Agenda and minutes

·         the Ordinary meeting held on the 28 February 2019 (less exempt minute).

·         the Extraordinary meeting held on the 19 March 2019.

·         the Annual meeting held on the 15 May 2019.

RESOLVED:

That the minutes of the Ordinary Meeting of the Council held on 28 February 2019 (less exempt minute) and the Extraordinary meeting of the Council held on 19 March 2019 and the Annual Meeting on 15 May 2019 be approved and adopted.

The Mayor’s first announcement was that she had written letters to the following people who lived or worked in the District, to congratulate them on their awards in the New Year’s Honours List:

Carolyn Julie Fairbairn (Director General, Confederation of British Industry) – Dame Commander of The Order of the British Empire – for services to UK Business.

Felicity Harding (Ambassador and Special Advisor to the Chief Executive, Samaritans) – Officer of the Order of the British Empire – for Charitable Services.

Susan Margaret Henderson (Student Services Manager, University of Winchester) – Medalist of the Order of the British Empire – for Services to Higher Education.

The Mayor then reported on recent events associated with the district’s close relationship with the military.  She had recently attended Operation Overlord D-Day commemorations at Southwick Park as well as the annual Armed Forces Week Flag Raising Ceremony.  The Mayor was also to host a special lunch at Abbey House to welcome military representatives from St John Moore Barracks, Southwick Park and Worthy Down.

The Mayor announced that with her Chaplin, she would be ensuring that the diversity of local communities were represented at her events throughout her year.

The Mayor then reported that she had recently been involved in events to celebrate the 25^th anniversary of Winchester’s association with Laon, France.  The Mayor had also been pleased to have met the Mayor of Giessen, Germany (which was also twinned with Winchester) during his recent visit to Winchester as part of a choir tour.

The Mayor then informed the meeting that tomorrow was her annual Civic Day.   She was to host a special lunch at Abbey House with Mayors from across Hampshire as well as a tour of Winchester College and also at IBM, Hurlsey.

Finally, the Mayor the reported that as many Members already knew, the Council’s Strategic Director (Resources) Joseph Holmes was leaving to take up a role at West Berkshire Council at the end of the summer.  The Mayor awarded Mr Holmes the best thanks of the Council for his time as one of the Council’s Strategic Directors.  Members reciprocated with applause.

The Leader then made a number of announcements.  Firstly, Council had been successful in a number of national awards.  These included the Land Charges team which had been shortlisted for a Best Customer Experience Award and Digital Award and also the Finance team which had been shortlisted for a Public Finance Innovation Award for financial reporting and accountability. 

The Chesil Lodge Extra Care Scheme had been awarded the Best Inclusive Building category as part of the LABC South East Excellence Awards now being shortlisted to the national Awards. The scheme had also reached the finals of the best public service building, blue print for sheltered living. The Leader then announced that reviews were underway in respect of three major projects.  The review of the Council’s new Sport and Leisure facility at Bar End was now substantially complete.  It was not proposed to extend the sports hall  ...  view the full minutes text for item 2.

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.

Councillor Gottlieb declared a disclosable pecuniary interest in respect of Agenda Item 8 – Exempt Minutes ofthe Ordinary Meeting of the Council held 28 February 2019. Councillor Gottlieb left the room during consideration of this item.

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

a) Petition by Winchester Friends of The Earth – Climate Emergency 

In accordance with Council Procedure Rule 16, a petition was submitted by Winchester Friends of the Earth, containing 598 signatures.  The details of the petition are set out on the agenda.

In summary, they referred to the ‘Earth Day’ march earlier in the year and also Cabinet’s declaration of a Climate Emergency.  Two local young people addressed council and reported that many children were worried about the future and although adults were now working to make positive changes, not enough adults in power were doing enough. 

Councillor Murphy (Cabinet Member for the Environment) thanked those attending and for their presentation and reported that although Cabinet had announced how it intended to address climate change, a public engagement event was to be arranged as the community was needed to help support the Council in its approach.

During the debate which followed, Members made a number of key points including:

·         The Council had previously worked to reduce its own carbon footprint through various initiatives including energy reduction.

·         An exact definition of ‘carbon neutrality’ should be ascertained.

·         The Council should consider further improving its existing housing stock and converting its vehicle fleet away from petrol/diesel

·         An action plan, with practical measures to deliver, must be developed and the whole Council involved, together with engagement with residents and businesses.

·         The Local Plan was important as would influence new development, active travel, biodiversity and carbon neutrality.  The environment must be considered as a ‘whole’.

·         New technology was able assist further with the reduction of carbon footprint.

·         The County Council needed to work with the district councils, including with regard to public transport.

In summing up, Councillor Murphy advised that the matters raised by the petition would be referred to by a future meeting of the Cabinet as part of its consideration as to how the Council was to deliver against an action plan. 

RESOLVED:

That the matters raised in the petition be referred to a future a meeting of the Cabinet as part of its consideration as to how the Council was to deliver against the Climate Emergency action plan.

b) Petition by Councillor Mike Craske – Caring for the future of St Barnabas

In accordance with Council Procedure Rule 16, a petition was submitted by Winchester Friends of the Earth, containing 305 signatures.  The details of the petition are set out on the agenda.

In summary, Councillor Craske referred to the character of the St Barnabas ward which he said was changing in an uncontrolled way. There were too many executive homes and flats being built as determined by developers and not the affordable homes that were required.  He set out that the existing planning system was not working as the wrong types of homes were being built in the wrong places and the Council must have a well-resourced and trained planning team.  The St Barnabas ward was not parished and it was requested that a Neighbourhood Plan be compiled.

Councillor  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.

Councillor Thompson, Leader, moved that the Recommendations in Report CL145 be approved and adopted (seconded by Councillor Learney).

Council proceeded to ask questions and debate the matters in the Report. 

          AMENDMENT (1) Councillor Lumby (2) Councillor McLean

Change Recommendation 1 of the Report to read as follows (delete words in strikethrough, and add additional wording shown as bold):

1.  That Council introduce a public question and answer session at the beginning of business at ordinary meetings of Full Council with Councillor questions following directly after public questions and answers moved to later in the agenda in order to discharge the matters in front of Full Council in a timely manner.  That the necessary changes to the Council Procedure Rules in the Constitution are made to effect these changes.

AMENDMENT lost

RESOLVED:

1.                That Council introduce a public question and answer session at the beginning of business at ordinary meetings of Full Council with Councillor questions moved to later in the agenda in order to discharge the matters in front of Full Council in a timely manner.  That the necessary changes to the Council Procedure Rules in the Constitution are made to effect these changes.

2.                That Council agree to the further changes to the constitution as set out at Appendix A to Report CL145.

 That Council unanimously agrees to suspend Council Procedure Rule Part 4.3, Overview and Scrutiny Procedure Rule, paragraph 3 restricting the number of members who may sit on more than one Committee for one year effective immediately until the next Annual Meeting of Council.

(i) To pass a resolution that the public be excluded from the meeting during the consideration of the following items of business because it is likely that, if members of the public were present, there would be disclosure to them of 'exempt information' as defined by Section 100 (I) and Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972.

RESOLVED:

1.          That in all the circumstances, the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information.

2.          That the public be excluded from the meeting during the consideration of the following item of business because it is likely that, if members of the public were present, there would be disclosure to them of exempt information as defined by Section 100I and Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972.

RESOLVED:

That the exempt minutes of the Ordinary Meeting of the Council held on 28 February 2019 be approved and adopted.