Agenda and draft minutes

To note the names of apologies given and deputy members who are attending the meeting in place of appointed members.

Apologies for the meeting were noted as above.

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.

Councillor Wallace declared a disclosable pecuniary interest due to his role as a Hampshire County Councillor. However, as there was no material conflict of interest, he remained in the room and spoke under the dispensation granted by the Audit and Governance committee.

The Chairperson advised that a Member's Asset Review meeting was held on February 12th, where Councillors and officers discussed the management and income generation of the commercial portfolio. Councillors present expressed a desire for greater detail on Council-owned assets, and access to the GIS system. It was suggested an annual review meeting would help members understand ongoing projects and asset management, with discussions also covering asset sales and improved income generation.

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

Regarding item 6 (Housing Revenue Account (HRA) Budget 2025 – 2026) of the previous minutes, under “Resolved item number 3”, Councillor Wallace asked for an update from the Cabinet Member regarding the points made.

RESOLVED:

That the minutes of the previous meeting held on 4 February 2025 be approved and adopted.

To receive and note questions asked and statements made from members of the public on matters which fall within the remit of the Committee.

Members of the public and visiting councillors may speak at the committee, provided they have registered to speak three working days in advance.  Please complete this form (https://forms.office.com/r/Y87tufaV6G ) by 5pm on Thursday, 27 February 2025 or call (01962) 848 264 to register to speak and for further details.

Monica Gill addressed the committee regarding the formation of a Tenants and Residents Association. She explained the association aimed to provide a voice for residents and asked if councillors could publicise the group in their wards. She advised that the association consisted of 14 members, held regular meetings, and has seen attendance from contractors. Monica Gill advised that flyers providing contact information were being produced for distribution. The Chairperson believed that Councillors would be willing to share the flyers if provided.

Julian Perkins was invited to address the committee and expressed his concerns regarding the facilities at Market Lane Public Toilets. He stated that he had previously addressed the Cabinet in 2023 and was informed that £760,000 was being spent on the toilets. Mr. Perkins reported that the refurbishments were complete except the disabled entrance door, and only approximately £30,000 of the allocated funds had been used. He asked to know why so little was spent on the facilities. Councillor Brook thanked Julian Perkins for his contribution. The issues raised were discussed later in the meeting as part of agenda item 8.

Councillor Danny Lee addressed the committee regarding items: 6. Annual Community Safety Performance Update, 7. Development Delivery Plans - Central Winchester Regeneration and 8. Q3 Finance & Performance Monitoring and a summary of his contributions were captured within that agenda item.

Councillor Caroline Horrill addressed the committee regarding item 7. Development Delivery Plans - Central Winchester Regeneration and a summary of her contribution was captured within that agenda item.

RECOMMENDATION:

That the Committee acknowledge the Community Safety Partnership (CSP) progress report and agree any matters of significance.

Councillor Kathleen Becker, Cabinet Member for Community and Engagement introduced the report, ref SC095 which set out the Annual Community Safety Performance Update, (available here). 

Councillor Becker explained that Winchester City Council was the responsible authority supporting the delivery of crime and disorder statutory duties by dedicating officer posts to the role and ensuring the Council's corporate priorities were delivered. She highlighted the report's significant successes, particularly in the night-time economy, anti-social behaviour, and grant funding applications. She mentioned the continuing focus on anti-social behaviour, working with young people including the Legacy project, and domestic violence, noting that while the data reflected women as victims, the partnership provided support for all victims of domestic violence and abuse.

Chief Inspector Korine Bishop addressed the Committee, outlining several key points which could be summarised as follows:

1.    There had been a reduction in crime by 0.8% between April and Christmas, alongside a 20% increase in charges and summons. Out-of-court resolutions were up 2%, and victim satisfaction reached 68.2%, exceeding the 65% target.

2.    Drug-related harm remained a top priority, with a specific focus on youth involvement in cannabis, vaping, and other drug sales. Operations have led to warrants, arrests, and interventions by the Youth Offending Team.

3.    Rural crime was also prioritized, targeting commercial burglaries, plant and machinery theft, and motor vehicle theft.

4.    The District was performing at the top of the force in formal action taken in the local area, with the force working with stores to report offences.

5.    Formal action for shoplifting in the area had been seen for 48.8% of cases.

6.    The team were working closely with community behaviour with monthly Offender Victim and Location (OVAL) meetings.

7.    Chief Inspector Bishop sat on the board of directors for the Business Improvement District (BID), which allowed access to issues for businesses, and contact with universities and the council.

8.    There had been an embedded officer within the prison in a bid to tackle organised crime.

Chief Inspector Bishop provided the committee with details relating to the following:

1.    The "Let's Talk" scheme, highlights top public concerns: speeding, fly-tipping, anti-social behaviour, road safety, and parking issues.

2.    The Hants Snap and Hants Alert Schemes.

3.    The new police response hub at Bishop's Waltham that provided 24/7 support to teams across the Winchester District.

4.    An uplift in extra officers in Winchester with 12 students in the front line response team and 5 detectives.

5.    She gave a summary of some local, high-profile cases.

Councillor Danny Lee addressed the committee and highlighted the following points. Councillor Lee expressed his gratitude to the Hampshire & Isle of Wight Constabulary, along with the Neighbourhood and Community Safety team, for their continued commitment to public safety. He hoped that the scrutiny process would offer greater clarity on his concerns relating to public safety and performance. These concerns were centred on the reported rise of crime data and statistical processes within the Winchester District and asked if such a breakdown could include rural statistics.  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.

RECOMMENDATION:

It is recommended that scrutiny committee comment on the proposals within the attached, draft cabinet report, ref CAB3484 which is to be considered by cabinet at its meeting on the 13 March 2025.

NOTE

This report contains an exempt appendix (F), if members wish to discuss any part of this exempt appendix, then the procedure under agenda item 7a (below) applies.

Councillor Martin Tod, Leader and Cabinet Member for Asset Management introduced the report CAB3484 which outlined proposals for the Development Delivery Plans - Central Winchester Regeneration (available here). The introduction encompassed the following points:

1. The Central Winchester Regeneration project was a vital opportunity to revitalise the city centre.
2. The project would deliver new homes, including affordable housing, alongside new employment and business opportunities.
3. Despite prevailing national financial constraints impacting similar regeneration schemes, the council had confidence in the viability of this project.
4. Jigsaw had been confirmed as the development partner, having been appointed in March 2023 and formalising the agreement in April 2024.
5. The cabinet would be requested to approve the development delivery plan, infrastructure delivery plan, public realm delivery plan, phase delivery plan, and the initial financial model.
6. The project aimed to establish the highest standards for the public realm, green and blue infrastructure, and transport infrastructure.
7. The footprint process would be implemented to comprehensively assess sustainability and social value throughout the planning process.
8. The report marked the next stage of the project, with a master plan anticipated later in the year, followed by a planning application expected in late 2026 or early 2027.

Councillor Danny Lee addressed the committee and welcomed the engagement in shaping the development brief. He acknowledged the development delivery plan's purpose in outlining the project's logistics. His concerns focused on the sustainability and long-term viability of the Central Winchester Regeneration project, particularly the need for a robust foundation to inform future planning. Councillor Lee welcomed the green-blue infrastructure strategy, highlighting its critical role given the environmental risks and Winchester's river setting. He asked about the strategy's completion timeline and its influence on the master plan. He also expressed surprise at the omission of the Manchester Ignition project, which offered innovative green financing solutions.

Councillor Caroline Horrill addressed the committee, raising questions for officers and the development team. Councillor Horrill asked about the developer's extended viability check and questioned the project's financial assumptions, including the land values. She also asked about bridging the funding gap from lost rental income and the success of the Kings Walk renovation. Councillor Horrill questioned the allocation of Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) funding, the commitment to the supplementary planning document, and the lengthy design and application timelines. She also inquired about the interim bus hub, the micro-consolidation site, and the inclusion of council homes. Finally, She queried if the council had adequately maximised the potential benefits from the land and properties under its stewardship.

The committee was asked to provide feedback on the proposals outlined in the draft cabinet report CAB3484, scheduled for consideration by the cabinet on 13 March 2025.

The committee proceeded to ask questions and in summary, the following matters were raised:

1. An indication was sought regarding the anticipated commencement of physical development.
2. A request was made for project headlines to be published on the Council website.
3. Clarification was sought regarding the project's anticipated contribution to economic vibrancy.
4. A question was asked regarding the economic self-sufficiency of  ...  view the full minutes text for item 7.

RECOMMENDATION:

1.    That the Scrutiny Committee:

Raises with the Deputy Leader or relevant Cabinet member any issues arising from the information in this report, ref CAB3493, which is being presented to Cabinet on the 13 March 2025 and considers whether there are any items of significance to resolve or to be drawn to the attention of Cabinet.

Councillor Martin Tod, Leader and Cabinet Member for Assets introduced the report, ref CAB3493, which set out the Q3 Finance & Performance Monitoring report (available here). Councillor Tod advised that the report highlighted the council's achievements in the past quarter and welcomed questions from the committee.

Councillor Danny Lee addressed the committee and raised concerns regarding the progress toward meeting the district's 2030 carbon-neutral target, questioning how risks to the Carbon Neutrality Action Plan would be addressed. He felt that there needed to be greater clarity in future reports concerning progress on climate emergency initiatives, waste management, and neutrality mitigation measures. He requested more information on the Winchester District Nature Improvement Plan, the local area energy plan, and the Central Winchester Regeneration. Finally, he questioned whether the anticipated increase in housing necessitated an adjustment to carbon delivery targets and sought clarity on the carbon impacts and costs throughout the supply chain.

The committee was asked to raise with the Deputy Leader or relevant Cabinet member any issues arising from the information in this report, ref CAB3493, which was to be presented to Cabinet on 13 March 2025, and to consider whether there were any items of significance to resolve or to be drawn to the attention of Cabinet.

The committee proceeded to ask questions and debate the report. In summary, the following matters were raised:

1.    Clarification was requested on what was counted as the council's carbon emissions (page 420).

2.    A question was raised concerning the district's carbon emissions, noting that the report stated carbon-neutral targets were a major risk but tracked as green and amber. It was also asked how the revised target of 520 kilotonnes of CO2 in 2030 aligned with additional housing.

3.    Clarification was sought regarding the achievement of carbon neutrality, and if the only way to achieve this was through the decarbonisation of the energy grid.

4.    In terms of the future of waste and recycling, it was asked if the council was aware of the requirement for businesses to recycle food waste and if this was something the council should be tracking through the BID.

5.    On behalf of Councillor Power, a question was raised about why nutrient mitigation on page 425 of the papers was labelled as green.

6.    Regarding the metric for homelessness, it was asked whether the increase should be a concern to the council.

7.    Further information was sought regarding the KPIs used to demonstrate a vibrant economy and their adequacy.

These points were responded to by Dawn Adey, Strategic Director, Councillor Martin Tod, Leader and Cabinet Member for Assets, and Councillor Westwood, Cabinet Member for Housing accordingly.

RESOLVED:

The committee noted the report and agreed that:

1.    Officers, in liaison with the Chairperson, arrange for a follow-up meeting with a small group of members to discuss existing and future KPIs used within the quarterly reports.

2.    Officers, in liaison with the Chairperson, arrange a follow-up meeting with a small group of members regarding the issues raised in  ...  view the full minutes text for item 8.

RESOLVED

1.    That the April 2025 to June 2025 Forward Plan of Key Decisions be noted.