Agenda

At the full Council meeting on 15 November 2019 a motion on Inclusive Relationships Education was presented by Cllr Suzy Horton and passed by the full council. This motion included a resolution to ask cabinet to appoint an elected Member LGBT+ children and young people's champion.(Details of the duties of this role is attached.)

The champion role was open to all members as outlined in the MIS item that went on 7th February (attached). Expressions of interest were received from 4 members, Cllr Suzy Horton, Cllr Chris Atwell, Cllr Claire Udy and Cllr George Fielding.

The members met with young people from the 4U group, Portsmouth Pride Youth Society and Miltoncross School Diversity group on 28th February  (unfortunately Cllr Fielding was unable to attend).  Each member gave a short introduction to themselves.  This was followed by some informal discussions with the young people in small groups and then some well-considered questions were posed from the floor to each of the members in turn.  The young people were really impressed by all the members and there was some debate about whether they could do the role jointly or whether was important to have one named overall Champion.

The young people gave a very clear message that they welcomed the support from all of those who had expressed an interest. They wanted all of these members to work together to champion LGBT+ young people but a majority selected Cllr Claire Udy as their overall Champion.

This item is to seek the endorsement of Cabinet in accepting the choice of the young people who were present.

RECOMMENDATION: to appoint Cllr Claire Udy as Portsmouth's LBGT+ Children and Young People's Champion and to ask Cllr Udy to undertake this role with support and input from Cllrs Suzy Horton, Chris Atwell and George Fielding.

The Cabinet Member for Health, Wellbeing & Social Care has asked for an urgent item to be brought to the meeting on the current situation and this will therefore be to follow and is likely to be presented on the day of the meeting.

The information report by the Director of Housing, Neighbourhoods and Building Services, is to update the Cabinet on the future of waste collections and disposal infrastructure, and the Project Integra partnership.

The information report by the Director of Housing, Neighbourhood and Building Services is to update the Cabinet as to the ongoing work to make the Council's non-domestic building portfolio more energy efficient and implementing renewable energy technologies where appropriate.

The joint report by the Director of Regeneration & Director of Housing, Neighbourhood and Building Services seeks to give a progress report on the decisions and actions agreed in October 2019. Also to report back on the key strands of work associated with the decommissioning and deconstruction (demolition) feasibility of Leamington House and Horatia House. This also provides Cabinet with a summary of the findings from the deconstruction surveys, as carried out to date and to confirm the preferred way forward, which is now the basis of the tender process being undertaken by officers. The report contains updates on the tender processes and other critical path work being undertaken in line with previous cabinet decisions taken.

RECOMMENDED that Cabinet:

(1)       Notes the proposed method, programme and budget cost of the deconstruction works and associated master planning exercise.

(2)       Delegates authority to the Director of Regeneration in consultation with the Director of Housing, Neighbourhood and Building Services to run the procurement for the appropriate contractors to carry out the deconstruction work.

(3)       Notes the further discussions with Homes England.

A report by the Director of Culture, Leisure and Regulatory Services was to follow. The purpose of the report is to outline to Cabinet the proposal of a strategic partnership agreement between the HIVE Portsmouth and Portsmouth City Council.  (Report published on 26 March and to be subject to urgent decision by the Chief Executive under Standing Order 58.)

“That, under the provisions of Section 100A of the Local Government Act, 1972 as amended by the Local Government (Access to Information) Act, 1985, the press and public be excluded for the consideration of the following item on the grounds that the report(s) contain information defined as exempt in Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act, 1972”.

The public interest in maintaining the exemption must outweigh the public interest in disclosing the information.

Under the Local Authorities (Executive Arrangements) (Meetings and Access to Information) England Regulations 2012, regulation 5, the reasons for exemption of the listed item is shown below.

Members of the public may make representation as to why the item should be held in open session.  A statement of the Council’s response to representations received will be given at the meeting so that this can be taken into account when members decide whether or not to deal with the item under exempt business.

(NB     The exempt/confidential committee papers on the agenda will contain information which is commercially, legally or personally sensitive and should not be divulged to third parties.  Members are reminded of standing order restrictions on the disclosure of exempt information and are invited to return their exempt documentation to the Local Democracy Officer at the conclusion of the meeting for shredding.)

The report by the City Solicitor (with exempt appendix A) sets out the basis upon which it is necessary and prudent to structure the Ravelin Group of companies. The basis for this is to provide an appropriate vehicle to enable company activity to occur that is efficient, legally accountable and transparent. The need to structure as suggested is to enable PCC to trade and generate profit beyond merely covering the initial cost of the activity.

RECOMMENDED that:

(1)       The City Solicitor prepares and drafts a protocol (drawn from best practice and expert advice - attached at Appendix A and Appendix D) approved  by the Governance and Audit Committee as a reference and guide for the overall corporate governance structure (i.e. company structure and board composition) relating to PCC owned companies and incorporated within the PCC's constitution.

(2)       In accordance with the protocol at Appendix A, that the following be approved in respect of the Ravelin Group companies:

(i)         A shareholder committee is established and is responsible for the oversight of the Ravelin Group companies and all other future company subsidiaries (where relevant).

(ii)        The Ravelin Group Shareholder Committee and draft terms of reference set out in detail in Appendix B are approved.

(iii)       Following the approval of the establishment of the Ravelin Group shareholder committee the previous delegations as contained within the cabinet decision meeting dated 26 February 2019 shall cease and the shareholder committee shall become the sole body exercising the shareholder functions of Ravelin Group companies.

(iv)      Any amendments to finalise  the corporate structure of the Ravelin Group and all relevant subsidiaries required to maximise the tax efficiency of the Ravelin Group and any other PCC companies is delegated to the City Solicitor in consultation with the Leader of the Council and the S.151 Officer.