Agenda item

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.  Unkempt Cemeteries

 

Question from Councillor S Galton to Councillor Hammond

 

Would the Leader commit to making this the last year anyone has to be met with unacceptably unkempt cemeteries; but especially on sensitive days such as Mother's Day or Father's Day when a far higher than normal number of visits will be made to pay respect.

 

Answer

 

The Bereavement Services team are acutely aware of the need to support our bereaved communities and families, particularly on significant days, by ensuring that our cemeteries are welcoming and well looked after.

 

This year, given the unprecedented situation created by the COVID 19 pandemic, the Council took the difficult decision to suspend non-essential work, which included in this case, grass cutting and routine work within our cemeteries, to redirect our resources to excavating additional graves during the pandemic.  This was not a decision taken lightly and we understand that for some the reduced level of upkeep will have caused distress, for which we are very sorry.

 

We have now undertaken a review and are taking actions to address, and bring our cemeteries back into the order that we all wish to maintain going forward. Grass cutting is therefore underway at Hollybrook, South Stoneham, St Mary Extra and Millbrook. As Councillors will understand, land maintenance within our cemeteries is a skilled and labour-intensive task, but one that is now back in train.

 

2.  Emergency Travel Schemes

 

Question from Councillor S Galton to Councillor Leggett

 

Could the Cabinet Member explain his thought process for the vast majority of emergency travel schemes being placed on our main arterial routes; rather than focusing on facilitating and encouraging active travel in our residential areas and implementing other schemes as the priority such as:

 

 

  •  "School streets"

  •  20mph speed limits in conjunction with other measures to   create "quiet" low traffic residential zones

  •  Using the emergency modal filter powers made available   to tackle long standing "rat run" issues

 

Answer

 

The Green transport Recovery Plan presents a range of measures to support the increase in active travel and help stop the spread of C-19 through measures that support social distancing. These have been programmed from the spring through to autumn 2020.

Early schemes implemented have been focused on corridors that provide vital links between main residential areas and major areas of employment such as the hospital, schools and leisure. This ensures the interventions are along routes where the propensity for active travel is greatest as identified in the Cycling Strategy (2017) but also crucially along corridors that are high frequency bus corridors where viable and sustainable alternatives to the bus are required for key workers and for the 30% of Southampton residents that don’t have access to a car. It is also important to implement these projects early on in the programme whilst traffic levels are lower to allow the road network to adjust and reduce the risk of traffic levels increasing significantly above the pre-Covid normal levels.

In addition to the works on some of our key corridors, the Council has also implemented improvements at bus stops to manage socially distanced queues, provided more space for waiting passengers and supporting comms via the RTI screens. Each of the 5 district centres has had dedicated resources to support the retail reopening and queue management systems put in place including the city centre Precinct. 15 pedestrian crossings across the city have also had the timings adjusted and allowed for the automation of the activating of the green man.

The Council has also been working with local schools to support their full reopening from September and identified schools eligible for “School Streets” and is in the process of developing the plans for the residential streets linked to our existing Active Travel Zone plans as identified in our Local Transport Plan (2019).

 

3.   Citizen Energy

 

Question from Councillor S Galton to Councillor Leggett

 

Given the uncertainty of the viability of Robin Hood Energy with the latest published accounts showing a £23M loss; additionally the £50M+ of taxpayers money that is reportedly at stake if it can't continue to operate, the fact it is becoming increasingly reliant on exposing taxpayers to additional risk to continue to operate - including a recent additional £12.5M cash facility by Nottingham City Council - do you feel comfortable and ethically justified that Southampton City Council continues to play our part in supporting and encouraging this loss making, taxpayer funded business, through our own whitelabel Citizen Energy.

 

Answer

 

The Council has a contract with RHE for the provision of our local tariff – Citizen Energy.

 

4.  Illegal Traveller Incursions

 

Question from Councillor S Galton to Councillor Shields

 

After years of repeated illegal traveller incursions across our City, will you commit to investing more money in to defenses, such as height barriers or posts/bollards to secure and protect our public spaces better?

 

Answer

 

Unauthorised travellers encampments are a long-standing issue across Hampshire. Most unauthorised encampments occur between May and September when travellers tend to be on the move and in Southampton we experience between 5 and 10 each year.

Encampments are dealt with through engagement and issuing a direction to leave, with travellers usually departing before Court proceedings are initiated. The police have additional powers to deal with encampments associated with crime or disorder.

Work has been carried out deter travellers from open spaces, but it is not easy to completely prevent entry to larger green spaces that require gated entry points for grass-cutting machinery and emergency vehicles.

Before austerity a significant capital sum was invested to reduce risk of traveller ingression and ‘target-harden’ certain Council-owned Leisure sites and ‘protected’ areas like Weston Shore, Riverside Park, Mansel Park and the Common.

Over the past five years the Council identified a number of other recreation sites and secured a number of these using the Parks capital and revenue programmes including the following: Lordshill Rec., Veracity Ground, Riverside Rec., Millbrook Rec., Green Park Rec., and land to the rear of Chamberlayne Park Leisure Centre.

The most recent traveller incursions have taken place on land managed by Active Nations – with the exception of Summer Street park where the City Counci is installing new bunding. Notwithstanding this Council has responded to incursions on land managed by Active Nation and put in additional bund soils and welded custom protection over barrier locks (at an additional cost).

The parks and open areas of green space managed by the City Council are ‘target hardened’ with a mix of wildflower bunding, large logs that create additional habitats and secure barriers with tamper-proof locks.

 

5.  Waste Disposal Facilities

 

Question from Councillor S Galton to Councillor Leggett

 

With the increased use of our parks and public spaces, will the Cabinet Member ensure adequate waste disposal facilities are available either permanently or on a temporary basis.

 

Answer

 

We have a huge number of litter bins in parks already and have recently installed a number of 1100 litre bins as a temporary measure in Southampton Common and Mayflower park to encourage residents to responsibly dispose of waste.  We are awaiting delivery of some attractive timber surrounds for these.

As an example we have over 80 bins in central park yet a minority of users leave litter and glass bottles on the ground and do not make the effort to use the bins that are in situ.  We have already launched an anti-litter campaign on digital advertising boards, social media and on the new solar compactor bins and are extending these messages to be on our compact sweeper fleet.  We have erected a number of correx signs in key locations to deter people from littering with a clear £75 fine deterrent.

The Litter Enforcement officers are now patrolling and we hope this will have a positive impact on our environment through engagement, education and enforcement.

More solar compactor bins will be rolled out across the city but have been delayed due to COVID -19 restrictions on manufacturing and supply chain.  We are also going to be installing recycling bins in key locations so we capture more recyclable items from the waste people deposit in public bins and will empty these using our existing RCV fleet.

We need to all encourage our residents and visitors to take personal responsibility for the litter and waste they generate and if a bin is full, take it home.

 

6.  Covid 19 – Help for those with Disabilities

 

Question from Councillor S Galton to Councillor Fielker

 

What specific measures are the Council taking to help those with disabilities adjust to the Covid-19 restrictions and lead as normal life as possible, whilst staying as safe as possible?

 

Answer

 

People in Southampton, whether disabled, older or in need of support have been encouraged and supported to follow the advice and guidance provided by government during the covid-19 pandemic. 

A range of support, depending on individual need, has been and continues to be offered by Southampton City Council and partners to people who receive or need assistance during this time. This support has included access to a help-line 7 days a week, regular contact with people depending on need and increased use of technology to help people adjust to government guidance on social distancing.

The support provided is being adjusted as the guidance changes to help people adapt depending on their personal needs. It will include additional support via a range of organisations including SO;Linked to assist in reducing social isolation, support to access food via supermarket delivery slots and volunteers, access to medication and social contact.

 

7.  Marhill Copse

 

Question from Councillor Fitzhenry to Councillor Hammond

 

Will the Leader of the Council support an investigation into the mishandling of the Marhill Copse situation?

 

Verbal Answer

 

There had been over 200 responses before Planning and Rights of Way Committee ratified the decision taken under delegated decision unanimously. The delegated decision had been taken to prioritise the safety of residents as there was no ability to have virtual meetings at the time due to Covid-19. Since the decision, there had been opportunity for the public to openly discuss this issue at the earliest opportunity at the Planning and Rights of Way Committee virtually.

 

8.  Studio 144

 

Question from Councillor Fitzhenry to Councillor Kaur

 

Who is to blame for the absence of a clear and decisive strategy to attract a new operator for the performing arts space in Studio 144?

 

Verbal Answer

 

  This question is not a helpful one given the process has been   discussed and a way forward agreed by a Citywide Steering Group,   which Cllr Hannides is a member of but has never attended. It is my   understanding that the opposition member was also briefed but clearly   did not share this with his group. Decisions were not being made in   isolation as this is not solely a Council decision and it would be naïve to think this; decisions are being made in partnership with Arts Council   England and the University of Southampton. There are two phases of   the process which are clear, open and transparent. We worked with the   administrators who had different priorities, however now other   operators are being reviewed against the same agreed criteria in the   process to provide a long-term sustainable solution. The Council   remains confident that a suitable operator will be identified. 

 

 

9.  Responsibility for Decisions

 

Question from Councillor Fitzhenry to Councillor Hammond

 

Do you and your Labour Group take full responsibility for all decisions made by SCC?

 

Verbal Response

 

This is a broad question. The role of Cabinet and Labour Group is to set the policy and direction of the organisation, the Chief Executive and Executive Directors are then accountable for the implementation.  There are a number of other decision making bodies which affect the operations of the Council.