Agenda and minutes

To give consideration to the approval of alternative arrangements for appointments to bodies set up by Cabinet or external bodies, or the making or terminating of such appointments.

At the invitation of the Leader, Councillor Horrill addressed Cabinet regarding the proposed appointments to outside bodies and put forward the following nominees from the Conservative group:

·         Carroll Centre Board of Trustees – Councillor Scott (as existing representative and a Ward Member);

·         Hampshire Cultural Trust – Councillor Pearson

·         Winchester Housing Trust – Councillor Horrill

The Leader thanked Councillor Horrill for these nominations which would be considered alongside nominations from the Liberal Democrat group in making the appointments.

Cabinet agreed to the following for the reasons outlined above.

RESOLVED:

            1.         That the following Councillors be confirmed as Chairs of the Fora as set out below:

a)         Kings Barton Forum – Councillor Rutter;

b)         West of Waterlooville Forum – Councillor Clear;

c)         North Whiteley Development Forum – Councillor Achwal.

            2.         That the following appointments to outside bodies be made:

a)         The Carroll Centre Board of Trustees – Councillor Scott (Observer) and Councillor Tod (deputy), both until May 2022;

b)         Hampshire Cultural Trust – Councillor Evans (Observer) until May 2020. 

NB former Councillor Mike Southgate to remain as Trustee until September 2022.

c)         Winchester Housing Trust – Councillor Rutter (Director) and Councillor Horrill (Observer) until May 2020.

To receive any disclosure of interests from Members and Officers in matters to be discussed.

Note: Councillors are reminded of their obligations to declare disclosable pecuniary interests, personal and/or prejudicial interests in accordance with legislation and the Council’s Code of Conduct.

Councillor Weir declared a personal (but not prejudicial) interest in respect Report CAB3171 as she was a trustee of WinACC.  She remained in the room, spoke and voted thereon.

– to note the names of members of the public wishing to speak on general matters affecting the District or on agenda items (in the case of the latter, representations will normally be received at the time of the agenda item, after the Portfolio Holder’s introduction and any questions from Cabinet Members).

At the invitation of the Leader, Councillor Horrill addressed Cabinet regarding a number of matters raised at the previous Cabinet meeting on 16 May, as summarised below:

·         She requested further information regarding future proposals for consideration of matters relating to the Local Plan, since the decision to discontinue the previous Cabinet (Local Plan) Committee.

·         She requested confirmation regarding the statement of common ground with PUSH, that only the section of the Winchester district within the PUSH area would be included, not the whole Winchester district.

Councillor Porter responded that a report on the Swanmore Village Design Statement was on the agenda for this meeting and further Local Plan reports would be considered at the next Cabinet meeting on 19 June 2019.  Discussions were currently underway on how future engagement on Local Plan would be undertaken.

Councillor Cutler advised that he had attended the PUSH Committee the previous evening and confirmed that only the section of the Winchester district within the PUSH area would be included in the statement of common ground.

There were no announcements made.

The Leader welcomed to the meeting approximately 30 members of the public and/or members of various interest groups.  She emphasised that Cabinet had requested that the report on the declaration of climate emergency be brought forward as soon as possible and this special meeting of Cabinet had therefore be called.  The Leader said it was her view that it was important that the Council took a lead on carbon reduction for the district and worked with others to generate new ideas and initiatives.

As Portfolio Holder and author of the report at Appendix to CAB3171, Councillor Murphy introduced the item and emphasised that it was essential that the Council put environmental considerations at the centre of all its work and services. 

Five members of the public/representatives of interest groups spoke during public participation as summarised below.

Jock Macdonald (Chair of WinACC) congratulated the Council on taking a lead in declaring a climate emergency and emphasised that the issue was too important to become a matter for political disagreement.  WInACC was a non-political group which campaigned based on scientific findings.  It was important to encourage businesses and others to take the necessary steps to cut carbon emissions and/or create their own energy.  WinACC looked forward to working in partnership with the Council on this issue.

Jan Warwick (Hampshire County Councillor) emphasised the importance of the issue and highlighted that the proposals must be properly assessed.  Most carbon emissions were outside the direct control of the Council and it was essential that regard was also had to protecting the local economy in agreeing any policy changes (for example, by working with Winchester BID).  With regard to specific proposals, she suggested that the Council should focus on maintaining forests and woodlands (including those neighbouring the district which were currently subject to development proposal through the Eastleigh Local Plan) and seek to capture carbon emissions from the former landfill site at Funtley.

Katherine Howlett Davies (Extinction Rebellion) welcomed the report as an important first step and emphasised that it was essential that an action plan be agreed following a comprehensive analysis of carbon emissions across the district.  She highlighted that there were a number of measures that could be achieved relatively quickly and at a low cost.  She suggested that the Council work with partnership organisations, such as WinACC and Extinction Rebellion.  In addition, she suggested a Citizens’ Assembly should be established. 

Ian Tait also welcomed the report and emphasised that it would require political leadership to ensure proposals were turned into actions.  For example, a decision could be taken to stop installing gas boilers in the Council’s housing stock and more wind turbines could be permitted across the district.  However, both measures had proved to be unpopular with some residents in the past.  The Council could also consider introducing Sunday parking charges and could then use the additional revenue to subsidise bus services. 

Chris Gillham (Winchester Friends of the Earth) stated that a live Winchester Friends of the Earth petition asking  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.

Councillor Porter introduced the report and highlighted that part of Swanmore Parish covered by the VDS was within the South Downs National Park and as such, the National Park Authority would also be required to adopt the document.

At the invitation of the Leader, Councillor Pearson spoke in support of the report and emphasised that it would provide a useful guide for any proposed future development within the parish.  He thanked the Parish Council for their work in producing the revised VDS.

In response to questions, it was confirmed that the officer team had been involved at various stages in assisting the Parish Council in preparing the VDS.  The importance of local communities contacting the Council for advice at an early stage in the local design statements development process was highlighted and attention was drawn to guidance on Local Design Statements which was available on the Council’s website.  Councillor Porter requested that this guidance be reviewed to ensure it took account of the recommendations agreed under CAB3171 above.  To enable this, Cabinet agreed to an additional fourth recommendation as set out below.

Cabinet agreed to the following for the reasons set out above and outlined in the Report.

RESOLVED:

1.         That the Design Guidelines/Policies in the Village Design Statement for Swanmore,  as set out in Appendix 2 of Report CAB3151, be adopted as a Supplementary Planning Document, for that part of the parish within Winchester District.

2.         That the 2001 Swanmore VDS be revoked as SPD following the adoption of the 2019 SPD.

3.         That the Strategic Planning Manager be granted delegated authority to make minor factual corrections and editing, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Built Environment and Wellbeing, to finalise the Design Guidelines/Policies in the Village Design Statement for Swanmore, prior to  publication on the Council website.

4.         That the guidance for local communities to support them to undertake a Design Statement be reviewed to ensure best practice advice with respect to sustainability.