Agenda and minutes

Councillor Luke Stubbs declared an interest in minute 107 as he was the Deputy Police & Crime Commissioner.  Cllr Stubbs left the room during the debate and voting on this item.

It was

Proposed by Councillor Gerald Vernon-Jackson

Seconded by Councillor Simon Bosher

That the minutes of the Council meeting held on 9 November 2021 be confirmed as a correct record.

These were agreed by assent.

Apologies for absence had been received on behalf of Councillor Kimberly Barrett, Councillor Tom Coles, Councillor Lee Hunt and Councillor Benedict Swann.

The Lord Mayor announced that in consultation with group leaders, he had cancelled the provisional 18 January 2022 Full Council meeting.

Deputations by members of the public may be made on any item where a decision is going to be taken.  The request should be made in writing to the contact officer (stewart.agland@portsmouthcc.gov.uk) by 12 noon of the working day before the meeting (so Monday 6 December for this meeting), and must include the purpose of the deputation (for example, for or against the recommendations).  Email requests are accepted.

The City Solicitor advised that three verbal deputation requests had been made for this meeting in respect of minute 105.

In addition, two written deputations had been submitted and circulated in respect of minute 105. 

The first from Hampshire Chamber of Commerce and was a dual deputation on behalf of Ross McNally, Chief Executive/Executive Chair of Hampshire Chamber of Commerce, and Mark Miller - Chair of the Planning & Transport Business Strategy Group of Hampshire Chamber of Commerce.

The second was from Leigh-Sara Timberlake on behalf of Business South.

At the invitation of the City Solicitor, Ms Heimedinger, Mr Allwright and Mr Hector delivered their verbal deputations in turn.

The Lord Mayor advised that no public questions had been received under the provisions of this Standing Order.

RESOLVED that the following changes to Conservative group seats be AGREED:

Planning Committee

Councillor Terry Norton to replace Cllr Jo Hooper as a committee member.

Scrutiny Management Panel

Councillor Benedict Swann to replace Councillor Jo Hooper as a panel member

Traffic, Environment & Community Safety Scrutiny Panel

Councillor Hannah Hockaday to replace Councillor Jo Hooper as a committee member.

The Leader of the Council provided an update on the rise in Covid-19 cases within the city and that the first case of the Omicron variant in the city had been confirmed.

To receive and consider the attached report and recommendations from the Cabinet meeting held on 27 July 2021.

Council Agenda item 8 (Cabinet minute 65)

Treasury Management Outturn Report 2020/21

The recommendation within this report was approved unopposed.

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

To receive and consider the attached report and recommendations (to follow) from Cabinet held on 30 November 2021. The report has also been considered by the Governance & Audit and Standards Committee.

Council Agenda Item 9 (Cabinet Minute 107) Treasury Management Mid-Year review 2021/22

The recommendations within this report were approved unopposed.

RESOLVED:

1.    That the Council's Treasury Management activities have remained within the Treasury Management Policy 2021/22 in the period up to 30 September 2021; and

2.    That the actual Treasury Management indicators as at 30 September 2021 set out in Appendix A be noted.

To receive and consider the attached report and recommendations (to follow) from the Cabinet meeting held on 30 November 2021. The report has also been considered by Governance and Audit and Standards Committee.

Council Agenda Item 10 (Cabinet Minute 106)

National Scheme for Auditor Appointments Managed By PSAA

The recommendation within this report was approved unopposed.

RESOLVED that the Council accepts Public Sector Audit Appointments’ (PSAA) invitation to opt into the sector-led option for the appointment of external auditors to principal local government and police bodies for five financial years from 01 April 2023.

To receive and consider the attached information report (noting recommendations to follow) from the Cabinet meeting held on 6 December.

Please note that Appendices A-T listed Appendix A are available via the links below.

Council Agenda Item 11 (Cabinet minute 111)

Tipner West - Full Council Update

Cllr Simon Bosher objected to Cabinet minute 111.

Before the start of formal procedures, the Lord Mayor advised that the Chief Executive wished to give a presentation to the Council on this issue, which the Chief Executive then duly provided

It was therefore proposed by Councillor Gerald Vernon-Jackson

Seconded by Councillor Hugh Mason

That the recommendation in Cabinet minute 111 be approved

It was proposed by Councillor Simon Bosher

Seconded by Councillor Vernon-Jackson

That Standing Order 28(F) be suspended to allow an amendment to be put.

Upon being put to a vote, the proposal to suspend Standing Order 28(F) was CARRIED.

As an amendment it was

Proposed by Councillor Simon Bosher

Seconded by Councillor Scott Payter-Harris

To add the following additional recommendation:

2.3. That Cabinet provides reassurance to Council that it believes in the project and its financial viability.

Upon being put to a vote, the amendment in the name of Councillor Simon Bosher was CARRIED.

Upon being put to a vote the substantive notice of motion incorporating the amendment in the name of Councillor Simon Bosher was CARRIED

RESOLVED that Council

(i)             NOTED the content of the report including the appendices; and

(ii)           That Cabinet provide reassurance to Council that it believes in the project and its financial viability.

Proposed by Councillor Kirsty Mellor

Seconded by Councillor Charlotte Gerada

Portsmouth City Council notes that male violence against women and girls is a prevalent, persistent and serious issue. One in three women globally have been subjected to physical or sexual violence in their lifetimes. Violence takes many forms and occurs in both public and private spheres.

More than four-fifths of young women in the UK have been subjected to sexual harassment, according to a survey for UN Women UK. Domestic abuse affects 1 in 4 women and 2-3 women are murdered every week at the hands of a partner or ex partner.

Full Council notes existing initiatives to help tackle violence against women and girls, including the work of Safer Portsmouth Partnership, the Health and Wellbeing Board and Community Safety portfolio.

A total of £324,851 has been secured from the government to improve lighting and the redesign of secluded areas as part of the Safer Streets scheme.

We acknowledge the collaborative work of Hampshire police and the night time economy to spread best practice throughout the city and the “Is this love?” campaign which aims to raise awareness of domestic abuse. However, Full Council notes that handling disclosure of sexual violence and domestic abuse requires specialist training and currently, this is not mandatory for elected representatives.

Portsmouth City Council believes that dealing with this issue should not require women to behave differently. Instead it is the root cause that needs to be tackled: namely challenging the behaviour of men who perpetrate violence. Male violence in all its forms must be eradicated, so women feel able to live their lives freely, without fear of harm.

Therefore, the Council asks:

•     Cabinet to conduct a “Safety Audit”, allowing residents to share their views about how public lighting and CCTV could be improved to promote safer streets and a safer public domain for women and girls.

•     The Licensing Committee to look at how to ensure that all licensed late night venues undertake conditional staff training for dealing with complaints of sexual harassment, as well as taking up annual training, so women enjoying a night out and/or working in Portsmouth's Night Time Economy can do so in an environment free from sexual harassment.

•     The Governance and Audit and Standards Committee be asked to strongly encourage and recommend attendance by all elected representatives to complete training sessions on handling disclosures of domestic abuse delivered by Safer Portsmouth Partnership and on handling disclosure of sexual violence through 'Responding to Sexual Violence: A community Approach' Or such similar training provider, with confirmation of attendance being noted by the City Solicitor.

•     Through Cabinet for cross-party work with local services and provisions to raise awareness of domestic abuse, such as promoting the “Is this love?” campaign on a yearly basis and work together to actively challenge misogynistic behaviour pledging to call it out when it occurs.

•     Cabinet to initiate steps to raise the positive profile of women and girls in Portsmouth to be established, such as installing street art to celebrate them.

•     For Portsmouth City Council to write to the Hampshire & IOW Police and Crime Commissioner and the Secretary of State for Justice, to demand more punitive sentencing for male perpetrators of violence, so that more women and girls receive justice.

It was

Proposed by Councillor Kirsty Mellor

Seconded by Councillor Charlotte Gerada 

That notice of motion (a) as set out on the agenda be adopted.

As an amendment it was

Proposed by Councillor Claire Udy

Seconded by Councillor Scott Payter-Harris

To delete paragraph four and replace with: 

"We acknowledge the collaborative work conducted by Hampshire Police and The Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner alongside the night time economy, to spread best practice throughout the city. In particular, we would like to thank all those involved in the “Is This Love?” campaign (which raises the awareness of domestic abuse), and more recently the swift response to drink spiking incidents. However, Full Council notes that there is a lack of mandatory training for elected members surrounding the disclosure of sexual violence and domestic abuse."

After “Therefore, the Council asks”, delete the second bullet point and replace with: 

"That the Licensing department and Public Health work alongside the Police, to look at developing a training scheme that helps staff and management of licensed venues in dealing with complaints of sexual harassment. Collaboratively this group should consider creating resources for all venues, to be used in yearly training. At the next available Licensing Committee there should be a chance to discuss amongst members the measures local stakeholders are taking to make Portsmouth a safe place for a good night out. Whilst this council is aware that the Licensing Committee cannot mandate conditional training as part of a licence application, it seeks to create an open dialogue with the night time economy about creating such training on a voluntary basis."

Following debate, the proposer of the original motion, Councillor Kirsty Mellor agreed to subsume the amendment put by Councillor Claire Udy into the motion.

Following a vote, the motion was declared CARRIED.

RESOLVED that:

Portsmouth City Council notes that male violence against women and girls is a prevalent, persistent and serious issue. One in three women globally have been subjected to physical or sexual violence in their lifetimes. Violence takes many forms and occurs in both public and private spheres.

More than four-fifths of young women in the UK have been subjected to sexual harassment, according to a survey for UN Women UK. Domestic abuse affects 1 in 4 women and 2-3 women are murdered every week at the hands of a partner or ex partner.

Full Council notes existing initiatives to help tackle violence against women and girls, including the work of Safer Portsmouth Partnership, the Health and Wellbeing Board and Community Safety portfolio.

A total of £324,851 has been secured from the government to improve lighting and the redesign of secluded areas as part of the Safer Streets scheme.

We acknowledge the collaborative work conducted by Hampshire Police and The Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner alongside the night time economy, to spread best practice throughout the city. In particular, we would like to thank all those involved in the “Is This Love?” campaign (which raises the awareness of domestic abuse), and more recently the swift response to drink spiking incidents. However, Full Council notes that there is a lack of mandatory training for elected members surrounding the disclosure of sexual violence and domestic abuse.

Portsmouth City Council believes that dealing with this issue should not require women to behave differently. Instead it is the root cause that needs to be tackled: namely challenging the behaviour of men who perpetrate violence. Male violence in all its forms must be eradicated, so women feel able to live their lives freely, without fear of harm.

Therefore, the Council asks:

•     Cabinet to conduct a “Safety Audit”, allowing residents to share their views about how public lighting and CCTV could be improved to promote safer streets and a safer public domain for women and girls.

•     That the Licensing department and Public Health work alongside the Police, to look at developing a training scheme that helps staff and management of licensed venues in dealing with complaints of sexual harassment. Collaboratively this group should consider creating resources for all venues, to be used in yearly training. At the next available Licensing Committee there should be a chance to discuss amongst members the measures local stakeholders are taking to make Portsmouth a safe place for a good night out. Whilst this council is aware that the Licensing Committee cannot mandate conditional training as part of a licence application, it seeks to create an open dialogue with the night time economy about creating such training on a voluntary basis.

•     The Governance and Audit and Standards Committee be asked to strongly encourage and recommend attendance by all elected representatives to complete training sessions on handling disclosures of domestic abuse delivered by Safer Portsmouth Partnership and on handling disclosure of sexual violence through 'Responding to Sexual Violence: A community Approach' Or such similar training provider, with confirmation of attendance being noted by the City Solicitor.

•     Through Cabinet for cross-party work with local services and provisions to raise awareness of domestic abuse, such as promoting the “Is this love?” campaign on a yearly basis and work together to actively challenge misogynistic behaviour pledging to call it out when it occurs.

•     Cabinet to initiate steps to raise the positive profile of women and girls in Portsmouth to be established, such as installing street art to celebrate them.

•     For Portsmouth City Council to write to the Hampshire & IOW Police and Crime Commissioner and the Secretary of State for Justice, to demand more punitive sentencing for male perpetrators of violence, so that more women and girls receive justice.

Please Note - the City Solicitor has now ruled out this motion for this meeting.

It is consequently removed as an agenda item and therefore no deputations on it can be made.

Proposed by Councillor Cal Corkery

Seconded by Councillor George Fielding

Too many Portsmouth households live in constant fear of bailiffs knocking their door. The poorest and most vulnerable suffer disproportionately from debt issues and the local authority should not be actively adding to their woes.

One in two adults with debts has a mental health problem. One in four people with a mental health problem is also in debt. Debt can cause - and be caused by - mental health problems.

Those on the lowest incomes in our city used to be eligible for Council Tax Support for up to 100% of their liability.  However this level of support was cut in 2016 so now even the poorest have to pay at least 20% of their total Council Tax bill.

Despite their public service remit, local authorities have some of the most stringent debt collection practices of all creditors. Debts owed to councils often end up in court and Council Tax is the only debt where a debtor can be sentenced to a custodial sentence for non-payment.

In 2018/19, Portsmouth City Council instructed bailiffs to collect debts from individuals and businesses on 17,534 occasions - an increase of 77% since 2016/17. Of these bailiff referrals 6,011 related to Council Tax debts. 

There is divergence between local authorities regarding how affordability is assessed and appropriate repayment plans calculated. The Standard Financial Statement (SFS), produced by the Money and Pensions Service, provides a consistent, fair and industry-recognised method of working out affordable repayments, for residents in financial difficulty.

Full Council supports the Money Advice Trust's campaign 'Stop The Knock' and calls on Cabinet to:

1.              Make a clear public commitment to reduce the council’s use of bailiffs over time.

2.              Review the council’s signposting to free debt advice, including phone/online channels.

3.              Adopt the Standard Financial Statement (SFS) to objectively assess affordability.

4.              Review the formal policy covering indebted residents in vulnerable circumstances.

5.              Exempt Council Tax Support recipients from bailiff action.

6.              Sign the Citizens Advice/LGA 'Council Tax Protocol' and review the authority’s current practice against the Money and Pensions Service’s ‘Supportive Council Tax Recovery’ Toolkit.

The Lord Mayor reminded Council that as previously advised this motion been subsequently ruled out and could not be put to this Council meeting by reason of engagement of Standing Order 41J '(No motion or amendment which would have a financial effect on the Council may be moved unless it specifies the source of funding.)

Proposed by Councillor Ryan Brent

Seconded by Councillor Simon Bosher

The processing time that some residents' of Portsmouth have had to endure for their planning applications to conclude is simply unacceptable, especially for seemingly uncontentious proposals. The council notes and commends the work of local authority planning officers in aiming to reduce the backlog. However, notes that more transparency and Member oversight and engagement is necessary to support council officers in further reducing the backlog.

Council regrets the extensive backlog of incomplete and un-processed planning applications that have continued to build up, recognising that this is partly a result of the Nitrates Directive and ongoing staff vacancies (both exacerbated by the effects of the Covid19 pandemic). Council calls upon the Liberal Democrat administration to do more and do better for residents of the city.

It is of note that council supported the action of bringing in outside support to try and reduce the backlog in November 2020; nevertheless council now regretfully condemns the Liberal Democrat administration's performance and mismanagement noting that there has been substandard progress in reducing the backlog discussed a year ago. It is arguable that upon any objective assessment the current administration has a reputation of wasting taxpayers' money and it is now time to address this and put an end to the unnecessary delays impacting the residents of our city and ensure all applications are dealt with properly and that those undertaking the processing of such applications display the utmost competence and consistency with respect to the applications that are being dealt with. There is a need to review the current transparency as well as providing additional reports to all councillors as and when required. We must be proactive, rather than reactive and focus on solutions.

Therefore, the council calls upon the administration to provide the following reports:

-     For the next full council meeting which is assumed as being February 2022, to;

o    Inform all councillors of the average duration of all planning applications, in addition to the longest and shortest across the city as well as within each ward

-     For the Full Council March 2022 meeting that includes:

o    Quantitative data, with commentary, that tracks the progress made in reducing the planning application backlog over the last 18 months

o    Set out and articulated options and solutions that will facilitate and augment the aspiration of ensuring that all applications have decisions within the expected timeframe.

It was

Proposed by Councillor Ryan Brent

Seconded by Councillor Simon Bosher 

That notice of motion (c) as set out on the agenda be adopted.

Upon being put to a vote the notice of motion was CARRIED.

RESOLVED that the processing time that some residents' of Portsmouth   have had to endure for their planning applications to conclude is simply unacceptable, especially for seemingly uncontentious proposals. The council notes and commends the work of local authority planning officers in aiming to reduce the backlog. However, notes that more transparency and Member oversight and engagement is necessary to support council officers in further reducing the backlog.

Council regrets the extensive backlog of incomplete and un-processed planning applications that have continued to build up, recognising that this is partly a result of the Nitrates Directive and ongoing staff vacancies (both exacerbated by the effects of the Covid19 pandemic). Council calls upon the Liberal Democrat administration to do more and do better for residents of the city.

It is of note that council supported the action of bringing in outside support to try and reduce the backlog in November 2020; nevertheless council now regretfully condemns the Liberal Democrat administration's performance and mismanagement noting that there has been substandard progress in reducing the backlog discussed a year ago. It is arguable that upon any objective assessment the current administration has a reputation of wasting taxpayers' money and it is now time to address this and put an end to the unnecessary delays impacting the residents of our city and ensure all applications are dealt with properly and that those undertaking the processing of such applications display the utmost competence and consistency with respect to the applications that are being dealt with. There is a need to review the current transparency as well as providing additional reports to all councillors as and when required. We must be proactive, rather than reactive and focus on solutions.

Therefore, the council calls upon the administration to provide the following reports:

-     For the next full council meeting which is assumed as being February 2022, to;

o    Inform all councillors of the average duration of all planning applications, in addition to the longest and shortest across the city as well as within each ward

-     For the Full Council March 2022 meeting that includes:

o    Quantitative data, with commentary, that tracks the progress made in reducing the planning application backlog over the last 18 months

o    Set out and articulated options and solutions that will facilitate and augment the aspiration of ensuring that all applications have decisions within the expected timeframe.

Proposed by Councillor Kimberly Barrett

Seconded by Councillor Ian Holder

Ever since the harrowing scenes of Danish footballer Christian Eriksen receiving cardiac treatment were broadcast onto the screens of millions of people during a game at Euro 2020, the recognition of the need of public defibrillators has become more apparent.

On average, 30,000 people each year suffer a sudden cardiac arrest outside of hospital, and 20% of these incidents occur in public spaces. Only 10% of victims of cardiac arrests survive when the incident occurs outside hospital.

Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) can play a significant role in saving the lives of people who suffer heart attacks in public. It is estimated that a shock from an AED, alongside CPR treatment, increases survival rates to 75-80%.

This Council commends the many organisations, schools and communities who have already installed community defibrillators that are accessible not just to the organisations themselves, but, that are also accessible to members of the public. It acknowledges that places like Fratton Community Centre are raising funds to make sure that the centre will have access to this life saving equipment.

The council also congratulates the pupils, their parents and the teachers of Meon Infant School, Meon Junior School and Moorings Way School as well as the Thinking Schools Academy Trust who recently raised a significant amount of money to buy and install 2 new defibrillators alongside CIL contributions from Milton councillors for use by the schools and for public use as well.

This Council also commends the outstanding work and care that the South Central Ambulance Service, Queen Alexandra Hospital and staff across all areas of the NHS provide Portsmouth residents 24/7, 365 days a year. The Council would also like to thank the work that the British Heart Foundation are doing to continue to research into cardiac arrests but also, the campaigning that they have done alongside other organisations to get CPR onto the curriculum at English secondary schools by the end of this school year. This is alongside the work that they are doing regarding 'The Circuit' to create a national network of defibrillators which will link to every ambulance service in the country and in the public domain to help save more lives from 'Out of Hospital Cardiac Arrests' (OHCA).

Although there are a number of public defibrillators on council premises and assets and further more on non-council owned land and buildings, there may be gaps in the provision of publicly accessible AEDs across the city.

Council resolves to ask Cabinet:

•     To add as many existing defibrillator locations to the list hosted on the council's website, and to also add those not already on the South Central Ambulance Service's 'Save a life' App, to make sure that there is a log of as many locations as possible of public defibrillators in Portsmouth including those in non-council premises.

•     Review and, where appropriate, seek to increase the provision of defibrillators across council-owned spaces including public parks, community centres, leisure facilities, and areas of high public footfall and to continue to support businesses, community associations and schools who may wish to install their own and bring an update report to Cabinet to demonstrate progress.

In the absence of the proposer of this motion the Lord Mayor advised that this motion could not be considered at this meeting.

Four questions from members had been received under Standing Order No 17.

The first question was from Councillor Scott Payter-Harris.

"Can the cabinet member update the council regarding the usage of temporary accommodation?"

This and supplementary questions were answered by the Cabinet Member for Housing & Preventing Homelessness, Councillor Darren Sanders.

The second question was from Councillor Ryan Brent.

"Can the cabinet member outline the long-term vision for the climate change and the green recovery portfolio?"

This and supplementary questions were answered by the Leader, Councillor Gerald Vernon-Jackson.

The third question was from Councillor Scott Payter-Harris.

"Can the Leader update the council on his proposal to purchase Southern Water and his discussions with other council leaders within the Hampshire area?"

This and supplementary questions were answered by the Leader, Councillor Gerald Vernon-Jackson.

The fourth question was from Councillor Ryan Brent.

"What is the current expected timeframe for planning applications to be considered?"

In the absence of the Chairman of the Planning Committee, Cllr Hugh Mason, Portfolio Holder for Planning Policy & City Development, assured that a written response would be provided.