Agenda and minutes

RESOLVED:

That the minutes of the Ordinary Meeting of the Council held on 23 February 2022 and the minutes of Mayor Making and the Annual Meeting of Council held on 18 May 2022 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.

Councillor Lumby also declared a personal (but not prejudicial) interest in relation to agenda item 7 as through his Hampshire County Council role, he was the chair of the River Hamble Harbour Authority Management Committee. 

Councillor Lumby also declared a personal (but not prejudicial) interest in relation to his separate business interests involved in regeneration, which involves talking to people who may or may not be involved in the central Winchester regeneration project.

The Mayor reminded the meeting that on 10 May 2022, former Mayor Councillor Achwal had attended the funeral of John Green.  Mr Green was elected as a ward councillor for Swanmore in 1973 and was Mayor of Winchester 1979 – 1980.  

Council stood in silent tribute to his memory.

The Mayor then announced that he had recently written to congratulate the following recipients of awards in the Queen’s Birthday Honours list:

Timothy John Foy – for Public Service – Lately Director of The Home Office and Governor of Anguilla; A Commander of The Order of The British Empire (CBE)

Gillian Debra Walton – for Services to Midwifery; A Commander of the Order of The British Empire (CBE)

David Ainsworth Harrison – for Services to the Community in Hampshire; A Member of the Order of The British Empire (MBE)

Additionally, the Watercress Heritage Railway Trust in Alresford was awarded a Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service.

The Mayor then announced his forthcoming charity events.

Finally, the Mayor advised that he was pleased to announce that the council was to grant the Freedom of Entry to the City of Winchester to the Defence School of Logistics & Administration, based at Worthy Down.  The Mayor also reported that the Adjutant General’s Corps were to exercise their existing freedom rights in celebration of their 30^th anniversary with a parade later in the year.

The Leader announced that he had recently met with the Leader of Hampshire County Council regarding a working draft of a County Deal prospectus. He explained that County Deals were introduced as part of the government’s ‘Levelling Up’ White Paper.  The prospectus was due to be reported to the county council’s cabinet in July, and full county council in September. He indicated that the Chief Executive would circulate all documents to Members accompanied by a YouTube video that set out the technical background. The Leader proposed that an All Member briefing be held where comments from the council could be collated and forwarded to the county council.

The Leader then announced that he had attended the Annual General Meeting the Partnership for South Hampshire (PfSH).  The meeting had considered the emerging Statement of Common Ground for the PfSH area.  It had also considered the issues of nutrient neutrality (both nitrates and phosphates) and he reported that PfSH had received funds from the Department of Housing, Levelling Up and Communities that was to be used to support the work of all affected authorities on this issue.

The Leader then referred to the council’s work to support the Ukrainian Hub.  There were currently 343 people staying in the district under the Homes for Ukraine scheme and Winchester City Council was in the top 10 percent of local authority areas for hosting Ukrainian refugees.

Finally, the Leader referred to his previous undertaking to meet with Leaders of neighboring authorities and also with other local stakeholders to discuss areas of common interest.  He reported that he would be pleased to raise any issues  ...  view the full minutes text for item 3.

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 29 June)

Two 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 received and response were subsequently set out on the council’s website.

RECOMMENDED:

1.            That the council establishes a new Independent Remuneration Panel (IRP) to act from 7 July 2022 which will exercise the functions specified in Regulation 21 of the Local Authorities (Members Allowances) (England) Regulations 2003 (as amended).

2.            That authority be delegated to the Strategic Director: Resources & Monitoring Officer, in consultation with the Leader and the Leader of the Opposition, to finalise the membership of the IRP to be made up of a professional advisor from South East Employers (SEE) and two lay members. 

3.            That the IRP be requested to produce a report recommending a scheme of allowances and an annual index that could be applied to such a scheme for the period of four years from April 2023, for the council’s consideration.

4.            That the council considers the report of the IRP at its meeting of 2 November 2022, decides whether (if at all) the existing scheme be amended, and in any event reviews the annual inflation allowance.

Councillor Power (Cabinet Member for Finance and Value) moved that the recommendations in report CL163 be approved and adopted (seconded by Councillor Tod, Leader and Cabinet Member for Asset Management).

RESOLVED:

1.            That an Independent Remuneration Panel (IRP) be established to act from 7 July 2022 to exercise the functions specified in Regulation 21 of the Local Authorities (Members Allowances) (England) Regulations 2003 (as amended).

2.            That authority be delegated to the Strategic Director: Resources & Monitoring Officer, in consultation with the Leader and the Leader of the Opposition, to finalise the membership of the IRP to be made up of a professional advisor from South East Employers (SEE) and two lay members. 

3.            That the IRP be requested to produce a report recommending a scheme of allowances and an annual index that could be applied to such a scheme for the period of four years from April 2023, for the council’s consideration.

4.            That the council considers the report of the IRP at its meeting of 2 November 2022, decides whether (if at all) the existing scheme be amended, and in any event reviews the annual inflation allowance.

RECOMMENDED TO COUNCIL:

That Council note the annual scrutiny report for 2021/22.

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

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

RESOLVED:

That Council note the annual scrutiny report for 2021/22.

To consider the following Motion to be proposed by Councillor Malcolm Wallace -

To protect our local rivers & WATERWAYS by taking account of the cumulative impact of POLLUTION INCLUDING SEWAGE DISCHARGE

This Council notes:

The Government’s Environmental Audit Select Committee ‘Fourth Report on Water Quality in Rivers’, published on 13th January 2022 states:

“Getting a complete overview of the health of our rivers and the pollution affecting them is hampered by outdated, underfunded and inadequate monitoring regimes. It is clear, however, that rivers in England are in a mess. A ‘chemical cocktail’ of sewage, agricultural waste, and plastic is polluting the waters of many of the country’s rivers. Water companies appear to be dumping untreated or partially treated sewage in rivers on a regular basis, often breaching the terms of permits that on paper only allow them to do this in exceptional circumstances. Farm slurry and fertiliser runoff is choking rivers with damaging algal blooms. Single use plastic sanitary products—often coated with chemicals that can harm aquatic life—are clogging up drains and sewage works and creating ‘wet wipe reefs’ in rivers. Revolting ‘fatbergs’ as big as blue whales are being removed from sewers, costing companies and their customers in the region of £100 million a year. Not a single river in England has received a clean bill of health for chemical contamination. Disturbing evidence suggests they are becoming breeding grounds for antimicrobial resistance.”

Winchester district residents are deeply concerned about water quality, including the impact of nitrates, phosphates and regular wastewater discharge (which includes untreated sewage) into our local rivers and the impact this has on wildlife and on human health.

Here in the Winchester district, Southern Water discharged sewage into local rivers and waterways over 250 times in 2021 totalling over 3,500 hours of sewage discharge in just one year.  Releasing sewage into rivers is no longer an emergency-only situation occurring as a result of severe storms, but an everyday occurrence even in ‘normal’ rainfall, and that we are in a situation of cumulative overload on the sewage and wastewater system.  Whilst there are long term commitments, there are no plans in place which will address the immediate unacceptable situation either locally by Southern Water or by national government.

Both the local and national planning policy requires a robust approach to both water quality and pollution and a recent legal opinion from the Environmental Law Firm confirms the need to consider cumulative impact. Yet planning consultation documents show that it has not been the practice of council planners to ask Water Companies to report on cumulative impact e.g. whether or not development may lead to any potential increase in ‘emergency’ discharge into rivers and waterways.

This Council resolves to:

1. Recognise this Council’s policy aim to protect its rivers as far as possible from the cumulative impacts of pollution, including in line with its local planning policy and the National Planning Policy Framework.

2. Be aware that there is evidence of deterioration of water quality due to the cumulative  ...  view the full agenda text for item 7.

In accordance with Council Procedure Rule 10, a motion had been submitted by Councillor Wallace as set out on the agenda. 

With the leave of the Mayor, and agreement of the proposer the motion had been altered prior to the meeting and this was presented to council.

The motion (as altered) was seconded by Councillor Power and is set out as follows.

Alterations to the original version of the motion showing in bold and strikethrough. 

ALTERED Motion.

This Council resolves to:

1. Recognise this Council’s policy aim to protect the catchments of our rare and precious habitats, the Itchen, Meon, Test (Dever) and Hamble its rivers as far as possible from the cumulative impacts of pollution, including in line with its local planning policy and the National Planning Policy Framework.

2. Be aware that there is evidence of deterioration of water quality from both private and statutory waste treatment systems due to the cumulative impact of nitrates, phosphates, micro-plastics, pharmaceuticals and multiple sewage discharge events, and seek to better understand the impact on our local rivers, wildlife and the health of our residents.

3. Draw on relevant evidence that assesses the cumulative impact of pollution so that this is appropriately factored into the local plan, including the overall level of future development. 

4. Ask the relevant Health & Environment Policy Committee to invite senior representatives from Southern Water, the Environment Agency, Salmon & Trout Conservation, the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife and Natural England to attend a meeting to allow for a better understanding of the current levels of pollution and remedial action being taken in this regard.

5. Ask Southern Water, from this date onwards, in its planning consultation responses for major developments, to clarify which treatment works will be managing the sewage; whether it has the information available to assess the impact on the number or duration of sewage discharges into local rivers or seas, and if it does have this information to share it (noting that this can only be requested not required). 

6. Request that planning assessments, from now onwards, include in all reports on major developments appropriate coverage of the impact on watercourses, including the potential for the development to affect sewage outflow into watercourses, so that this information is clearly and transparently set out.

7. Support the devolution of the Environment Agency power to impose fines on water companies for pollution of local watercourses to local authorities and asks the Leader to seek to achieve this alongside other authorities through a future County Deal or other means.

8. Ask the Leader and Cabinet to collaborate with other Local Authorities facing similar water quality problems in order to best understand how we can use our influence to reduce and mitigate the damage done to our watercourses. 

Councillor Wallace firstly introduced his motion (as altered) and then with his permission, Councillor Power (as seconder) provided some further background information. 

Council then proceeded to ask questions and then debate the altered motion.  ...  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 to report to council.

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 the response from the relevant Cabinet Member.