Agenda, decisions and draft minutes

RESOLVED:

That the minutes of the Ordinary meeting of the Council held on 15 January 2025 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 (DPIs), other registerable interests (ORIs) and nonregisterable interests (NRIs) in accordance with the Council’s Code of Conduct.

Councillors Porter, Tod, Wallace, Warwick and Williams each declared disclosable pecuniary interests in respect of agenda items due to their role as Hampshire County Councillors. However, as there was no material conflict of interest, they remained in the room, spoke and voted under the dispensation granted on behalf of the Audit and Governance Committee to participate and vote in all matters which might have a County Council involvement.

Councillor Becker declared a disclosable pecuniary interest in respect of agenda item 5, Housing Revenue Account (HRA) Budget 2025/26 (CAB3490) as a property owner with a connection to a council sewage treatment works. Councillor Becker left the room during consideration of this item and took no part in the discussion or decision.

Councillor Scott declared a disclosable pecuniary interest in respect of agenda item 5, Housing Revenue Account Budget (HRA) 2025/26 (CAB3490) as a Winchester City Council housing tenant. However, because the contents of the report did not relate specifically to his tenancy, there was no material conflict of interest and he had been granted a dispensation by the Monitoring Officer that enables him to participate and vote on these matters.

The Mayor referred to his recent and forthcoming events and also those arranged in aid of his charities. He reminded Council of the annual Mayor of Winchester’s Community Awards presentations in the Guildhall on 13 March 2025.

The Leader then provided an update to Council on plans for local government reorganisation and regarding Hampshire County Council, Portsmouth and Southampton City Councils and the Isle of Wight having been accepted into the Devolution priority programme.  He urged everyone to respond to the consultation regarding the creation of a Mayoral combined authority. 

With regards to local government reorganisation, a deadline of 26 September 2025 had been set for a formal deadline for proposals, and for an interim plan to be submitted on or before 21 March 2025.   This interim plan would set out a direction and highlighting issues to be addressed in advance of the final plan and would be taken to a special Cabinet (20 March 2025) and Extraordinary Council meeting (19 March 2025).  

The Leader then referred to the existing financial pressures on most upper tier councils and that despite the challenges presented by reorganisation, there should continue to be good local services provided and opportunities for the city and district to continue to thrive

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 10am on Thursday 20 February 2025)

Three written questions had been received from members of the public, who attended the meeting to present them.  Supplementary questions were also asked. The questions and responses are set out on the council’s website.

RECOMMENDED (TO COUNCIL):

1.                  Note the HRA Financial Plan operating account, including annual working balances, as detailed in Appendix 6 of report CAB3490.

2.                  Approve the 2025/26 Housing Revenue Account budget as detailed in Appendices 1 and 2 to the report. 

3.                  Approve the proposed capital programme for maintenance, improvements and renewals totalling £167.868m.

4.                  Approve capital expenditure and delegate to the Strategic Director with responsibility for housing authority to enter into necessary contracts for the 2025/26 capital programme of £21.134m, as detailed in Appendix 3 of the report in accordance with Financial Procedure Rule 7.4.

5.                  To approve the award of a contract, by direct award, for technology-based retrofit works of £4.3m per year in 2025/26, 2026/27 and 2027/28 (totalling £12.8m), contingent on funding secured from the Department of Energy Security and NetZero Social Housing Fund Wave 3 Grant, equivalent to 190 properties over 3 years. (See Para 11.62 to 11.65 of the report).

6.                  Approve the proposed 10 year capital programme for new homes totalling £237.7m, and expenditure of £5.255m in 2025/26, as detailed in appendix 4 of the report in accordance with Financial Procedure Rule 7.4, 

7.                  Approve the financing of the HRA Capital Programme as detailed in Appendix 5 of the report, (noting the planned repayment of borrowing following the 1000 homes programme).

8.                  Approve the revenue savings target of £2m outlined to Cabinet in the November options paper and subsequently consulted upon and summarised at appendix 7 of the report.

9.                  Authorise the Section 151 Officer, in consultation with the Strategic Director with responsibility for Housing to approve the buy-back, during 2025/26, of individual former HRA properties sold under the Right to Buy, following positive financial appraisal, utilising the unallocated New Homes budget (see para 11.26 of the report).

10.              Subject to the acceptance of the expression of interest to the Local Authority Housing Fund (LAHF) round 3:

a.                  Authorise the Strategic Director with responsibility for Housing to enter into a revised Memorandum of Understanding with Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government to secure additional LAHF funding estimated at £2.841m

b.                  Delegate authority to the Section 151 Officer to approve capital expenditure (subject to financial appraisal, in accordance with Financial Procedure Rule 7.4) of up to £6.0m to purchase up to 12 properties using the approved HRA unallocated new build budget, to be part-financed by LAHF grant with any balance via prudential borrowing.

c.                  Authorise the Corporate Head – Asset Management and the Strategic Director with responsibility for Housing to purchase up to 12 properties. (Para 11.70-11.72 of the report) 

11.              Approve the average rent increase for 2025/26 for all affordable, Shared Ownership and social housing of 2.7% based on the September 2024 CPI figure of 1.7% +1% (see para 11.6-11.7 of the report).

12.              Approve amendments to HRA tenant service charges in 2025/26 to reflect cost recovery based on 2023/24 actual costs, subject to capping at 5% or £5, whichever is greater, and noting that capped charges will be subject to gradual increases in  ...  view the full agenda text for item 5.

Councillor Becker left the meeting before consideration of this item and took no part in the discussion or decision.

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 ask questions and then debate the matters in the recommended minute and report.

RESOLVED:

That the recommended minute of Cabinet held 12 February 2025 (as follows) be approved and adopted:

That Council:

1.                  Note the HRA Financial Plan operating account, including annual working balances, as detailed in Appendix 6 of report CAB3490.

2.                  Approve the 2025/26 Housing Revenue Account budget as detailed in Appendices 1 and 2 to the report. 

3.                  Approve the proposed capital programme for maintenance, improvements and renewals totalling £167.868m.

4.                  Approve capital expenditure and delegate to the Strategic Director with responsibility for housing authority to enter into necessary contracts for the 2025/26 capital programme of £21.134m, as detailed in Appendix 3 of the report in accordance with Financial Procedure Rule 7.4.

5.                  To approve the award of a contract, by direct award, for technology-based retrofit works of £4.3m per year in 2025/26, 2026/27 and 2027/28 (totalling £12.8m), contingent on funding secured from the Department of Energy Security and NetZero Social Housing Fund Wave 3 Grant, equivalent to 190 properties over 3 years. (See Para 11.62 to 11.65 of the report).

6.                  Approve the proposed 10 year capital programme for new homes totalling £237.7m, and expenditure of £5.255m in 2025/26, as detailed in appendix 4 of the report in accordance with Financial Procedure Rule 7.4, 

7.                  Approve the financing of the HRA Capital Programme as detailed in Appendix 5 of the report, (noting the planned repayment of borrowing following the 1000 homes programme).

8.                  Approve the revenue savings target of £2m outlined to Cabinet in the November options paper and subsequently consulted upon and summarised at appendix 7 of the report.

9.                  Authorise the Section 151 Officer, in consultation with the Strategic Director with responsibility for Housing to approve the buy-back, during 2025/26, of individual former HRA properties sold under the Right to Buy, following positive financial appraisal, utilising the unallocated New Homes budget (see para 11.26 of the report).

10.              Subject to the acceptance of the expression of interest to the Local Authority Housing Fund (LAHF) round 3:

a.                  Authorise the Strategic Director with responsibility for Housing to enter into a revised Memorandum of Understanding with Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government to secure additional LAHF funding estimated at £2.841m

b.                  Delegate authority to the Section 151 Officer to approve capital expenditure (subject to financial appraisal, in accordance with Financial Procedure Rule 7.4) of up to £6.0m to purchase up to 12 properties using the approved HRA unallocated new build budget, to be part-financed by LAHF grant with any balance via prudential borrowing.

c.                  Authorise the Corporate Head – Asset Management and the Strategic Director with responsibility for Housing to purchase up to 12 properties. (Para 11.70-11.72 of  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.

a)        RECOMMENDED (TO COUNCIL):

1.                That the level of General Fund Budget for 2025/26 be agreed and recommend the summary as shown in Appendix A of report CAB3494.

2.                That the Greener Faster and carbon investment proposals be approved, used as the basis of this budget and as set out in the CAB3483 including:

a.                £135,000 additional budget per annum for the ongoing costs of providing the food waste collection service.

b.               £460,000 one-off budget to fund the phased roll out of the food waste service from October 2025, without government funding.

3.                That, in relation to the Healthy Communities priority of the new Council Plan:

a.                Approve the revised income bands for the Council Tax Reduction scheme for working age applicants (set out in appendix E) that ensure claimants continue to receive the appropriate level of support after the DWPs increase in Universal Credit rates with effect from 1 April 2025.

b.               Approve the amendment of the Council Tax Reduction scheme for working age applicants to include all additional support and new disregards with effect from 1 April 2025, as set out in this report.

c.                That £15,000 from the Cost of Living Reserve be used to extend the Council Tax Exceptional Hardship Fund into 2025/26.

4.                That in relation to the Good Homes for All priority, additional investment of £300,000 per annum be approved to fund increased demand for temporary accommodation to prevent homelessness.

5.                That an additional £50,000 per annum be included to fund additional pressures on council contracts.

6.                That service income annual budgets be amended as follows, in response to revised estimates:

a.              Garden Waste income increased by £30,000 (to reflect increases subscriptions, although partly off-set by increased contract costs of delivering the service to more households).

b.              Planning fee income reduction of £200,000 (to reflect the current reduced levels of applications received)

7.                That following a review of earmarked reserves that they be amended as follows:

a.    £200,000 of the Transitional Reserve be re-allocated to the Thriving Places Reserve to invest one-off resources into planning enforcement.

b.    £2m of the Transitional Reserve be re-allocated to the Property Reserve to fund maintenance requirements of corporate properties.

c.    £902,000 of the Exceptional Inflation Reserve be re-allocated to the Car Parks Property Reserve to fund maintenance of and investment in parking. 

d.    £425,000 from the Major Investment Reserve be re-allocated to the Local Development Framework Reserve to fund Local Plan requirements.

e.    An additional £100,000 per annum be set aside into the Car Parks Reserve to fund maintenance of and investment in parking.

8.              That the sum of £1,364,045 be treated as Special Expenses under Section 35 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992 in respect of the Winchester Town area as set out in section 16 and Appendix D.

9.              That the Council Tax for the Special Expenses in the Winchester Town area at Band D for 2025/26 be increased by the maximum allowed under the referendum limit of 2.99% combined between the town and district.  ...  view the full agenda text for item 6.

Councillor Cutler (Cabinet Member for Finance and Performance) moved that the recommended minute of Cabinet be approved and adopted (seconded by Councillor Tod, Leader and Cabinet Member for Asset Management).

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

In accordance with legislative requirements on recorded votes at Budget meetings, a recorded vote was first taken regarding Recommendations 1 – 8 of the Recommended Minute of Cabinet.

The following Members voted in favour of Recommendations 1 – 8:

1. Councillor Sudhakar Achwal
2. Councillor Vivian Achwal
3. Councillor Rachel Aron
4. Councillor Kathleen Becker
5. Councillor Michael Bennett
6. Councillor Adrian Brophy
7. Councillor Angela Clear
8. Councillor Susan Cook
9. Councillor Steve Cramoysan
10. Councillor Neil Cutler
11. Councillor Nathan Eve
12. Councillor Russell Gordon-Smith
13. Councillor Brian Laming
14. Councillor Ritchie Latham
15. Councillor Kelsie Learney
16. Councillor Danny Lee
17. Councillor Jonny Morris
18. Councillor Jerry Pett
19. Councillor Clare Pinniger
20. Councillor Jackie Porter
21. Councillor Margot Power
22. Councillor Jane Rutter
23. Councillor Jamie Scott
24. Councillor Lucille Thompson
25. Councillor John Tippet-Cooper
26. Councillor Martin Tod
27. Councillor Malcolm Wallace
28. Councillor Chris Westwood
29. Councillor Suzanne White
30. Councillor Jonathan Williams
31. Councillor Charlie Wise

The following Members voted against Recommendations 1 – 8:

1. Councillor Neil Bolton
2. Councillor Caroline Brook
3. Councillor Stephen Godfrey
4. Councillor Caroline Horrill
5. Councillor Paula Langford-Smith
6. Councillor Jan Warwick

No Members abstained from voting.

RESOLVED:

That the recommended minute of Cabinet held 12 February 2025 (Recommendations 1 – 8, as follows) be approved and adopted:

1.             That the level of General Fund Budget for 2025/26 be agreed and Council endorse the summary as shown in Appendix A of report CAB3494.

2.             That the Greener Faster and carbon investment proposals be approved, used as the basis of this budget and as set out in the CAB3483 including:

a.    £135,000 additional budget per annum for the ongoing costs of providing the food waste collection service.

b.    £460,000 one-off budget to fund the phased roll out of the food waste service from October 2025, without government funding.

3.             That in relation to the Healthy Communities priority of the new Council Plan:

a.    the revised income bands for the Council Tax Reduction scheme for working age applicants (set out in appendix E of the report) that ensure claimants continue to receive the appropriate level of support after the DWPs increase in Universal Credit rates be approved with effect from 1 April 2025.

b.    That the amendment of the Council Tax Reduction scheme for working age applicants to include all additional support and new disregards with effect from 1 April 2025 be approved, as set out in the report.

c.     That £15,000 from the Cost of Living Reserve be used to extend the Council Tax Exceptional Hardship Fund into 2025/26.

4.             That in relation to the Good Homes for All priority, additional investment of £300,000 per annum to fund increased demand for temporary accommodation to prevent homelessness be approved.

5.             That an additional £50,000 per annum be included to fund additional pressures on council contracts.

6.             That service income annual budgets be amended as follows, in response to revised  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.

RECOMMENDED (TO COUNCIL):

1.           That the Capital Investment Strategy be approved including:

a)         the Capital Programme and Capital Programme Financing (Appendices A and B to the report);

b)        the Minimum Revenue Provision (MRP) Policy Statement (Appendix E of the report);

c)         the Flexible Use of Capital Receipts Strategy (Appendix Gof the report); and

d)        the prudential indicators detailed in the report and Appendix F.

Councillor Cutler (Cabinet Member for Finance and Performance) moved that the recommended minute of Cabinet be approved and adopted (seconded by Councillor Tod, Leader and Cabinet Member for Asset Management).

Council proceeded to ask questions regarding the matters in the recommended minute and report.  There was then no debate before Council then considered the recommendations before it.

RESOLVED:

That the recommended minute of Cabinet held 12 February 2025 (as follows) be approved and adopted:

1.           That the Capital Investment Strategy is approved including:

a)                 the Capital Programme and Capital Programme Financing (Appendices A and B to the report);

b)                 the Minimum Revenue Provision (MRP) Policy Statement (Appendix E of the report);

c)                 the Flexible Use of Capital Receipts Strategy (Appendix G of the report); and

d)                 the prudential indicators detailed in the report and Appendix F.

RECOMMENDED (TO COUNCIL):

1.                That the Treasury Management Strategy Statement which includes the Annual Treasury Investment Strategy for 2025/26 (and the remainder of 2024/25) is approved;

2.                That authority is delegated to the Section 151 Officer to manage the council’s pooled property investment and long-term borrowing according to the Treasury Management Strategy Statement as appropriate; and

3.                That authority is delegated to the Section 151 Officer, who in turn discharges this function to Hampshire County Council’s Director of Corporate Operations, as agreed in the Service Level Agreement, to manage all council investments (other than the high yield portfolio) and short-term borrowing according to the Treasury Management Strategy Statement as appropriate.

Councillor Cutler (Cabinet Member for Finance and Performance) moved that the recommended minute of Cabinet be approved and adopted (seconded by Councillor Tod, Leader and Cabinet Member for Asset Management).

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

RESOLVED:

That the recommended minute of Cabinet held 12 February 2025 (as follows) be approved and adopted:

1.                That the Treasury Management Strategy Statement which includes the Annual Treasury Investment Strategy for 2025/26 (and the remainder of 2024/25) is approved;

2.                That authority is delegated to the Section 151 Officer to manage the council’s pooled property investment and long-term borrowing according to the Treasury Management Strategy Statement as appropriate; and

3.              That authority is delegated to the Section 151 Officer, who in turn discharges this function to Hampshire County Council’s Director of Corporate Operations, as agreed in the Service Level Agreement, to manage all council investments (other than the high yield portfolio) and short-term borrowing according to the Treasury Management Strategy Statement as appropriate.

The Monitoring Officer introduced the report and then responded to questions.

RESOLVED:

That Council note the updates and amendments made by the Monitoring Officer.

To consider the following Motion to be proposed by Councillor Malcom Wallace (seconded by Councillor Suzanne White):

Motion to Investigate Installing Solar PV on Council Homes

This Councils notes that:

·       Winchester is responsible for providing a management and maintenance service to over 5,000 council properties throughout the Winchester district

• The Council has set a target for Winchester district to become carbon neutral by 2030
• The energy improvements and business case for solar PV is well-established; almost one in 10 households in Winchester district already has a registered solar system
• Business models for installing solar PV on council homes have been proven by other councils and include, for example, establishing a Power Purchase Agreement whereby the Council installs the PV, then sells power to residents at below market rates.  Under this agreement payback is typically 5-8 years.  After that time, profits from the scheme would return to the main Housing Account and could be used for further improvements to Winchester housing stock.
• Any programme to install solar PV on council homes could be outsourced with minimal pull on existing staff.  One business located within Winchester district installed PV on 11,000 homes last year, so outsource capability exists for doing this work.

This Council resolves to:

• Undertake a feasibility study within existing resources for installing solar PV on Council Homes
• Results from the study to be reported out to Cabinet Committee Housing by the end of Autumn 2025

In accordance with Council Procedure Rule 10, a motion had been submitted by Councillor Wallace which was as set out on the agenda.   With the leave of the Mayor and the agreement of the proposer, the motion had been altered prior to the meeting and the altered motion was as presented to Council in a supplementary agenda.

The motion (as altered) was seconded by Councillor White.

Councillor Wallace introduced his motion (as altered) and Council then debated the matters therein. In summary the following points were raised:

1. The Council has a long track record of delivering energy efficient homes across the district, incorporating solar PV. 

2. The retrofit programme includes solar PV and the Council has also applied for grant from Social Housing Fund to further expand the programme. 

3. Energy prices continue to rise, whilst solar panel costs were in decline.  It was therefore perhaps timely to reassess options regarding installing solar PV more broadly across the Council’s housing stock.

4. A business model would need to demonstrate appropriate average payback period to the Council.  There were options to consider working in partnership with energy providers.

5. Cabinet would consider a decarbonisation of Council homes policy paper to support the Council Plan climate change objectives for 2030.

6. There should be evidence of tenants receiving benefit from solar PV on their homes, when there would be upheaval from the installation works.

7. Solar PV provides increased financial security for tenants, reducing reliance on the expensive grid electricity and from unpredictable price fluctuations.  Dynamic sharing technology can share solar energy generated to all tenants, including those unable to have panels on their roofs.

8. Tenant engagement is important, i.e. explaining the benefits and allowing tenants to make the choice to engage with the programme.

9. Rather than as a separate project, the proposals in the motion would be dovetailed with existing programmes of work and into budget setting for 2026/27 and the Council Plan.

10. A feasibility study for installing solar PV on council homes would answer many detailed questions that have arisen.

11. The Council should ensure that it looked at the approach taken to solar PV in the context of the broader retrofit strategy.

Having reserved her right to speak, the seconder of the motion (Councillor White) then addressed Council, followed by the proposer of the motion (Councillor Wallace) who exercised his right to respond to debate. The Council then voted on the motion (as altered) as set out on the supplementary agenda.

RESOLVED:

That the motion (as altered) proposed by Councillor Wallce (seconded by Councillor White) be supported, and that this Council resolves to:

1. Use existing resources and experience of solar PV installation on HRA communal blocks and individual homes, along with analysis of current market models, to undertake a feasibility study for installing solar PV on Council Homes.

     ii.         Results from the study to be taken to Economy & Housing Policy Committee for review and comment, then reported to Cabinet prior to budget setting for 26/27.

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

There were no changes to committees to announce.

The total time for questions and the answer and supplementaries thereto shall not exceed 40 minutes.

8 written questions had been received which were heard at the meeting along with associated supplementary questions. The questions received and their response were subsequently set out on the council’s website.