Agenda

To receive any disclosure of interests from Councillors 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 non-registerable interests (NRIs) in accordance with the Council’s Code of Conduct.

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 13 August 2026)

In accordance with Council Procedure Rule 22, a petition was submitted by Katy McNally containing 667 signatures.

Halt the £153,000 River Park Perimeter Path Project

Statement:

We the undersigned petition the council to immediately pause all works, suspend the funding allocation, and launch a meaningful public consultation to allow the community to protect our green space.

Justification:

We, the undersigned resident, stakeholders and users of River Park Recreation Ground, call on Winchester City Council to halt and reconsider its decision to allocate up to £153,000 of Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) funding towards a new all-weather perimeter path (Cabinet Report CAB3518).

This decision was based on a consultation in 2021 and therefore does not reflect current public opinion.

We object to the proposal for two principal reasons:

1. Harm to the park's natural environment

River Park is a valuable green space at the heart of Winchester. An all-weather perimeter path would further urbanise the park, alter its character, and reduce the natural setting that residents value. It could also have a detrimental impact on local wildlife and habitats.

2. Poor use of public funds.

The proposed expenditure of up to £153,000 on a new perimeter path is difficult to justify at a time when public services and community assets face significant financial pressures.  We believe these funds could be better directed towards the higher-priority projects that deliver greater benefits to local residents.”

RECOMMENDED (TO COUNCIL):                                     

That a capital budget of £740,000 be approved to deliver improvements at Winchester Sport & Leisure Park.

RESOLVED:

That subject to budget approval by full Council as set out above:

1.              That the allocation of £740,000 of District-wide Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) funding and associated capital expenditure to deliver improvements at Winchester Sport & Leisure Park (WSLP) be approved, subject to Full Council approval of the associated capital budget.

2.              That an exception to the Contract Procedure Rules to enable one of the direct award options set out in section 3.6 of this report be approved.

3.              That authority be delegated to the Strategic Director, to approve minor amendments to the detailed design, specification and scope of the project during delivery, provided such changes remain within the approved budget and do not materially alter the strategic objectives or overall outcomes of the scheme approved by Cabinet.

a)            Motion: Beat the Heat—Preparing for an Overheating Climate

Proposer: Cllr Danny Lee
Seconder: Cllr Kelsie Learney

Council notes that:

Climate change is making extreme heat more frequent and intense, increasing risks to health, housing, workplaces, infrastructure and essential services. It is estimated that the May and June heatwaves in England and Wales this year led to 2750 excess deaths.[6]

1. Those most at risk include older people, young children, people with disabilities or existing illnesses, rough sleepers and residents of poorly ventilated or overheating homes. Income also affects people’s ability to adapt their homes or afford additional heating or cooling, making thermal resilience an important equality issue.

2. The Climate Change Committee’s A Well-Adapted UK concludes that stronger adaptation is required across homes, public services and infrastructure as climate risks increase.[5]

3.    From 30 Nov 2026, Phase 2 of Awaab’s Law will extend social landlords’ duties to significant excess heat and cold hazards.[8]

4.    WCC already has relevant climate, housing, emergency-planning, asset-management and resilience arrangements and has responded to issues of overheating within its Council housing estate. Ongoing Council work provides an opportunity to strengthen Beat the Heat guidance and support to Council and communities.

Council believes that:

1.    Protecting residents from extreme temperatures is a shared public-health, housing and climate-resilience responsibility. The Council’s response should be evidence-led, proportionate and targeted at greatest risk, embedded within existing arrangements and avoiding unnecessary duplication or unfunded new workstreams.

2. Climate adaptation and emissions reduction must be pursued together. Protecting people from extreme heat should complement, rather than conflict with, decarbonisation.

3.    Wider guidance sets out practical measures for keeping people and buildings cooler [1–3] which can be highlighted in the Council’s forthcoming Housing Strategy update; however, the Housing Revenue Account is ring-fenced and financially constrained. Investment should therefore be targeted by statutory duty, assessed risk and household need, avoiding unfunded blanket programmes that could undermine essential housing services.

Council resolves to:

1.    Ask Cabinet to report how extreme heat is being addressed in the Council’s adaptation and resilience work, including implications for the transition to a new Unitary authority, using existing governance arrangements.

2.    Invite Cabinet to ensure that overheating and resilience to extreme heat are considered through the preparation of the new Local Plan, informed by the evidence base, the new Gateway process, public consultation, national planning policy and the relationship with Building Regulations.

3. Invite Cabinet to set out the Council’s developing approach to assessing and managing excess heat and cold in council housing, having regard to its statutory responsibilities under Awaab’s Law, and resources available within the Housing Revenue Account.

4.    Continue, through existing communications and partnerships, to promote appropriate practical advice before and during periods of extreme heat.

5.    Request the Health and Environment Policy Committee to consider the establishment of a time-limited working group to identify practical measures the Council can undertake to reduce the impact of extreme heat on our residents in the short term and in the context of local government reorganisation.

6. Ask the Leader and cabinet to  ...  view the full agenda text for item 7.

RECOMMENDATIONS:

1. That Council confirms the decision of Cabinet in respect of appointments to the Mid-Hampshire Unitary Authority voluntary and full joint committee, established under section 101 of the Local Government Act 1972, as follows:

       i. Leader (Councillor Tod)

       ii. Deputy Leader (Councillor Cutler) - deputy

  The appointments shall take effect immediately and shall continue for the duration of the committee, unless otherwise determined by Council.

2. That Council confirms the decision of Cabinet in respect of appointments to South-East Hampshire voluntary and full joint committee, as follows: 

       i. Deputy Leader (Councillor Cutler)

       ii. Leader (Councillor Tod) - deputy

  The appointments shall take effect immediately and shall continue for the duration of the committee, unless otherwise determined by Council.

3. That Council note that authority is delegated to the Chief Executive, in consultation with the Leader and the Director (Legal) to agree the terms of reference and any associated procedures of the two voluntary or full joint committees.

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

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