Agenda and minutes

RESOLVED:

That the minutes of the Ordinary meeting of the Council held on 30 November 2023 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 Porter, Tod and Warwick declared personal (but not prejudicial) interests in respect of various agenda items due to their role as County Councillors.

Councillor Pearson declared an interest in respect of item 7, Notice of Motion and took no part in questions or debate and the vote thereon.

The Mayor referred to the many events that she was to attend, and visitors that she was to host in Abbey House before the next full meeting of Council.  Events included the Rotary Club Pancake races on 13 February 2024 and also those in aid of the Mayor’s charities - the annual Quiz Night on 16February and the Pie and Mash luncheon on 3 March.

The Mayor then paid tribute to former colleagues who had recently passed away:  Christine Lipscomb (who was Mayoress to former Mayor of Winchester, Barry Lipscomb in 2011 – 12) and also former Mayor of Winchester, Chris Pines 2007 – 2008.

Council stood in silent tribute to their memory.

The Mayor officially launched the 2024 Mayor of Winchester’s Community Awards.  The award celebrated organisations and individuals who volunteer and provide outstanding service to residents of the Winchester district. The awards ceremony event was to take place on 7March 2024 in the Bapsy Hall, Winchester Guildhall.

The Mayor then advised that she had written to the following recipients in the King’s New Year Honours:

·       Helen Margaret Leadbitter of Winchester – a MBE for services to Young Carers.

·       Jeff Stelling of Bishops Waltham; lately broadcaster at Sky Sports – a MBE for services broadcasting and to charity.

·       The Reverend Professor Elizabeth Bridget Stuart of Winchester; lately deputy Vice-Chancellor at the University of Winchester - an MBE for services to higher education.

·       Tina Ruth Coldham of Winchester; Participation, Involvement & Engagement Advisor at the National Institute for Health & Care Research – a BEM for services to inclusive patient and public involvement in research.  

·       Rachel Greenwood of Alresford, a BEM for services to the community in Bramdean and Hinton Ampner.

·       Kirsty Elizabeth Tilley of Winchester, Programme Manager, Defence Science & Technology Laboratory, MOD – a BEM for services to Defence and to Inclusion.

·       Martin Bazeley of Fareham – a BEM for services to the community of Southwick.

·      Annabel Sarah Jane Berry, lately Superintendent, Hampshire Constabulary – a King’s Police Medal.

Council reciprocated with applause.

The Leader then referred to recent disruption to water supplies in Winchester following failures at the Easton Water Supply works.  There were lessons to be learnt about what had gone wrong, and regarding Southern Water’s response.  The council was to review its experience of the incident and will share its concerns with Southern Water.  The council would also be talking with Southern Water about options for a public scrutiny meeting. The Leader advised that as this had been the third time in two years that these problems had occurred, we need to know what was to change. 

The Strategic Director announced apologies for the meeting.

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 10am on Wednesday 10^th January 2024)

Two written questions had been received from members of the public who attended the meeting to present their questions. Supplementary questions were also asked. The questions received and their response were subsequently set out on the council’s website.

RECOMMENDED:

That Council adopt the Council’s Statement of Licensing Policy as set out in Appendix 1 to the report. 

Councillor Laming (Chairperson of the Licensing and Regulation Committee) moved that the recommendations in report CL170 be approved and adopted (seconded by Councillor Porter, Cabinet Member for Place and Local Plan).

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

RESOLVED:

That Council adopt the Council’s Statement of Licensing Policy as set out in Appendix 1 to Report CL170. 

RECOMMENDED (TO COUNCIL):

That the Pay Policy Statement for the financial year 2024/25 be adopted as set out in report AG103.

Councillor Power (Chairperson of the Audit and Governance Committee) moved that the recommended minute of the Audit and Governance Committee be approved and adopted (seconded by Councillor Cutler, Cabinet Member for Finance and Performance).

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

RESOLVED:

That Council adopt the Pay Policy Statement for the financial year 2024/25 as set in Report AG103.

To consider the following Motion to be proposed by Councillor Danny Lee (seconded by Councillor Wallace):

Full Council notes:

1.    That this Council has unanimously declared a Climate and Nature emergency and recognises the interdependences between the two emergencies.

2.    The supporting motions for the emergencies above commit the Council to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2030 and do all it can to protect and enhance nature.

3.    There are now 6 years left to achieve the net zero District carbon target date.

4.    The council has been progressing a package of low carbon opportunities through its Carbon Neutrality Action Plan (CNAP) which has been updated based on a refreshed Roadmap to reach the District wide net zero target by 2030.

5.    The Council’s 2023/24 ‘Treasury Management Strategy Statement’ and ‘Annual Investment Strategy’ has acknowledged Community Municipal Investments [CMI] as a funding option. This approach already has the support of 9 Councils; with another 4 Council CMIs due by June plus 2-3 imminent for a second issue including Bristol City Council. [1]

6.    Research reveals:

o   73% of savers and investors are interested in lending money to their council if it helps deliver environmental or socially beneficial projects (Place Climate Action Network).

o   On average every 100,000 people hold £4bn of savings and investments in the UK. The vast majority of this wealth currently flows out of communities into national or international saving and investment products (ONS).

o   Not all of this money will be seeking low risk return profile of CMI, but even if only 5% of this money is looking for a low-risk option this represents £200m of potential borrowing available within a typical council’s area (Abundance).

7.    This source of finance is a way to channel local savings into local projects [2].

8.    All ‘environment’ projects need routine robust business plans based on the Council Plan including the CNAP plus Nature Emergency resolutions.

9.    That offering local savers a way to support the District’s journey to carbon neutrality and nature protection/enhancement should be developed.

10.  That offering investment through municipal bonds is an established way to develop local infrastructure for these emergencies [3]. This could complement other projects such as in the example at Bristol Energy Cooperative.

11.  CMIs offer a very different set of financial benefits to investors when compared with investments offered by commercial companies.

12.  That CMIs could help us develop a low carbon Winchester District in partnership with our community.

13.   CMIs provide multiple Engagement and Social Value benefits as a    powerful and complementary community engagement tool.

14.      Winchester should seek to learn from the other pioneers of CMI in developing appropriate local opportunities for local investors [e.g. 4]

Full Council resolves:

1.    To continue to develop Community Municipal Investments for Winchester.

2.    To request officers to identify carbon saving and high nature projects suited to CMI investment in conjunction with appropriate stakeholders. Once a suitable project is identified to scope methods to promote CMI as a way residents and institutions  ...  view the full agenda text for item 7.

In accordance with Council Procedure Rule 15, one motion had been submitted for council.

The motion had been submitted by Councillor Lee and was as set out on the agenda.  The motion was seconded by Councillor Wallace and then introduced by Councillor Lee.

Council then debated the matters in the motion.  In summary the following points were raised:

• The proposals appeared to commit the council to borrow money and then identify a project to spend it on.
• The council had used its own resources, grant funding and external finance to deliver various green and carbon projects.  No project had been rejected through the prudential borrowing code due to funding issues.
• Developing Community Municipal Investments (CMI) was a project in itself that would take time and resource to develop.
• CMI was supported as a principle and was referred to in the council’s Treasury Management Strategy.
• Key projects needed to be identified first and then the best and most efficient funding solution sourced.
• The Public Works Board was likely to offer cheaper funding solutions than crowd funding.
• Public bonds issuing can be very successful.
• Running a successful CMI scheme can be expensive. Officer resource would be better utilised elsewhere rather than spent identifying projects that would be best suited for CMI.
• The council was already successfully delivering ambitious green and carbon projects.
• In the current context of local government finance, the proposal would not be a top priority.
• The council still had a long way in its transition to be net zero carbon by 2030 and CMIs were an initiative to accelerate progress.
• Nine councils were already successfully using CMIs to fund projects.
• CMIs help engage and involve communities with projects. CMI was a financial investment and social value tool.

Following the proposer of the motion (Councillor Lee) exercising his right to respond to debate, council then voted on the motion as set out on the agenda.

RESOLVED:

That the motion proposed by Councillor Lee (seconded by Councillor Wallace) be not supported.

Following the resignation of the existing postholder, that the Council appoint Lisa Kirkman as Monitoring Officer for the Council. The Chief Executive exercised their powers under urgency procedures (Part 3.4, para 5.3 (e)) to appoint Ms Kirkman with effect from 1 January 2024 having considered that the proposed Monitoring Officer has the appropriate knowledge, skills and experience to undertake this role.

RECOMMENDATION:

It is recommended that, Ms Lisa Kirkman be appointed Monitoring Officer for the Council

Councillor Tod (Leader) moved that the recommendation as set out on agenda be approved and adopted (seconded by Councillor Horrill).

Council did not ask questions or debate the recommendation.

RESOLVED:

That Ms Lisa Kirkman be appointed Monitoring Officer for the Council.

Partnership for South Hampshire: Cllr Martin Tod

The Leader provided an interim verbal report regarding the Partnership for South Hampshire (PfSH).  He firstly explained that PfSH was a partnership of 11 local authorities (and the New Forest National Park) that work together to facilitate the strategic planning functions that were necessary to support growth across the area. Only the southern part of the Winchester district was included in the PfSH area. A joint committee was made up of the 11 leaders of the membership authorities to consider and make decisions.

On 6 December 2023, the joint committee met to consider two substantive papers. This was to agree a statement of common ground regarding the broad areas of search for growth assessment, and a report to agree a spatial position assessment.  Seven areas were agreed as broad areas of search for sustainable and strategic level growth to deliver (approximately) a combined 9,700 new homes.  The seven areas identified were publicly available.  In Winchester district, this included an area east of Botley, and its location was described. 

The Leader advised that this was not a Local Plan decision, and the assessment was not an upper tier plan with which Local Plans needed to conform. It also did not remove the ability for the sites to be identified themselves within the current or future Local Plan process.

The Leader responded to questions.

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

RESOLVED:

That for The Health and Environment Policy Committee, Councillor Brook replace Councillor Kurn as a Deputy Member.

The total time for questions and the answer and supplementaries thereto shall not exceed 40 minutes.

17 written questions had been received which were heard at the meeting along with associated supplementary questions.  The questions received and their response were subsequently set out on the council’s website.