Portsmouth City Borough Council Full Council Meeting

It was

Proposed by Councillor Gerald Vernon-Jackson

Seconded by Councillor Simon Bosher

That the minutes of the ordinary meeting held on 8 November 2022 be confirmed as a correct record.

These were agreed by assent.

Apologies for absence had been received on behalf of the Lord Mayor, Councillor Hugh Mason, (who was attending 40^th anniversary events in the Falkland Islands) Councillor Chris Attwell, Councillor Cal Corkery, Councillor Lee Hunt and Councillor Kirsty Mellor.

With sadness and as previously notified to members, the Deputy Lord Mayor announced that the former Lady Mayoress Iris Warner sadly passed away peacefully on Sunday 20^th November 2022, aged 99.

Her husband, Fred Warner, who had been Lord Mayor in 1985/86 had passed away in August 2021.

Finally, Council wished Mr Stewart Agland, Local Democracy Manager, well in his retrement.

The City Solicitor advised that three oral deputation requests had been made for this meeting in respect of Minute 136 - Notice of Motion in respect of Supporting WASPI Women in Portsmouth.

At the invitation of the City Solicitor, Ms Kathryn Rimmington, Ms Barbara Wild and Honorary Alderman Alan Burnett made their deputations to Council.

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

RESOLVED that the following changes to Liberal Democrat Group seats be AGREED:

Scrutiny Management Panel

Councillor Abdul Kadir to replace Councillor Stuart Brown as a full member of the Scrutiny Management Panel.

Councillor Stuart Brown to become a Standing Deputy.

Housing & Social Care Scrutiny Panel

Cllr Ian Holder to replace Councillor Stuart Brown as a full member of the Housing & Social Care Scrutiny Panel.

Councillor Stuart Brown to become a Standing Deputy.

The lead petitioner, Ms Deborah Edwards, presented the petition.

The Administration's response to the petition was

Proposed by Councillor Matthew Winnington and

Seconded by Councillor Jason Fazackarley.

Following debate, there were no objections to the response which was therefore agreed by general assent.

RESOLVED that the Administration's response to the petition as set out below, be AGREED.

On behalf of Portsmouth City Council, the Liberal Democrat administration accepts the petition raised, supports the campaign to restore full GP services to the surgery at John Pounds Centre, thanks Portsea Action Group for their hard work to that end and would like to summarise below the history of the surgery since 2020 and the work that has been done by Health and Care Portsmouth, Portsmouth City Council and other partners since full GP services were withdrawn in 2020.

Background

Prior to the pandemic, John Pounds Medical Centre in Portsea and Lake Road Practice merged under one contract with Lake Road. During the pandemic, John Pounds Medical Centre was temporarily closed.

It reopened in January 2021 under a different operating model to before, with no GP or full-time clinician on site. There is a receptionist on site daily to deliver prescription requests and data capture, and since July 2021, there has also been a team of nursing staff who have delivered nurse-led long-term health condition support, health checks, cervical screening, and urgent blood tests. Social prescribing services are also available.

Part of the service change at John Pounds Medical Centre is due to ongoing lease negotiations between Lake Road Practice and Portsmouth City Council.

In October 2022, Lake Road subsequently merged with Sunnyside Medical Centre to form the newly named Island City Practice (comprising of Lake Road, Sunnyside and John Pounds).

Current situation

Primary Care capacity remains a concern across the city and nationally, and like many Practices, Island City Practice has had to adapt and embrace new ways of working, as we recover from COVID-19 and the changing environment in primary care.

We continue to support GP practices across the city, in diversifying their workforce and creating teams of healthcare professionals within a Primary Care Network. This is to alleviate the demand placed on GPs and ensure patients can be directed to a clinician who best meets their needs i.e., a physiotherapist, clinical pharmacist, social prescriber, and many others.

Island City PCN, which includes Island City Practice, is responsible for recruiting staff for their network, and these staff will work across several sites.

Having more clinical staff on site at John Pounds is something we are exploring with the Practice and other partners.

Lease negotiations

Following long-term challenges with the lease, the John Pounds site discussion focusses on rent reimbursement (not including three rooms for private practice) which has been agreed, dilapidations and the terms of the new lease.

The practice has now appointed a professional Surveyor to represent them in the negotiations for the new lease, so both parties are now independently represented and heads of terms for the new lease are close to agreement.

The approved terms will then be reviewed by the ICB using a District Valuer recommendation report, which has now been instructed.

In conjunction, the dilapidation survey has been completed and the extent of the works agreed between the parties. It has been agreed that the practice will not be responsible for any replacement required for the lift, boiler and heating system.

Timescales for finalising the lease are to be confirmed.

Community engagement

Residents in Portsea, particularly through the Portsea Action Group, have raised concerns about the service change at John Pounds Medical Centre and in particular the lack of GPs or clinical staff. This is in part due to the need to travel to Lake Road to access clinical services.

As a result, we are working with the Practice and other stakeholders including Portsmouth City Council, HIVE Portsmouth and Portsea Action Group, to understand the challenges currently facing residents in Portsea and how we can best meet the needs of the community through increased provision at John Pounds, once the lease has been agreed.

We have committed to a piece of work to assess the needs of the local community through the establishment of a Portsea Working Group, a survey for local residents, listening event and workshop, and focus groups. We have also opened up conversations with HIVE Portsmouth to investigate transport options, to allow easier access to Lake Road.

This work is expected to take place between January and May 2023.

It was

Proposed by Councillor Gerald Vernon-Jackson

Seconded by Councillor Charlotte Gerada

That Full Council

1.             Adopt the overall political balance and allocation of seats as set out in the Chief Executive's report with Cllr Judith Smyth reappointed as a non aligned independent memberto the Governance & Audit & Standards Committee and the Education, Children & Young People Scrutiny Panel; and 

Noted that:

(i)             the Labour Group have gifted Councillor Judith Smyth the Labour Group seat on the Planning Committee that she previously held as a Labour Group member; and

(ii)           the appointment of Planning Committee Chair will be dealt with as a separate matter under this agenda item.

Following a vote, the proposal was declared CARRIED.

RESOLVED that Full Council

(i)             adopted the overall political balance and allocation of seats as set out in the Chief Executive's report with Cllr Judith Smyth reappointed as a non aligned independent member to the Governance & Audit & Standards Committee and the Education, Children & Young People Scrutiny Panel;

(ii)            NOTED that the Labour Group had gifted Councillor Judith Smyth the Labour Group seat on the Planning Committee that she had previously held as a Labour Group member; and

(iii)          NOTED that the appointment of Planning Committee Chair will be dealt with as a separate matter under this agenda item.

The Deputy Lord Mayor invited nominations for the position of Planning Committee Chair.

It was

Proposed by Councillor Gerald Vernon-Jackson

Seconded by Councillor Suzy Horton

That Councillor Chris Attwell be appointed as Planning Committee Chair.

It was

Proposed by Councillor Graham Heaney

Seconded by Councillor Charlotte Gerada

That Councillor Judith Smyth be appointed as Planning Committee Chair.

Following a vote it was:

RESOLVED that Councillor Chris Attwell be appointed as Planning Committee Chair.

As Councillor Chris Attwell was formerly Planning Committee Vice-Chair, The Deputy Lord Mayor invited nominations for the position of Planning Committee Vice-Chair.

It was

Proposed by Councillor Gerald Vernon-Jackson

Seconded by Councillor Graham Heaney

That Councillor Judith Smyth be appointed as Planning Committee Vice- Chair.

This proposal was agreed by general assent.

it was therefore:

RESOLVED that Councillor Judith Smyth be appointed as Planning Committee Vice-Chair.

Council Agenda Item 9 (Cabinet Minute 140) Treasury Management Mid-Year Review 2022/23

The recommendations within this report were approved unopposed.

RESOLVED:

1.    That the Council's Treasury Management activities have remained within the Treasury Management Policy 2022/23 in the period up to 30 September 2022; and

2.    That the actual Treasury Management indicators as at 30 September 2022 set out in Appendix A be NOTED.

Council Agenda Item 10 (Cabinet Minute 135) Ocean Recovery Declaration - Update of Progress.

The recommendations within this report were approved unopposed.

RESOLVED that Council NOTED the report.

Council Agenda Item 10 (Governance & Audit & Standards Committee Minute 48) Health & Wellbeing Board Constitution.

The recommendations within this report were approved unopposed.

RESOLVED that the changes to the Constitution for the Health and Wellbeing Board comprising Appendix A of the report and recommended to Full Council by the Governance & Audit Committee be AGREED.

The Deputy Lord Mayor announced that in accordance Standing Order 33 this motion would not be considered, as the seconder to the motion, Councillor Cal Corkery, had given apologies for the meeting.

It was proposed by Councillor Graham Heaney under Standing Order 1 (Suspension of Standing Orders) that Standing Order 32 be suspended to permit another seconder for the motion to make themselves known and thereby allow the motion to be debated.

Following a vote the proposal was declared LOST and the motion was therefore not moved and thus abandoned with fresh notice required in order for it to be considered at the next meeting of the Council.

Councillor Charlotte Gerada explained that following her discussion with Councillor Horton,it was her intention that the motion would be amended and submitted to the next Council meeting.

She did not move the motion at the meeting, therefore under Standing Order 33 it was treated as abandoned.

It was

Proposed by Councillor George Fielding

Seconded by Councillor Charlotte Gerada

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

As an amendment it was

Proposed by Councillor Steve Pitt

Seconded by Councillor Darren Sanders

To amend the final paragraph by:

(i)    inserting 'and the Leader of the Labour Party' after 'Pensions'; and

(ii)  after 'package', insert: 'commensurate with WASPI's demands for a payment between £11,666 and £20,000, estimated to cost between £44bn and £76 bn'.

Following debate, the proposer of the original motion, Councillor George Fielding agreed to subsume the amendment put by Councillor Steve Pitt into the motion.

RESOLVED that

Full Council notes that:

?   In the 1995 Pensions Act, the Government increased the State Pension age for women from 60 to 65, with a further increase to 66 in the 2011 Pensions Act. 

?   The change was not properly communicated to 3.8m women born in the 1950s until 2012, giving some only one year’s notice of a six-year increase in their anticipated retirement age. 9,000 of the affected women are in our own authority area.

?   The Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman (PHSO) has found that the Department for Work and Pensions was guilty of maladministration in its handling of the State Pension Age increase for women born in the 1950s [1].  

?   The All-Party Parliamentary Group on State Pension Inequality for Women has concluded that “the impact of DWP maladministration on 1950s-born women has been as devastating as it is widespread. The APPG believes that the case for category 6 injustice is overwhelming and clear.  Women have had their emotional, physical, and mental circumstances totally obliterated by a lack of reasonable notice.”

?   Research commissioned by campaign group WASPI has found that by the end of 2022, more than 220,000 1950s born women will have died waiting for justice since the WASPI campaign began in 2015. 

?   WASPI’s figures show that over the course of the two-year COVID pandemic, 1 in 10 women who died were affected by these uncommunicated changes and lost both their state pension income and the opportunity to make alternative retirement plans. 

?   Despite the Ombudsman’s findings and the rapid death rate of those affected, the government is choosing to wait for further reports before taking any action. 

Full Council believes this injustice has not only had a profound effect on the individuals involved but on the wider community in Portsmouth and on local government, not least because:

?   Women who would have looked after older relatives or partners are unable to afford to do so, with a knock-on impact on local social care

?   Women who would have retired and engaged in caring responsibilities for grandchildren are having to continue working, increasing the childcare burden on the state locally

?   Women who have been left in poverty are struggling to meet their housing costs, with a knock-on impact on local housing stock

?   There is a broader impact on voluntary services of all kinds locally, which are missing out on able, active volunteers who would otherwise have been able to retire from full-time work as planned

?   Our local economy is negatively affected by the reduced spending power and disposable income the uncommunicated State Pension Age changes has brought about among women born in the 1950s

Full Council supports: 

?   The conclusion of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on State Pension Inequality that women born in the 1950s have suffered a gross injustice, affecting their emotional, physical and mental circumstances in addition to causing financial hardship.

?   A swift resolution to this ongoing injustice before more and more women die waiting for compensation.

?   The WASPI campaign for an immediate one-off compensation payment of between £11,666 and £20,000 to those affected, with the most going to women who were given the shortest notice of the longest increase in their state pension age. 

Full Council asks:

The Leader of the Council to write to local Members of Parliament, and to the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions and the Leader of the Labour Party to outline the effects of the injustice to 1950s women on the community in Portsmouth and to seek their support for an immediate compensation package, commensurate with WASPI's demands for a payment between £11,666 and £20,000, estimated to cost between £44bn and £76 bn.

It was

Proposed by Councillor Matthew Atkins

Seconded by Councillor John Smith

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

As an amendment it was

Proposed by Councillor George Madgwick

Seconded by Councillor Brian Madgwick

To amend the motion by:

Adding a full stop after 'appointment' in the last sentence and add the following text after:

'Equally this council respects and understands that an open waste disposal site encourages traffic issues for residents and businesses within the Port Solent residential community.'

Delete 'and asks Cabinet to consider implementing this change accordingly' and replace with:

'With this in mind, Full Council asks the cabinet to issue a local survey to the residents of Port Solent for feedback on the proposal to reopen the waste disposal site, without the requirements to book in advance. The report of the survey to be published to all councillors before the March 2023 Full Council meeting.'

Following debate, the proposer of the original motion, Councillor Matthew Atkins agreed to subsume the amendment put by Councillor George Madgwick into the motion.

RESOLVED that:

Now that the country has returned largely to normal life after the COVID Pandemic this council believes it is time that residents should be able to attend the Household Waste Recycling Centre at Port Solent and drop off waste without having to make a prior appointment. Equally this council respects and understands that an open waste disposal site encourages traffic issues for residents and businesses within the Port Solent residential community.

With this in mind Full council asks the cabinet to issue a local survey to the residents of Port Solent for feedback on the proposal to reopen the waste disposal site, without the requirements to book in advance. The report of the survey to be published to all councillors before the March 2023 full council meeting.

It was

Proposed by Councillor Ryan Brent

Seconded by Councillor Linda Symes

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

As an amendment it was

Proposed by Councillor Russell Simpson

Seconded by Councillor George Madgwick

To amend the motion by:

Removing the final sentence beginning 'In addition to this….'

and replacing with:

'In addition to this, the council requests that a report be brought back to a future council to;

A) identify how younger generations can be inspired by the sport role models within our local community.

B) a plan on how to support and sustain up and coming local sporting people from all areas of sport.

C) Reach out to local sports people and schools to set up a method where local sports people can talk and inspire the youth within the school setting.

D) Work proactively on assigning an amount of finance within the 2023/2024 council budget that is ring fenced at supporting emerging sporting talent.'

Following debate, the proposer of the original motion, Councillor Ryan Brent agreed to subsume the amendment put by Councillor Russell Simpson into the motion.

RESOLVED that

2022 has seen national success in Women’s sport whereby the Lionesses won the Euro football competition and the England Red Roses reached the Rugby World Cup final.

The council notes that Vicky Cornborough has represented the national rugby team through numerous successful results in competitions and to be a representative of Portsmouth on a national level as a sporting elite should be recognised and commended. 

The council calls upon the administration to ensure that participation from local individuals, specifically women, competing at an elite level of any sport should be recognised and celebrated.

In addition to this, the council requests that a report be brought back to a future council to;

A) identify how younger generations can be inspired by the sport role models within our local community.

B) a plan on how to support and sustain up and coming local sporting people from all areas of sport.

C) Reach out to local sports people and schools to set up a method where local sports people can talk and inspire the youth within the school setting.

D) Work proactively on assigning an amount of finance within the 2023/2024 council budget that is ring fenced at supporting emerging sporting talent.

Eleven questions from members had been received under Standing Order No

17.

The first question was from Councillor George Fielding.

"Could the Cabinet Member please provide the Council with a full update as to the current progress on the redevelopment of Bransbury Park?"

This and supplementary questions were answered by the Cabinet Member for

Culture, Leisure & Economic Development, Councillor Steve Pitt.

The second question was from Councillor Scott Payter-Harris.

"Can the cabinet member confirm whether the City Council in their lease agreements with third parties allow their land to be sublet without the permission of the City Council?"

At the request of Councillor Scott Payter-Harris a written response would be provided.

The third question was from Councillor Matthew Atkins.

"What is the value of the crateloads of unused PPE currently being stored in a row of spaces in the Civic Offices underground car park?"

In the absence of the Cabinet Member, Councillor Matthew Atkins requested that a written response be provided.

The fourth question was from Councillor Simon Bosher.

"At the Traffic and Transportation meeting of 20^th October 2022, the Cabinet member supported the recommendation to approve the installation of speed cushions in Langstone Road in Baffins Ward when based on a data analysis out of more than 50 roads surveyed in the city.

The data analysis covering the period 1^st March 2016 - 28^th February 2021 highlights several roads with a significantly higher serious and slight accident count and higher scoring when based on Speed Survey Data, Traffic Count Data and Accident Reports.

Did the Cabinet member have any additional information available when making her decision?"

This and supplementary questions were answered by the Cabinet Member for

Traffic and Transportation, Councillor Lynne Stagg.

The fifth question was from Councillor John Smith.

" Some time ago, plastic discs were installed into road surfaces in the City to assist a new parking scheme, what has happened to this initiative?"

This and supplementary questions were answered by the Cabinet Member for

Traffic and Transportation, Councillor Lynne Stagg.

The sixth question was from Councillor Judith Smyth.

"Why did Portsmouth fail to attract additional investment from Arts Council National Portfolio organisation awards in the recent round?"

This question was answered by the Cabinet Member for

Culture, Leisure & Economic Development, Councillor Steve Pitt.

The time allocation for this item having elapsed, written responses would be

provided to the remaining questions.