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Agenda and minutes

Agenda and minutes

Venue: Council Chamber - The Guildhall

Contact: Stewart Agland  Email: stewart.agland@portsmouthcc.gov.uk

Media

Items
No. Item

67.

Declarations of Interests under Standing Order 13(2)(b)

Minutes:

The City Solicitor advised that he had written to councillors in respect of agenda item 17(a) - Make Fair Transitional State Pension Arrangements for 1950's Women regarding the granting of dispensations to those members who would otherwise have to declare an interest in this item and be unable to speak. 

 

Councillor Hugh Mason declared a personal non-prejudicial interest in agenda item 17(b) in that he lives next door to an HMO.

68.

Minutes of the Extraordinary and Ordinary Council Meetings held on 12 July 2016 pdf icon PDF 63 KB

·         the Extraordinary Council meeting held on 12 July 2016; and

·         the Ordinary Council meeting held on 12 July 2016.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

It was

 

Proposed by Councillor Donna Jones

Seconded by Councillor Gerald Vernon-Jackson

 

That the minutes of the extraordinary and ordinary council meetings held on 12 July 2016 be confirmed and signed as a correct record.

 

RESOLVED that the minutes of the extraordinary and ordinary meetings of council held on 12 July 2016 be confirmed and signed as a correct record.

69.

Communications and Apologies for Absence

Minutes:

Apologies for absence were received on behalf of Councillor Ken Ellcome.

 

The Lord Mayor gave detailed information concerning filming in the chamber advising that notices had been displayed on the walls concerning the council's rules which strictly prohibit the filming, photographing, or recording of members of the public unless they are addressing the meeting and only then if they do not actively object.  Filming from gallery to gallery is also prohibited.

 

The Lord Mayor then gave details of the evacuation procedure and reminded everyone that there are building evacuation signs displayed both inside in the public galleries and in the chamber itself.

 

The Lord Mayor further advised that the seating plan circulated in the chamber has been revised to reflect group changes as detailed in the Chief Executive's report at agenda item 9.  Councillor John Ferrett has become an independent non-aligned member.  Councillor Morgan has become Labour Group Leader and Councillor Chowdhury Deputy Labour Group Leader.

 

The Lord Mayor announced the recent marriage of Councillor Bird (previously Councillor Swan) and congratulated her on behalf of the council.

 

Finally, the Lord Mayor said that at an extraordinary council meeting held on 12 July 2016, it was agreed to admit a former Portsmouth city councillor, Dr Eleanor Scott to the roll of honorary aldermen.  The Lord Mayor then presented Dr Eleanor Scott with her certificate and Dr Scott made a short speech of thanks to council.

70.

Arts Lodge - Petition

Statement & Justification

"We, the citizens of the city of Portsmouth and surrounding areas wish to protest against the termination of the lease for the Arts Lodge & Park Café, Victoria Park.

 

The Arts Lodge already pays the top market rate for the property to the council and being self-funded saves the council money in both the running and maintaining of the premises. No communication has been received about any future plans for the building and no justification of how their plans are a better deal for the tax payer has been provided. This is unfair not just to the Arts and Soul Traders CIC and the local community, but also to Portsmouth Council Tax payers.

 

I demand that Portsmouth Tory Council allow the Arts Lodge to continue providing their excellent service to the community and that their lease should be protected for future generations."

 

The Council’s rules state that as the petition contains more than 1,000 signatures it will be debated by the Full Council (if the lead petitioner so requests and they do) even if the issue has been considered by the Council within the last 24 months and it not a matter the Full Council can determine.

 

1.    The petition organiser, Mark Lewis will be given six minutes to present the petition at the meeting,

 

2.    Followed by any public deputations received on this item.

 

3.    The Administration, via a proposer and seconder, will then present its response to the petition 

 

4.    The petition will then be discussed by councillors and the normal rules of debate will apply,

 

Note - As an Executive (Cabinet) matter, the Full Council is precluded from determining the issues raised in the Petition, although of course the petition can still be debated at the Full Council meeting. 

Minutes:

The lead petitioner Mr Mark Lewis, presented the petition as set out on the agenda.  The City Solicitor thanked Mr Lewis for his presentation.  He then advised that one deputation request had been received from Ms Hilary Reed who then gave her deputation in support of the petition.

 

It was

 

Proposed by Councillor Donna Jones

Seconded by Councillor Linda Symes

 

That the Administration's petition response as circulated in the chamber and detailed below be approved.

 

As an amendment it was

 

Proposed by Councillor Gerald Vernon-Jackson

Seconded by Councillor Hugh Mason

 

That the following words be added after the Administration's response.

 

"The City Council recognises that in their recent consultation over 1500 local residents asked for the Arts Lodge to remain as it is, as the current occupiers pay an economic rent and provide a service which is valued by local residents.

 

The City Council therefore requests the Leader of the Council to reconsider her decision not to grant a renewal of the lease to Art and Soul Traders."

 

Following debate a recorded vote was requested by eight members standing.

 

The following members voted in favour of the amendment.

 

David Ashmore

Steve Pitt

Yahiya Chowdhury

Will Purvis

Ben Dowling

Darren Sanders

Suzy Horton

Lynne Stagg

Lee Hunt

Gerald Vernon-Jackson

Leo Madden

Matthew Winnington

Hugh Mason

Rob Wood

Stephen Morgan

Tom Wood

 

The following members voted against the amendment.

 

Julie Bird

Frank Jonas

Simon Bosher

Donna Jones

Jennie Brent

Ian Lyon

Ryan Brent

Lee Mason

John Ferrett

Gemma New

Jim Fleming

Rob New

Colin Galloway

Luke Stubbs

Paul Godier

Linda Symes

Scott Harris

David Tompkins

Steve Hastings

Steve Wemyss

Hannah Hockaday

Neill Young

 

The following members abstained.

 

Alicia Denny

Stuart Potter

 

The amendment standing in the name of Councillor Vernon-Jackson was therefore LOST.

 

A recorded vote on the petition response standing in the name of Councillor Donna Jones was requested by eight members standing. 

 

The following members voted in favour of the petition response

 

Julie Bird

Frank Jonas

Simon Bosher

Donna Jones

Jennie Brent

Ian Lyon

Ryan Brent

Lee Mason

John Ferrett

Gemma New

Jim Fleming

Rob New

Colin Galloway

Luke Stubbs

Paul Godier

Linda Symes

Scott Harris

David Tompkins

Steve Hastings

Steve Wemyss

Hannah Hockaday

Neill Young

 

The following members voted against.

 

David Ashmore

Steve Pitt

Yahiya Chowdhury

Will Purvis

Ben Dowling

Darren Sanders

Suzy Horton

Lynne Stagg

Lee Hunt

Gerald Vernon-Jackson

Leo Madden

Matthew Winnington

Hugh Mason

Rob Wood

Stephen Morgan

Tom Wood

 

The following members abstained.

 

Alicia Denny

Stuart Potter

 

The Administration's petition response was therefore CARRIED.

 

RESOLVED that the Administration's petition response as set out below be approved

 

"The Administration would like to start by thanking Mr Lewis and the petitioners for raising their concerns with us. It is encouraging that Mr Lewis feels as strongly about the future prosperity of The Arts Lodge in Victoria Park as we, the Administration do.

 

The Lodge is a uniquely situated building in the centre of one of the most beautiful parks in the city. The Lodge is a building the Administration are committed to keeping as is Victoria Park.  There has been much speculation about the future of both Victoria Park and The Lodge. Some such speculations are that Victoria Park is being sold-off, that The Lodge is going to be converted into a drive-through Costa Coffee and even worse that it will be demolished.  There is absolutely no truth what so ever in any of the speculations.

 

Victoria Park is a listed public open space and will remain in the ownership and control of Portsmouth City Council.

 

To add some additional information and to clarify the facts: The Lodge is owned by PCC.  We are the landlord and Mr Lewis is the tenant.  As is common in landlord/tenant agreements there is a lease which contains a break clause. In June 2016, a five year break clause period occurred. During this period PCC as the landlord invoked its right to enact the break clause. At this point Mr Lewis was given a very long notice period taking him up to Feb 2017.  This is because the Council understands that Mr Lewis would need to find new accommodation. With this in mind   Mr Lewis was invited to come into the council and meet with senior officers and relevant Councillors concerned with property and assets, to discuss the options of alternative accommodation. Mr Lewis was offered two immediate options including one site in the north of the city and one on the south of the city, some 800m from the current site. We also offered to work with Mr Lewis to find accommodation that met his needs as best as possible. 

 

At the same meeting it was explained to Mr Lewis why the council was changing the way the premises were run, and how this could be an opportunity for him. We explained that we have some 2800 young people in the city who have learning difficulties. Many of them access day care facilities which the council provides through various contracts, these contracts involve young people, many of whom have Down Syndrome, and  learning a life skill such as cooking to increase employment opportunities such as working in a restaurant, hotel or catering industry improves their outcomes. However the current programmes offered to these young people are limited, and in Victoria Park we have an excellent space in which we could be providing day care facilities for people with Learning Difficulties to enable them  to expand their training and skill base such as, learning animal husbandry through caring for the birds and animals in the park. We are also keen for them to learn gardening and horticulture skills. This would open up a huge number of job opportunities for them.

 

Mr Lewis was encouraged to register with the council for the opportunity to tender for the contact to run The Lodge and Arts Café for this purpose.  The Administration repeats this offer again today.

 

We are committed to retaining and improving Victoria Park and The Lodge for the benefit of all residents."

 

71.

Deputations from the Public under Standing Order No 24 (excluding item 4)

Minutes:

The City Solicitor advised that four written representations had been received in respect of agenda item 16 - Solent Combined Authority Governance Review and Scheme and had been circulated in the chamber.  These were from Peter M Grice, Doreen Stevenson, Blair Breton and a joint representation from Shelagh Simmons, Kathryn Rimmington and Hilary Reed.

 

Ms Denise Wyatt and Mr Andrew Pope each made a deputation on item 16.

 

One written representation had been received on item 17(a) - Make Fair Transitional State Pension Arrangements for 1950's Women - this was from Shelagh Simmons and had been circulated in the chamber.

72.

Questions from the Public under Standing Order 25 pdf icon PDF 74 KB

Minutes:

The City Solicitor advised that one question regarding Henderson Road from Miss Doreen Stevenson, a member of the public had been received and background papers had been circulated.  Doreen Stevenson then put her question

" In view of the factors provided separately, would it now be possible to have an investigation and review with the possibility of alterations to the layout at the junction of Bransbury Road with Henderson Road and inclusion of the early proposed modifications to the western end of Henderson Road."

 

This and a supplementary question was answered by the Cabinet Member for Traffic & Transportation Councillor Jim Fleming.

73.

Appointments

Minutes:

Members had been notified of appointments as circulated on the green sheet and these were agreed.  Councillors Gerald Vernon-Jackson and Suzy Horton will swap roles so that Councillor Horton will become a full member of Planning Committee and Councillor Vernon-Jackson will be a standing deputy.

74.

Urgent Business

Minutes:

The Lord Mayor advised that there was no urgent business.

75.

Review of Political Proportionality on Committees and Panels pdf icon PDF 113 KB

To consider the Chief Executive's attached report.

Minutes:

It was

 

Proposed by Councillor Donna Jones

Seconded by Councillor John Ferrett

 

That the overall political balance and allocation of seats as set out in the Chief Executive's report be accepted subject to the changes set out in the proposal.  On being put to the vote this was CARRIED.

 

RESOLVED that council adopted the overall political balance and allocation of seats as set out in the Chief Executive's report, subject to the following which has the agreement of all those affected.

 

(1)          The independent member Councillor John Ferrett takes up his two seats as follows - one on the Employment Committee and one on the Governance & Audit & Standards Committee.

 

(2)          The four Labour Group seats are allocated as follows - Councillor Morgan takes up two seats - one on the Licensing Committee and one on the Scrutiny Management Panel.

 

(3)          Councillor Chowdhury takes up two seats - one on the Economic Development, Culture and Leisure Scrutiny Panel and one on the Planning Committee.

76.

Recommendations from the Cabinet Meeting held on 22 September 2016 pdf icon PDF 114 KB

To receive and consider the attached report and recommendations from the Cabinet held on 22 September 2016 (minute 41 refers).

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Minute 41 - Treasury Management Outturn 2015/16

 

This was approved unopposed.

 

Minute 42 - Treasury Management Mid-Year Review 2016/17

 

This was approved, unopposed.

 

Minute 43 - Four Year Local Government Finance Settlement

 

This was opposed.

 

It was

 

Proposed by Councillor Donna Jones

Seconded by Councillor Luke Stubbs

 

That

 

(i)            the government offer of a multi-year settlement to 2019/20 announced on 17 December 2015, be accepted.

 

(ii)          That in accepting the offer of a multi-year settlement, the efficiency plan clearly states that the plan outlines the method by which the council will pursue its necessary savings in response to both its cost pressures and government funding reductions but that there is no implied acceptance that those cost pressures and government funding reductions can be achieved through efficiencies alone without significant detriment to service provision.

 

Council adjourned at 3.40 pm.

 

Council resumed at 4.00 pm.

 

Councillor Vernon-Jackson confirmed that no amendment was proposed but the minute was opposed in order to debate the matter.  Following debate a recorded vote was requested by eight members standing.

 

Those in favour.

 

Julie Bird

Donna Jones

Simon Bosher

Ian Lyon

Jennie Brent

Lee Mason

Ryan Brent

Gemma New

Alicia Denny

Rob New

John Ferrett

Stuart Potter

Jim Fleming

Luke Stubbs

Colin Galloway

Linda Symes

Scott Harris

David Tompkins

Steve Hastings

Steve Wemyss

Hannah Hockaday

Neill Young

Frank Jonas

 

 

Those voting against

 

David Ashmore

Darren Sanders

Ben Dowling

Lynne Stagg

Suzy Horton

Gerald Vernon-Jackson

Lee Hunt

Matthew Winnington

Leo Madden

Rob Wood

Hugh Mason

Tom Wood

Steve Pitt

 

 

Those members abstaining

 

Stephen Morgan

Yahiya Chowdhury

 

RESOLVED that the Cabinet recommendations contained in minute 43 be approved.

 

Minute 45 - Revenue Budget Monitoring 2016/17 First Quarter

 

Minute 45 was approved unopposed.

77.

Recommendations from the Governance & Audit and Standards Committee held on 16 September 2016 pdf icon PDF 5 KB

To receive and consider the attached report and recommendations from the Governance & Audit & Standards Committee held on 16 September 2016 (minute 53 refers).

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The following minute was opposed.

 

Minute 53 - Amendments to the Arrangements for the Assessment, Consideration and Investigation of Complaints against Councillors

 

The Lord Mayor explained that this referred to the revised version that included some changes to terminology.

 

Minute 53 was opposed.

 

It was

 

Proposed by Councillor Ian Lyon

Seconded by Councillor Scott Harris

 

That the recommendations contained in minute 53 - Proposed Amendments to the Arrangements for the Assessment, Consideration and Investigation of Complaints against Councillors be approved. 

 

As an amendment it was

 

Proposed by Councillor Donna Jones

Seconded by Councillor Gerald Vernon-Jackson

 

To "amend Appendix 1, section 2.2 by replacing:

 

"Any complaint must be received within 30 days of the alleged facts."

 

with

 

"Any complaint should be received within 30 days of the alleged facts, although the Monitoring Officer will consider any late complaint, if there is a proper explanation for its late submission."

 

The mover of the original proposal Councillor Lyon agreed to subsume the amendment standing in the name of Councillor Jones into the revised version of the arrangements for the assessment, consideration and investigation of complaints against councillors.

 

Upon being put to the vote this was CARRIED.

 

RESOLVED that the revised version of the Arrangements for the Assessment, Consideration and Investigation of Complaints against Councillors be adopted incorporating a change to the wording of Section 2.2 to read as follows:

 

"Anonymous complaints will not normally be considered unless the complaint is accompanied by documentary or photographic evidence indicating an exceptionally serious or significant matter. Any complaint should be received within 30 days of the alleged facts, although the Monitoring Officer will consider any late complaint, if there is a proper explanation for its late submission."

 

Minute 54 - Local Elections Cycle

 

This was approved unopposed.

78.

Solent Combined Authority Governance Review and Scheme pdf icon PDF 89 KB

To receive and note the Council report from the Chief Executive which includes an appended report for Cabinet (both to follow).

 

Note - As this issue is formally an Executive (Cabinet) decision, Full Council is precluded from determining the matter. 

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Lord Mayor advised that a report from the Chief Executive had been previously circulated.  He also reminded members that as this issue is formally a Cabinet decision, full council is precluded from determining the matter.

 

Councillor Donna Jones introduced the item explaining that it was here for discussion only.  It was

 

Proposed by Councillor Donna Jones

Seconded by Councillor Luke Stubbs

 

That council notes the report and attachments that are due to be discussed at Cabinet on 12 October 2016. 

 

This was opposed.

 

Council adjourned at 4.45 pm.

 

Council resumed at 4.55 pm.

 

As an amendment it was

 

Proposed by Councillor Gerald Vernon-Jackson

Seconded by Councillor Darren Sanders

 

That the following words be added

 

"The City Council welcomes the devolution of powers to local communities and supports the principle of making decisions at the lowest possible level to meet the needs of Portsmouth better. A new investment of £900 million for Portsmouth and the Solent region, over the next 30 years, could help to transform our local transport infrastructure and drive employment for young people in our area. The Council calls on the Government to consider going further than currently proposed and devolve control of other public services and spending, which could be better run by local communities than remote bureaucrats in Whitehall. Council regrets the low level of response to the consultation on the proposals at this early stage and recognises that this represents a fundamental shift in the government of our region, which requires public support. Council believes that the final deal should be subject to the approval of local people and therefore asks the Cabinet to consider a local poll once the details of any agreed or imposed devolution deal with Southampton and the Isle of Wight are known, particularly the financial distribution and governance elements, before any final decision is taken.

 

The cost of running this poll amounting to £100,000, to be funded from a reduction in the capital programme in relation to the scheme approved in February 2016 entitled "Guildhall Investment (Matched Funding)" which will make available £100,000 in the Revenue Reserve for Capital to support this cost."

 

Following debate, upon being put to the vote the amendment standing in the name of Councillor Vernon-Jackson was LOST.

 

Upon the original proposal by Councillor Donna Jones being put to the vote, this was CARRIED.

 

RESOLVED that Council noted the report and attachments due to be discussed at Cabinet on 12 October 2016.

79.

Notices of Motion

(a)          Make Fair Transitional State Pension Arrangements for 1950's Women

 

Proposed by Councillor Lynne Stagg

Seconded by Councillor Matthew Winnington

 

Portsmouth City Council calls upon the Government to make fair transitional state pension arrangements for all women born on or after 6th April 1951, who have unfairly borne the burden of the increase to the State Pension Age (SPA) with lack of appropriate notification.

 

Hundreds of thousands of women had significant pension changes imposed on them by the Pensions Acts of 1995 and 2011 with little or no personal notification of the changes. Some women had only two years notice of a six-year increase to their state pension age.  Many women born in the 1950's are living in hardship. Retirement plans have been shattered with devastating consequences. Many of these women are already out of the labour market, caring for elderly relatives, providing childcare for grandchildren, or suffer discrimination in the workplace so struggle to find employment.

 

Women born in this decade are suffering financially. These women have worked hard, raised families and paid their tax and national insurance with the expectation that they would be financially secure when reaching 60. It is not the pension age itself that is in dispute - it is widely accepted that women and men should retire at the same time.  The issue is that the rise in the women's state pension age has been too rapid and has happened without sufficient notice being given to the women affected, leaving women with no time to make alternative arrangements.

 

This council recognises the work done by local residents to raise this issue on behalf of the affected women in Portsmouth and the support from many unaffected residents who share this feeling of injustice. Many MPs have backed this campaign, including Portsmouth South's Flick Drummond.

 

Therefore, Portsmouth City Council calls upon the Leader and the Chief Executive to write to the Government to urge them to heed the calls of the petition being delivered to Parliament today and reconsider transitional arrangements for women in Portsmouth and the rest of the UK born on or after 6th April 1951, so that women do not live in hardship due to pension changes they were not told about until it was too late to make alternative arrangements.

 

(b)          Limits on the conversion of family homes into Houses in Multiple Occupation

 

Proposed by Councillor Young

Seconded by Councillor Stubbs

 

In any modern city, a diverse range of housing options are required to match the needs and pockets of the population. This mix includes Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs), however, the council recognise that every community within Portsmouth are unique and distinctive and it is important that we preserve the character of these areas.

 

There is a need to increase the housing supply, but this must be balanced against the widely held concerns there are about the proliferation of HMOs and about the impact this can have on established communities.

 

Portsmouth City Council already has policies that seek to restrict the creation of new HMOs in areas where there is a concentration. These policies are amongst the strongest in the country. However the city also has a shortage of family housing and that most new housing supply is made up of one or two bedroom flats.

 

Planning inspectors can effectively block the implementation of any local plan policy that lacks sufficient justification, making amending policy between plan reviews a risky business. The proper time to develop policy is therefore when the local plan is refreshed, as the whole plan will have to be examined by the inspectorate for policy soundness at that time, meaning any policy signed off then will not be struck down.

 

Council therefore calls on the council leader in her role as Cabinet Member for PRED to consider the options for further restricting policy on HMOs as part of the revised local plan. This may be via a lower percentage limit or by considering the percentage of street frontage in HMO use as an additional criterion.

 

The Council also asks the Council Leader to write to the Minister for Housing and Planning to reflect the views of residents in Portsmouth that there is a need within the city to ensure that family homes in communities are protected as well as the need to further restrict the number of HMOs within the City.

Minutes:

The Lord Mayor advised that there were two notices of motion before council today.

 

(a)          Make Fair Transitional State Pension Arrangements for 1950's Women

 

It was

 

Proposed by Councillor Lynne Stagg

Seconded by Councillor Matthew Winnington

 

That this matter be debated today.

 

It was

 

Proposed by Councillor Donna Jones

Seconded by Councillor Luke Stubbs

 

That this matter should not be debated today but should be referred to the Scrutiny Management Panel for consideration.

 

Upon being put to the vote, the proposal standing in the name of Councillor Donna Jones was CARRIED.

 

RESOLVED that Notice of Motion (a) Make Fair Transitional State Pension Arrangements for 1950's Women, be referred to Scrutiny Management Panel forconsideration.

 

(b)          Limits on the conversion of family homes into Houses in Multiple Occupation

 

It was

 

Proposed by Councillor Neill Young

Seconded by Councillor Luke Stubbs

 

That this matter be debated today.  Upon being put to the vote this was CARRIED.

 

It was

 

Proposed by Councillor Neill Young

Seconded by Councillor Luke Stubbs

 

That notice of motion (b) as set out on the agenda be adopted.

 

As an amendment it was

 

Proposed by Councillor Tom Wood

Seconded by Councillor Lee Hunt

 

"To delete para 4.

 

Add new paragraph 4,

 

Council supports the review into this policy, including the use of Sui Generis applications, currently being undertaken by the cross party Planning Committee and planning officers.

 

Also remove words from paragraph 5.

 

"as part of the revised local plan"."

 

The proposer of the original motion accepted the amendment proposed by Councillor Tom Wood subject to original paragraph 4 not being deleted but preceding proposed new paragraph 4 and the words in paragraph 5 "as part of the revised local plan" being deleted.

 

Following debate, upon being put to the vote, Notice of Motion (b) incorporating the changes set out above was CARRIED.

 

RESOLVED that the following Notice of Motion be adopted

 

"In any modern city, a diverse range of housing options are required to match the needs and pockets of the population. This mix includes Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs), however, the council recognise that every community within Portsmouth are unique and distinctive and it is important that we preserve the character of these areas.

 

There is a need to increase the housing supply, but this must be balanced against the widely held concerns there are about the proliferation of HMOs and about the impact this can have on established communities.

 

Portsmouth City Council already has policies that seek to restrict the creation of new HMOs in areas where there is a concentration. These policies are amongst the strongest in the country. However the city also has a shortage of family housing and that most new housing supply is made up of one or two bedroom flats.

 

Planning inspectors can effectivelyblock the implementation of any local plan policy that lacks sufficient justification, making amending policy between plan reviews a risky business. The proper time to develop policy is therefore when the local plan is refreshed, as the whole plan will have to be examined by the inspectorate for policy soundness at that time, meaning any policy signed off then will not be struck down. Council supports the review into this policy, including the use of Sui Generis applications, currently being undertaken by the cross party Planning Committee and planning officers.

 

Council therefore calls on the council leader in her role as Cabinet Member for PRED to consider the options for further restricting policy on HMOs. This may be via a lower percentage limit or by considering the percentage of street frontage in HMO use as an additional criterion.

 

The Council also asks the Council Leader to write to the Minister for Housing and Planning to reflect the views of residents in Portsmouth that there is a need within the city to ensure that family homes in communities are protected as well as the need to further restrict the number of HMOs within the City."

80.

Questions from Members under Standing Order No 17 pdf icon PDF 80 KB

Minutes:

There were four questions before council, but question 2 was withdrawn.

 

Question No 1 was from Councillor Steve Hastings

 

"In the light of new charges at amenity tips forced on this city by Hampshire County Council, could the cabinet member please tell us what action is being taken to combat fly tipping and more generally litter in this city?"

 

This and supplementary questions were answered by the Cabinet Member for Environment & Community Safety.

 

Question No 2 was from Councillor Yahiya Chowdhury to the Cabinet Member for Traffic & Transportation but was withdrawn.

 

Question No 3 was from Councillor Stephen Morgan to the Cabinet Member for Resources.

 

"Protecting the Portsmouth Counselling Service

 

The Labour Group is very concerned by the future of the Portsmouth Counselling Service. This charity provides invaluable services to those in need. Could the Cabinet Member provide assurances to this chamber that everything possible is being done to protect this vital service for the people of Portsmouth?"

 

This and supplementary questions were answered by the Cabinet Member for Resources, Councillor Lee Mason.

 

The 45 minutes allowed for questions expired before question 4 could be put and so in accordance with Standing Order 17(h) a written reply would be circulated to members.