Agenda, decisions 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.

There were no changes to the membership of cabinet bodies to be made.

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 Porter and Tod declared personal (but not prejudicial) interests in respect of reports due to their role as a County Councillors.

RESOLVED:

That the minutes of the previous meeting held on 11 February 2021 be agreed as a correct record.

– to note the names of members of the public wishing to speak on general matters affecting the District or on agenda items

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). 

Six members of the public/representatives of organisations spoke during public participation as summarised briefly below.

Paul Sapwell (Hampshire Cultural Trust)

General support for the proposals in report CAB3281, including those for Kings Walk, which he believed built on the supplementary planning document and reaffirmed the commitment to heritage and culture.  Would like to see more explicit reference to the provision of family friendly heritage and cultural centre in Winchester.  Emphasised that such a centre would need to be nationally significant in order to attract both the visitor numbers to make it viable and the necessary funding.

Kim Gottlieb

Speaking regarding report CAB3281 considered that Kings Walk was the wrong place for a cultural quarter for a number of reasons, including the overall size, current condition and appearance of existing buildings.  He suggested that Kings Walk should instead be sold as a development opportunity and an alternative location be created for a cultural quarter.

Patrick Davies

Spoke regarding report CAB3281 and believed the Council undermined its commitment to dealing with the climate emergency and was contrary to the agreed supplementary planning document because of the inadequate proposals for bus services within the central Winchester regeneration area.  He believed that when the current restrictions due to the Covid pandemic were lifted, the council should take the opportunity to encourage the increased use of buses again.

Paul Spencer (Winchester BID)

Spoke regarding report CAB3281 and provided a summary of responses from the BID membership to the proposals.  This included general levels of support for proposals to move the redevelopment forward in order to assist with economic recovering post-Covid.  There was also support for the proposals regarding Kings Walk and the demolition of Friarsgate medical centre.  He requested cross party support to ensure the proposals continued to progress.

Emma Back (Winchester Sport, Art and Leisure Trust)

Speaking regarding report CAB3281, asked for Cabinet’s assurance that the whole area would not be sold or offered under a long lease to a single commercial entity. She was concerned about the prospect of the creation of privately owned public spaces (POPs) which could be subject to onerous restrictions on use and that the CWR area should include at least some of the leisure options put forward in the consultation.

Speaking regarding report CAB3295, queried the lack of detail in the list of fees for the new leisure centre, whether a discount scheme would continue, and what steps the Council would take to ensure the fees did not increase beyond that stipulated in the business case?

James Miller (Extinction Rebellion, Winchester)

Speaking regarding report CAB3281, believed that the proposals for an on street bus interchange were ill considered, would lead to long and confusing walks for passengers between stops and would not assist with the stated aim of improving air quality.  It would also make the transition to electric buses more costly and complex.  Any decision on provision for buses should be delayed until the Movement Strategy was finalised.

Cabinet members made a number of announcements as summarised briefly below.

Councillor Tod

Highlighted the recently published national recycling statistics for 19/20 in which Winchester had both achieved its highest ever recycling level and had reduced the amount of residual waste. 

Councillor Murphy

Announced that a new rapid electric vehicle charger had been installed at Worthy Lane car park, available to all but primarily for the benefit of the electric taxi fleet.

Councillor Learney

Seven new council homes in Rowlings Road, Weeke were nearing completion and would be occupied soon.  The development had also increased permeability between Weeke and Harestock with the introduction of new walking and cycling routes.

Councillor Porter

Reminded that the Local Plan consultation on strategic issues and priorities was currently underway, finishing 12 April 2021.

1.  That the adoption of the Vision for Winchester by the Winchester Town Forum in January 2021 and the complementary themes within that work which are relevant to the regeneration of central Winchester be noted.

2.  That the feedback from the consultation undertaken between 11^th November 2020 and 12^th January 2021 be noted and as a result the CWR Development Proposals and indicative phasing plan be approved, namely proposals pages 6-27 inclusive as detailed in appendix A of CAB3281.

3.  That revenue expenditure of up to £390,000 from the £2m CWR revenue budget be approved to;

a.  Progress further work to the CWR business case to inform the decision on delivery of the CWR development proposals for subsequent Cabinet approval to proceed to procurement in 2021.

b.  Carry out soft market testing, finalise the business model and the procurement route to deliver medium/long term vision for the Kings Walk creative hub

c.   Evaluate options to bring forward delivery of the interim on street bus solution.

4.  That capital expenditure be approved;

a.  Of up to £200,000 from the Kings Walk improvements budget to progress short term improvement works to Kings Walk as the pre-cursor to delivery of the Kings Walk creative hub, subject to the outcome of the condition survey;

b.  Of up to £500,000 from the Friarsgate demolition and interim open space budget to progress the planning application to enable demolition of Friarsgate Medical Centre and provision of interim public open space.

5.  That authority be delegated to Strategic Director – Place, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Housing and Asset Management, to finalise, tender, award and enter into contractual arrangements to deliver the short term improvement works to Kings Walk and Friarsgate Medical Centre, within approved budgets.

6.  That  further exploration of funding opportunities with EM3 Local Enterprise Partnership, Homes England, and other sources as appropriate be approved and authority be delegated to the Strategic Director – Place to prepare and submit funding bids.

7.  That an application be submitted to the Local Planning Authority for Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) funding of £2m to support delivery of the CWR project.

8.  That the proposed development of governance arrangements for the next phase of the regeneration work be noted and the finalisation of these arrangements be delegated to the Strategic Director – Place, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Housing and Asset Management.

1.     That the Housing Development Strategy 2021-2030 be adopted as the framework for delivering the council’s new homes programme.

2.     That the Service Lead – New Homes be authorised to make non-material amendments to the Housing Development Strategy from time to time, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Housing and Asset Management.

1.            That the Housing Development Strategy 2021-2030 be adopted as the framework for delivering the council’s new homes programme.

2.            That the Service Lead – New Homes be authorised to make non-material amendments to the Housing Development Strategy from time to time, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Housing and Asset Management.

1)    That the 2021/22 budget of £1.587m provision for additional energy efficiency works to Council dwellings be committed and approved for expenditure as follows:

a)    £1,250m to fund additional insulation (mainly wall and floor insulation) to 100 properties currently subject to an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating of D or below and that the programme focus mainly on void properties where possible.

b)    £150,000 set aside to support “match funding” bids for major retrofit programmes (such as the existing project to improve “Swedish timber” homes in Bramdean).

c)    That £187,000 to address energy efficiency of communal areas in sheltered/communal housing schemes, including the installation of solar photovoltaic panels where appropriate.

2)    That a member/tenant/officer panel/forum be established to assess progress with national trials, review funding options and bring forward proposals for a long term programme to replace gas heating systems in Council homes, subject to consultation with tenants and the Business and Housing Policy Committee.

3)    That the Council join the “Net Zero Collective” partnership to support the work of the above Panel.

1.            That the 2021/22 budget of £1.587m provision for additional energy efficiency works to Council dwellings be committed and approved for expenditure as follows:

b)            £1,250m to fund additional insulation (mainly wall and floor insulation) to 100 properties currently subject to an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating of D or below and that the programme focus mainly on void properties where possible.

c)            £150,000 set aside to support “match funding” bids for major retrofit programmes (such as the existing project to improve “Swedish timber” homes in Bramdean).

d)            That £187,000 to address energy efficiency of communal areas in sheltered/communal housing schemes, including the installation of solar photovoltaic panels where appropriate.

2.            That a member/tenant/officer panel/forum be established to assess progress with national trials, review funding options and bring forward proposals for a long term programme to replace gas heating systems in Council homes, subject to consultation with tenants and the Business and Housing Policy Committee.

3.            That the Council join the “Net Zero Collective” partnership to support the work of the above Panel.

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That the Strategic Director – Services be authorised to procure, negotiate, award and enter into a contract to secure the services of contractors to undertake roof replacement works to Winchester City Council owned housing properties, by means of a Framework Agreement.

Councillor Learney introduced the report and stated it would result in increased efficiency in commissioning works and benefit small and medium sized businesses in the district.

At the invitation of the Leader, Monica Gill (TACT) stated that the proposals had been previously presented to a TACT service delivery group and had been supported.

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

RESOLVED:

That the Strategic Director – Services be authorised to procure, negotiate, award and enter into a contract to secure the services of contractors to undertake roof replacement works to Winchester City Council owned housing properties, by means of a Framework Agreement.

1.     That an allocation of £250,000 for a further round of community bids in 2022/23 be approved, as part of an ongoing programme of community schemes, with future arrangements beyond 2022/23 to be reviewed annually.

2.     That the CIL spending protocol (CAB3071) which sets out how CIL spending will be assessed, prioritised and decisions made as to which schemes receive CIL funding allocations, be amended by replacing the former Regulation123 List, with the Infrastructure Funding Statement that is published annually on the City Council’s website and identifies priorities and projects which may be funded in whole or in part by CIL income.

3.     That the need to keep under review priorities for CIL funding for emerging infrastructure projects and up-date the Infrastructure Funding Statement accordingly be noted and to further note the list of emerging schemes set out in table 4 of the report CAB3292 which may be considered for CIL funding in future..

1.            That an allocation of £250,000 for a further round of community bids in 2022/23 be approved, as part of an ongoing programme of community schemes, with future arrangements beyond 2022/23 to be reviewed annually.

2.            That the CIL spending protocol (CAB3071) which sets out how CIL spending will be assessed, prioritised and decisions made as to which schemes receive CIL funding allocations, be amended by replacing the former Regulation123 List, with the Infrastructure Funding Statement that is published annually on the City Council’s website and identifies priorities and projects which may be funded in whole or in part by CIL income.

3.            That the need to keep under review priorities for CIL funding for emerging infrastructure projects and up-date the Infrastructure Funding Statement accordingly be noted and to further note the list of emerging schemes set out in table 4 of the report CAB3292 which may be considered for CIL funding in future.

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1.     That the allocation and expenditure of £65,000 towards a flood alleviation scheme in Twyford be approved, subject to match funding being secured from the South Downs National Park Authority and adoption of Twyford neighbourhood Plan prior to project delivery.

2.     That funding of £65,000 for the car park extension in Twyford be removed from the agreed CIL spending programme (CAB3257).

1.                That the allocation and expenditure of £65,000 towards a flood alleviation scheme in Twyford be approved, subject to match funding being secured from the South Downs National Park Authority and adoption of Twyford neighbourhood Plan prior to project delivery.

2.                That funding of £65,000 for the car park extension in Twyford be removed from the agreed CIL spending programme (CAB3257).

1.    That the fees and charges for 2021/22 be approved, as set out in appendix 1 of CAB3295, subject to the planning pre-application fees (minor 1/new dwellings 1) being set at £285.50 for 21/22 (not £234 as stated in the appendix).

2.    That the core Leisure Centre charges be approved, as set out in in appendix 2 of CAB3295.

1.                That the fees and charges for 2021/22 be approved, as set out in appendix 1 of CAB3295, subject to the planning pre-application fees (minor 1/new dwellings 1) being set at £285.50 for 21/22 (not £234 as stated in the appendix).

2.                That the core Leisure Centre charges be approved, as set out in in appendix 2 of CAB3295.

That the Risk Management Policy for 2021/22, its Risk Appetite Statement for 2021/22 and the updated Corporate Risk Register be approved subject to a minor amendment to the Policy, section 8 (risk appetite) to change the words “satisfactory outcomes” to “positive outcomes”.

Councillor Cutler introduced the report which provided an update to the council’s risk strategy and risk appetite.  The report had been considered by Audit and Governance Committee on 4 March 2021 where no additional comments had been raised for Cabinet.

Councillor Cutler proposed a minor amendment to the Policy which was agreed as set out in the resolution below.

At the invitation of the Leader, Councillors Power and Lumby addressed Cabinet as summarised briefly below. 

Councillor Power

Welcomed the report and in particular the commitment to monitor risk with regard to the various costs and benefits resulting.  She considered that relatively minor changes to the policy equated to significant changes in how the council managed risk.

Councillor Lumby

Requested that in the future, any proposed changes to a policy be clearly set out.  Stated that the policy adopted a more cautious approach to any new expenditure, other than on housing.  Requested further information regarding the “lessons learned” document referred to.

Councillor Cutler and the Strategic Director Resources responded to comments made, including explaining that many of the recommendations of the “lessons learned” document had already been implemented as part of the council’s response to the Covid-19 pandemic to date.

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

RESOLVED:

That the Risk Management Policy for 2021/22, its Risk Appetite Statement for 2021/22 and the updated Corporate Risk Register be approved subject to a minor amendment to the Policy, section 8 (risk appetite) to change the words “satisfactory outcomes” to “positive outcomes”.

resolved:

That the list of future items, as set out in the Forward Plan for April 2021, be noted.