Agenda and decisions

A copy of the record of the previous decisions taken at Cabinet on 9 January 2024 is attached.

 

Purpose

To present a framework for the future provision and management of cemeteries in Portsmouth.

 

RECOMMENDED that the Cabinet

1.    Give approval for distribution of the cemeteries delivery plan to key user groups for consultation.

2.    If approval is given, agree that the delivery plan will be reviewed following receipt of any responses and brought back to Cabinet at a future date for adoption.

 

 

1.    Approved that the Cemeteries Delivery Plan is distributed to key user groups for consultation.

2.    Agreed that the Delivery Plan will be reviewed following receipt of any responses and brought back to Cabinet at a future date for adoption.

 

Purpose

To seek Cabinet approval to formally adopt the Parks and Open Spaces Strategy.

 

RECOMMENDED that the Cabinet formally adopt the Parks and Open Spaces Strategy.

Formally adopted the Parks and Open Spaces Strategy.

Purpose

To update on the Community Inclusion Grant scheme.

 

The Cabinet noted the report which is for information only and is not subject to call-in.

Purpose

To identify the approved and intended spending allocations under the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.

The Cabinet noted the report which is for information only and is subject to call-in.

Purpose

1.    To highlight the impact if the Government decides not to extend Household Support Fund (HSF) grant to local authorities from 1 April 2024, and what this would mean for the Council's ability to support residents affected by the cost of living crisis.

2.    To make recommendations for the Council to continue to provide cost of living support to residents in financial hardship during the financial year April 2024 to March 2025, subject to the Council budget-setting process and any announcement from Government on HSF or other funding for local authorities to provide cost of living support.

 

RECOMMENDED that the Cabinet

1.    Approves the plan to deliver cost of living support to residents through the service delivery outlined in Appendix 1, subject to the Council budget-setting process and any announcement from Government on HSF or other funding for local authorities to provide cost of living support.

2.    Delegates to the Director of Housing, Neighbourhood and Building Services, the implementation of the plan and adjustments to the plan and spend, in the event that other funding sources become available, in agreement with the Leader and S.151 officer. 

3.    Asks the Tackling Poverty Coordinator to continue to work with partner agencies and residents to ensure we have a joined up, partnership approach to cost of living support, making best use of resources across the statutory, voluntary and community sectors.

4.    Notes the Leader's letters sent to the Secretaries of State at the Department for Work and Pensions and the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities shown in Appendix 2, and agrees to continue to lobby Government for additional funding for Local Authorities, to enable us to provide more comprehensive local welfare provision and support to residents affected by the ongoing cost of living crisis.

5.    Places on record their thanks for the cross-directorate working group which has supported the implementation of the delivery of the Household Support Fund in 2023/24 and produced a plan to sustain a package of cost of living support throughout 2024/25.

6.    Also places on record a note of special thanks to the teams across the Council who have delivered support to residents affected by the cost of living crisis, and to the Council's Tackling Poverty Coordinator and the Household Support Fund delivery team who have administered the HSF in 2023/24. The setting up of a delivery team, designing application processes to deliver the grant to households throughout the city in the same financial year the grant was received is noted as exemplary work. 

 

1.    Approved the plan to deliver cost of living support to residents through the service delivery outlined in Appendix 1, subject to the Council budget-setting process and any announcement from Government on HSF or other funding for local authorities to provide cost of living support.

2.    Delegated to the Director of Housing, Neighbourhood and Building Services, the implementation of the plan and adjustments to the plan and spend, in the event that other funding sources become available, in agreement with the Leader and S.151 officer. 

3.    Asked the Tackling Poverty Coordinator to continue to work with partner agencies and residents to ensure we have a joined up, partnership approach to cost of living support, making best use of resources across the statutory, voluntary and community sectors.

4.    Noted the Leader's letters sent to the Secretaries of State at the Department for Work and Pensions and the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities shown in Appendix 2, and agrees to continue to lobby Government for additional funding for Local Authorities, to enable us to provide more comprehensive local welfare provision and support to residents affected by the ongoing cost of living crisis.

5.    Placed on record their thanks for the cross-directorate working group which has supported the implementation of the delivery of the Household Support Fund in 2023/24 and produced a plan to sustain a package of cost of living support throughout 2024/25.

6.    Also placed on record a note of special thanks to the teams across the Council who have delivered support to residents affected by the cost of living crisis, and to the Council's Tackling Poverty Coordinator and the Household Support Fund delivery team who have administered the HSF in 2023/24.  The setting up of a delivery team, designing application processes to deliver the grant to households throughout the city in the same financial year the grant was received is noted as exemplary work. 

 

Purpose

To seek approval of the attached Council Tax Support Fund policy.

 

RECOMMENDED that the Cabinet

1.    Agree that where funds remain available after making reductions as outlined in the core scheme's provisions, that Portsmouth City Council apply the discount as described within the core scheme to those chargepayers who become eligible for LCTS in respect of the 2023/24 financial year between 03 March 2023 and 31 March 2024.

2.    Should it become apparent that funding will be remaining above what is required for the activity detailed in recommendation 1, the Council will use its discretion to further support vulnerable households in receipt of LCTS where hardship has been identified through the council tax recovery process.

3.    Approve the proposed policy accompanying this report.

 

 

 

1.    Agreed that where funds remain available after making reductions as outlined in the core scheme's provisions, that Portsmouth City Council apply the discount as described within the core scheme to those chargepayers who become eligible for LCTS in respect of the 2023/24 financial year between 03 March 2023 and 31 March 2024. Any award will be calculated in the same way as those residents that received support from the core scheme within their 2023/24 annual bill. This will, in effect, treat all new recipients of LCTS in the same way as those that were receiving LCTS when annual council tax bills were prepared.

2.    Agreed that should it become apparent that funding will be remaining above what is required for the activity detailed in 2.1, the Council will use its discretion to further support vulnerable households in receipt of LCTS where hardship has been identified through the council tax recovery process.

3.    Approved the proposed policy accompanying the report.

 

Purpose

To seek confirmation of the Council's intentions in respect of Council Tax premiums.

 

RECOMMENDED that the Cabinet

1.    Agree to recommend that Full Council resolves to implement a 100% premium for second homes which will be effective from 01 April 2025, the earliest opportunity for the Council to introduce this change.

2.    Agree to further recommend that Full Council resolves to implement a 100% premium for properties that have been empty and unfurnished for a period between 1 and 5 years. This will change to current policy of charging a 100% premium where a property is empty and unfurnished for period between 2 and 5 years.

 

1.    Recommended that Full Council resolves to implement a 100% premium for second homes which will be effective from 01 April 2025, the earliest opportunity for the Council to introduce this change.

2.    Further recommended that Full Council resolves to implement a 100% premium for properties that have been empty and unfurnished for a period between 1 and 5 years. This will change to current policy of charging a 100% premium where a property is empty and unfurnished for period between 2 and 5 years.

 

Purpose

1.    The primary purpose of this report is to set the Council's overall Budget for the forthcoming year 2024/25 and the associated level of Council Tax necessary to fund that Budget.

2.    The report makes recommendations on the level of Council spending for 2024/25 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 and protecting the most important and valued services.

 

3.    The recommended Budget for 2024/25 has been prepared on the basis of the following:

·        The requirement to meet savings amounting to £2.0m to achieve a "structurally balanced budget" and accommodate the substantial cost pressures being driven by extraordinary levels of inflation and service demand

·        An increase in the level of Council Tax for 2024/25 for general purposes of 2.99%

·        The flexibility to increase the level of Council Tax for an "Adult Social Care Precept", within the limits set by Central Government at 2.0%, and the direct passporting of that additional funding to Adult Social Care to provide for otherwise unfunded cost pressures including the 9.8% increase in the National Living Wage.

 

4.    This report also provides a comprehensive revision of the Council's rolling 3 Year Forward Financial Forecast for the new period 2025/26 to 2027/28 (i.e. compared to the previous forecast covering 2024/25 to 2026/27, 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 needs and 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 impact of the dramatic change in the financial environment over the past 2 years and how that legacy translates into the financial challenges now presented for 2024/25 and beyond

(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 2024/25

(e)    The Business Rate income for 2024/25 and future years

(f)     The Council Tax base and recommended Council Tax for 2024/25

(g)    The forecast Collection Fund balance as at 31 March 2024 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 2024/25

(j)      The forecast Revenue Budgets for 2025/26, 2026/27 and 2027/28

(k)    Estimated General Reserves over the period 2023/24 to 2027/28

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

(m)  The proposed Capital Programme and "new starts" (including the Housing Investment Capital Programme) for 2024/25 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.

 

RECOMMENDED that the following be approved in respect of the Council's Budget:

 

1)      The revised Revenue Estimates for the financial year 2023/24 and the Revenue Estimates for the financial year 2024/25 as set out in the General Fund Summary (Appendix A)

2)      The Portfolio Cash Limits for the Revised Budget for 2023/24 and the Budget 2024/25 incorporating the savings amounts for each Portfolio and amounting to £2.0m as set out in Sections 7 and 11, respectively

3)      To maintain the overall financial resilience of the Council, any underspendings arising at the year-end (outside of those made by Portfolios) be transferred either to Capital Resources to fund future Capital Programmes, the MTRS Reserve or General Reserves with the level of each transfer to be determined by the S.151 Officer

4)      Any variation to the Council's funding arising from the final Local Government Finance Settlement be accommodated by a transfer to or from General Reserves

5)      The S.151 Officer be given delegated authority to make any necessary adjustments to Cash Limits within the overall approved Budget and Budget Forecasts

6)      That the level of Council Tax be increased by 2.99% for general purposes in accordance with the referendum threshold[1] for 2024/25 announced by Government (as calculated in recommendation 3.4 (d))

7)      That the level of Council Tax be increased by a further 2.0% beyond the referendum threshold (as calculated in recommendation 3.4 (d)) to take advantage of the flexibility offered by Government to implement a "Social Care Precept", and that in accordance with the conditions of that flexibility, the full amount of the associated sum generated of £1,922,600 is passported direct to Adult Social Care

8)      Managers be authorised to incur routine expenditure against the Cash Limits for 2024/25 as set out in Section 11

9)      That a minimum savings requirement of £1m for 2025/26 be set at this stage but that this is kept under review, pending any significant impact on the Council's future Forecast that may arise during 2024/25

10)  That the S.151 Officer be given delegated authority to make transfers to and from reserves in order to ensure that they are maintained as necessary and in particular, adjusted when reserves are no longer required or need to be replenished

11)  The minimum level of General Reserves as at 31 March 2025 be maintained at £10.0m to reflect the known and expected budget and financial risks to the Council

12)  The Revised Capital Programme 2023/24 to 2028/29 attached as Appendix E which includes all additions, deletions and amendments for slippage and re-phasing

13)  The S.151 Officer be given delegated authority to determine how each source of finance is used to fund the overall Capital Programme and to alter the overall mix of financing, as necessary, to maximise the flexibility of capital resources used and minimise the ongoing costs of borrowing to the Council

14)  That the S.151 Officer in consultation with the Leader of the Council be given delegated authority to release capital resources held back for any contingent items that might arise, and also for any match funding requirements that may be required of the City Council in order to secure additional external capital funding (e.g. bids for funding from Government or any other external source)

15)  Subject to a satisfactory financial appraisal approved by the Director of Finance and Resources & S.151 Officer, the schemes described in Appendix D be reflected within the recommended Capital Programme 2023/24 to 2028/29

16)  Subject to a satisfactory financial appraisal approved by the Director of Finance and Resources & S.151 Officer, that delegated authority to borrow up to £15m per year be granted in order that the Council can enter into transactions in an efficient and timely fashion and avoid the risk of lost opportunities which may be of a time critical nature

17)  The Prudential Indicators described set out in Appendix F be approved

18)  Members have had regard for the Statement of the S.151 Officer in accordance with the Local Government Act 2003 as set out in Section 16.

 

2.    That the following be noted in respect of the Council's Revenue Budget and Capital Programme: 

 

1)      The Revenue Estimates 2024/25 as set out in Appendix A have been prepared on the basis of a 2.0% tax increase for the "Social Care Precept" (amounting to £1,922,600) and that this is passported to Adult Social Care in order to provide for otherwise unfunded budget pressures including the current underlying budget deficit, the cost of the National Living Wage and demographic pressures arising from a "living longer" population

2)      The decision on the amount at which to set the Adult Social Care precept will be critical for the Social Care and wider health system in the City; in the event that the additional flexibility of the "Social Care Precept" and associated 2.0% tax increase is not taken, then equivalent savings will need to be made in Adult Social Care in 2024/25

3)      In general, any reduction to the proposed increase in the level of Council Tax for 2024/25 will require equivalent offsetting savings to be made in order for the Budget 2024/25 to be approved.  Each 1% reduction requires additional savings of £961,300 to be made

4)      The indicative savings proposals set out in Appendix C which are provided for the purpose of demonstrating to the Council that the Portfolio savings as recommended in paragraph 3.1 2) above, are robust and deliverable

5)      The likely impact of savings as set out in Appendix C

6)      That the responsibility of the Council is to approve the overall Budget and the associated cash limits of its Portfolios and Committees; it is not the responsibility of the Council to approve any individual savings within those Portfolios / Committees

7)      That it is the responsibility of the individual Portfolio Holders (not Full Council) to approve the individual savings proposals and the Portfolio Holder can therefore, in response to any consultation, alter, amend or substitute any of the indicative savings proposal(s) set out in Appendix C with alternative proposal(s) amounting to the same value within their Portfolio

8)      Managers will commence the implementation of the approved savings required and any necessary consultation process or notice process

9)      The Revenue Forecast for 2025/26 to 2027/28 as set out in Section 12 and Appendix B

10)  That, at this stage, the Council's Future Forecast for the 3 Year Period 2025/26 to 2027/28 is estimated to be a £3m Deficit; this is the Council's "central base case scenario" but due to the uncertainty associated with inflation, unavoidable cost pressures that may arise (particularly in Care Services), business rate appeals arising from the 2023/24 revaluation and the forthcoming overhaul of Local Government Funding, this could vary by +/- £5m

11)  The MTRS Reserve held to fund the upfront costs associated with Spend to Save Schemes, Invest to Save Schemes and redundancies will hold an uncommitted balance of £7.3m and will only be replenished in future from an approval to the transfer of any underspends, contributions from the Revenue Budget or transfers from other reserves which may no longer be required

12)  The Council's share of the Council Tax element of the Collection Fund surplus for 2023/24 is estimated to be £2,357,452

13)  The Council's share of the Business Rate element of the Collection Fund surplus for 2023/24 is estimated to be £5,021,116 

14)  The Retained Business Rate income[2] for 2024/25 is based on the estimated Business Rate element of the Collection Fund surplus as at March 2024, the Non Domestic Rates poundage for 2024/25 and estimated rateable values for 2024/25 and has been determined at £70,907,151

15)  That Cabinet Members, in consultation with the S.151 Officer, have authority to vary Capital Schemes and their associated funding within or across Portfolios in order to manage any potential overspending or funding shortfall or to respond to emerging priorities

16)  That Cabinet Members, in consultation with the S.151 Officer, have authority to vire funding between Portfolios (both Revenue and Capital Budgets) in order to manage any potential overspending or funding shortfall or to respond to emerging priorities

17)  The City Council note that Prudential Borrowing can only be used as a source of capital finance for Invest to Save Schemes.

 

3.    That the S.151 Officer has determined that the Council Tax base for the financial year 2024/25 will be 58,299.40 [item T in the formula in Section 31 B(1) of the Local Government Finance Act 1992, as amended (the “Act”)].

 

4.    That the following amounts be now calculated by the Council for the financial year 2024/25 in accordance with Section 31 and Sections 34 to 36 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992:

 

(a)	£543,649,931	Being the aggregate of the amounts which the Council estimates for the items set out in Section 31A(2) of the Act.
(b)	£442,724,925	Being the aggregate of the amounts which the Council estimates for the items set out in Section 31A(3) of the Act.
(c)	£100,925,006	Being the amount by which the aggregate at 3.4 (a) above exceeds the aggregate at 3.4 (b) above, calculated by the Council in accordance with Section 31A(4) of the Act as its Council Tax requirement for the year. (Item R in the formula in Section 31B(1) of the Act.
(d)	£1,731.15	Being the amount at 3.4(c) above (Item R), all divided by Item 3.3 above (Item T), calculated by the Council, in accordance with Section 31B(1) of the Act, as the basic amount of its Council Tax for the year.

         

 

 

(e) Valuation Bands (Portsmouth City Council)

A	B	C	D	E	F	G	H
£	£	£	£	£	£	£	£
1,154.10	1,346.45	1,538.80	1,731.15	2,115.85	2,500.55	2,885.25	3,462.30

 

Being the amounts given by multiplying the amount at 3.4(d) above by the number which, in the proportion set out in Section 5 (1) of the Act, is applicable to dwellings listed in a particular valuation band divided by the number which in that proportion is applicable to dwellings listed in Valuation Band D, calculated by the Council, in accordance with Section 36 (1) of the Act, as the amounts to be taken into account for the year in respect of categories of dwellings in different valuation bands.

 

5.    That it be noted that for the financial year 2024/25, the Hampshire Police & Crime Commissioner is consulting upon the following amounts for the precept to be issued to the Council in accordance with Section 40 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992, for each of the categories of the dwellings shown below:

          Valuation Bands (Hampshire Police & Crime Commissioner)

A	B	C	D	E	F	G	H
£	£	£	£	£	£	£	£
174.31	203.36	232.41	261.46	319.56	377.66	435.77	522.92

         

6.    That it be noted that for the financial year 2024/25, for Hampshire and Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Authority it is recommended that the following amounts for the precept issued to the Council in accordance with Section 40 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992, for each of the categories of the dwellings shown below:

Valuation Bands (Hampshire and Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Authority)

A	B	C	D	E	F	G	H
£	£	£	£	£	£	£	£
55.23	64.43	73.64	82.84	101.25	119.66	138.07	165.68

 

7.    That having calculated the aggregate in each case of the amounts at 3.4(e), 3.5 and3.6 above, the Council, in accordance with Sections 31A, 31B and 34 to 36 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992 as amended, hereby sets the following amounts as the amounts of Council Tax for the financial year 2024/25 for each of the categories of dwellings shown below:

Valuation Bands (Total Council Tax)

A	B	C	D	E	F	G	H
£	£	£	£	£	£	£	£
1,383.64	1,614.24	1,844.85	2,075.45	2,536.66	2,997.87	3,459.09	4,150.90

 

8.    The Council determines in accordance with Section 52ZB of the Local Government Finance Act 1992 that the Council’s basic amount of Council Tax for 2024/25, which represents a 4.99% increase, is not excessive in accordance with the principles approved by the Secretary of State under Section 52ZC of the Act; and it be noted that:

 

1.      The 4.99% increase includes a 2.0% increase to support the delivery of Adult Social Care

2.      As the billing authority, the Council has not been notified by a major precepting authority (the Hampshire Police & Crime Commissioner or the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Authority) that its relevant basic amount of Council Tax for 2024/25 is excessive and that the billing authority is not required to hold a referendum in accordance with Section 52ZK of the Local Government Finance Act 1992.

 

9.    The S.151 Officer be given delegated authority to implement any variation to the overall level of Council Tax arising from the final notification of the Hampshire Police & Crime Commissioner and Hampshire and Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Authority precepts.

 

 

 

 

RE

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

 

 

Cabinet recommended to Council that the recommendations set out in section 3 of the report be approved.

Purpose

To update Cabinet on the integration of Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) functions into Upper Tier Local Authorities (UTLAs) and seek approval for Portsmouth City Council to work with the Isle of Wight Council and Southampton City Council to jointly take on these integrated LEP functions and deal with the changes that result from this new approach including the creation of a joint UTLA Board to take on these responsibilities.

 

RECOMMENDED that the Cabinet

1.    Note that subject to meeting certain conditions (see paragraph 3.3) the Government is looking to integrate a number of existing LEP functions into UTLAs.

2.    Note that to meet the conditions, and to maintain a focus on the Solent area, Portsmouth City Council (PCC) will need to work with Southampton City Council and the Isle of Wight Council to take on these functions through the creation of a new joint UTLA Board.

3.    Agree that, subject to the three Solent UTLA area being recognised by the Government as an area for LEP integration, with appropriate due diligence, PCC should become a Member of Solent Partners (SP), a company limited by guarantee, that is a successor body to the Solent LEP, to help drive economic growth in the sub-region.  This agreement to be conditional on Isle of Wight Council and Southampton City similarly agreeing to become Members of Solent Partners.

4.    Agree that PCC should not appoint a Director to the Board of Solent Partners to ensure that there is no conflict of interest with the wider governance needed for the new LEP integration arrangements.  PCC will seek appropriate requirements, within the articles of Solent Partners, to ensure representatives of the three Solent ULTAs are entitled to observe board meetings.

5.    Note the proposed draft governance structure attached as Appendix 1 that shows how PCC should work with partners to achieve our economic growth ambitions which will need to be outlined in an updated Solent 2050 Strategy.

6.       Agree that subject to the agreement of SCC and IOWC, PCC is confirmed as the Accountable Body for Solent Partners. 

7.    Agree that PCC, as the accountable body, agrees that any existing LEP funding, disaggregated to the three Solent UTLAs can be pooled (subject to the agreement of Isle of Wight Council and Southampton City Council), for the benefit of economic growth of the region.

8.    Agree that PCC, as one of the three UTLAs, will work with partners to develop an agreement on how Solent Partners will deliver economic growth for the functional economic area.

9.    Agree that delegated authority be jointly given to the Leader of the Council and the Chief Executive, in consultation with the Director of Finance and S151 officer, to agree the final details of the transfer of LEP functions to the UTLAs including future governance arrangements.

10.Agree that PCC should seek to support the creation of a Solent Economic Partnership, inviting adjacent Districts and Boroughs, Hampshire County Council, and other key public sector stakeholders, to enable Local Authorities leaders and leaders within the business community to have a regular opportunity to discuss and support economic growth in the region.

11.Note the intention to agree disaggregation of assets held by the LEP to the Accountable Body on behalf of the Upper Tier Local Authorities (subject to the agreement of the three Solent unitary UTLAs).

 

1.    Noted that subject to meeting certain conditions (see paragraph 3.3) the Government is looking to integrate a number of existing LEP functions into UTLAs.

2.    Noted that to meet the conditions, and to maintain a focus on the Solent area, Portsmouth City Council (PCC) will need to work with Southampton City Council and the Isle of Wight Council to take on these functions through the creation of a new joint UTLA Board.

3.    Agreed that, subject to the three Solent UTLA area being recognised by the Government as an area for LEP integration, with appropriate due diligence, PCC should become a Member of Solent Partners (SP), a company limited by guarantee, that is a successor body to the Solent LEP, to help drive economic growth in the sub-region.  This agreement to be conditional on Isle of Wight Council and Southampton City similarly agreeing to become Members of Solent Partners.

4.    Agreed that PCC should not appoint a Director to the Board of Solent Partners to ensure that there is no conflict of interest with the wider governance needed for the new LEP integration arrangements.  PCC will seek appropriate requirements, within the articles of Solent Partners, to ensure representatives of the three Solent ULTAs are entitled to observe board meetings.

5.    Noted the proposed draft governance structure attached as Appendix 1 that shows how PCC should work with partners to achieve our economic growth ambitions which will need to be outlined in an updated Solent 2050 Strategy.

6.       Agreed that subject to the agreement of SCC and IOWC, PCC is confirmed as the Accountable Body for Solent Partners. 

7.    Agreed that PCC, as the accountable body, agrees that any existing LEP funding, disaggregated to the three Solent UTLAs can be pooled (subject to the agreement of Isle of Wight Council and Southampton City Council), for the benefit of economic growth of the region.

8.    Agreed that PCC, as one of the three UTLAs, will work with partners to develop an agreement on how Solent Partners will deliver economic growth for the functional economic area.

9.    Agreed that delegated authority be jointly given to the Leader of the Council and the Chief Executive, in consultation with the Director of Finance and S151 officer, to agree the final details of the transfer of LEP functions to the UTLAs including future governance arrangements.

10.Agreed that PCC should seek to support the creation of a Solent Economic Partnership, inviting adjacent Districts and Boroughs, Hampshire County Council, and other key public sector stakeholders, to enable Local Authorities leaders and leaders within the business community to have a regular opportunity to discuss and support economic growth in the region.

11.Noted the intention to agree disaggregation of assets held by the LEP to the Accountable Body on behalf of the Upper Tier Local Authorities (subject to the agreement of the three Solent unitary UTLAs).

 

Purpose

1.    To update Cabinet on the progress made on the Southsea and the North Portsea Coastal Schemes.

2.    To note the wider benefits of the schemes and their contributions to sustainable construction with zero to waste at its core, approach to working with and support the natural habitats around Portsea and to note how the Southsea Coastal Scheme continues to surprise with historic finds and adapts to acknowledge the history of the place.

 

The Cabinet noted the report which is for information only and is not subject to call-in.

Purpose

To officially launch and provide information about the Portsmouth's Corporate Parenting Strategy for 2023 - 2026.

 

RECOMMENDED that the Cabinet agree that the council adopt the Strategy.

Agreed that Portsmouth City Council adopt the Corporate Parenting Strategy.