Agenda and minutes

RESOLVED:

That the minutes of the Ordinary Meeting of the Council held on 7 July 2021 (less exempt item) 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 Lumby, Tod and Warwick declared personal (but not prejudicial) interests in relation to agenda items which may relate to Hampshire County Council matters due to their role as County Councillors.

The Mayor firstly welcomed Dawn Adey who had recently started work at the council as a Strategic Director.

The Mayor then advised that she had recently signed up to the Covenant of Mayors for Climate and Energy.  This supported and recognised the council’s commitments within its various strategies, policies and plans in response to the declaration of a climate emergency.

The Mayor reported on the recent Mayors for Peace event held in Abbey House and also the annual charities bowls match.  The Mayor then gave further details regarding Law Sunday in October and Remembrance events in November.

Finally, the Mayor announced her forthcoming charities events. 

The Leader announced that the council’s consultation approach as part of the new local plan process had been shortlisted for the Royal Town Planning Institute South East Planning Excellence Award in the category of Plan Making, Practice and Delivery.  The Leader congratulated the officers for their work, especially in finding innovative ways of seeking public opinion during lockdown.

The Leader then announced that cabinet had recently approved an extension of the contract for the council to provide development control services for the South Downs National Park for a further two years.  The park covers 40% of the district and it was crucial that decision making was retained at the local level.

The Leader provided an update regarding fly tipping and reported on seven recent convictions as well as the roll out of CCTV at known hot spots and also the launch of a poster campaign.

Finally, the Leader advised that she had recently received a letter from Buckingham Palace thanking her for her condolences offered on behalf of the council to Her Majesty the Queen following the death of her husband, the Duke of Edinburgh

The Chief Executive 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 noon on Wednesday 15 September)

One written question had been received from a member of the public, who was in attendance at the meeting to present their question, along with an associated supplementary question.  The question and the response was subsequently set out on the council’s website.

a)    Scrutiny Committee – 9 September 2021

Annual Scrutiny Report – Draft Annual Scrutiny Report 2020/21

(Report Reference SC051)

RECOMMENDED TO COUNCIL:

            That Council note the Annual Scrutiny Report for 2020/21.

a)    Scrutiny Committee – 9 September 2021

Annual Scrutiny Report – Draft Annual Scrutiny Report 2020/21

(Report Reference SC051)

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

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

RESOLVED:

            That Council note the Annual Scrutiny Report for 2020/21.

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

“That this Council commits to providing more resources to the Planning and Enforcement functions to enable more effective enforcement to protect the Winchester District, while also providing sufficient resource to deliver an efficient and effective planning service.”

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

“That this Council commits to providing more resources to the Planning and Enforcement functions to enable more effective enforcement to protect the Winchester District, while also providing sufficient resource to deliver an efficient and effective planning service.”

Councillor Brook introduced her Motion and Council proceeded to ask questions and debate the matters in the Motion.

AMENDMENT - Moved by the Leader (Councillor Thompson) and seconded by Councillor Cutler as follows:

“That this Council commits to providing more the rightresources to the Planning and Enforcement functions to enable more effective enforcement to protect the Winchester District, while also providing sufficient resource to deliver an efficient and effective planning service.  Cllr Gordon-Smith is asked to drive this motion forwards into action as the cabinet member with responsibility for Built Environment working with other cabinet colleagues in recognition  that an effective and efficient service also relates to legal, finance, customer services, natural environment and recreation, historic environment, IT and system administration.  It is recognised that this work must be included as part of the 22/23 budget process”.

With the permission of the Mayor, it was agreed that the meeting should adjourn to allow informal discussion of the Amendment.

Upon its reconvening, the Leader advised the meeting that in response to the informal discussions, some changes to the wording of the Amendment to the Motion were proposed as follows.  This revised Amendment was then seconded by Councillor Cutler.

“That this Council commits to providing more the rightresources to the Planning and Enforcement functions to enable more effective enforcement to protect the Winchester District, while also providing sufficient resource to deliver an efficient and effective planning service.  Cllr Gordon-Smith Cabinet is asked to drive this motion forwards into action as the cabinet member with responsibility for Built Environment working with other cabinet colleagues in recognition that an effective and efficient service also relates to legal, finance, customer services, natural environment and recreation, historic environment, IT and system administration.  It is recognised that this work must be included as part of the 22/23 budget process begin immediately.”

Council agreed that it did not require to debate the Amendment to the Motion and it then voted on the Substantive Motion (original Motion as amended), which was unanimously carried.

RESOLVED:

That this Council commits to providing the right resources to the Planning and Enforcement functions to enable more effective enforcement to protect the Winchester District, while also providing sufficient resource to deliver an efficient and effective planning service.  Cabinet to drive this motion forwards into action in recognition  that an effective and efficient service also relates to legal, finance, customer services, natural environment and recreation, historic environment, IT and system administration.  It is recognised that this work must begin immediately.

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.

19 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.

(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:

That the exempt minutes of the Ordinary Meeting of the Council held on 7 July 2021 be approved and adopted.