Agenda and minutes

Economy and Housing Policy Committee - Monday, 22nd June, 2020 6.00 pm

Venue: This meeting will be held virtually and a live audio stream can be listened to via www.winchester.gov.uk.

Contact: Dave Shaw, Senior Democratic Services Officer Tel: 01962 848 221 Email: dshaw@winchester.gov.uk

Items

No.

Item

Apologies and Deputy Members

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

Minutes:

No apologies for absence were received.

Disclosures of Interests

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, and non disclosable 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.

Minutes:

Councillor Hiscock declared a personal (but not prejudicial) interest in respect of various agenda items due to his role as a County Councillor.

Minutes of the previous meeting held on 11 February 2020 PDF 132 KB

Minutes:

RESOLVED:

That the minutes of the previous meeting held on 11 February 2020 be approved and adopted.

To note the date and times of future meetings of this Committee

22 June 2020

6:00pm

22 Sept 2020

6:00pm

1 Dec 2020

6:00pm

9 Feb 2021

6:00pm

Minutes:

RESOLVED:

That the dates and times of future meetings of the Committee as published in the Council’s calendar of meetings be noted.

Chairperson's Announcements

Minutes:

The Chairperson reported that TACT representative Mrs M Gill and Mr M Fawcett were unable to join the virtual meeting due to their IT connection issues and forwarded their apologies.

Public Participation

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

NB members of the public are required to register with Democratic Services three clear working days before the meeting (see below for further details).

Members of the public and visiting councillors may speak at the Policy Committee, provided they have registered to speak three working days in advance. Please contact Democratic Services by 5pm on Tuesday 16 June 2020 via democracy@winchester.gov.uk or (01962) 848 264 to register to speak and for further details.

Minutes:

No members of the public were present to make representations.

Briefing on Restoration Work - Economy, Housing and Financial Impacts - Presentation PDF 597 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Corporate Heads of Engagement, Housing and the Strategic Director – Services gave a presentation on the Covid restoration work.

Members asked questions and raised various comments which were addressed by Councillors Cutler, Ferguson and Learney and the relevant officers.

RESOLVED:

That the presentations be noted.

Bar End Depot - Presentation PDF 394 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Corporate Head: Asset Management gave a presentation on the Bar End Depot.

Members asked questions and raised various comments which were addressed by Councillors Thompson and Learney and the relevant officers.

Councillor Thompson informed the meeting that a new cross party consultation group would be established to engage and consult with local residents in respect of the options for the future use of the site, with Terms of Reference to be agreed.

At the invitation of the Chairperson, Councillor Murphy commented in summary that the title of the Presentation ‘Bar End Depot Site - Disposal’ would cause concern to local residents and therefore the proposed consultation group would provide many advantages as community consultation on the options was required. It would look at all aspects of the Depot site and to formulate a plan for its future. It would clarify the benefits or disadvantages of the options; would be open and transparent to local residents; that the established policy be consistent with the Winchester Vision and would enable discussion of how the site could best support future revenue for the Sport and Leisure Park and how the whole Bar End area could work together in an integrated fashion. Comments that had been made to Ward Members by local residents included a desire for a convenience store and that the site should not generate extra traffic movements on Milland Road, with access being from the new Sport and Leisure complex site.

At the conclusion of questions and debate, the Committee agreed that there were no particular matters that it wished to raise for Cabinet to further consider.

RESOLVED:

That the presentation be noted and that no particular matters be raised for Cabinet to further consider.

River Park Leisure Centre decommissioning - (BHP015) PDF 84 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Councillor Learney and the Head of Programme Central Winchester Regeneration gave a presentation on the River Park Leisure Centre Decommissioning.

Members asked questions and raised various comments which were addressed by Councillor Learney and the relevant officers.

At the conclusion of questions and debate, the Committee agreed to raise with Cabinet the points as set out in the resolution below.

RESOLVED:

That the Cabinet Member for Housing and Asset Management take into consideration that the committee wishes to support Option 3 of the Report (decommission, soft strip and retain) and to raise with Cabinet that it appreciates the attention to detail in the proposals for the commitment for the proper recycling of materials removed during the soft strip and it supports the efforts being made to secure the amenities for as many people and clubs using the North Walls Park during the interim period and that a report be brought back to this committee fairly soon to help to maintain the momentum on this site and to be ready to proceed when the opportunity arises in order to reduce the risk of delay in this area.

10.

To note the Work Programme for 2020/21 - (BHP013) PDF 286 KB

Minutes:

The Policy Committee supported the establishment of two Informal Scrutiny Groups – Housing for Younger People and A digital economy for Winchester.

RESOLVED:

1. That subject to the inclusion of updates at every meeting on the Covid restoration plans and the inclusion for the 1 December 2020 meeting of an item on the emerging Housing Revenue Account budget, the Work Programme for 2020/21 be noted.

2. That the following two Informal Scrutiny Groups be established – Housing for Younger People and A digital economy for Winchester, with their terms of reference, number of meetings required to complete their work, the resource implications and membership (to be appointed from the membership of the Business and Housing Policy Committee) to be agreed following consultation between the Chairpersons of the Scrutiny Committee, Policy Committees and Group Leaders.

The virtual meeting commenced at 6:00 pm and concluded at 8:45 pm

1. Chairperson		FIELD_TITLE

Registering to speak at meetings of the council:

The information below relates to the majority of meetings of the council but please note that different rules do apply for registering to speak at meetings of Full Council, Licensing Sub Committees, Planning Committees, Open Forums, and the Standards Hearing and Human Resources Sub Committees and the Appointments Panel. Further information can be obtained using the contact details above.

Members of the public may speak at this meeting, provided they have registered to speak three working days in advance. Please contact Democratic Services via democracy@winchester.gov.uk or (01962) 848 264 to register to speak and for further details - which can also be found on the individual meeting agenda front sheets.