RESOLVED:

That the Minutes of the Ordinary meeting of the Council held on 7 November 2018 be approved and adopted.

The Mayor’s first announcement was with regard to the Queen’s New Years Honours.  He had written to congratulate Elsa Morris on having been honoured with an OBE for public and political service in the European parliament and also to Rear Admiral Paul Austin Chivers of Bishops Waltham who had been honoured with a CBE.

The Mayor then referred to his upcoming charity events.  Virginia Lovell was to give a talk in Abbey House on Thursday 17 January 2019 and on Friday 25 January, there was to be a Burns Night supper at Worthy Down.  Finally, on Sunday 3 February, there was to be Pie and Mash lunch at Abbey House.

The Mayor then announced that Winchester had recently had its Fair Trade City certification extended for a further two years.  Winchester had been first awarded this status in 2008.

The Mayor then referred to the recent launch of theannual Mayor’s awards event.  This was to be held at the Winchester Science Centre on Wednesday 27 March 2019. 

The Leader reported that Government had supported the Council’s request to be included in the EM3 (Enterprise M3) Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP).  There would be no impact on the Solent LEP funds for road infrastructure improvements for the North Whiteley Major Development Area.

The Leader then announced that the Council was working towards delivering an outline planning application for the Station Approach area of Winchester.  LEP monies would also be utilised to help deliver the improvements to this important gateway to the city, including to the public realm. 

The Leader then reported that the Friarsgate surgery and properties in the High Street that were previously purchased by the Council where now in its ownership.  As a consequence, the Council was now able to move forward with the Central Winchester Regeneration proposals with much more certainty.

The Leader then informed the Council that Wilmot Dixon had been appointed as the construction partner for the new Winchester Sports and Leisure Centre.  Further procurement was to take place with regard to the operator of what was to be an exceptional facility.

Finally, the Leader was pleased to report that following the Government’s recent raising of the HRA debt cap, the Council was now better placed to be able to deliver up to 1000 new homes over the next 10 years.  Further details were to be presented in due course with regard to this commitment.

None.

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 Green and Scott declared disclosable pecuniary interests with regard to Item 7 (a) as they were both tenants of the City Council.  However as there was no material conflict of interest, they each voted on items as below, under the dispensation granted by the Standards Committee.

Councillors Becker, Ashton and Gottlieb declared personal interest with regards to Item 7 (c) as each owned properties within the detailed flood models in the report and therefore may potentially benefit from the flood alleviation scheme as proposed.   

Councillors Tod, Huxstep, Porter, Stallard, Hiscock and Humby declared disclosable pecuniary interests in agenda items as they were County Councillors.  However as there was no material conflict of interest, they each voted on items as below, under the dispensation granted by the Standards Committee

24 Questions were asked by Members, which are set out in full on the Council’s website, together with responses from the relevant portfolio holder.  The Mayor allowed time for supplementary Questions to be asked and responded to.

There were no petitions received.

HOUSING REVENUE ACCOUNT (HRA) BUDGET OPTIONS 2019/20

Recommended Minute – page 13

(Report CAB3098 refers)

Housing Revenue Account (hra) Budget Options 2019/20

(Report CAB3098 refers)

The Leader moved that the Recommended Minute of the Cabinet (Housing) Committee be approved and adopted.  The item was seconded by Councillor Humby.

RESOLVED:

That the Recommended Minute of the Cabinet (Housing) Committee be approved and adopted.

COUNCIL STRATEGY UPDATE

Recommended Minute – Page 37

(Report CAB3094 refers)

Council Strategy Update

(Report CAB3094 refers)

The Leader moved that the Recommended Minute of Cabinet be approved and adopted.  The item was seconded by Councillor Humby.

RESOLVED:

That the Recommended Minute of Cabinet be approved and adopted.

WINCHESTER FLOOD RELIEF SCHEME (DUNGATE) PHASE II – ALLOCATION OF ADDITIONAL FUNDS/PLANNING PERMISSION

Recommended Minute – page 74

(Report CAB3072 refers)

Winchester Flood Relief Scheme (Durngate) Phase II – Allocation of Additional Funds/Planning Permission

(Report CAB3072 refers)

Councillor Brook moved that the Recommended Minute of Cabinet be approved and adopted.  The item was seconded by Councillor Warwick.

RESOLVED:

That the Recommended Minute of Cabinet be approved and adopted.

(a)  Motion to be moved by the Leader

“This Council

Supports a request of the Jewish Leadership Council to adopt the principles of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s (IHRA) working definition of anti Semitism.

The definition and the examples were officially adopted by the HM Government in December 2016 and the then Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government wrote to all local authorities in England to encourage them to do the same. Since then the definition has been adopted by the devolved governments in Scotland and Wales and by the leadership of the Conservative, Labour, Liberal Democrat, SNP and Plaid Cymru party’s.

The definition and the examples have also been adopted by a large number of councils from across the country.

Therefore, this Council hereby adopts the principles of the definition of anti Semitism  as set out by the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) as follows:

‘Antisemitism is a certain perception of Jews, which may be expressed as hatred toward Jews. Rhetorical and physical manifestations of antisemitism are directed toward Jewish or non-Jewish individuals and/or their property, toward Jewish community institutions and religious facilities.’

Furthermore, this Council will continue to work within all its adopted policies to combat all other forms of racism and hate crime.”

(b)  Motion to be moved by Councillor Hiscock

“This Council requires that the Register of Interests submission by members is extended so as to include additional information on bodies to which members (and their spouses/partners) belong.  Such extension to be so worded: 

‘Other bodies of which you are a Member

You should list your membership of any of the following:

(a) a public authority (other than the City Council) or body exercising functions of a public nature of which you are a member. You should include details of any body exercising such function even if the main function of the body is for some other purpose.

(b) a company, industrial and provident society(s), charity or body directed to charitable purposes of which you are a member. This includes Round Table, Rotary Club, City of Winchester Trust, Winchester BID, Freemasons, Chamber of Commerce, etc., and any similar body which carries out a charitable function.

(c) a body whose principal purpose includes the influencing of public opinion or policy of which you are a member. Such a body would include a trade union or professional association.’ ”

(a)          The following Notice of Motion had been submitted by The Leader and seconded by Councillor Humby, under Council Procedure Rule 9:

“This Council

Supports a request of the Jewish Leadership Council to adopt the principles of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s (IHRA) working definition of anti Semitism.

The definition and the examples were officially adopted by the HM Government in December 2016 and the then Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government wrote to all local authorities in England to encourage them to do the same. Since then the definition has been adopted by the devolved governments in Scotland and Wales and by the leadership of the Conservative, Labour, Liberal Democrat, SNP and Plaid Cymru party’s.

The definition and the examples have also been adopted by a large number of councils from across the country.

Therefore, this Council hereby adopts the principles of the definition of anti Semitism  as set out by the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) as follows:

‘Antisemitism is a certain perception of Jews, which may be expressed as hatred toward Jews. Rhetorical and physical manifestations of antisemitism are directed toward Jewish or non-Jewish individuals and/or their property, toward Jewish community institutions and religious facilities.’

Furthermore, this Council will continue to work within all its adopted policies to combat all other forms of racism and hate crime.”

The Leader introduced the Motion which, following a short discussion, was then agreed unanimously.

RESOLVED:

That the Notice of Motion as set out above be approved.

(b)          Notice of Motion by Councillor Hiscock, under Council Procedure Rule 9:

The Corporate Head of Resources advised that with the consent of the proposer of the Motion, Councillor Hiscock, and with the Mayor, it had been agreed that the Motion as set out on the agenda be deferred to another meeting.  This was in order for the Standards Committee and Officers to work on the practicalities of the Motion as written and to consider the boundaries within which an extension of the code could operate at the City Council. 

The Motion would therefore be brought back to Council in due course.  This will either be as a stand alone item or as part of the Constitution review. 

RESOLVED:

That the Notice of Motion as set out on the agenda be deferred to a future meeting for the reasons as set out above.