Agenda item

Report of the Leader of the Council detailing the business undertaken across the Council since 17^th May 2017, 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 submitted in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 11.1. 

 

1.  Safety at the junction of Station Road and Spring Road

 

Question from Councillor J Baillie to Councillor Rayment

 

Other than refreshing the white lines, what has been done to improve safety at the junction of Station Road and Spring Road?

 

Answer

 

Surface markings have recently been refreshed at a section of this junction as part of the resurfacing maintenance programme. While this was not part of the Road Safety programme the recent injury accident rate was discussed and the opportunity was taken to make small, short term improvements. These included the revision of hazard warning lines, centre line markings and inclusion of “SLOW” surface text to increase awareness of the junction to approaching drivers. 

 

Due to the injury accident rate over the last three year period this junction has been prioritised and included in the 2017-18 Road Safety Engineering programme. The investigation will assess contributing factors to injury accidents and recommend mitigating engineering factors. This study is currently underway and due to complete in late August at which point officers would welcome a meeting with ward Cllrs on site to discuss the recommendations. Following this stage the agreed works will be taken forward to detailed design and depending on costs, delivery intended in Spring 2018.

 

2.  AWC – Action against HMO’s and Businesses

 

Question from Councillor Painton to Councillor Rayment

 

Now that the fortnightly bin is entering its first month in operation what actions do you propose to take against HMO's and Businesses putting out extra black plastic bags full of rubbish as there green bin has overflowed, and with the majority of HMO having more than one user to their allocated bin should HMO'S now use a commercial collection service.

 

Answer

 

The Council’s Managing the Local Environment Policy went live on 5^th June 2017. The Street Scene Enforcement team was fully active from 17^th July 2017 following training, and will be tackling domestic bin issues such as bins left on pavements, side waste and contaminated waste.

 

There is a clear process in the policy to intervene, educate and follow-up with enforcement action under s.46 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 to deal with all residents (including those in HMOs) who continuously produce side waste, in spite of early intervention, education, and support being given.

 

Businesses who dispose of their waste incorrectly and abuse the domestic bins will be given a period of time to comply with their responsibilities under the duty of care regulations before joined-up enforcement action is taken with environmental health to educate and enforce relevant regulations against businesses.

 

Our focus is to help residents to manage their waste, recycle more and keep our streets clean and tidy.  In extreme circumstances of non-compliance, enforcement action will be taken in line with the policy and current legislation.

 

3.  No Idling Zones

 

Councillor Moulton to Councillor Hammond

 

What powers does the council have to bring in no idling zones to cut air pollution and how might they be used to good effect to tackle pollution from cars around our schools as well as from trains and buses in the city?

 

Answer

 

It is an offence under Regulation 98 of the Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986 to leave a vehicle engine idling unnecessarily whilst stationary and powers are available to authorised local authority officers to issue fixed penalty notices of £20 to drivers who allow their vehicle engines to run unnecessarily while the vehicle is stationary. Southampton City Council’s Air Quality Action Plan, makes a commitment to review its options to enforce and promote ‘no idling’.  We anticipate that the success of introducing any enforcement powers would be dependent upon raising public awareness on the subject and we are committed to undertaking a no idling campaign this year to support the introduction of our Clean Air Zone.  Two new posts (Air Quality Communication Officer and Service Manager – Parking and Itchen Bridge) are set to be filled this month that will provide the capacity to progress these ideas.

 

We have been assured by Southampton train, bus and HGV operators that they apply no-idling policies.  However, there is evidence to suggest these are not being enforced as well as they might.  We will be seeking further commitment from all stakeholders to uphold such policies as part of the Clean Air Partnership and will be exploring opportunities to monitor this.  We are currently recruiting to an Air Quality Officer post that will provide much needed capacity over the summer to progress this.

 

4.  Installation of Sprinkler Systems

 

Councillor P Baillie to Councillor Payne

 

Why have you taken five years to start to install sprinkler systems?

 

Answer

 

Following the tragic fire at Shirley Towers in 2010 the Council cooperated fully with the ensuing inquest.  The Coroner produced his report in February 2013 and made a number of recommendations which were acted upon. The Coroner also encouraged the Council to consider the installation of sprinklers into tower blocks.

 

Following discussion with Hampshire Fire and Rescue Services Albion Towers, Shirley Towers and Sturminster House were identified as the preferred location for initial investment due to their ‘scissor block’ design.

 

Capita were commissioned to produce a feasibility study. Sprinkler Installers, other Local Authorities, Fire Services and others were consulted and a final report was produced in February 2015.

 

Cabinet approved the investment in March 2015 and whilst the original intention was to commence the works as quickly as possible, in order to comply with existing contract arrangements with British Gas and the Construction Design Management (CDM) regulations; these work subsequently had to be programmed after the ECO project works.

 

Installation has now started at Albion Towers and will commence at Shirley Towers and Sturminster House within the next few weeks.

 

5.  Begging and Street Homelessness

 

Councillor Moulton to Councillor Letts

 

Please can the Leader provide an update regarding any plans for a cross party working group or task and finish group to deal with the problems of illegal begging and street homelessness?

 

Answer

 

Working with officers and members from Bournemouth and Portsmouth councils we have gathered together a significant amount of evidence on this topic. This has been passed to the Leader of the Opposition.

 

The evidence in this document suggests that this is a national issue which requires a national response. The administration will raise this with the LGA and suggest that they commission a study into the problem so that best practise can be identified and acted upon.

 

The option of a full Scrutiny Inquiry into this issue is available to the opposition via a resolution of OSMC.

 

Officers would be more than happy to offer regular briefings to Cllr Moulton and/or Cllr Vassillou the Opposition spokesperson as required.

 

6.  Suicide Prevention

 

Councillor P Baillie to Councillor Shields

 

If the cost of each suicide is some 1.2million then why is it such a lack of priority that you cannot find 30k for preventative work?

 

In Southampton, during the period 2013 - 2015 there were a total of 60 deaths by suicide. Each suicide has severe and prolonged effects on the family members, friends, social networks and communities left behind. The survivors of the suicide tend to experience a very complicated form of bereavement.

 

According to independent research the financial cost to society of suicide is estimated at £1.67 million per case involving both costs to the individual (i.e. those services accessed leading up to and immediately following the suicide) and the indirect costs (e.g. time lost from work, human costs due to lost years of disability-free life and costs to the family).As a result of strong partnership working, Southampton has contributed to the Select Committees report and to the new Public Health England guidance on (suicide) crisis care concordat.

 

Locally we have been taking a number of priority actions to prevent suicides. Our aims are being delivered through the Suicide Prevention Plan, monitored on a quarterly basis by the Southampton Suicide Prevention Steering Group. In addition, the Southampton Citywide Anti-Stigma Forum also works to reduce suicide. Cllr Paul Lewzey provides the crucial elected Member Mental Health Champion role for the City.

 

The Health Overview and Scrutiny Panel considered the Southampton Suicide Prevention Plan, and its implementation, at their June 2017 meeting. Two key challenges for Southampton’s suicide prevention work were raised at the recent HOSP meeting. These were:

· Media coverage of deaths by suicide and inquests

· Suicide Prevention training and the creation of a suicide bereavement  service have been challenged by funding constraints

 

Our implementation covers communications and training and is led by a Public Health Development Manager (public mental health and suicide prevention) with support from a Public Health Consultant and a Communications Officer. The implementation includes the following:

·  Training in suicide prevention for around 200 local people.

·  A further 100+ received awareness training as part of the recent Southampton based Suicide Prevention Conference funded by Health Education England.

·  Recently, the Saints vs Stigma three day event was held in Guildhall Square and used football as a way of engaging men, to raise issues around mental health and suicide.

·  Refresh of the ‘Be Well’ Strategy including agencies in the city taking action “downstream”, with an emphasis on prevention and early intervention.

 

As the main issues with suicide prevention relate to home environments, our focus has been on raising awareness of mental wellbeing and we are working with our partners to explore ways to fund future initiatives. Here in Southampton we would very much like to invest in more suicide prevention training and establish a dedicated suicide bereavement service but we are currently unable to do so due to a reduction in Central Government Public Health grant funding for councils. 

 

7.  Penalties for Landlords

 

Councillor O’Neil to Councillor Shields

 

Why will the Council not penalise landlords who allow their properties to become an eyesore and allow their tenants’ rubbish and wheelie bins to spill over on to the pavement?

 

Answer

 

Whilst the property is occupied the tenants of rented accommodation (including HMOs) are responsible for managing their domestic waste.

 

The Council’s Managing the Local Environment Policy went live on 5^th June 2017. The Street Scene Enforcement team was fully active from 17^th July 2017 following training, and will be tackling domestic bin issues such as bins left on pavements, side waste and contaminated waste.

 

There is a clear process in the policy to intervene, educate and follow-up with enforcement action under s.46 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 to deal with all residents (including those in HMO’s) who continuously produce side waste, in spite of early intervention, education, and support being given.

 

The HMO Licensing Scheme also provides resources for Wardens who assist with enforcement activities in wards where there are high numbers of HMOs.

 

Our focus is to help residents to manage their waste, recycle more and keep our streets clean and tidy.  In extreme circumstances of non-compliance, enforcement action will be taken in line with the policy and current legislation.

 

8.  Exford Avenue Estate Regeneration

 

Councillor Fuller to Councillor Letts

 

What date did construction begin at the Exford Avenue Regeneration project and what was the projected completion date?

 

Answer

 

Construction-related groundworks began on 9 December 2013.The Development Agreement requires this phased scheme to be fully completed by 1 July 2019.  

 

All of the affordable units have now completed and we are awaiting completion of the market units.

 

9.  New Home Starts

 

Councillor Fuller to Councillor Payne

 

How many new home starts have been registered in Southampton since the beginning of the year and how does that compare with the national average?

 

The Council is awaiting final definitive completions figures, which also record starts, for the period 1 April 2016 – 31 March 2017. However, interim figures show that there were 1039 dwellings started within the city for 2016-2017. This does not include student accommodation which is now produced separately and added in to the final figure.

 

Whilst we don’t have figures for the national average our completions will be significantly above the 820 dwelling Core Strategy target (and over 1,000 dwellings) for the third year running.