Eastleigh Borough Council Council Meeting

Due to the Mayor being unavailable, the Deputy Mayor presided over the meeting.

The Deputy Mayor reported that:

·  The Mayor’s first engagement after Mayor Making was to open a new polytunnel at Highbridge Community Farm for the Eastleigh Gurkha & Nepalese Association.

·  In July the Mayor attended the unveiling of a Memorial Monument at Wessex Vale to acknowledge the impact of Covid locally.

·  In August, we were sadly informed that former County Councillor and Chairman, Colin Davidovitz, had passed away. Colin was a Borough Councillor for Hiltingbury West from 1996 to 2010 and also a County Councillor for Chandler’s Ford from 2001 until his retirement in 2015.

·  We were also sad to hear that former Councillor, Judith Cam, passed away recently. Judith was a Councillor for the Hound ward from 1995-1999 and a Hound Parish Councillor for many years. A moment’s silence was held to reflect.

·  In the Summer the Borough welcomed the return of the Mela, Eastleigh Pride and Eastleigh Unwrapped.

·  The Deputy Mayor welcomed the return of Park Sport and there are photos of him on a skateboard.

·  The Mayor was looking forward to attending the Christmas Lights Switch-on on Saturday 20 November.

·  Happy’s Circus are setting up their circus tent for five weeks from 3 December. They are donating the proceeds of their opening night to the Mayor’s charity appeal which is raising money for Mountbatten Hampshire and the Remembrance Avenue at Itchen Valley Country Park.

·  Eastleigh’s David Smith won another Gold in Boccia at the Paralympics to add to his medal tally. A reception was hosted for him and his family when he returned from Tokyo. He gave a truly inspiring speech and presented one of his team t-shirts to display at Eastleigh House.

·  Another former Eastleigh Sports Awards winner, Kai Widdrington, is a new professional dancer on the BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing. The Deputy Mayor wished him and his partner AJ the very best of luck. Nominations for this year’s Eastleigh Sports Awards are currently open and residents were encouraged to nominate a sports person or behind-the-scenes facilitator who deserves recognition.

·  A few weeks ago, the Mayor opened Deer Park School in Hedge End. It’s the first new school in the Borough for many years.

·  Certificates were still being presented to the Borough’s Local Heroes. The Mayor recently joined a health walk in Chandler’s Ford and presented their volunteers with certificates for supporting people during the pandemic.

·  Remembrance Services, which this year take place Sunday 14 November, are always well attended. The Mayor observed the Armistice Two-minute silence with members of the Eastleigh, Chandler’s Ford and District Branch of the Royal British Legion who are celebrating the 100th Anniversary this year.

RESOLVED -

That the Minutes of the meeting held on 27 May 2021 be agreed as a correct record.

There were no declarations of interest in relation to items on business on the agenda.

Consideration was given to the report of the Monitoring Officer which outlined the updates to the Constitution.

An update was given to provide clarity. (Copy appended to minutes)

RESOLVED –

That Council approved the proposed amendments to the Constitution (Appendices 1 – 7).

Consideration was given to the report of the HR Lead which outlined the Local Pay Policy.

RESOLVED –

That Council formally confirmed its acceptance of the attached Pay Policy Statement which is in compliance with the Council’s obligation under Section 38 of the Localism Act 2011. This Pay Policy Statement will then be updated on the Council’s website for easy public access at any time.

Consideration was given to the report of the Legal Services Manager which outlined the Gambling Act Policy.

RESOLVED –

That the Council considered the proposed Statement of Licensing Policy and adopts it as policy with effect from 31 January 2022.

Councillor Tidridge moved the following motion:

This Council recognises the critical role of peatlands in sequestering carbon, water management and biodiversity and so commits to not knowingly using compost that contains peat (or any other growing media containing peat) in any of its operations or in any service it commissions.  This Council will also encourage the use of peat-free compost in the Borough.

Councillor Kyrle proposed the following amendment:

Amend after “This Council recognises” to read:

“COP 26 is in danger of being more “blah blah blah” and applauds Greta Thunberg’s call for more andd faster action to tackle the Climate Emergency.  It specifically deplores the British’s government’s action that reduces Air Passenger Duty on domestic air flights that will discourage use of rail, its rapidly dwindling ambition for investment in new rail capacity and lack of ambition to speed up the phasing out of fossil fuels to support renewables including hydrogen as a long-term greener fuel for aviation and heavy vehicles.

“Council values global rainforests and virgin natural environments in sequestering carbon, water management and biodiversity and commits to

(a)  reaffirm its long-standing policy recognising the critical role of peatlands by not knowingly using compost that contains peat (or any other growing media containing peat);

(b)  extend this by formalising established practice of banning use of unsustainably sourced materials or consumables such as palm oil and other virgin products where deforestation or natural habitat destruction has taken place for its production;

(c)  require any contractor to make the council aware of their sustainability policies when applying to contract work for the Council and for this to be taken into account in the award of contracts

(d)  review procurement activities and in any of its operations or services it commissions, with regard to the overall contract value to encourage developers, businesses, their contractors and other partners, to adopt a proportional sustainability delivery and procurement policy, and to publish on any websites and be included in promotional material when working on projects within the borough;

(e)  lobby Government to give councils freedom to require policies such as these to be incorporated in planning policy, just as this Council is achieving at its One Horton Heath development; and

(f)  add these policies to the Climate and Environment Emergency Action Plan for further investigation as part of this Council’s commitment to tackling the climate crisis and help achieve carbon reduction targets.”

[NOTE: Add at end of A – with Council encouraging use of peat free compost in the Borough.]

RESOLVED –

That the motion, as amended by Councillor Kyrle, be approved.

RESOLVED –

That the Cabinet Statements, as set out in the agenda pack, be noted.

There were Members’ questions as set out in the Agenda, and supplementary questions were answered by the Leader and relevant Cabinet Members. Questions 10 to 13 would be answered in writing as 30 minutes had passed for previous questions.

RESOLVED -

That the Minutes of the following meetings be received: 

The Leader thanked the Horton Heath Development Management Committee for lengthy meetings that have given the green light to the One Horton Heath site outline planning permission and the first detailed phase of new homes.  Work will start next year with first completions over the winter of 2023/4 when the main road link from Chalcroft Way to Allington Lane opens. It’s an infrastructure first project that will truly help meet housing need with most of the site in retained ownership by the Council for council homes and lifetime market-rented homes.

The Leader reported that the two judicial reviews into the decision to secure the future of Southampton Airport found in the Council’s favour.  Bournemouth Airport are not progressing their challenge, but the residents’ group is, which will further delay work on site with the project.  Nothing in the court’s decision suggested any real prospect of a new hearing on the judicial review succeeding.

Hampshire County Council have put in an expression of interest for one of Michael Gove’s County Deals.  Work has started with districts and the unitaries on this ahead of the government’s Levelling Up White Paper.

Internally, the move back to Eastleigh House for staff progresses, albeit most staff will remain mainly working from home, reducing travel miles in the process.  Facilities are re-opening, which means general access for councillors is now up and running.

Right Move list Eastleigh as the third most popular place to want to move to. Right Move say, “Just outside Southampton, Eastleigh is the perfect spot to buy a home if you love the outdoors. A good-looking town set beside the River Itchen, Eastleigh is sandwiched between the South Downs National Park and the New Forest, and close to the Solent and the beaches of Sussex and Hampshire.”

“There’s a good choice of modern new houses and flats in town, as well as some streets of period terraces. With more people now able to work from home, this area has started to attract a new generation of buyers who might previously have felt the hour and 15-minute train ride to London was just a little too far.”

Finally the Leader mentioned Nick Tustian, following his announcement of his retirement in May next year and thanked him for all his work over the last 20 years.