Agenda, decisions and minutes

RESOLVED

That the minutes of the Ordinary meeting of the Council held on 13 January 2021 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 items due to their roles as County Councillors.

Councillors Green and Scott declared personal (but not prejudicial) interests in respect of agenda item 5 (d) (Report CAB3290 – Housing Revenue Account Budget 2021/22 and procurement of term maintenance contracts), as were both tenants of the Council.

Councillor Godfrey declared a personal (but not prejudicial) interest in respect of agenda item 5 (a) (Report CAB3289 – General Fund Budget 2021/22) as referenced the Local Government Pension scheme of which he was a contributor and he was also an employee of Hampshire County Council.

The Mayor referred to his recent virtual support to the Winchester Rotary Pancake Day.  The Mayor also reported that he was pleased to have been inundated with nominations for the annual Mayor’s Awards.  He would be making a video to thank each of the nominees and they would also be sent their award which would comprise of a certificate and pin badge.

Finally, the Mayor invited members to join him in offering the best thanks of council to Chas Bradfield, Strategic Director Place, who was leaving the council at the end of March.  Members responded with applause.

The Leader and Chief Executive made no announcements. 

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 17^th February 2021

Four written questions had been received from members of the public, who were in attendance at the meeting to present their questions, along with associated supplementary questions.  The questions and the response were subsequently set out on the council’s website.

Councillor Humby left the meeting before questions and debate.

Councillor Cutler (Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Finance and Risk), moved that the recommended minute and recommendations in Report CL160 be approved and adopted (seconded by Councillor Tod, Cabinet Member for Service Quality and Transformation).

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

AMENDMENT -Moved by Councillor Godfrey and seconded by Councillor Horrill, as follows:

1.    That charges for Sunday and evening parking in city centre car parks be removed with effect from April 2021.

2.    That the £149,000 saving achieved by deleting posts from the Planning team be removed and the posts be reinstated.

3.    That a 100% discount on garden waste charges in 2021/22 be offered to any resident claiming a means tested benefit.

4.    That charges for the garden waste collection service be removed with effect from February 2022.

5.    That provision for salary pay award be removed, reflecting the national Government position that a public sector pay freeze should be maintained in 2021/22.

6.    That the £850,000 per annum saving in 2021/22 and 2022/23 as a result of reduced pension fund contributions following the recent actuarial assessment be used to fund the above changes rather than being transferred to the Transitional Reserve.

7.    That £150,000 be removed from the Climate Emergency revenue budget (£20k in 2021/22 and £130k in 2022/23).

8.    That the proposal to transfer £150k to the Parking reserve in 2021/22 and 2022/23 be deleted.

9.    That a revised Medium Term Financial Plan replace the appendix 1 of CAB3289.

10. That a revised Council Tax Resolution be approved.

Following questions and debate in respect of the Amendment, in accordance with legislative requirements on recorded votes at Budget Meetings, a recorded vote was taken.

Division Lists

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

Councillors Brook, Clementson, Cook, Cunningham, Gemmell, Godfrey, Griffiths, Horrill, Lumby, Mather, McLean, Miller, Pearson, Read, Ruffell, Scott, Weston

The following Members voted against the amendment to the recommended minute of Cabinet:

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

No Members abstained from voting.

AMENDMENT LOST

Following summing up by the proposer and seconder of the substantive motion (Councillors Cutler and Tod, respectively) in accordance with legislative requirements on recorded votes at Budget Meetings, a recorded vote was first taken with regard to Recommendations in Report CL160 and also Recommendations 1 – 5 of the recommended minute of Cabinet   

Division Lists

The following Members voted in favour of the Recommendations in Report CL160 and also Recommendations 1 – 5 of the recommended minute of Cabinet:

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

The following Members voted against Recommendations in Report CL160 and also Recommendations  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.

General Fund budget 2021/22 Update (CL160)

RECOMMENDED:

1.                That Council have regard to and notes the additional information as set out in this update report as part of its consideration and determination of the General Fund Budget 2021/22 (CAB3289).

2.                The existing Recommendation 8 in CAB3289 be replaced with the updated recommendation 8 as follows:

“That the level of Council Tax at Band D for City Council services for 2021/22 be increased to £147.34”.

General Fund budget 2021/22 (CAB3289)

RECOMMENDED:

1.         That the level of General Fund Budget for 2021/22 be agreed and the summary as shown in appendix A of the report.

2.         That the investment proposals set out in section 15 of this report be supported, including:

a.      Additional staff provision to support the delivery of the Movement Strategy at an annual cost of £60,000;

b.      £60,000 per annum in to cover potential additional costs in relation to Meadowside leisure centre;

c.      Increased provision for Local Council Tax Support, with £169,000 additional one off provision to the Council’s Hardship Fund, funded directly from Government grant;

d.      Provision of £250,000 to meet Covid related/recovery costs in 2021/22 funded from the “tranche 5” Covid grant confirmed in the Government Settlement;

e.      Additional revenue budget provision, funded from the Major Investment Reserve, of £2m required to fund Central Winchester Regeneration project work in 2021/22 and 2022/23, subject to the approval of the business case which will be brought to Cabinet later in the year;

f.       Additional revenue provision, funded from the Major Investment Reserve of £250,000 to fund the creation of an interim open space at the Friarsgate site in Winchester.

3.         That the savings proposals set out in section 16 of the report be approved, including:

a.      The implementation of “cashless parking”, phased over 2 years;

b.      Fees and charges for services to be increased by an average of 3% (not including parking charges or garden waste, where no increase is proposed for April 2021);

c.      Building Control fees increase by 10% on average;

d.      That no additional revenue contributions be made to the Property and Asset Reserve and that use of the reserve be reviewed as part of the refresh of the Asset Management Strategy in 2021;

e.      That the annual revenue contribution to the Car Park and Transport  reserve be reduced to £150,000 per annum for the next four years;

f.       The budget for “small grants” is reduced by £15,000;

g.      A one year grant agreement based on a maximum grant of £147,200 for “Play to the Crowd”;

h.      That financial support for the annual Criterium event is not continued.

4.         That £1.5m be transferred from the Transitional Reserve to the Major Investment Reserve to ensure sufficient resources are available to cover major investment after accounting for the CWR provision set out in recommendation 2 e) above.

5.         That the policy as previously agreed by the Council on 14 July 1999 (min 186 refers) is confirmed to treat all expenses of the Council as General Expenses other than  ...  view the full agenda text for item 5a)

RECOMMENDED:

1.         That the Capital Programme and Capital Programme Financing (appendices A and B of the report) be approved.

2.         That the Minimum Revenue Provision (MRP) Policy Statement (appendix E of the report) be approved.

3.         That the Flexible Use of Capital Receipts Strategy (appendix G of the report) including the proposed use of capital receipts towards severance costs be approved.

4.         That the Prudential indicators detailed in the report and its appendices be approved.

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 Housing and Asset Management).

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

RESOLVED:

That the recommended minute of Cabinet held 11 February 2021 (as follows) be approved and adopted:

1.         That the Capital Programme and Capital Programme Financing (appendices A and B of the report) be approved.

2.         That the Minimum Revenue Provision (MRP) Policy Statement (appendix E of the report) be approved.

3.         That the Flexible Use of Capital Receipts Strategy (appendix G of the report) including the proposed use of capital receipts towards severance costs be approved.

4.         That the Prudential indicators detailed in the report and its appendices be approved.

RECOMMENDED:

1.         That the Treasury Management Strategy Statement which includes the Annual Treasury Investment Strategy for 2021/22 (and the remainder of 2020/21) is approved.

2.         That authority is delegated to the Section 151 Officer to manage the Council’s high yielding investments portfolio and long term borrowing according to the Treasury Management Strategy Statement as appropriate; and

3.         That authority is delegated to the Section 151 Officer, who in turn discharges this function to Hampshire County Council’s Director of Corporate Resources, as agreed in the Service Level Agreement, to manage all Council investments (other than the high yield portfolio) and short term borrowing according to the Treasury Management Strategy Statement as appropriate.

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

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

RESOLVED:

That the recommended minute of Cabinet held 11 February 2021 (as follows) be approved and adopted:

1.         That the Treasury Management Strategy Statement which includes the Annual Treasury Investment Strategy for 2021/22 (and the remainder of 2020/21) is approved.

2.         That authority is delegated to the Section 151 Officer to manage the Council’s high yielding investments portfolio and long term borrowing according to the Treasury Management Strategy Statement as appropriate; and

3.         That authority is delegated to the Section 151 Officer, who in turn discharges this function to Hampshire County Council’s Director of Corporate Resources, as agreed in the Service Level Agreement, to manage all Council investments (other than the high yield portfolio) and short term borrowing according to the Treasury Management Strategy Statement as appropriate.

RECOMMENDED:

Councillor Learney (Cabinet Member for Housing and Asset Management), moved that the recommended minute be approved and adopted (seconded by Councillor Porter, Cabinet Member for Built Environment and Wellbeing).

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

RESOLVED:

That the recommended minute of Cabinet held 11 February 2021 (as follows) be approved and adopted:

That Council:

1.            Approve the 2021/22 Housing Revenue Account budget as detailed in Appendices 1 and 2 to report CAB3290.

2.            Approve a rent increase in 2021/22 in accordance with the Government’s national rent standard (September CPI + 1%) resulting in an average rent increase of 1.5%.

3.            Approve the HRA capital programme as set out in appendices 3 and 4 of report CAB3290.

4.            Approve capital expenditure in 2021/22 of £11.027m for the Maintenance, Improvement and Renewal programme as detailed in Appendix 3 of the report, in accordance with Financial Procedure Rule 7.4

5.            Approve funding for the HRA Capital Programme, as detailed in Appendix 5 of report CAB3290.

6.            Approve the HRA Financial Plan operating account extract, including annual working balances, as detailed in Appendix 6 of report CAB3290. 

7.            Approve the creation of an Energy Officer post to facilitate the council’s carbon reduction agenda and embed it within the current and future housing stock at a cost of £53k.

8.            Agree to support the proposed increase in capital funding of £2.5m in retro fitting capital funding which will increase the funding available for climate change initiatives over the next 10 years to £15.675m (including inflation) .

9.            Agree to support the proposal for a £10m investment in the purchase of a potential site for new housing development, as well as £0.5m for nitrate mitigation offset measures.

10.         Agree to support the allocation of an additional £0.2m of investment as described at paragraph 17.2 of the report for sewage treatment works.

That an additional one off sum of £0.5m, funded from the existing HRA balance, be set aside to fund additional support for Council tenants and that officers bring forward formal proposals in July 2021, following discussions with TACT and tenants. 

Council Plan Refresh 2020 – 25 (CL161)

RECOMMENDED

That as part of its determination of the Recommended Minute of Cabinet held 11 February 2021, Council approve and adopts the finalised refreshed Council Plan priorities 2020 – 25.

Annual Council Plan Refresh 2020 - 25 (CAB3286)

RECOMMENDED:

That Council approves and adopts the refreshed Council Plan priorities.

Councillor Rutter left the meeting before consideration of this item.

The Leader and Cabinet Member for Communications moved that the Recommendations on Report CL161 and the recommended minute be approved and adopted (seconded by Councillor Porter, Cabinet Member for Built Environment and Wellbeing).

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

As it was the request of five Members present in the meeting (Councillors Brook, Cook, Gemmell, Lumby and McLean) a recorded vote was taken of the Recommendations.

Division Lists

The following Members voted in favour of the Recommendations in Report CL161 and of the recommended minute of Cabinet:

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

The following Members voted against Recommendations in Report CL161 and of the recommended minute of Cabinet:

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

RESOLVED:

That as part of its determination of the Recommended Minute of Cabinet held 11 February 2021, Council approve and adopts the finalised refreshed Council Plan priorities 2020 – 25 as set out as an appendix to Report CL161.

RESOLVED:

That the recommended minute of Cabinet held 11 February 2021 (as follows) be approved and adopted:

1.    That Council approves and adopts the refreshed Council Plan priorities.

Councillor Pearson left the meeting before the vote on the following Motion.

MOTION -Moved by Councillor Godfrey and seconded by Councillor Clementson: Council Procedure Rule 11 (17) - Adjourn meeting.

MOTION LOST

Pay Policy Statement - Further Background Information (CL159)

RECOMMENDED:

That Council notes the updates and agrees the changes to the Pay Policy Statement 2021/22 set out in report AG041.

Pay Policy Statement 2021/22 (AG041)

RECOMMENDED:

Councillor Griffiths left the meeting before consideration of this item.

Councillor Power (Chairperson of the Audit and Governance Committee) moved that the Recommendations on Report CL159 and the recommended minute be approved and adopted (seconded by Councillor Bronk).

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

 RESOLVED:

That Council notes Report CL159, including the updates and the changes to the Pay Policy Statement 2021/22 set out in report AG041.

RESOLVED:

That the recommended minute of Audit and Governance Committee held 11 February 2021 (as follows) be approved and adopted:

1.      That the Pay Policy Statement for the financial year 2021/22 be adopted (as updated in Report CL159).

2. That in approving the Pay Policy Statement, which includes references to the government’s Exit Pay Cap legislation, that Council note the Pay Policy will be amended, if needed, to accord with the decision of the current Judicial Review and comply with any revised legislation. The amendment is delegated to the Strategic Director: Resources in consultation with the Deputy Leader and Chair of Audit and Governance Committee

To consider the following Notice of Motion to be proposed by Councillor Godfrey and seconded by Councillor Mather:

“That this Council recognises the exceptional service given by care workers who have continued throughout the pandemic to deliver essential care services in the home for the most vulnerable residents in our District by the Council arranging for them to be able to park for free either in on- or off-street parking spaces controlled by the Council while they are working to provide care at home.”

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

“That this Council recognises the exceptional service given by care workers who have continued throughout the pandemic to deliver essential care services in the home for the most vulnerable residents in our District by the Council arranging for them to be able to park for free either in on- or off-street parking spaces controlled by the Council while they are working to provide care at home.”

Councillor Godfrey introduced his Motion.  He acknowledged that further to the public question earlier in the meeting regarding the same matter, it had been clarified that an informal arrangement was currently in place to provide free parking for care workers and NHS community staff delivering care services in the home.  However, he stated that this arrangement should be formalised and publicised.

AMENDMENT -Moved by Councillor Tod and seconded by Councillor Learney, as follows:

Replace the word ‘arranging’ in the Motion with ‘continuing to arrange’, as set out below:

“That this Council recognises the exceptional service given by care workers who have continued throughout the pandemic to deliver essential care services in the home for the most vulnerable residents in our District by the Council arranging continuing to arrange for them to be able to park for free either in on- or off-street parking spaces controlled by the Council while they are working to provide care at home.”

In introducing the Amendment, in summary, Councillor Tod advised that its intention was to make clear that free parking for care workers was already in place.  He acknowledged that the policy would need to be better promoted, including with care workers and their employers.  

During debate on the Amendment, in summary, the following points were raised:

• Councillor Godfrey (as mover of the original Motion), acknowledged commitment to the scheme, however there currently was no evidence that it existed as a formal council policy, nor of its promotion.

• Would any parking fines inadvertently issued to care workers over the last year be refunded?

• The Amendment, if carried, would imply that people were already aware of the scheme.  There was a need to clearly articulate that the policy existed.

• There was a need to clarify which types of care workers should benefit, for example whether to extend to all NHS community staff.

• Cabinet agreed earlier in the pandemic that all NHS, key workers (including care workers) would benefit from free parking arrangements. 

• There was a need clarity within the policy as the council would wish to avoid its potential abuse. 

Council then voted on the Amendment.

AMENDMENT – CARRIED

Council then proceed to debate the Substantive Motion (original Motion as amended) and in summary, the following points were made:

• Many other councils had a formalised system for free parking for all types of care worker staff and the council should research these as best practice.

• Councillor Tod advised that the council would be  ...  view the full minutes text for item 7.

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

There were no changes to committees for Council to consider.

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

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