Agenda and minutes

RESOLVED:

That the minutes of the Ordinary Meeting of the Council held on 8 July 2020 be approved and adopted

To receive any disclosure of interests from Members or 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 the Council’s Code of Conduct.

Councillors Hiscock, Humby, Tod and Porter declared personal (but not prejudicial) interests in respect of agenda item 5 a) (Revised General Fund Budget 2020/21) due to their roles as County Councillors.  Councillor Scott also declared a personal (but not prejudicial) interest in respect of the same agenda item as he was a tenant of the council.

The Mayor made a number of announcements.

The Mayor’s thoughts were with the families and pupils of Henry Beaufort school in Winchester following the horrific incident earlier this month involving a school bus.  The Mayor gave credit to the swift action of the emergency services, including the city council who attended the scene.

The Mayor then announced that past mayors will have been particularly saddened to have learnt of the passing in July of former macebearer for the city council, Denis Price. Mr Price had carried the great mace for over 30 years, and the smaller maces for several years before that. Several past mayors and officers had attended Denis’ funeral in August.

The Mayor then referred to the unexpected death of Michael Fawcitt and paid tribute to him as a valued member of TACT in the role Communication Officer and as Chair of the Housing Management Delivery Group and as an enthusiastic participant in committee meetings.

The Mayor then reported on his recent visits to the Winchester Churches Nightshelter, as well as Trinity Winchester.  He had also taken the salute at the Phase One Passing Out Parade at Sir John Moore Barracks.

Continuing, the Mayor gave his thanks to ward members who had assisted in organising visits to their communities to enable him to show support and thanks to the local groups and organisations who helped support their residents so well during the lockdown. He was looking forward to visiting other wards in the near future.

The Mayor then announced that he had been honoured to had laid a wreath on behalf of the council at the war memorial at the cathedral on 15 August on the 75^th anniversary of VJ Day.

The Mayor then referred to the recent launch of the Mayor of Winchester’s Local Hero award.  This award was to recognise people who had made a real difference during the COVID-19 pandemic.  It offered residents the chance to say thank you to all the unsung heroes across the Winchester district who have been putting others first during this extraordinary time.

The Mayor requested that members consider those Local Heroes in the communities that they represent who they would like to nominate.  Winners would receive a Mayor of Winchester Local Hero Award certificate.

The Mayor’s next announcement was with regard  to his recent presenting, in Abbey House, to the former Mayor, Councillor Eleanor Bell and her escort Mr Alex Bell, with their Past Mayor’s and Past Mayor’s Escort badges.  Also attending were the Leader of the Council, Councilor Thompson and the Chief Executive.  Following the presentation, Councillor Bell thanked the Mayor’s Secretary and the Events Assistant and the Senior Mace Bearer for their support to both her and her escort during her mayoral year.

Finally, the Mayor invited members to join him in offering the best thanks of council to Steve Tilbury, Strategic Director, who was leaving the council at the end of September after 18 years of service.

The Leader then made several announcements.

The Council  ...  view the full minutes text for item 3.

To receive and answer and questions from the public.

(Questions must be received in writing by Democratic Services – democracy@winchester.gov.uk – no later than noon on Wednesday 16 September)

Three written questions had been received which were presented by the members of the public at the meeting along with an associated supplementary question.  The questions and the response from the Cabinet Member were subsequently set out in full on the council's website.

Recommend Minute of Cabinet held 16 September 2020 (to follow)

Council noted that that the corresponding recommended minute of Cabinet held 16 September 2020 was included with the supplementary agenda after the statutory deadline.  The Mayor agreed to accept the recommended minute onto the agenda, because of the urgent need for Council to consider this alongside Report CAB3256.

Councillor Cutler (Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Finance and Risk), moved that the recommended minute be approved and adopted (seconded by Councillor Learney, Cabinet Member for Asset Management and Housing).

Council proceeded to ask questions and debate the matters in the report and recommended minute.

Following questions and debate, in accordance with legislative requirements on recorded votes at Budget Meetings, a recorded vote was taken on recommendations 1 and 2 of the cabinet recommended minute as set out in the supplementary agenda.

It was noted that Councillor Clementson had left the meeting before the recorded vote was taken.

Division Lists

The following Members voted in favour of the recommended minute of Cabinet:

Councillors Achwal, Becker, Bell, Bentote, Bronk, Clear, Craske, Cutler, Evans, Fern, Ferguson, Gordon-Smith, Hiscock, Hutchison, Laming, Learney, Murphy, Porter, Power, Prince, Thompson, Tod, Weir, Williams

The following Members voted against the recommended minute of Cabinet:

None

The following Members abstained from voting on the recommended minute of Cabinet:

Councillors Brook, Cook, Cunningham, Gemmell, Godfrey, Horrill, Humby, Lumby, Mather, Mclean, Miller, Pearson, Read, Ruffell, Scott, Weston

Recommendations 1 and 2 of the cabinet recommended minute carried.

Council then proceeded to vote on recommendation 3 of the cabinet recommended minute, which was also carried.

RESOLVED:

1.    The Revised Revenue Budget as set out in Appendix 1 to Report CAB3256 be approved

2.    The Revised Capital Programme, as set out in Appendix 3 to Report CAB3256 be approved

3.    The efforts of community groups and local councils in supporting essential work to support our district is recognised and that the Leader of the council writes to all groups to thank them for their ongoing support.  

Councillor Brook (Chairperson of the Scrutiny Committee), moved that the recommended minute be approved and adopted (seconded by Councillor Lumby).

RESOLVED:

                    That the Council note the Annual Scrutiny Report.  

To consider the following Notice of Motion to be proposed by Councillor Horrill (seconded by Councillor Brook):

Green Belt for South Hampshire

“That this Council, in developing its Strategic Issues and Options as part of the forthcoming update of the Winchester Local Plan, and as part of its participation in the refresh of the PfSH Sub-Regional Strategy, supports the principle of a South Hampshire Green Belt designation for the countryside north of the cities of Portsmouth and Southampton, to prevent coalescence of our towns and villages; and that support for this designation be sought with neighbouring authorities.”

In accordance with Council Procedure Rule 10, a Motion was submitted by Councillor Horrill as follows.  The Motion was seconded by Councillor Brook.

“That this Council, in developing its Strategic Issues and Options as part of the forthcoming update of the Winchester Local Plan, and as part of its participation in the refresh of the PfSH Sub-Regional Strategy, supports the principle of a South Hampshire Green Belt designation for the countryside north of the cities of Portsmouth and Southampton, to prevent coalescence of our towns and villages; and that support for this designation be sought with neighbouring authorities.”

Councillor Horrill introduced the Motion and in summary raised the following points:

·           Designation of a south Hampshire Green Belt should be considered with all issues and options for the new Local Plan. It should also be considered as part of the council’s participation in the refresh of the PfSH sub regional strategy.

·           There has been considerable development in south Hampshire during recent years.  During lockdown, there had been greater appreciation of countryside and role in wellbeing of open spaces etc

·           Government consultation papers suggest that the duty to cooperate with neighbouring authorities was to be removed.  Therefore, there could be increased development towards local authority borders in the future.  This council therefore needed to be clear where countryside should be protected.

·           Recent CPRE research regarding Green Belts showed that they provide benefits to the local economy and to health, wellbeing and to ecosystems to value of £26 million per annum.  The health and wellbeing element of this from those living in and around a Green Belt was £17 million. There was a need to reinvigorate the local economy following the COVID -19 pandemic.  A Green Belt would help with tourism and recreation benefits to tune of £1.3m per annum.  

·           The council should promote a genuine ‘brownfield first’ approach to development.  Town centres may need to re purposed for housing should retail further decline.  A Green Belt would promote urban regeneration, check urban sprawl and safeguard countryside and preserve the setting and special character of the district’s historic towns.

·    The council should align and work in partnership with other local authorities and with MPs regarding the principle of the designation of a south Hampshire Green Belt. 

During the debate which followed on the Motion, in summary, the following points were raised:

·           The presence South Downs National Park in the district, as well as  the government’s recent pledges to increase housing numbers in the Winchester district, would mean that the proposals for a south Hampshire Green Belt would push unsustainable development to the west, north and north east of Winchester as well as into existing settlements.  This would put pressure on existing infrastructure.  A fair and equitable distribution of housing in the district in sustainable locations was necessary.

·           There were historical ideas for a ‘solent city’ with ‘green lung’ areas.  The environment was at the core of the council’s polices and uncontrolled urban sprawl was at odds with this.  There must be a fair  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.

To receive any resignations from committees and to make any necessary re-appointments.

The Strategic Director (Resources) advised that following the recent resignation of a councillor, both groups had been consulted on any impact on the proportionality of the council.  It was agreed that no changes to seats on committees were required other than as a direct consequence of the resignation, as set out below.  

            RESOLVED:

For the Business and Housing Policy Committee, Councillor Gordon-Smith to replace former Councillor Gottlieb as a deputy member. 

The total time for questions and the answer and supplementaries thereto shall not exceed 30 minutes.

17 written questions had been received of which 15 were heard at the meeting along with any associated supplementary questions.  All questions are set out in full on the council's website, together with responses from the relevant Cabinet Member.