Agenda and draft minutes

resolved:

That the minutes of the Ordinary meeting of the Council held on 20 September 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 and Tod declared personal (but not prejudicial) interests in respect of various agenda items due to their role as County Councillors.

Councillor Becker declared a personal and prejudicial interest in respect of agenda item 8 (c) (motion relating to investment in fossil fuels) and left the room during council’s consideration of that item.

Councillor Learney declared a personal and prejudicial interest in respect of agenda item 8 (c) (motion relating to investment in fossil fuels) and left the room during council’s consideration of that item.

Councillor Godfrey declared a personal (but not prejudicial) interest in respect of agenda item 8 (c) (motion relating to investment in fossil fuels) as he was an employee of Hampshire County Council and a contributor to the Hampshire Local Government Pension Fund.

Councillor Brophy declared a personal (but not prejudicial) interest in respect of agenda item 8 (c) (motion relating to investment in fossil fuels) as his spouse was an employee of a private pension fund organisation.

The Mayor highlighted some of the many events that she would be attending during the festive season.  She then advised the meeting that former councillor and Mayor of Winchester (2007 - 08) Chris Pines, was unwell and residing in a hospice in Winchester.  Finally, the Mayor invited all members of the council and officers to Abbey House on Wednesday 6 December for mince pies and mulled wine. 

The Leader then announced that he had received information from Hampshire NHS Integrated Care Board (ICB) regarding proposed changes to local hospital and health services in Winchester and Basingstoke, including constructing a new hospital at Basingstoke potentially close to Junction 7 of the M3.  Recognising the need for investment, the Leader advised that the council would work closely with the ICB and the local hospital trust to bring about investment in hospital services at Winchester and also to respond to queries regarding the proposals.  Recognising that all councillors should have a role in scrutinising these proposals the Health and Environment Policy Committee would convene an additional meeting at the end of January 2024 where there was to be a presentation from the hospital team.  The feedback from this meeting would inform the council’s consultation response.

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 Thursday 23 November)

One written question had been received from a member of the public who attended the meeting to present their question. A supplementary question was also asked. The question received and its response was subsequently set out on the council’s website.

In accordance with Council Procedure Rule 16, a petition was submitted by Mr D Gibson containing 501 signatures.

“We the undersigned petition the council to Reverse its decision to abolish free parking between 7pm and 8am in Winchester city centre car parks.

At the beginning of July, Winchester City Council introduced a fixed charge of £3.30 for any period of parking that starts between 7pm and 8am. You can reduce this cost to £1.80 if you buy an hour’s worth of parking that runs out after 7pm – you don’t have to pay any more for overnight. Over a year, even the lower charge adds enormously to the costs incurred by people who travel into town for work in the night-time economy and those who participate in community, cultural and religious activities at city-centre venues during the evening. For example, a full-time restaurant worker whose shift ends after the last bus home will pay an extra £9 per week (at the very least) to bring a car to a central car park. And members of a choir that meets weekly during term time in a city-centre venue will have to find an extra £60pa to attend rehearsals and performances. These charges are punitive, will damage the local economy and will discourage participation in community and cultural activities in the city.”

In accordance with Council Procedure Rule 16, a petition was submitted by Mr D Gibson regarding abolishing free parking between 7pm and 8am in Winchester city centre car parks. The details of the petition was set out on the agenda. Mr Gibson and Mr d’Arcy-Hughes introduced their petition.

Councillor Learney (Cabinet Member for Climate Emergency) responded to the matters in the petition as summarised as follows:

• 1250 spaces in the council’s ‘park and walk’ car parks remained free after 5pm, with less than a 10-minute walk to the city centre.
• The impact to changes to tariffs were monitored and community groups and businesses continued to be engaged.
• Winchester BID footfall data showed no appreciable difference to night-time visitors to the city centre compared to before the new tariff was implemented.
• Most hospitality staff started their shifts before 7pm and those starting after this time would not be impacted by the changes.
• The new one-hour tariff would go live from tomorrow and was a consequence of the council’s consultation with subscription-based businesses.  A volunteer permit scheme was also now in place. Blue badges were valid in un-barriered car parks. 
• The Winchester Movement Strategy was adopted in spring 2019 as council policy and the tariff changes were in support of its three aims – to reduce city centre traffic, support healthier lifestyle choices, and support sustainable growth.
• The introduction of evening car parking charges was part of the council’s long-term strategy to improve the quality of life for residents and to make Winchester a more pleasant place for visitors.
• Community organisations operated at all times of the day in the city centre when parking charges had already been in operation. 

Council then proceeded to debate the petition and matters therein and in summary, the following matters were raised:

• There was plenty of free car parking that was a short walk away from the city centre. The Cattle Market car park was also on a more accessible walking route when compared to Tower Street Multi Story car park.
• The new tariffs had been implemented stating they would maintain accessibility to the city centre whilst bringing about various environmental benefits.  In reality, their introduction was to generate new income and the negative impact on residents and businesses had been significant.  Consultation feedback had been ignored.
• There was linkage previously agreed that to improve air quality, parking prices in the city centre should be increased.
• Footfall and vacancy rates in the city centre continued to be monitored. 
• Responding to feedback, some unforeseen consequences had required some adjustments or change to the scheme.
• Evening parking charges were not uncompetitive and were in place across Hampshire.
• The outcomes achieved by the new tariffs demonstrated that the council was moving ahead with improving air quality in the city centre, whilst ensuring that footfall remained high, vacancy rates remained low, and the night-time economy continued to thrive.
• If the new tariffs were an issue for some people, car sharing should be encouraged, and this also would assist with improving  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.

RECOMMENDED:

Council is asked:

1.    To note the comments and recommendations of the Audit and Governance Committee as set out in Appendix 1.

2.    To adopt the proposed amendments to the Council’s Constitution as set out in Appendix 2.

3.    That the Monitoring Officer be authorised to make any necessary further changes to the proposed amendments to the Council’s Constitution in relation to formatting, numbering or such other changes consequential to or incidental to the intentions of Full Council.

Councillor Becker (Cabinet Member for Community and Engagement) moved that the recommendations in report CL169 be approved and adopted (seconded by Councillor Tod, Leader and Cabinet Member for Asset Management).

Council agreed that it did not need to ask questions or debate the matters in the report and its appendices.

RESOLVED:

1.    That Council note the comments and recommendations of the Audit and Governance Committee as set out in Appendix 1.

2.    That Council adopt the proposed amendments to the Council’s Constitution as set out in Appendix 2.

3.    That Council authorise the Monitoring Officer to make any necessary further changes to the proposed amendments to the Council’s Constitution in relation to formatting, numbering or such other changes consequential to or incidental to the intentions of Council.

RECOMMENDED:

That Cabinet recommends Council:

Approves a capital budget of £610,000 to refurbish 59 Colebrook Street to provide temporary homeless accommodation, funded by £250k grant from HCC, £206k grant from LAHF, and £154k of prudential borrowing.

(Extract of Draft Minutes of Cabinet to follow)

Councillor Westwood (Cabinet Member for Housing) moved that the recommended minute of Cabinet be approved and adopted (seconded by Councillor Learney, Cabinet Member for Climate Emergency).

Council proceeded to debate the matters in the recommended minute and report. There were no questions asked.

RESOLVED:

That Council approve a capital budget of £610,000 to refurbish 59 Colebrook Street to provide temporary homeless accommodation, funded by £250k grant from HCC, £206k grant from LAHF, and £154k of prudential borrowing.

a)         To consider the following Motion to be proposed by Councillor James Batho (seconded by Councillor Jackie Porter):

“Council notes with concern:

·       The increased use of vaping products by children in the UK. Recent data from the ASH Smokefree GB Youth Survey 2022 found that the prevalence of vaping amongst 11-18 year olds is increasing – from 4% in 2021 to 8.6% in 2022 – and a significant number of children buy these vaping products directly from newsagents or supermarkets.

·       The increased number of local authorities who have recently had to take enforcement activity against shops illegally selling vaping products to youngsters. Since September 2023 Hampshire County Council Trading Standards Service have seized over 10,500 illegal vapes, with a retail value estimated at £153,674 and in one instance over £40,000 of stock was removed from a single shop.

·       The marketing of certain vaping products – with bright coloured packaging and flavours such as bubble-gum – that might appeal to children.

·       A significant increase in the availability of disposable and single-use vaping products which are cheaper and easier for children to access and a major source of littering. A report by Material Focus in 2022 states that:

o   14 million single-use vapes are bought each month

o   Over 50% of single-use vapes are thrown away

o   1.3 million single-use vapes are thrown away every week or 5.4 million per month. While each vape contains just 0.15g of lithium, the scale of the waste means about 10 tonnes of the metal, equivalent to the batteries inside 1,200 electric vehicles, is ending up in landfills.

·       In July 2022 the UK Government published, Resilience for the Future: The UK’s critical minerals strategy, which assessed lithium, (among other minerals), as being of high criticality for the UK.

·       More than 700 fires in bin lorries and recycling centres were caused by batteries that had been dumped into general waste.

Council acknowledges:

·       The role vaping products play in aiding adults to stop smoking, and that vaping products carry a small fraction of the risk and exposure to toxins that are associated with cigarettes. However, vaping is not risk free; particularly for those who have never smoked. Vaping products contain nicotine and research shows that most children who use them have never smoked.

·       That in October 2023 the Government announced an Open Consultation on creating a smokefree generation and tackling youth vaping and that this was further referred to in the King’s Speech – but is only ‘considering’ restrictions on the sale and supply of disposable vaping products.

Council believes that disposable vapes are an inherently unsustainable product, meaning an outright ban remains the most effective solution to this problem.

Council therefore resolves:

·       To support the Local Government Association call for a ban on the sale and manufacture of disposable vapes by 2024 and that disposable vaping products be regulated through the Environmental Protection Act 1990 in a similar way as other single-use items, such as bans on plastic straws.

·       That the Leader to write to Secretary of  ...  view the full agenda text for item 8.

In accordance with Council Procedure Rule 10, three motions had been submitted for council.

(i) Motion submitted by Councillor Batho – Vaping products

The motion had been submitted by Councillor Batho as set out on the agenda and was seconded by Councillor Porter.  The motion was introduced.

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

·     Society seemingly continued to promote things that were detrimental to young people’s health. 

·     Vapes can be a positive way for adults to wean themselves off smoking cigarettes.

·     A ban on all vape products would be preferable, but the motion as presented was a starting point.

·     In the USA, there had been some evidence that banning some vaping products has seen an increase in smoking. In some instances, young people were using nitrous oxide cannisters, which was a greater concern than vapes. 

·     The lack of recyclability of disposable vapes was an issue, but there could be unintended consequences of a ban from more smoking.

·     Although cigarettes were more harmful, vapes are cheaper and more attractive to younger people and easier to get obtain – and their detrimental impact on developing lungs had been proven.  Children used vapes more than who had previously been observed smoking.  

·     The key issue of the motion before council was regarding the principle of disposable vapes being able to be thrown away into general waste (or inadvertently into recycling) at the end of their use, to the detriment of the environment.

·     The health benefits of vaping for adults who already smoke and then turn to vaping products had been proven. 

·     The ingredients and materials in vaping products was unregulated.  The lithium batteries within the units can cause fires amongst recycling. 

·       Banning plastic straws, but not disposable vapes was illogical.

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

RESOLVED:

That Council resolves:

1.    To support the Local Government Association call for a ban on the sale and manufacture of disposable vapes by 2024 and that disposable vaping products be regulated through the Environmental Protection Act 1990 in a similar way as other single-use items, such as bans on plastic straws.

2.    That the Leader write to Secretary of State for Health and Social Care to express Council’s support for the banning of the disposable vaping products detailed in this motion.

3.    That the Council should respond to any future consultation on the banning of the sale and manufacture of disposable vaping products by supporting such a ban.

(ii) Motion submitted by Councillor Godfrey – carbon neutrality projects

The motion had been submitted by Councillor Godfrey as set out on the agenda and was seconded by Councillor Brook.  The motion was introduced.

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

• The council was confident that it was able to deliver, within the district, any offsetting required regarding the council’s  ...  view the full minutes text for item 8.

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

There were no changes made to committee membership for council to approve

The total time for questions and the answer and supplementaries thereto shall not exceed 30 minutes.

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