Portsmouth City Borough Council Full Council Meeting

It was

Proposed by Councillor Steve Pitt

Seconded by Councillor Simon Bosher

That the minutes of the Annual Council meeting held on 16 May 2023 be confirmed as a correct record.

These were agreed by assent.

It was

Proposed by Councillor Steve Pitt

Seconded by Councillor Simon Bosher

That the minutes of the Extraordinary Council meeting held on 20 June 2023 be confirmed as a correct record.

These were agreed by assent.

Apologies for absence had been received from Councillor Abdul Kadir, Councillor Kirsty Mellor and Councillor Daniel Wemyss.

Apologies for lateness had been received from Cllr Ryan Brent.

On behalf of the Council, the Lord Mayor congratulated Cllr Daniel Wemyss on his recent marriage.

The Lord Mayor also announced the sad news of the passing of Honorary Alderman Fred Charlton, a former city councillor and Lord Mayor.  Honorary Alderman Charlton was a Portsmouth City Councillor between 1995 and 2007 and Lord Mayor in 2006.

On behalf of the Council, he offered his sincere condolences.

The City Solicitor advised that six verbal deputation requests had been made for this meeting. 

The first was from Marie Cleaver in support of the notice of motion at minute 77, Save Portsmouth Stroke Recovery Service.

The second was from Debbie Lewis in support of the notice of motion at minute 77, Save Portsmouth Stroke Recovery Service

The third was from Honorary Alderman Attrill in support of the notice of motion at minute 79, Improving accessibility on Portsmouth taxis for disabled people.

The fourth was from Sharon Smithson in support of the notice of motion at minute 79, Improving accessibility on Portsmouth taxis for disabled people.

The fifth was from Lee Stevens in support of the notice of motion at minute 79, Improving accessibility on Portsmouth taxis for disabled people.

The sixth was from Tally Aslam in support of the notice of motion at minute 78, Continuing Support of Portsmouth Pride.

At the invitation of the City Solicitor, Marie Cleaver, Debbie Lewis, Honorary Alderman Attrill, Sharon Smithson, Lee Stevens and Tally Aslam delivered their deputations to Council.

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

RESOLVED that the following appointment be AGREED:

Planning Committee

Councillor Matthew Atkins as a Standing Deputy for the Conservative Group.

The Lord Mayor advised that he had not been made aware of any urgent business for this meeting.

Council Agenda item 8 (Cabinet Minute 53)

Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking Statement.

The recommendations contained in minute 53 of the Cabinet meeting held on 27 June 2023 were approved unopposed.

RESOLVED that Full Council notes for information only the Cabinet decisions to approve -

i)               The Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking Statement for the signature of the Leader and publication on the council's website (see appendix 1); and

ii)             The programme of work set out in item 11 of the report.

Council Agenda item 9 (Cabinet Minute 47)

Queen Alexandra (QA) Hospital Emergency Ward Support.

Councillor Simon Bosher objected under Standing Order 28 in order to allow the minute to be debated.

It was

Proposed by Councillor Steve Pitt

Seconded by Councillor Matthew Winnington

That the recommendations in Cabinet minute 47 be approved

Following a vote, the recommendations contained in minute 47 of the Cabinet meeting held on 27 June 2023 were approved.

RESOLVED that Full Council APPROVED:

(i)             The granting of £436,893.68 from Community Infrastructure Funding to Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust for the provision of infrastructure in accordance with the Community Infrastructure Levy Regulations 2010 (as amended) ("CIL Regs") to be funded from Capital Infrastructure CIL; and

(ii)           To write to Portsmouth Hospitals University Trust to confirm that CIL is part of the expected infrastructure costs of any significant project/development and is a levy to compensate for the full range of additional public infrastructure requirements that will arise from developments and will fall to the Council. The part of the NHS responsible for resourcing any future funding allocation for major projects locally, should therefore include any future CIL contribution as part of the budget it provides for the project.

It was

Proposed by Councillor Lee Hunt

Seconded by Councillor Darren Sanders

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

As an amendment it was

Proposed by Councillor Simon Bosher

Seconded by Councillor Matthew Atkins

To add a new paragraph 2:

'This Council further notes that the funding formula is based on Cities and is currently under review with the Home Office and is expected to include rural areas which will benefit Hampshire and IOW Constabulary.'

To add new paragraphs 5 and 6:

'This Council welcomes the recent announcement of a 7% pay rise across all ranks as recommended by the Police Renumeration Review Body and accepted in full by the Government, with the most junior officers getting a £5000 boost.

This Council notes the comments of the National Police Chief's Council lead for pay and conditions who said "We welcome that the Government has accepted the PRRB recommendations on Police Officers pay in full"

To amend former paragraph 4 (now paragraph 7), deletions struck through and additions in bold:

This Council regrets notes that successive previousPolice & Crime Commissioners have closed Police counters across Portsmouth including Southsea, North End, Cosham and City Central and notes the only public counter is now on the Airport Industrial Estate with no public transport, so out of reach unless you have a car or can cycle there.

To add new paragraph 8:

This Council notes that the current Police & Crime Commissioner Donna Jones has halted the sale of Cosham Police Station and has publicly stated her plans to reopen Police Counters.

To amend former paragraph 11 (now paragraph 15):

Therefore the Council invites the Police & Crime Commissioner and the Chief Constable to a future meeting of this Council to inform us about requests that the Cabinet Member for Safety in the Community and Council representative on the Police and Crime Panel writes to the Police and Crime Commissioner to inform him on:

Recommendation (i) to be amended as below:

(i)       the current state of recruitment and retention of Police, staff and PCSOs, especially how many extra Police each part of our city will be getting Portsmouth will be getting;

New recommendation (v) to be added:

(v) That the Cabinet Member for Safety in the Community brings a report 

      back to Full Council.

Following debate, the proposer of the original motion, Councillor Lee Hunt     did not wish to subsume the amendment put by Councillor Simon Bosher into the motion.

Following a vote, the amendment in the name of Councillor Simon Bosher was declared LOST.

Council voted on the original motion.

Following the vote, the original motion was declared carried.

RESOLVED that:

This Council notes the allocation of funding for each policing area is worked out using a formula. At present Hampshire and IoW Constabulary serving Portsmouth, is disadvantaged by this formula and it has been calculated that as a result the force is underfunded by £41.6 million a year compared to the national average.

Furthermore this Council notes in 2019 the Chief Constable and the Police & Crime Commissioner wrote to the Government demanding more funding pointing out Hampshire and IoW Constabulary receives a quarter less funding than is needed.

Hampshire and IoW Police Federation commenting on the ‘England and Wales Pay and Morale’ survey state: Hampshire and IoW is underfunded by £43 million and that its members say morale is low.

This Council regrets that successive Police & Crime Commissioners have closed Police counters across Portsmouth including Southsea, North End, Cosham and City Central and notes the only public counter is now on the Airport Industrial Estate with no public transport, so out of reach unless you have a car or can cycle there.

This Council notes in January 2021 the Chief Constable and Police & Crime Commissioner argued for and secured an increase in the police precept levied on local homes of 7.1% to “take the fight to criminals and those blighting our neighbourhoods with anti-social behaviour.”

This Council notes that at the recent Police & Crime Panel they approved a rise of 6.34% sought by the current Police & Crime Commissioner arguing similar reasons as the 2021 needs.

This Council is concerned that, despite ongoing police precept increases, at police/public meetings across Portsmouth residents describe how nothing seems to have changed, how they are kept waiting on 101; that reports of crime and anti-social behaviour in their neighbourhoods are not investigated. Hampshire and IoW Constabulary publicly admit they prioritise ‘High Harm’ and ‘County Lines’ offences.

This Council welcomes and supports police investigation of High Harm and County Lines crimes and continues to invest in citywide safeguarding cameras to help prevent and detect crime in partnership with city police. Furthermore the Council notes the creation of a new permanent post in the current budget of a specialised Anti-Social Behaviour officer.

This Council supports Hampshire Police Federation, the Chief Constable and the Police & Crime Commissioner's calls for fair funding for Hampshire and IoW Constabulary.

However this Council is concerned crime and anti-social behaviour is overwhelming our local Neighbourhood Police Teams, and that residents report neighbourhood crimes and anti-social behaviour are not being properly investigated if at all.

Therefore the Council invites the Police & Crime Commissioner and the Chief Constable to a future meeting of this Council to inform us about:

(i)             the current state of recruitment and retention of Police, staff and PCSOs, especially how many extra Police each part of our city will be getting;

(ii)            how Neighbourhood policing will be improved. This should be through extra neighbourhood Police officers that reflect local people's priorities;

(iii)               how 101 will be improved; and

(iv)          how they will open accessible police public contact counters in the accessible locations in the north and south of Portsmouth.

Cllr Simon Bosher stood to question whether the financial implications contained within the motion breached Standing Order 41(j):

'No motion or amendment which would have a financial effect on the Council may be moved unless it specifies the source of funding.'

The City Solicitor advised that the motion engaged Standing Order 41(j) and therefore ruled that it could not be put.

The motion was therefore not moved or considered.

Cllr Simon Bosher stood to question whether the financial implications contained within the motion breached Standing Order 41(j):

'No motion or amendment which would have a financial effect on the Council may be moved unless it specifies the source of funding.'

The City Solicitor advised that the motion engaged Standing Order 41(j) and therefore ruled that it could not be put.

The motion was therefore not moved or considered.

It was

Proposed by Councillor Charlotte Gerada

Seconded by Councillor Yinka Adeniran

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

No amendments were proposed on this motion.

Following debate, Council voted on the motion.

RESOLVED that:

Full Council notes:

(i)             Over 1 in 5 people in the UK are disabled. That is over 14 million of us. It is a number that has continued to rise as people are living longer and treatments and technology in healthcare improve.

(ii)            In Portsmouth there are 16,848 people who have a disability or long-term health condition that limits their day-to-day activities a lot. While another 23,088 people have a disability or long-term health condition that limits their day-to-day activities a little. That equates to 19% of people in Portsmouth who have some sort of disability or long-term health condition that meets the definition of disability under the Equality Act 2010.

(iii)          Portsmouth Disability Advisory Group (DAG), established at the end of 2022, is a group of disabled people who are keen to identify and act upon issues of concern for disabled people in Portsmouth.

(iv)          Residents have been in touch with DAG to share their stories of living in Portsmouth as a disabled person. Many people who use wheelchairs or mobility scooters have spoken of their difficulties accessing transport in the city, including taxis.

(v)           Everyday journeys – to work, school, to see family and friends, to access essential services like health and care – are fraught with uncertainty for many disabled people.

(vi)          Although there are taxis operating in the city that can accommodate wheelchairs, and drivers who are willing to assist, these seem to be in limited supply. Accessible taxis do not appear to be as easy to acquire during peak periods such as school runs or at the beginning and end of the evening. As a consequence disabled people, and wheelchair users in particular, are more disadvantaged than the rest of the city’s population in their access to transport.

(vii)         In July 2021 the Government published the National Disability Strategy. This national strategy recognises and builds on the progress that has been made since the Disability Discrimination Act was introduced more than 25 years ago. One of the priorities of the strategy is Transport: improving the accessibility and experience of everyday journeys. The Department for Transport’s (DfT) Inclusive Transport Strategy, first published in 2018, has also helped to improve accessibility.

(viii)       Disabled people are frequent users of public transport, particularly taxis and private hire vehicles. Nationally, 99% of buses now meet minimum accessibility standards, but the proportion of wheelchair accessible vehicles is 58% in taxi fleets and 2% for private hire vehicles. Disappointingly, these figures have been falling since 2014.

Full Council believes:

(i)             That disability equality should matter to all of us.

(ii)            That disabled people should have equitable access to a good range of transport in Portsmouth.

(iii)          In a social model of disability, recognising that it is society, culture and the nature of social institutions that disables people who have a range of impairments. Impairments include being blind or deaf, having a mobility limitation or a cognitive or neurological difference.

(iv)          The UK’s Equality Act 2010 defines a person as ‘disabled’ if they have a physical or mental impairment that has a substantial and long-term negative effect on their ability to do normal daily activities.

(v)           The focus on ‘impairment’ is challenged by many disabled people, researchers and disability organisations who highlight how disabled people are ‘disabled by society’ as a consequence of their impairment. A consequence is that disabled people can be unnecessarily isolated and excluded from full participation in society.

(vi)          It is our duty as civic leaders to listen to disabled peoples’ ideas and concerns and do our utmost to make Portsmouth as accessible as possible for all residents.

Full Council Resolves:

(i)                   To ask the Licensing Committee to commission a review into the level and availability of wheelchair accessible taxis in Portsmouth, such review to be undertaken and reported upon within this municipal year - including its policy that may limit or control the number of hackney carriage vehicle licenses it issues - with the aim of improving licensing policy to increase accessibility in taxis for disabled people;

(ii)                 To ask the Licensing Committee to explore and report upon how it can increase take-up of disability awareness training for taxi drivers in Portsmouth;

(iii)                To ask Group Leaders to attend a meeting with members of the Portsmouth Disability Advisory Group to find out more about accessibility issues in transport for Portsmouth; and

(iv)                To ask the Leader to invite members of the Portsmouth Disability Advisory Group to the Transport Liaison Group to improve collaboration between transport providers and disability representatives.

It was

Proposed by Councillor Yinka Adeniran

Seconded by Councillor George Fielding

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

No amendments were proposed on this motion.

Following debate, Council voted on the motion.

RESOLVED that:

Our armed forces have a long and proud history of service and dedication to this nation. From deployments to NATO's eastern flank to keeping essential services running at home, service personnel continue to serve our country with courage and distinction.

In Portsmouth in particular, we have a strong naval history that is intertwined with the DNA of the city. Much of our city’s population is made of service personnel and veterans. In the South East, there are currently over 25,000 serving in the British Army, Royal Navy/Royal Marines, RAF and Tri-service.

Despite their committed service, our armed forces are being let down by the Conservative government. After a decade of real terms pay cuts, the Conservatives’ cost of living crisis, and the delay to this year’s Armed Forces pay award has led to Service Personnel being forced to use food banks. This is while forces charities and regimental associations continue to provide cost of living grants and food vouchers to veterans and their families.

Service personnel have become routinely called upon to cover for a lack of resilience across the public sector and to provide cover for some essential services during industrial action. They do this in the dedicated and professional way we would expect from our forces. Without a right to strike it is the moral duty of their leaders to uphold the Armed Forces Covenant, and the responsibility of elected bodies to uphold their part of this obligation and insist that our service personnel and their families receive the support they need and deserve.

Full Council notes:

(i)    It is deeply concerning that service personnel in Portsmouth are forced to turn to food banks.

(ii)  It is deeply concerning that forces charities and regimental associations continue to have to provide cost of living grants and food vouchers to veterans and their families.

Full Council believes:

We should condemn in the strongest terms the Conservative Government’s neglect of our service personnel.

Full Council Resolves:

(i)             To ask the Leader of the Council to write to the Secretary of State for Defence to release the armed forces pay review board 2023/4 report and pay award that is already two months overdue and to request the government provides additional basic financial support to service personnel by capping food and accommodation charges for the next 12 months.

(ii)            To ask the Leader of the council to write to Portsmouth-based food banks and local forces charities to thank them for supporting armed forces personnel and veterans and to provide information about any further support service personnel can currently access.

It was

Proposed by Councillor Ryan Brent

Seconded by Councillor Matthew Atkins

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

As an amendment it was

Proposed by Councillor Hugh Mason

Seconded by Councillor Jason Fazackarley

To add the following additional recommendation:

'The City Council regrets that the Police, criminal sentencing and courts Act 2022 does not allow Local Councils the same power to remove illegal encampments as private landowners and this means illegal encampments on council land are there for much longer than on privately owned land.'

As an amendment it was

Proposed by Councillor George Fielding

Seconded by Councillor Asghar Shah

To amend the second paragraph as below (deletions struck-through and additions in bold):

'The council notes that every individual has rights and respects the choices made regarding lifestyle. However, the council condemns acknowledges the impact unauthorised incursions have on residents within our communities as well as the unnecessary financial expense associated with the processes required.'

Recommendation (ii) to be amended as below (addition in bold):

(ii)       the Leader of the council writes to leaders of all authorities in which PCC own land and request collaborative action to identify solutions to this issue including finding suitable locations for authorised encampments whilst working with neighbouring authorities and Hampshire County Council to achieve this.

Following debate, the proposer of the original motion, Councillor Ryan Brent, agreed to subsume the amendment in the name of Councillor Hugh Mason into the motion but did not wish to subsume the amendment put by Councillor George Fielding into the motion.

Following a vote, the amendment in the name of Councillor George Fielding was declared CARRIED.

Council voted on the original motion, incorporating the amendments in the names of Councillor Hugh Mason and Councillor George Fielding.

RESOLVED that

An unauthorised encampment is when a group of people move on to a piece of land that they do not own and without consent from the landowner. This is something that has occurred across various areas within Portsmouth and on land owned by the local authority in recent years.

The council notes that every individual has rights and respects the choices made regarding lifestyle. However, the council acknowledges the impact unauthorised incursions have on residents within our communities as well as the unnecessary financial expense associated with the processes required.

It is imperative that local authorities ensure robust and appropriate prevention measures are regularly monitored and evaluated to protect taxpayers’ money from being wasted.

Therefore, Full Council Resolves that:

(i)         a cross-party working group is created with a remit of ensuring all Portsmouth City Council (PCC) owned land, at risk of unauthorised encampments, is adequately protected from future incursion;

(ii)        the Leader of the council writes to leaders of all authorities in which PCC own land and request collaborative action to identify solutions to this issue, including finding suitable locations for authorised encampments whilst working with neighbouring authorities and Hampshire County Council to achieve this;

(iii)       a report, via Cabinet, is brought back within three meetings (by December Council) that highlights:

·        the location and duration of all PCC land unauthorised encampments within the last 7 years;

·        a breakdown of the costs associated to council services within each event, including clean-up thereafter;

·        preventative measures put in place as a response to incursions; and

·        consultation and support conducted with residents in the locality and timeframe of both.

(iv)      The City Council regrets that the Police, criminal sentencing and courts Act 2022 does not allow Local Councils the same power to remove illegal encampments as private landowners and this means illegal encampments on council land are there for much longer than on privately owned land.

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

The first question was from Councillor George Fielding.

"Given the concerns surrounding the life expectancy of concrete in our schools, hospitals and civic buildings, can the Cabinet Member confirm if there have been any recent safety checks or structural surveys of the city's school buildings?"

This and supplementary questions were answered by the Cabinet Member for Children, Families and Education, Councillor Suzy Horton.

The second question was from Councillor Mary Vallely.

"Why has there been a gap of 6 months before the sports development manager will be replaced at BH Live?"

This question was answered by the Leader of the Council, Councillor Steve Pitt.

The third question was from Councillor Graham Heaney.

" Can the Cabinet Member please update the Council as to any progress made by the administration on increasing GP provision locally in the city?"

This and supplementary questions were answered by the Cabinet Member for Community Wellbeing, Health & Care, Councillor Matthew Winnington.

The fourth question was from Councillor Simon Bosher.

"The 2023/24 budget identified the planned acquisition of Farlington Playing Fields (£500,000) as a new scheme relying on prudential borrowing.Can the Leader update the Council on the progress of this acquisition?"

This and supplementary questions were answered by the Leader of the Council, Councillor Steve Pitt.

The fifth question was from Councillor Mary Vallely.

" Can the Leader please provide a full update as to the progress of the new Bransbury Park Leisure Centre?"

This question was answered by the Leader of the Council, Councillor Steve Pitt.

The sixth question was from Councillor Simon Bosher.

"East Lodge Park is a residential road in Farlington serving a mixed community predominately of flats and which has been identified as a road which was not originally included in the overarching scheme to introduce 20mph speed limit circa 2006/08.

Documented maps from the original scheme highlight several other roads in Drayton and Farlington which would appear were also not included in the 20mph scheme at that time, including Lodge Avenue, Bernard Avenue and Padwick Avenue.  

Will the Cabinet Member for Transport bring forward traffic regulation orders to a future portfolio meeting to make these roads 20mph?"

This question was answered by the Cabinet Member for Transport, Councillor Gerald Vernon-Jackson.

It was proposed by the Lord Mayor, seconded by the Leader and supported by group leaders to formally record a vote of thanks to Mr David Williams, the Council's outgoing Chief Executive.

Mr Williams had been the Council's Chief Executive for the past 16 years and in paying tribute to his service, Councillor Vernon-Jackson thanked him for the hard work, leadership and stability that he had brought to the council during this time.