Agenda and decisions

RECOMMENDED that the records of the previous decisions taken at Cabinet on 1 December 2020, 17 December 2020 and 5 January 2021 be agreed as a correct record.

Purpose.

To update the Cabinet on the progress and propse further extensions to the separate food waste collection trials.

 RECOMMENDED that the Cabinet:

i)       Note the progress and outcomes of the existing two food waste collection round trials and agree to continue these for a further 12 months from September 2021.

ii)      Approve an extension of a further two rounds for a 12 month period from September 2021 at a cost of £300,000 and that this be funded from the Cabinet Reserve but subject to the following:

a.      Full Council approval on 9^th February 2021 of the mainstreaming of the current 2 Food Waste Recycling rounds into base budgets at a cost of £300,000 (including the associated necessary savings to fund it).

b.      Full Council approval on 9^th February 2021 of the Capital Scheme to fund the associated Capital Costs of £340,000 which includes 2 additional waste vehicles, additional bins and receptacles plus project costs.

DECISIONS

The Cabinet:

i)     Noted the progress and outcomes of the existing two food waste collection round trials and agree to continue these for a further 12 months from September 2021.

ii)    Approved an extension of a further two rounds for a 12 month period from September 2021 at a cost of £300,000 and that this be funded from the Cabinet Reserve but subject to the following:

a.    Full Council approval on 9^th February 2021 of the mainstreaming of the current 2 Food Waste Recycling rounds into base budgets at a cost of £300,000 (including the associated necessary savings to fund it).

b.   Full Council approval on 9^th February 2021 of the Capital Scheme to fund the associated Capital Costs of £340,000 which includes 2 additional waste vehicles, additional bins and receptacles plus project costs.

Purpose.

It is proposed that the lottery be transferred to HIVE Portsmouth to operate as a community lottery.

RECOMMENDED that the Cabinet approve the transfer of the Portsmouth Lottery to HIVE Portsmouth as the community strategic partner.

DECISION
The transfer of the Portsmouth Lottery to HIVE Portsmouth as the community strategic partner was approved.

Purpose

1.    The primary purpose of this report is to set the Council's overall Budget for the forthcoming year 2021/22 and the associated level of Council Tax necessary to fund that Budget.

2.    The report makes recommendations on the level of Council spending for 2021/22 and the level of Council Tax in the context of the Council's Medium Term Financial Strategy with its stated aim as follows:

Overall Aim

'In year' expenditure matches 'in year' income over the medium term whilst continuing the drive towards regeneration of the city, being innovative, creative whilst protecting the most important and valued services.

3.    The recommended Budget for 2021/22 has been prepared on the basis of the following:

·       The Council resolution of 11 February 2020 that set an overall savings requirement of £1.0m

·       An increase in the level of Council Tax for 2021/22 for general purposes of 1.99%

·       The flexibility to increase the level of Council Tax for an "Adult Social Care Precept", within the limits set by Central Government at 3.0%, and the direct passporting of that additional funding to Adult Social Care to provide for otherwise unfunded cost pressures.

4.    This report also provides a comprehensive revision of the Council's rolling 3 year future financial forecast for the new period 2022/23 to 2024/25 (i.e. compared to the previous forecast covering 2021/22 to 2023/24, this forecast now replaces the forecast for the previous 3 year period).

5.    The new forecast considers the future outlook for both spending and funding, and in that context, wider recommendations are made regarding the levels of reserves to be maintained and additional contributions to the Capital Programme in order to meet the Council's aspirations for the City as well as maintaining the Council's overall financial resilience throughout this uncertain period.

6.    In particular, this report sets out the following:

(a)  The challenging and uncertain financial climate facing the City Council in 2021/22 and beyond, and the consequential budget deficits that result

(b)  A brief summary of the Medium Term Financial Strategy for achieving the necessary savings

(c)  The revised Revenue Budget and Cash Limits for the current year

(d)  The Local Government Finance Settlement for 2021/22

(e) The Business Rate income for 2021/22 and future years

(f)  The Council Tax base and recommended Council Tax for 2021/22

(g) The forecast Collection Fund balance as at 31 March 2021 for both Council Tax and Business Rates

(h)  The detailed indicative savings (Appendix C) that could be made by each   Portfolio / Committee in meeting its overall savings amount in order to provide the Council with the assurance necessary to approve the recommended savings amount for each Portfolio / Committee

(i)  The proposed Revenue Budget and Cash Limits for 2021/22

(j) The forecast Revenue Budgets and revised Savings Requirements for   2022/23, 2023/24 and 2024/25

(k)  Estimated General Reserves over the period 2020/21 to 2024/25

(l)  The Medium Term Resource Strategy (MTRS) Reserve, its financial position and proposed use to achieve cashable efficiencies

(m) The proposed Capital Programme and "new starts" (including the Housing Investment Capital Programme) for 2020/21 and future years in accordance with the Capital Strategy

(n) The statement of the S. 151 Officer on the robustness of the budget in   compliance with the requirements of the Local Government Act 2003.

The detailed recommendations are set out in section 3 of the report.

Note: This report that was marked to follow was published on 27 January 2021.

RECOMMENDED to Council that the recommendations set out in section 3 of the report be approved subject to the following correction:

That the following amounts be now calculated by the Council for the financial year 2021/22 in accordance with Section 31 and Sections 34 to 36 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992.

Purpose

To update the Cabinet on the current position of the New Theatre Royal Portsmouth and to outline the case for purchase of the theatre in order to retain the building for public use.

RECOMMENDED that the Cabinet authorise officers to complete the negotiations for the sale of the freehold of the New Theatre Royal to Portsmouth City Council in order to retain the building for public use.

DECISION

The Cabinet authorised officers to complete the negotiations for the sale of the freehold of the New Theatre Royal to Portsmouth City Council in order to retain the building for public use.

Purpose.

To update the Cabinet on the Portsmouth International Port's infrastructure challenges and funding shortfall for handling European Union trade.

RECOMMENDED that the Cabinet note the report.

Purpose.

This report seeks appointment of members to the Shareholder Committee in order for the committee to be incorporated and members to work the City Solicitor in taking forward the below noted recommendations.

RECOMMENDED that the Cabinet:

i. Appoint members of the Shareholder Committee in accordance with the terms of appointment as per the Cabinet Report of 26 March 2020 (as detailed below);

ii. Appoint members of the Shareholder Committee to work with the City solicitor to finalise terms of reference and incorporate the Local Government Lawyer best practice guidance (at appendix A) to ensure the necessary constitution changes take place.

Note: This report that was marked to follow was published on 27 January 2021.

DECISION

The Cabinet appointed:

i. Members of the Shareholder Committee in accordance with the terms of appointment as per the Cabinet Report of 26 March 2020 (as detailed below);

ii. Members of the Shareholder Committee to work with the City solicitor to finalise terms of reference and incorporate the Local Government Lawyer best practice guidance (at appendix A) to ensure the necessary constitution changes take place.

The decision relating to the report entitled Cosham Business Sites is a Key Decision for the purposes of the Forward Plan as defined in Article 13 of the Constitution but was not included in the Forward Plan for the period from 4 January 2021 until 23 February 2021 and is therefore an omission from the Forward Plan and also an omission of explanation of exempt information contained in the exempt appendix.

Article 13 defines a Key decision as an Executive decision which is likely to:

·       Result in the council incurring expenditure or the making of savings which are significant having regard to the local authority's budget for the service or function to which the decision relates, or

·       Be significant in terms of its effects on communities living or working in an area comprising 2 or more wards in the city's administrative area.

The Chair of the City Council's Scrutiny Management Panel has been notified of this decision being made, in accordance with the City Council's Constitution (General Exceptions, Section 15).  As the decision must be taken by such a date that it is impracticable to defer the decision until it has been included in the next Forward Plan, this decision will not be subject to call-in.

RECOMMENDED that:

1.    The omission to the Forward Plan for 4 January to 23 February 2021 be noted.

2.    Publication of the omission notice be noted.

DECISION

1.    The omission to the Forward Plan for 4 January to 23 February 2021 was noted.

2.    Publication of the omission notice was noted.

In view of the contents of the appendices to the following item on the agenda the Cabinet is RECOMMENDED to adopt the following motion:

“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.

(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 dispose of the exempt documentation as confidential waste.

DECISION

RESOLVED 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 appendices B, D & F of the Cosham Development Sites report as it contains information defined as exempt in Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act, 1972.

Purpose.

This report sets out the opportunity to assemble and redevelop land west of Cosham District Centre High Street through a series of property transactions with its public sector partners.

Land assembled through the proposed transactions, together with the council's existing property interests, will create the opportunity to masterplan the Western Central corridor of the Cosham District in partnership with community service providers to create significant high quality development and growth that supports the centre's vitality and viability.

The report seeks authority for disposal and acquisition of sites to facilitate the future redevelopment of the Cosham District.

RECOMMENDED that the Cabinet:

Approves and authorises that:

1.    Subject to the approval and successful negotiation of recommendations 2.2 and 2.3 the Freehold of the land known as Portsmouth Craft and Manufacturing Industries (PCMI), 85 Northern Road, Cosham, Portsmouth PO6 3EP as shown edged red on the plan at Appendix A and forming part of title PM24912 be sold freehold to the acquiring party (for the consideration outlined confidentially in Appendix B).

2.    The Freehold of the land known as Cosham Fire Station, Wayte Street, Cosham, Portsmouth PO6 3BS as shown edged red on the plan at Appendix C and forming part of title PM35957 and PM37047 be acquired by Portsmouth City Council (for the consideration set out confidentially in Appendix D).

3.    The freehold of land known as Cosham Police Station, Wayte Street, Cosham, Portsmouth PO6 3BS as shown edged red on the plan at Appendix E and forming part of title PM13256 be acquired by Portsmouth City Council (for the consideration set out in confidential Appendix F.)

4.    The Director of Regeneration and City Solicitor be authorised to finalise negotiations, prepare and complete the necessary documentation in line with the intent of the Heads of Terms, to appoint a third party solicitor and to complete all necessary documentation in order to undertake 1, 2 & 3 above.

And that the Cabinet recommends to City Council that:

5.    Authority is delegated to the Director of Finance and Section 151 Officer in consultation with the Leader of the Council to allocate all proceeds of the sale of PCMI, (85 Northern Road) to be used to acquire Cosham Fire Station and Cosham Police Station and that any surplus proceeds remaining are used to bring forward the development opportunity.

This report that was originally marked to follow was published on 26 January. 

DECISIONS

The Cabinet approved and authorised that:

1.    Subject to the approval and successful negotiation of recommendations 2.2 and 2.3 the Freehold of the land known as Portsmouth Craft and Manufacturing Industries (PCMI), 85 Northern Road, Cosham, Portsmouth PO6 3EP as shown edged red on the plan at Appendix A and forming part of title PM24912 be sold freehold to the acquiring party (for the consideration outlined confidentially in Appendix B).

2.    The Freehold of the land known as Cosham Fire Station, Wayte Street, Cosham, Portsmouth PO6 3BS as shown edged red on the plan at Appendix C and forming part of title PM35957 and PM37047 be acquired by Portsmouth City Council (for the consideration set out confidentially in Appendix D).

3.    The freehold of land known as Cosham Police Station, Wayte Street, Cosham, Portsmouth PO6 3BS as shown edged red on the plan at Appendix E and forming part of title PM13256 be acquired by Portsmouth City Council (for the consideration set out in confidential Appendix F.)

4.    The Director of Regeneration and City Solicitor be authorised to finalise negotiations, prepare and complete the necessary documentation in line with the intent of the Heads of Terms, to appoint a third party solicitor and to complete all necessary documentation in order to undertake 1, 2 & 3 above.

And that the Cabinet recommends to City Council that:

5.    Authority is delegated to the Director of Finance and Section 151 Officer in consultation with the Leader of the Council to allocate all proceeds of the sale of PCMI, (85 Northern Road) to be used to acquire Cosham Fire Station and Cosham Police Station and that any surplus proceeds remaining are used to bring forward the development opportunity.