Agenda and minutes

To record the names of apologies given

Apologies for the meeting were noted as above.

To receive any disclosure of interests from Members and 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 legislation and the Council’s Code of Conduct.

If you require advice, please contact the appropriate Democratic Services Officer, prior to the meeting.

Councillors Hiscock and Tod each declared a non-pecuniary interest concerning items on the agenda that may be related to their role as a County Councillor.

The chairperson wished to record her thanks to all of the residents and others who had taken place in the Vision for Winchester project.

That the minutes of the meeting be signed as a correct record.

RESOLVED:

That the minutes of the previous meeting held on the 17 September 2020 be approved and adopted.

To receive and note the questions asked and statements made from members of the public on issues relating to the responsibility of this      Forum.

Members of the public and visiting councillors may speak at the Forum, provided they have registered to speak three working days in advance. Please contact Democratic Services by 5pm on 18 November 2020 via democracy@winchester.gov.uk or (01962) 848 264 to register to speak and for further details.

No comments or questions were made during public participation.

(Report reference WTF291)

Mr Finch, Corporate Head of Regulatory introduced the report and gave the forum a resume of the key stages of the project including the two previous presentations to the forum. Mr Finch also gave details of the project’s next key milestones which included the launch event on Tuesday 1 December 2020 and a final report which would be scheduled for the January 2021 meeting of the Town Forum.

Richard Summers, from Boyle & Summers and colleagues, provided the forum with a presentation entitled "Winchester Vision 2030" which had been circulated to members before the meeting and was available on the council's website. The presentation updated the forum on the working group stage of the project, the engagement undertaken to date and an overview of handbooks one, two and three.

Members thanked Mr Summers and colleagues for their work and welcomed the presentation and the progress made. Members debated the issues at length and several questions and comments were raised which were responded to by the consultants and officers accordingly.

RESOLVED:

1. That the Winchester Town Forum notes progress made on the Vision for Winchester and endorsed the process for completing the project

(Report reference: WTF290)

The Strategic Director Services introduced the report which updated Members regarding the Town Forum's current budget setting options and considerations for the four year medium-term period from 2021/22 to 2024/25. At its next meeting in January 2021, the Forum would be asked to recommend a budget and precept for 2021/22 to Cabinet. The Strategic Director Services also updated members on the current positions regarding the town precept, cleansing charges, community infrastructure levy, fees and charges, and play areas.

The Forum asked questions and raised comments which were addressed by Strategic Director Services accordingly.

RESOLVED:

1.    That the report be noted; and

2.    Noted that the delivery of the Vision 2030 is in part a budgetary issue and asks that this be considered by cabinet as part of its wider budget consultation.

Optional: The Chairs of any of the informal groups may briefly update the Forum on any recent developments from their group.

The following updates were provided:

Councillor Weir – King George V (KGV) Informal Group.

Advised that the group had met recently with officers and had discussed issues connected with the pavilions and the wider park plan. It was intended that a further update on these two items would be brought to the January 2021 meeting of the town forum.

Councillor Weir – Grants  Informal Group.

Advised members that as funds remained available within the small grants programme, it had been agreed with officers to keep the programme open for the rest of this financial year. Concerning the crowd funder programme, Councillor Weir advised she was discussing a change to the scheme with officers. The proposal was that for the remainder of this financial year, the programme would be more flexible to allow a percentage of the monies to be used for core expenditure.

Councillor Hiscock - North Walls Informal Group.

Advised that the consultants and officers were preparing a report which would come to the Town Forum meeting in January 2021.

Councillor Hutchison - High Street Informal Group.

Advised that the group was scheduled to meet in December and that she would report back at the next meeting. Councillor Hutchison also drew the attention of the forum to the latest works undertaken at St Maurice's covert.

Councillor Becker - Governance Informal Group.

Advised that members had met with officers to discuss various options for the future structure and remit of the forum and that this work was ongoing.

To note the current version of the Work Programme for 2020/21

RESOLVED:

The current version of the work plan was noted