Agenda and minutes

To record the names of apologies given

All members were present and no apologies had been received.

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.

Councillor Tod declared a non-pecuniary interest concerning agenda items that may be related to his role as a County Councillor.

There were no announcements.

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

RESOLVED:

That the minutes of the previous meeting held on 24 June 2021 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 4.30pm on Friday,10 September 2021 via democracy@winchester.gov.uk or (01962) 848 264 to register to speak and for further details.

Two members of the public spoke regarding various agenda items, speaking at this point in the agenda, as summarised briefly below.

Ian Tait

Spoke in respect of the commercial refuse policy and raised concern regarding use of the bin stores and increasing volumes of rubbish at Hammonds Passage, The Square and Coitbury House. In addition, he expressed concern in relation to damage caused by pigeons at the Buttercross, litter, outstanding repairs and the need to maintain cleanliness in the High Street. 

In response, Councillor Tod set out the current position regarding the commercial refuse policy and highlighted that obstructions could be reported directly online to Hampshire County Council. In addition, it was noted that discussions with Historic England were ongoing regarding plans for the Buttercross.

John Woodson

Raised points in respect of the targets for recyclable rubbish as a percentage of the total, supermarket recycling levels and the progress in the anticipated addition of 300 park and ride parking spaces by 2021.

In response, Councillor Tod announced that Winchester had the fastest increasing recycling rate in Hampshire and that work was taking place across Hampshire on how to recycle further. Since lockdown, it was noted that there had been a marked increase in glass and garden waste collections and that work was being carried out to drive an increase in the recycling of other materials. In relation to the expansion of park and ride, Councillor Tod clarified that 287 parking spaces would be provided on the former Vaultex site and construction was on track to be completed this year.

(WTF300)

The Corporate Head of Economy and Community introduced the report which set out the approach to take the Vision for Winchester forward to implementation. It was noted that the Vision recommendations, that were informed by the findings of working groups, were that future implementation was about the ‘how’ as well as the ‘what’ in terms of achieving the outcomes set out in the document. Therefore, the importance of developing an approach to respond to the values as well as the recommended actions of the Vision was recognised.

The recommended steps to form the engagement process were set out which included an internal briefing/workshop for officers to highlight the need to embed the Vision going forward. It was proposed that the original consultants would facilitate the delivery of this change and new approach for ways of working. Following the workshop, an implementation framework and programme would be formed to set out a road map of how the ten year Vision could be achieved. It was proposed that this framework would be reconsidered by the Town Forum in a session to be arranged in due course to agree the next step. An indicative plan of dates for this was set out in the report.

The Corporate Head of Economy and Community and the Strategic Director responded to Members questions regarding delivery of change and risk factors, an inventory of the 100 small wins, resourcing, stakeholder and community engagement, alignment with the Central Winchester Regeneration project, budget constraints and empowering communities.

Following debate, Town Forum Members indicated their support of the progression in the implementation of the Vision for Winchester.

RESOLVED:

1.            That the next steps to implement the recommendations of the Vision for Winchester comprising of the following set out in (a) to (d) below, be endorsed:

a)            That an internal briefing be established, arranged and led by the Vision consultants to embed the Vision in the council’s work across the city, and that a model to frame how we deliver our services to encompass the Vision’s principles and approach be developed.

b)            That an implementation framework and programme which sets out a roadmap for how and when recommended outcomes can be achieved be developed.

c)            That a Town Forum Members session be arranged with officers to review the implementation framework and programme to agree the next step, including resources.

d)            That a supplementary revenue budget estimate of up to £9K from the Town Reserve to cover the costs of the Vision consultant undertaking the internal briefing as outlined at (a) above be approved. 

(Presentation)

The Open Spaces Officer gave a presentation which set out the analysis and feedback of the results of the public consultation on the park plan proposals for North Walls Recreation Ground which was carried out online between 10 May 2021 and 11 June 2021. The consultation sought feedback on the draft plans submitted by the consultant team following the initial two day consultation event that took place in 2018 and the walking tours that took place with stakeholders in 2020. The presentation was available on the Council’s website here.

In addition, the Open Spaces Officer confirmed that the final version of the North Walls Park Plan would come forward to the Town Forum for consideration at the next meeting on 10 November 2021, which would indicate how the park plan has been shaped by the consultation and the feedback in this presentation.

The Open Spaces Officer and relevant Cabinet Members responded to detailed questions from Members, including the geographical breakdown of statistics into town wards, the scope of the park plan and the volume of background information received to inform the park plan.

The Chairperson thanked the officer for their informative presentation and the detailed work that had been carried out.

RESOLVED:

1.            That the presentation setting out the North Walls Park Plan – feedback of results from the consultation event, be received and noted.

(WTF301)

The Chairperson welcomed Peter North (Weeke Community Centre) to the meeting to address any relevant questions that arise in relation to the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) funding application during the consideration of this item.

The Finance Manager (Strategic Finance) introduced the report and provided an update of the current financial position of the Winchester Town Account and financial projections over the medium and long term to support the development of a refreshed financial strategy with final budget recommendations due for consideration by Town Forum in January 2022, prior to final approval by Cabinet and Council. In addition, he stated that feedback from the Winchester Town Forum Accounts Informal Group had been incorporated within this report and that a further report on the budget options would come forward for consideration by the Town Forum at its meeting on 10 November 2021.

The Finance Manager (Strategic Finance) responded to detailed questions from Members in relation to the accuracy of the financial assumptions set out in the report, the overspend on cemeteries and clarification of budget allocations for grants and vision.

RESOLVED:

1.         That the financial projections, set out in Appendix A of the report be noted and the budget timetable for 2022/23, be agreed.

2.         That the allocation of town CIL funding of up to £23k for Weeke Community Centre replacement of water main, surface water drainage and fibre optic broadband installation, be agreed in principle.

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

The Corporate Property Surveyor provided a verbal update to the Forum on the latest work that had been undertaken by the KGV Informal Group and progress on the KGV Pavilion Project. He gave a presentation on the updated design and answered Members’ questions thereon.  The presentation was available on the Council’s website here which set out the architects proposed planning drawings.

Councillor Radcliffe provided an update on the work carried out by the Town Accounts Grant Informal Group in relation to small grants applications and changes to the matched crowdfunding scheme, details of which were available on the Council’s website.

Councillor Edwards provided an update on the latest work that had been undertaken by the City Centre Informal Group (formerly High Street Informal Group) which was assisting with initiatives in and around the city centre, including the Winchester Movement Strategy and the Central Winchester Regeneration and were compiling a schedule of small projects to take forward. It was reported that Councillor Green had been appointed onto this Informal Group but was not receiving the invitations to attend these meetings and it was agreed that this would be investigated and resolved going forward.

The Corporate Head of Regulatory provided a verbal update on behalf of the ‘Planning for the future in Winchester Town’ Informal Group and provided an overview of the process in finalising arrangements for a key stage in the local plan to develop a way forward in terms of design and linking this into the new local plan with a consultation draft due late summer/early autumn 2022, with workshops currently being developed to progress this matter.

The Corporate Head of Regulatory responded to Members’ questions including the possible extension of the town boundaries in the development of the Local Plan for Winchester.

Councillor Tippett-Cooper provided an update from the Heritage Informal Group stating the terms of reference had been set, with the informal group having an advisory role to the Town Forum to enhance and maintain the town heritage assets, to investigate funding opportunities and to continue dialogue with community groups.

            RESOLVED:

That the updates received from the Town Informal Groups, as set out above, be noted.

To note the current version of the Work Programme for 2021/22.

The meeting commenced at 6.30 pm and concluded at 8.30 pm

Chairperson