Agenda and minutes

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.

Councillors Tod and Porter both declared personal (but not prejudicial) interests in respect of various agenda items due to their roles as County Councillors.

– 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 Cabinet Member’s introduction and any questions from Cabinet Members).

NB members of the public are required to register with Democratic Services three clear working days before the meeting (contact: democracy@winchester.gov.uk or 01962 848 264). 

Patrick Davies spoke during public participation as summarised briefly below.

Noted the intention to review how major projects were dealt with and emphasised that it was essential that people understood how they could be involved in discussions from the earliest opportunity.  Commented that the format and remit of the Winchester Town Forum required further consideration to ensure it played a meaningful role for residents of the Winchester town area.  Made a general comment that the information provided on the council’s website on various significant projects and matters required updating (for example, the local plan).

RESOLVED:

That the minutes of the previous meeting held on 9 March 2022 be agreed as a correct record.

The Leader expressed his thanks to the previous Leader, Councillor Thompson, together with previous Cabinet Members, Councillors Clear, Cutler and Williams for their work over the previous years.

He announced the following Cabinet Members and responsibilities for 2022/23:

The Leader and Cabinet Members made a number of announcements as summarised briefly below.

The Leader

Announced that a review of the governance and progress of major development projects would be undertaken which would include a focus on early involvement of local people and businesses.

Reported that the work to replace the wall outside Kings Walk with fencing had been completed and emphasised that the improvements were a temporary and interim solution pending proposals to be developed by architects working alongside key groups, including Kings Walk tenants.

Welcomed the opportunity to represent the Council at a recent expert panel meeting arranged as part of the Southampton City of Culture Bid 2025.

Councillor Thompson

Reported on the successful recent first year anniversary event for the Winchester Sport and Leisure Park and thanked Everyone Active and the Council for their work in organising the event.

Councillor Ferguson

Announced that a new weekly hub for Ukrainian refugee families and their hosts to access support and advice would be held in the Guildhall, initially for a four week period.

Cabinet noted that nominations for the various appointments had been received prior to the meeting and had been published as an Addendum to the report. 

At the invitation of the Leader, Councillors Read and Horrill addressed the meeting as summarised briefly below:

Councillor Read

Requested clarification of the assertion in the report that members of the three development fora were happy to continuing to meeting virtually as he believed no consultation had been undertaken.  Highlighted the important role of the West of Waterlooville Forum.  Also emphasised the importance of the West of Waterlooville Major Development Joint Planning Committee meeting regularly.

Councillor Horrill

Queried why the appointment of the various Council champions was limited to one councillor per position and suggested it would be more appropriate to appoint more than one champion, where additional interest had been expressed.

In response to Councillor Read, Councillor Porter responded that she was in discussions with the chairman of Newlands Parish Council regarding the points raised.  The Service Lead – Built Environment also explained what consultation had been undertaken and feedback received with regard to the development fora continuing as virtual meetings.

The Leader and Cabinet Members responded to the comments made regarding virtual meetings and the selection of Member Champions.  The Strategic Director and Monitoring Officer also provided some background information to their suggested appointments.

With regard to the Carbon Neutrality Open Forum, the previously agreed membership comprising solely of the Cabinet Member for Climate Emergency was highlighted.  However, the Leader agreed that the two Conservative councillors nominated receive standing invitations to each meeting.

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

RESOLVED:

1.            That the following appointments to Fora and other informal groups be made for the 2022/23 Municipal Year:

(i)            Local Plan Advisory Group – Councillors Porter (Chair), Learney, Tod, Edwards, Evans, Horrill and Read

(ii)          Strategic Asset Purchase Scheme Board

Leader and Cabinet Members with responsibility for Finance; Climate Emergency; Housing; and Business (Councillors Tod, Power, Learney, Ferguson and Thompson)

Finance Manager (Capital & Treasury), Corporate Head of Housing, Corporate Head of Asset Management, Strategic Director: Place and Section 151 Officer – final approver of the purchase.

(iii)         Treasury Investment Group

Cabinet Member with responsibility for Finance (Councillor Power) and Councillor Learney (from Cabinet) 

Councillor Cutler (Chair of Audit & Governance Committee) Councillor Bronk (member of Audit & Governance Committee)  Councillor Miller (Shadow Cabinet Member).

Finance Manager (Capital and Treasury)
(The Section 151 Officer, as final decision maker, would not be a member of the TIG).

(iv)         Kings Barton Forum

Councillors: Cramoysan (Chair), Craske, Batho, Porter, Rutter, Cunningham, Godfrey and Horrill (Deputy: Learney)

(v)          West of Waterlooville Forum –

Councillors: Clear  (Chair), Cutler, Read and Brook (Deputies: Evans and Weston)

(vi)         North Whiteley Development Forum –

Councillors: Achwal (Chair), Evans, Small, McLean, Miller and Pearson (Deputy: Fern and Kurn)

(vii)       Winchester Sports and Leisure Park Advisory Board –

Councillors Thompson (Chair), Gordon-Smith, Ferguson, Reach, Edwards and Cook (Deputy: Kurn)  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.

Cabinet noted that a list of nominations received had published as an Addendum to the report).

At the invitation of the Leader, Councillor Horrill addressed the meeting as summarised briefly below:

Thanked the Leader for discussing the appointments prior to the meeting and agreeing not to contest some appointments traditionally held by members of her group.  In general, commented that councillors from the Conservative group might have the appropriate background and knowledge to represent the council on external bodies and suggested a different approach to appointments could be examined for future years.

The Leader noted the comments made and advised that some of the appointments to be recommended would be amended to reflect discussions held prior to the meeting.

Cabinet considered the appointments set out in table 4 of the Addendum (where there more nominations put forward than vacancies) and agreed appointments as set out in the resolution below.  With regard to Winchester Welfare Charities, it was noted that Councillor Power was stepping down as one of the two trustees.

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

RESOLVED:

1.         That the following appointments to external bodies be made for the 2022/23 Municipal Year (unless stated otherwise):

(a)      The Carroll Centre Board of Trustees – Councillor Becker (deputy Councillor Clear) (until May 2025)

(b)      Hampshire & Isle of Wight Association of Local Authorities (HIOWA) – Leader and Deputy Leader (Councillors Tod and Ferguson)

(c)      Hampshire County Council Annual Meeting with Parish & District Councils regarding public transport issues – Cabinet Member with responsibility for Transport (Councillor Learney)

(d)      Hampshire Cultural Trust – Cabinet Member with responsibility for Culture (Councillor Thompson) (Trustee) and Councillor Laming (Observer)

(e)      Hampshire Homechoice Board – Cabinet Member with responsibility for Housing (Councillor Ferguson)

(f)       Hampshire Rural Forum – Cabinet Member with responsibility for the Economy (Councillor Thompson)

(g)      Intergr8 CIC at Unit 12 – Cabinet Member with responsibility for the Economy (Councillor Thompson )

(h)      Local Government Association – Leader and Deputy Leader (Councillors Tod and Ferguson)

(i)        Partnership for South Hampshire (PfSH) Joint Committee – Leader and Deputy Leader (Councillors Tod and Ferguson)

(j)        PATROL (Parking and Traffic Regulations Outside London) Adjudication Joint Committee – Cabinet Member with responsibility for transport/parking – Councillor Learney

(k)      Play to the Crowd (Observer, until May 2025) – Councillor Thompson (as Cabinet Member with responsibility for culture)

(l)        Police and Crime Panel (until May 2025, confirmed annually) – Councillor Power (Councillor Clear)

(m)    Portsmouth Water Customer Forum (until May 2025) – Councillor Brook

(n)      Project Integra Management Board – Cabinet Member with responsibility for Waste (Councillor Learney) plus Councillor Tod (deputy)

(o)      River Hamble Harbour Management Committee (until May 2025, confirmed annually) – Councillor Pearson and Councillor Miller (deputy)

(p)      South East England Councils (SEEC) – Leader and Deputy Leader (Councillors Tod and Ferguson)

(q)      South East Employers – Chair of Audit & Governance Committee (Councillor Cutler)

(r)       South East Employers – Councillors’ Local Democracy & Accountability Network  ...  view the full minutes text for item 7.

Councillor Tod introduced the report noting the progress against council priorities but that it referenced a period ending some months prior. 

At the invitation of the Leader, Councillor Horrill addressed the meeting as summarised briefly below.

As Chair of the Performance Panel, provided an overview of the Panel’s work and the process undertaken in reviewing the performance monitoring reports. 

The Strategic Director & Monitoring Officer explained the reasons for the timing of the report to Cabinet and agreed to examine if it would be possible to reduce the time between the relevant period and date of report, accepting the constraints of the pre-election period.

Councillor Tod drew members’ attention to the two recommendations from the Performance Panel which had been endorsed by the Scrutiny Committee for further consideration.  These related to request for end of project reports to be continued to be considered by the Performance Panel  and that a review be undertaken of the key performance indicators.  Cabinet also agreed that future performance monitoring reports include the minutes from the relevant Scrutiny Committee, in addition to the minutes of the Performance Panel.

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

RESOLVED:

1.            That the progress achieved during Q3 of 2021/22 be noted the contents of the report CAB3339 be endorsed.

2.            That the recommendations of the Performance Panel (as contained as appendix 6 to CAB3339) as endorsed by the Scrutiny Committee held 3 March 2022, regarding the continuation of receipt of “end of project reports” and a review of the key performance indicators be supported.