Agenda and decisions

A copy of the records of the previous decisions taken at Cabinet meetings on 25 June, 1^st July, 9^th July and 24^th July 2019 are attached.

RECOMMENDED that the records of decisions of these meetings be approved as correct records.

The Housing & Social Care Scrutiny Panel conducted a review into how well Portsmouth City Council is providing temporary accommodation for those who are homeless and the council has a duty towards. The purpose of this report by the Assistant Director for Housing is to set out the response of the officers to the HSC Scrutiny Panel's recommendations.

RECOMMENDED

(1)  That the Panel is thanked for its work in undertaking the review

(2)  That the Cabinet notes and supports the recommendations of the review, which are listed in section 8 of the report and the response of officers which are set out in section 4 of the response report.

 (1)      That the Housing & Social Care Panel be thanked for its work in undertaking the review

(2)       The Cabinet noted and supported the recommendations of the review, which are listed in section 8 of the report and the response of officers which are set out in section 4 of the response report.

The report by the Assistant Director for Transport provides an update on the development of the Air Quality Local Plan to deliver compliance with legal limits for nitrogen dioxide in the shortest possible time.

RECOMMENDED that Cabinet:

(1)       Notes the progress made in the development of the Air Quality Local Plan; and

(2)       Approves the proposed preferred package as set out in paragraph 5.12 as the preferred option to be taken forward to outline business case development; that is a Class B CAZ is combined with a number of non-charging measures to ensure that compliance is achieved within the shortest possible time i.e by 2022.

The Cabinet

(1)       Noted the progress made in the development of the Air Quality Local Plan; and

(2)       Approved the proposed preferred package as set out in paragraph 5.12 as the preferred option to be taken forward to outline business case development; that is a Class B CAZ is combined with a number of non-charging measures to ensure that compliance is achieved within the shortest possible time i.e by 2022.

(3) Supported amendments to Appendix 1 review of options and packages for Outline Business Case (pages 59 and 60 of Cabinet pack of papers) to add:

i) ask the Director of Public Health to write to parents of children in Portsmouth Schools regarding the health benefits of children walking to school

ii) investigate fast charging points at taxi ranks and where private hire vehicles gather

iii) ask the government to give the same level of financial support to Portsmouth, to encourage cycling, walking and bus use, as happens for London

iv) ask for government investment to fund bus passes for Portsmouth residents

and

v) regarding A1 and A2 of 'Measures to reduce private car use' it was noted that as most parking in the city centre is outside the control of the City Council, these measures are unlikely to produce any change in air quality.

The Chartered Institute of Public Finance & Accountancy's (CIPFA) Prudential Code of Practice requires local authorities to calculate prudential indicators before the start of and after each financial year. The CIPFA Code of Practice on Treasury Management also requires the Section 151 Officer to prepare an annual report on the outturn of the previous year. This information is shown in Appendix A of the report.

The report of the Director of Finance and Section 151 Officer seeks to inform members and the wider community of the Council's treasury management activities in 2018/19 and of the Council's treasury management position as at 31 March 2019.  (This report has already been considered by Governance & Audit & Standards Committee on 26 July 2019.)

RECOMMENDED to Council that the actual prudential and treasury management indicators based on the unaudited* accounts, as shown in Appendix B, be noted (an explanation of the prudential and treasury management indicators is contained in Appendix C).

* Since this report was written the Council's auditors have issued an unqualified audit opinion on the Council's accounts and the prudential and treasury management indicators are therefore confirmed.

RECOMMENDED to Council that the actual prudential and treasury management indicators based on the unaudited* accounts, as shown in Appendix B, be noted (an explanation of the prudential and treasury management indicators is contained in Appendix C).

* Since this report was written the Council's auditors have issued an unqualified audit opinion on the Council's accounts and the prudential and treasury management indicators are therefore confirmed.

(This is not subject to call-in, being referred to Council for approval)

The purpose of the report by the Director of Regeneration, is to:

·         seek approval from Cabinet and Council for the adoption of the new Portsmouth Economic Development and Regeneration Strategy 2019-36.

·         note the consultation survey results and the summary feedback from the stake-holder focus groups.

·         note the Councils role and the benefits of delivering a successful economic development and regeneration strategy.

RECOMMENDATIONS

(1)        That Cabinet notes the consultation responses from both the survey and the focus groups (see appendix 2) which are on the whole positive and supportive of the strategy.

(2)        The Cabinet delegate to the Director of Regeneration to consider the key objectives and proposed actions of the strategy and to ensure that the Council is able to deliver measurable outcomes supporting the economic development and regeneration agenda, working with key stakeholders in the city subject to Council approval of the strategy.

(3)          That Cabinet notes the alignment of the strategy with Council corporate objectives and its commitment to the environment following the Declaration of a Climate Change Emergency for Portsmouth.

(4)       That Cabinet notes the alignment of the strategy with the Solent Local Enterprise Partnership's work on the new Local Industrial Strategy.

And Cabinet recommends to the City Council that:

(5) Council adopts the Portsmouth Economic Development and Regeneration Strategy 2019-36.

(1)       Cabinet noted the consultation responses from both the survey and the focus groups (see appendix 2) which are on the whole positive and supportive of the strategy.

(2)       Cabinet delegated to the Director of Regeneration to consider the key objectives and proposed actions of the strategy and to ensure that the Council is able to deliver measurable outcomes supporting the economic development and regeneration agenda, working with key stakeholders in the city subject to Council approval of the strategy.

(3)         Cabinet noted the alignment of the strategy with Council corporate objectives and its commitment to the environment following the Declaration of a Climate Change Emergency for Portsmouth.

(4)       Cabinet noted the alignment of the strategy with the Solent Local Enterprise Partnership's work on the new Local Industrial Strategy.

And Cabinet RECOMMENDED to the City Council that:

(5) Council adopts the Portsmouth Economic Development and Regeneration Strategy 2019-36.

(Recommendation 5 is not subject to call-in, being referred to Council)

The report by the Port Director, is to respond on behalf of directors, to the Economic Development, Culture & Leisure Scrutiny Panel's recommendations outlined in their final report reviewing Portsmouth International Port.

RECOMMENDED

(1)  That the EDCL Panel is thanked for its work in undertaking the review;

(2)  That the EDCL Scrutiny Panel's recommendations be approved in line with the responses noted in section 4 of the response report.

(1)       That the Economic Development, Culture & Leisure (EDCL) Panel be thanked for its work in undertaking the review;

(2)       That the EDCL Scrutiny Panel's recommendations be approved in line with the responses noted in section 4 of the response report by the Port Director.

An information report by the Port Director (due to be published on 4^th September) advises the Cabinet on the outcome of the Oxford Economics study of the economic impact of Portsmouth International Port (PIP) to Portsmouth City Council region, national economy and Maritime UK.

The information report was noted and is not subject to call-in.

This report seeks to inform the Cabinet of the outcome of the process to dispose of Victory Energy Supply Limited (VESL) and describe the process required for the upcoming managed winding down of the business.

The information report was noted and is not subject to call-in.