.

In new developments our parking standards do allow some additional off street parking spaces where a developer requests this. This enables the creation of individual layouts whilst maintaining the councils overarching sustainability objectives.

Where footway parking is a concern within communities we will consult and, where supported, implement suitable waiting restrictions. Our Civil Enforcement Officers can then issue Penalty Charge Notices where an enforceable contravention occurs.

If there are no yellow lines, the offence of wilful obstruction may still be committed although this can only be enforced by a police officer in uniform.

We are currently working with the local media to raise awareness where footway parking is occurring outside schools in the City and are developing solutions that will exploit new technologies in enforcement

 

8.  National Lifesavers Campaign

 

Question from Councillor Hecks to Councillor Jeffery

 

Council resolved in March 2015 to support the British Heart Foundation’s Nation of Lifesavers campaign by encouraging all secondary schools and colleges within Southampton to implement the BHF’s campaign by including CPR training within the curriculum.  What steps have been taken over the past eight months to implement that resolution and what results can the Cabinet Member report to Council?

 

Answer

 

Many secondary schools offer the Duke of Edinburgh Award programme.  The First Aid element of the expedition syllabus includes a module on resuscitation where students learn how to “identify life-threatening situations, inflate the lungs of a manikin and perform CPR in accordance with current UK guidelines”.

Itchen College reported that they hold an event in December called Future Foundations and as part of this there will be voluntary training on using a defibrillator and CPR.  Some of their programmes do cover basic first aid including CPR for example the Uniformed Public Services course and childcare programmes.

City College reported that they have a defibrillator on site and staff are trained to use it.  In addition, they have a roster of staff who are first aid trained.

Moving forward, there are opportunities to raise awareness of the British Heart Foundation’s ‘Heartstart Programme’ through the curriculum and extra-curricular activities programme.  The School Improvement team will contact the BHF and agree a way forward with schools.

 

9.  Traffic Light Phasing/Air Pollution

 

Question from Councillor Galton to Councillor Rayment

 

What progress has been made in reviewing the traffic light phasing across the city in order to reduce air pollution?

 

Answer

 

A review of the AQMAs and those with traffic signal control located within them has shown that the majority are being controlled by the responsive Urban Traffic Control system.  However, this may require more detailed investigation into the times at which levels are high as this may mean that fine tuning of the system could help balance the queues to help reduce air pollution levels.  This work is being developed as set out in the Intelligent Transport Strategy that will support the Local Transport Plan 4.

We have identified around 10 specific sites where signalling can be amended to support the overall strategy to reduce NO₂ – this work is being developed as part of the Low Emission Strategy Board.  In addition we are in discussions over innovative ways the real time air quality information can be overlaid onto traffic signal timings to assist with both air quality and traffic flow in real time.

 

10.  Park and Walk Scheme

 

Question from Councillor Galton to Councillor Rayment

 

In what way does the Cabinet Member envisage the new Park and Walk scheme reducing traffic congesting around West Quay?

 

Answer

 

The Park and Walk scheme proposed in the budget is based on weekend low usage car parks at Bedford Place and Grosvenor Place.  The proposal aims to bring in variable message charging at certain car parks as a trial allowing for parking charges to be lowered or raised in relation to demand.  This will allow cheaper easier parking for the cultural quarter and above bar.

 

We continue to work on active traffic management on the network in the vicinity of West Quay actively with partners to ensure the most effective use of the highway as well as working with West Quay on opening the link between the Marlands Car Park and West Quay to increase the parking opportunities available whilst also encouraging alternative ways to get to the city centre through the My Journey programme as well as bus operators.

 

11.  Christmas in the City

 

Question from Councillor Galton and Councillor Letts

 

What was the original budget set aside for celebrating Christmas in the City? Has this original figure changed in anyway and if so what are the reasons for the change(s)?

 

Answer

 

Following a disappointing Christmas offer in the city centre in recent years, a new Southampton Christmas Festival has now opened.

 

The new operator has responded to criticism with:

 

- Brand new chalets

- Fewer food stalls
- More arts and craft stalls

- Advent calendar

- Music every day

- A Flying Santa show

 

The overall quality and layout has been significantly improved with little but important touches such as more walkways to make Above Bar less congested as well as additional benches and bins.

The Council will receive an income of £15K from the organisers of this new festival.

The city is also illuminated for the first time in many years. There are festive lights positioned in:

 

Above Bar

Bargate North and South

 

There are plans for a Christmas Tree in Guildhall Square from 27 November with a programme of traditional entertainment on the first Thursday and Sunday in December.

There is also festoon lighting installed throughout the Cultural Quarter, East Street, East Park, Palmerston Park and Houndwell Park and it is the intention for these lights to remain in position for a period of at least 3 years. The lighting scheme cost £75k.

None of these figures have changed during the planning for these activities.

 

12.  Empty Council Houses

 

Question from Councillor Galton to Councillor Payne

 

How many Council houses are currently "empty" in the city. Of this figure how many have been empty 3-6 months, 6-12 months and over 1 year?

 

Answer

 

Excluding properties decanted for regeneration schemes, of the 16,500 approx. council homes in Southampton, the following have been empty for a period of three months or more.

 

Routine & major works voids (houses and flats)	Count	Of which houses
0 - 3 months	90	14
3 - 6 months	40	2
6 - 12 months	12	2
12 months +	7	1
Total	150	19

 

It should be added that the target time for ‘major works voids’ where it is recognised that substantial works will be needed before re-letting is 90 days, and for the latest figures available (October 2015) the average turnaround time was 87.22 days.

Additionally, the eight properties classed as void for over 12 months include a flat in Thornhill that earlier this year was converted into a site office for council staff overseeing the ECO/District Energy scheme and another is being used as a temporary laundry room during the refit of Weston Court at the request of the residents.

 

13.  Exford Avenue Shops

 

Question from Councillor Daunt to Councillor Payne

 

Will the Exford Avenue parade of shops include a retail unit with a post office counter when finished?

 

Answer

 

The shops are being marketed by Camargue Somerset Limited.  One Stop have leased a double retail unit which opened in October 2015 as a convenience store with a cash point machine.

The remaining units are currently being advertised.  The council has requested a post office service is provided but this cannot be guaranteed.  It will depend on the new retailer and the Post Office.

The post box has been reinstated by the new shops.

 

14.  Residential Care

 

Question from Councillor Painton to Councillor Chaloner

 

In a recent Meridian television interview you used the term “Residential Care”, did you mean that Residential Home Care is provided by SCC, Privately or Care in the Community (at home)?  What age groups or types of Care were you referring too? 

 

Answer

 

Where the cost of meeting eligible social care needs is likely to exceed £500 per week, the council proposes to set a Personal Budget at a level that would enable those needs to be met in an appropriate extra care housing scheme, residential or nursing placement.

The council’s current published rate for residential care, commissioned in the private sector is £368.69 per week. For residential care to support individuals who are living with dementia, this increases to £435.19 per week. The council’s current published rate for nursing care, again commissioned in the private sector is £486.36 per week. (These rates are subject to a separate review with options to be considered by Cabinet in February 2016 and the value of Personal Budgets for individuals affected by this proposal may be adjusted accordingly should these rates be changed.)

 

Under the proposal on which we will be consulting, the eligible social care needs of adults whose packages of home care currently cost more than £500 per week will be re-assessed and a new Personal Budget will be set according to the most cost effective way of meeting their eligible social care needs. This will apply also to adults requiring packages of care and support for the first time.

 

15.  Estate Regeneration

 

Question from Councillor O’Neill to Councillor Payne

 

It is widely accepted the council has wasted time and money in their dogmatic approach to providing council estate regeneration for residents of Southampton whereas the previous Conservative administration had an officer's costed regeneration plan that would have saved millions and by now have provided hundreds of new council homes across the city.

How many Southampton residents have been removed from their homes in anticipation of the council’s estate regeneration scheme and how long have they been waiting?

How many homes have been built so far?

 

Answer

 

A total of 413 tenants and leaseholders have left their properties under the estate regeneration programme so far.

The time taken to move for tenants depends on the availability of properties to rent and the specific choices that tenants make in where they want to move to, location and property size and type. For leaseholders the move time depends on agreeing an acquisition price and the affordability of another place to move, and the leaseholder’s own financial circumstances.

While residents are offered the chance to return to completed regenerations after being decanted, in practice so far, only a small minority do so, and most residents move just once, to a new location of their choice, and settle there instead.

In total, the number of new homes completed under estate regeneration stands at 281, a further 225 are under construction and more are being planned.

 

16.  Americas Cup Series event

 

Question from Councillor O’Neill to Councillor Letts

 

In the last few days National media has forecast that through the leadership of Portsmouth City Council securing the Americas Cup World Series event in 2016 up to 750 jobs will be created in the city and bring in millions of pounds in extra revenue.  As Southampton used to be called the home of ocean sailing does the Council now regret not having the vision and determination to push more effectively to win this?

 

Answer

 

The Council made every effort to win this opportunity and work closely with the backers of this event to assist in every way. Two potential sites were identified and work was undertaken to ensure the planning process would be smooth.

 

It became apparent, that other factors influenced the final decision around the location of this event.

 

Funding:

£7.5 M was awarded by the government.

This is broken down into £6.5 million capital funding and £1 million revenue funding. We can confirm that Ben Ainslie Racing (BAR) have received a grant from government of £6.5 million capital and due diligence is taking place on the £1 million revenue.

 

Further details are on a FOI- Link below:

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/government-approves-75-million-for-sir-ben-ainslie-project-to-boost-portsmouth

 

17.  Council Savings

 

Question from Councillor O’Neill to Councillor Payne

 

The Council has said it can make £4m of savings each year without reductions in service.  Why didn't we do this 4 years ago and then we would have another £16m available for capital spending, investment and ongoing costs?

 

Answer

 

Of the £4.311m of savings proposed in the Housing Revenue Account budget for 2016/17, much of this figure relates to efficiencies generated by the modernisation and transformation programme in the HRA.

These efficiencies include mobile working, which was introduced across the HRA in November 2014 after two years of development work and pilots. Hence, the efficiencies proposed are the culmination of around two years’ work that has now come to fruition, and not savings that could be have been realised earlier.

 

In previous years, other savings generated within the HRA have been recycled into providing additional services or meeting one-off HRA budget pressures, such as the repair work generated by the storms of 2013/14.

It should also be noted that efficiencies do not cover all of the £4.311m savings proposed, with around £600,000 from service reductions.

Additionally, three further years of reduced income to the HRA are expected following the Government’s July budget and the total estimated loss to the business plan is £33m over that period, which will require further economies and are likely to account for upcoming efficiencies as part of the HRA’s ongoing work in this area.