Agenda and decisions

A copy of the record of the previous decisions taken at Cabinet on 22 March 2022 is attached.

RECOMMENDED 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 confidentiality of the appendices 1, 2, 3, 5 and 6 was upheld.

Purpose

To provide Cabinet with the information required to inform the decision on the

future delivery method for provision of waste collection services in the City at the end of the current contract period and sets out the implementation timescales involved in the various options.

RECOMMENDATION

1      Cabinet is asked to consider the options for the City's future waste collection service with careful consideration of the opportunities and risks, including the financial consequence to the City Council for each option. Cabinet has made it clear to officers that their preference is to bring the service back in house. In this case it is a finely balanced judgement, and this report seeks a decision on the delivery model from Cabinet.

·       Waste collection services are brought 'in house'

·       Waste collection services are subject to procurement for an external contractor

2      Cabinet notes that either of the options will require the work to implement the decision to start immediately to ensure service continuity.

3      Cabinet takes this opportunity to commend the work of the PCC (Portsmouth City Council) waste management team and the contractor, BIFFA municipal for their response to the pandemic in maintaining the City's collection services, noting the largely uninterrupted service delivery throughout the pandemic, and additionally the impressive delivery of service improvements throughout the pandemic, including the roll out of additional food waste rounds.

1.     Waste collection services be brought in house.

2.     Noted the work to implement the decision to start immediately to ensure service continuity.

3.     Commended the work of the Portsmouth City Council waste management team and the contractor BIFFA municipal for their response to the pandemic in maintaining the city's collection services, noting the largely uninterrupted service delivery throughout the pandemic and additionally the impressive delivery of service improvements throughout the pandemic, including the roll out of additional food waste rounds.

Purpose.

The purpose of this report is to set out the response of officers to the Housing & Social Care Scrutiny Panel's recommendations arising from a review of procedures and performance of Portsmouth City Council (PCC) and Housing Associations in relation to response repairs and maintenance.

RECOMMENDED that:

1.    The Panel is thanked for its work in undertaking the review.

2.    The Cabinet notes and supports the recommendations of the review, which are listed in section 4 of the report and response of officers.

1.     Thanked the panel for its work in undertaking the review.

2.       Noted and supports the recommendations of the review, which are listed in section 4 of the report and responses of officers.

Purpose.

1.    To update Cabinet as to the changes in structure of Gazprom Marketing and Trading Limited (" Gazprom M&T") trading as Gazprom Energy and the control of their parent company, Gazprom Germania, since the Cabinet decision in March 2022.

2.    To provide context, evidence and reassurance that conditions have significantly changed since March 2022, and that further, positive developments are likely in the coming weeks and months.

3.    To provide evidence that Gazprom M&T, nor its parent company Gazprom Germania, are directly buying Russian gas.

4.    To show that many of the risks associated with terminating the existing corporate gas contract ("the Contract") highlighted in the report to Cabinet in March 2022 (Appendix A of this report), remain.

5.       In light of these changes to approve recommendations which amends the decision made by Cabinet in March 2022, which instructed officers to terminate the contract with Gazprom M&T.

RECOMMENDED that

1.    Consider the content of this report, particularly the breakage of the link between Gazprom M&T with the Russian state, which was made by the change in ownership of the single shareholder; from the Russian Federation to Gazprom Germania on the 4thApril 2022.

2.    Notes the change in control of Gazprom Germania, the parent company and single shareholder of Gazprom M&T, enacted by the German Government resulting in Gazprom Germania being under the control of the German Federal Network Agency 4th April 2022.

3.    Cabinet notes that Gazprom M&T are not placing direct orders for Russian gas.

4.    Cabinet notes that Gazprom Germania is not directly placing orders for Russian gas and is prevented from doing so, should it wish to, by Russian sanctions.

5.    Cabinet notes the financial and legal risk, detailed within this paper and the paper of March 2022, associated with terminating the Contract in June 2022.

6.       Cabinet instructs officers in light of the changed circumstances not to terminate the Contract with Gazprom M&T on or before the 30thJune 2022, in line with the contract conditions.

1.     Considered the content of the report, particularly the breakage of the link between Gazprom M&T with the Russian state, which was made by the change in ownership of the single shareholder; form the Russian Federation to Gazprom Germania on 4 April 2022.

2.     Noted the change in control of Gazprom Germania, the parent company and single shareholder of Gazprom M&T, enacted by the German Government resulting in Gazprom Germania being under the control of the German Federal Network Agency 4 April 2022.

3.     Noted that Gazprom Germania is not directly placing orders for Russian gas.

4.     Noted that Gazprom Germania is not directly placing orders for Russian gas and is prevented from doing so, should it wish to, by Russian sanctions.

5.     Noted the financial and legal risk, detailed within this paper and the paper of March 2022, associated with terminating the contract in June 2022.

6.     Instructs officers in light of the changed circumstances not to terminate the contract with Gazprom M&T on or before 30 June 2022, in line with the contract conditions.

Purpose.

To outline the assistance being provided to residents of Portsmouth in financial hardship, making use of the Household Support Fund made available by the Department for Work and Pensions.

RECOMMENDED that the Cabinet note the report.

Noted the report.

Please see supplementary item under public reports pack for the report.

Noted the report.

Purpose.

To agree appointments to represent the council on the governing bodies of the outside organisations listed in Appendix 1 for the 2022/ 23 municipal year.

RECOMMENDED that

1.     Cabinet agrees appointments to represent the Council on those outside organisations set out in Appendix 1 for the 2022/23 municipal year; and

2.     Cabinet agrees Member Champion positions and appointments for the 2022/23 municipal year.

Member Champions.

Heritage - Cllr Lee Hunt

LGBTQ+ & Young People - deferred to give the Young People a chance to interview the nominees and put forward their recommendation to Cabinet.

Armed Forces Liaison - Cllr Gerald Vernon-Jackson with Cllr Tom Coles as deputy.

Third Sector & City of Service - Cllr Stuart Brown with Cllrs Asghar Shah and Lee Mason as deputies.

Nature - Cllr Kimberley Barrett.

Women, Children & Domestic Violence - Cllr Kirsty Mellor

Purpose.

The purpose of this report is to provide context to the council's Modern Slavery Transparency Statement, progress against the improvement plan and to seek approval to publish the statement on the council's website (appendix 1).

RECOMMENDED that the Cabinet approves:

1.    The Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking Statement for the signature of the Leader and publication on the council's website (see appendix 1) and

2.    The programme of work set out in item 10 of this report.

3.    Full Council is asked to note the decision of the cabinet to approve and publish the statement.

1.     Approved the Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking Statement for the signature of the Leader and publication on the council's website

2.    Approved the programme of work set out in item 10 of this report.

3.    Full Council is asked to note the decision of the Cabinet to approve and publish the statement.

Purpose

To update the Cabinet on progress with development of the proposed new all-weather pitches and pavilion at King George V Playing Fields (the "Scheme"); and to seek necessary delegations to enable the Scheme to continue moving forward in a timely fashion.

RECOMMENDED that Cabinet:

i.               Note progress with the King George V Playing Fields Scheme and plans for continued development of the Scheme;

ii.             Delegate authority to the Director of Finance and Resources to authorise the entering into a grant agreement for the Scheme that includes a clawback period (in the event that the facilities are no longer be used for the activities the grant was awarded for) once the final terms and conditions of funding are known; and

iii.            Authorise the formal advertising of disposal of open space, which will be the result of granting a lease to an operator.

1.     Noted progress with the King George V Playing Fields Scheme and plans for continued development of the scheme.

2.    Delegated authority to the Director of Finance and Resources to authorise the entering into a grant agreement for the scheme that includes a clawback period (in the event that the facilities are no longer used for the activities the grant was awarded for) once the final terms and conditions of funding are known and

3.    Authorised the formal advertising of disposal of open space, which will be the result of granting a lease to an operator.

Purpose.

The purpose of this report is to set out the response of officers to the Traffic, Environment and Community Safety (TECS) Scrutiny Panel's recommendations arising from a review into the accessibility of Portsmouth's transport network.

RECOMMENDED that Cabinet:

1.    Thank the panel for its work in undertaking the review;

2.    Note and support the 40 recommendations of the review, which are listed in section 4 and appendix B of the report;

3.    Note and support the recommendations listed in 4.2.1 to 4.2.30 which are in progress and the responses from of officers detailing how these are being met;

4.    Note and support recommendations listed in 4.3.1 to 4.3.10 and the officers comments that these be accepted and actioned only once funding and resources are identified.

1.     Thanked the panel for its work in undertaking this review.

2.    Noted and supported the 40 recommendations of the review, which are listed in section 4 and appendix B of the report.

3.    Noted and supported the recommendations listed in 4.2.1 to 4.2.30 which are in progress and the responses from officers detailing how these are being met.

4.    Noted and supported recommendations listed in 4.3.1 to 4.3.10 and the officers comments that these be accepted and actioned only once funding and resources are identified.

Please see supplementary item under public reports pack for the report.

1.     Noted the content of the report.

2.    Recommended that Full Council approve the recommendations of the report and note the Cabinet's regret that Government has not funded the NHS sufficiently to meet its needs.

Please see supplementary item under public reports pack for the report.

1.     Noted the progression of the Milton Neighbourhood Plan to this point.

2.    Accepted all modifications to the Milton Neighbourhood Plan recommended by the Examiner together with the officer's amendments, which provide additional clarity on the modifications made by the Examiner.

3.    Approved all appropriate actions to progress the Milton Neighbourhood Plan to referendum.  A date for the referendum is set for 18 August 2022.

4.    Approved the proposed referendum area as indicated on the attached map.

5.    Approved carrying out the proposed referendum with associated costs and publicity (cost to be recouped from government grant).

6.    Thanked members of the Milton Neighbourhood Planning Forum for their hard work over the years and bringing this in such a fine form.

This report will follow.

1.     Approved the draft Portsmouth Enhanced Partnership Plan and Scheme, for submission to the Department for Transport by 30 June 2022.

2.    Delegated authority to the Cabinet Member for Transport and Transportation in consultation with the Director of Regeneration and the Section 151 Officer to agree any minor amendments to the Enhanced Partnership Plan and Scheme that may be required to take account of future funding changes and policy announcements.

3.    Delegated authority to the Cabinet Member for Traffic and Transportation in consultation with the Director of Regeneration for the implementation of the Enhanced Partnership Plan and Scheme as set out in this report.

4.    Noted that the Enhanced Partnership Plan and Scheme will be monitored through the Enhanced Partnership Board.

Approved option 3 and the associated Policy at Appendix 1.

Award £150.00 to each household in bands E-H receiving local council tax support on 01 April 2022. (Estimated cost £9,300). An application window be opened for two months, during which demand can be assessed. Applications will be open to:

·       Residents liable for council tax in properties banded E-H on 01 April 2022 in receipt of Pension Credit Guarantee Credit, Housing Benefit, Universal Credit, Working Tax Credit or Child Tax Credit or any other out of work benefit on 01 April 2022, where there is no eligibility to local council tax support. In this instance an application from the energy payer will be required.

·       Households which are the energy payer occupying band A-D properties on 01 April 2022 that are excluded from payment under the core 'Council Tax Rebate' scheme. In this instance an application from the energy payer will be required.

·       HMO households occupying band A-H properties that are excluded from payment under the core' Core Tax Rebate' scheme. In the instance an application from the energy payer will be required.

·       Recipients of local council tax support who attract funding from the core scheme, may be considered for top up support from any underspend from the 5 www.portsmouth.gov.uk Discretionary Fund once the application window has closed. This will be at the discretion of the Council