Southampton City Council
Councillors:
51
Wards:
17
Committees:
23
Meetings (2025):
154
Meetings (2024):
93
Meeting
Overview and Scrutiny Management Committee - Southampton
Meeting Times
Scheduled Time
Start:
Tuesday, 11th February 2025
5:30 PM
Tuesday, 11th February 2025
5:30 PM
End:
Tuesday, 11th February 2025
9:30 PM
Tuesday, 11th February 2025
9:30 PM
Meeting Status
Status:
Confirmed; (Special)
Confirmed; (Special)
Date:
11 Feb 2025
11 Feb 2025
Location:
Council Chamber, Civic Centre, Southampton
Council Chamber, Civic Centre, Southampton
Meeting Attendees
Committee Member
Sheriff of Southampton - 2025 -2026
Committee Member
Committee Member
Catherine Hobbs
Roman Catholic Church
Expected
Committee Member
Appointed - OSMC
Rob Sanders
Church of England
Present, as expected
Officer
Richard Ivory
Expected
Officer
Mel Creighton
Expected
Officer
Andrew Travers
Expected
Officer
Executive Director - Wellbeing (Children and Learning)
Robert Henderson
Expected
Agenda
1
Apologies and Changes in Panel Membership (If Any)
To note any changes in membership of the Panel made in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 4.3.
Minutes
It was noted that following receipt of the temporary resignation of Councillor Powell-Vaughan from the Committee, the Monitoring Officer, acting under delegated powers, had appointed Councillor Harwood to replace them for the purposes of this meeting and in addition noted the apologies of Councillor Renyard.
6
Call-in of Executive Decision CAB 24/25 47482 - Change in Parking Tariffs and Charging Hours in Suburban Car Parks
Report of the Scrutiny Manager detailing the Call-In of Executive Decision CAB 24/25 47482 - Change in Parking Tariffs and Charging Hours in Suburban Car Parks.
Attachments:
- Document Call-in of Executive Decision CAB 24/25 47482 - Change in Parking Tariffs and Charging Hours in Suburban Car Parks 03 Feb 2025
- Document Appendix 1 - Call In Notice - Change in Parking Tariffs and Charging Hours in Suburban Car Parks.doc 03 Feb 2025
- Document Appendix 2 - Decision Notice.pdf 03 Feb 2025
- Document Appendix 3 - Change in Parking Tariffs and Charging Hours in Suburban Car Parks Decision report.pdf 03 Feb 2025
- Document Appendix 1 to Decision Report.pdf 03 Feb 2025
- Document Appendix 2 to Decision Report.pdf 03 Feb 2025
- Document Appendix 3 to Decision Report.pdf 03 Feb 2025
- Document Appendix 4 to Decision Report.pdf 03 Feb 2025
- Document Appendix 5 to Decision Report.pdf 03 Feb 2025
Minutes
Councillor Keogh – Cabinet Member for Environment & Transport, Mel Creighton -Executive Director for Enabling Services, James Marshall - Director of Customer & Employee Experience and Richard Alderson – Service Manager, Parking & Itchen Bridge were in attendance and with the consent of the Chair addressed the meeting.
Councillor Keogh provided an introduction and overview in relation to the decision taken by Cabinet on 28 January 2025 to approve the implementation of a Change in Parking Tariffs and Charging Hours in Suburban Car Parks.
The Committee noted the overview and discussed the following elements, referenced in the Call-In notice, in further detail:
· The economic and financial impact on the district centres and the businesses within them has not been calculated and thus represents a significant risk to the vitality of these districts and the viability of businesses
The Committee explored with the Cabinet Member the turnover of parking spaces within district centres, the viability of district centres and engagement with local businesses, the expected impact of the decision on footfall, local examples where parking charges had been introduced, and the measures that will be utilised to assess the impact of the proposals.
Councillor Keogh set out the metrics that will be used to monitor the impact of the parking charges, including car park utilisation, utilisation periods, car parking availability, district centre footfall and modal shift measures, and the planned six-month post implementation review. Councillor Keogh also set out the planned improvements for district centres in Southampton.
· The consultation on these measures demonstrated overwhelming public opposition, but this has been ignored.
Given the scale of the opposition to the proposals the Committee questioned the purpose of consulting residents if the results do not impact the Executive’s decision, and the potential damage this is doing to the reputation of the Council.
Councillor Keogh stated that the purpose of the consultation was to obtain feedback, capture ideas, and identify specific issues and suggestions. Amendments have been made to the proposals as a result of consultation feedback. These include changes to the charging hours and plans for park and stride permits.
Councillor Keogh also confirmed that ongoing space provision and arrangements for blue badge holders will remain in place.
The Committee then moved to a formal vote.
RESOLVED that
i) To advise the Decision Maker that the Scrutiny Committee does not recommend that the decision be reconsidered and that it can therefore be implemented without delay,
ii) The reduction in usage applied to income projections for 2025/25 is provided to the Committee,
iii) The six-month review on whether the parking tariff and charging periods should be further amended is considered by the Committee when it is available,
iv) The cost to the City Council of processing a single payment card transaction is provided to the Committee,
v) To offset the potential impact of the proposed car parking charges, the Executive support investment in Southampton’s district centres to enhance their vitality and viability.
Councillor Keogh provided an introduction and overview in relation to the decision taken by Cabinet on 28 January 2025 to approve the implementation of a Change in Parking Tariffs and Charging Hours in Suburban Car Parks.
The Committee noted the overview and discussed the following elements, referenced in the Call-In notice, in further detail:
· The economic and financial impact on the district centres and the businesses within them has not been calculated and thus represents a significant risk to the vitality of these districts and the viability of businesses
The Committee explored with the Cabinet Member the turnover of parking spaces within district centres, the viability of district centres and engagement with local businesses, the expected impact of the decision on footfall, local examples where parking charges had been introduced, and the measures that will be utilised to assess the impact of the proposals.
Councillor Keogh set out the metrics that will be used to monitor the impact of the parking charges, including car park utilisation, utilisation periods, car parking availability, district centre footfall and modal shift measures, and the planned six-month post implementation review. Councillor Keogh also set out the planned improvements for district centres in Southampton.
· The consultation on these measures demonstrated overwhelming public opposition, but this has been ignored.
Given the scale of the opposition to the proposals the Committee questioned the purpose of consulting residents if the results do not impact the Executive’s decision, and the potential damage this is doing to the reputation of the Council.
Councillor Keogh stated that the purpose of the consultation was to obtain feedback, capture ideas, and identify specific issues and suggestions. Amendments have been made to the proposals as a result of consultation feedback. These include changes to the charging hours and plans for park and stride permits.
Councillor Keogh also confirmed that ongoing space provision and arrangements for blue badge holders will remain in place.
The Committee then moved to a formal vote.
RESOLVED that
i) To advise the Decision Maker that the Scrutiny Committee does not recommend that the decision be reconsidered and that it can therefore be implemented without delay,
ii) The reduction in usage applied to income projections for 2025/25 is provided to the Committee,
iii) The six-month review on whether the parking tariff and charging periods should be further amended is considered by the Committee when it is available,
iv) The cost to the City Council of processing a single payment card transaction is provided to the Committee,
v) To offset the potential impact of the proposed car parking charges, the Executive support investment in Southampton’s district centres to enhance their vitality and viability.
7
Exclusion of the Press and Public - Confidential Papers included in the following Item
To move that in accordance with the Council’s Constitution, specifically the Access to Information Procedure Rules contained within the Constitution, the press and public be excluded from the meeting in respect of any consideration of the following Item.
Confidential information deemed to be exempt from general publication based on Category 3 (information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person) and Category 7A (obligation of confidentiality) of paragraph 10.4 of the Council’s Access to Information Procedure Rules.
This information is confidential and commercially sensitive and it would prejudice the Council’s ability to operate in a commercial environment and obtain best value in contract negotiations and would prejudice the Council’s commercial relationships with third parties if they believed the Council would not honour obligations of confidentiality
Confidential information deemed to be exempt from general publication based on Category 3 (information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person) and Category 7A (obligation of confidentiality) of paragraph 10.4 of the Council’s Access to Information Procedure Rules.
This information is confidential and commercially sensitive and it would prejudice the Council’s ability to operate in a commercial environment and obtain best value in contract negotiations and would prejudice the Council’s commercial relationships with third parties if they believed the Council would not honour obligations of confidentiality
Minutes
Resolved that in accordance with the Council’s Constitution, specifically the Access to Information Procedure Rules contained within the Constitution, the press and public be excluded from the meeting in respect of any consideration of the following item.
Confidential information deemed to be exempt from general publication based on Category 3 (information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person) and Category 7A (obligation of confidentiality) of paragraph 10.4 of the Council’s Access to Information Procedure Rules.
This information is confidential and commercially sensitive and it would prejudice the Council’s ability to operate in a commercial environment and obtain best value in contract negotiations and would prejudice the Council’s commercial relationships with third parties if they believed the Council would not honour obligations of confidentiality
Confidential information deemed to be exempt from general publication based on Category 3 (information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person) and Category 7A (obligation of confidentiality) of paragraph 10.4 of the Council’s Access to Information Procedure Rules.
This information is confidential and commercially sensitive and it would prejudice the Council’s ability to operate in a commercial environment and obtain best value in contract negotiations and would prejudice the Council’s commercial relationships with third parties if they believed the Council would not honour obligations of confidentiality
8
Highways Contract Procurement
Report of the Scrutiny Manager regarding the Highways Contract Procurement.
Attachments:
- Document Highways Contract Procurement 03 Feb 2025
Minutes
Councillor Keogh – Cabinet Member for Environment & Transport, Mel Creighton – Executive Director for Enabling Services, and Paul Paskins - Director of Contracting and Procurement were in attendance and with the consent of the Chair addressed the meeting.
Councillor Keogh outlined the approach to the renewal of the Highways Contract and Paul Paskins provided operational detail in relation to the exploration of various approaches and the overall benefits of the selected option.
The Committee noted the update and raised a number of questions in relation to the decision, how it was reached, ongoing and planned monitoring of performance, contract scope and contract value.
Paul Paskins set out that the approach taken was through an existing framework agreement, performance is currently and will continue to be monitored through a combination of amended Key Performance Indicators (KPI’s) and other measurements and assessments. There will continue to be quarterly performance meetings with the provider. It was also confirmed that all categorisations of repair works are included within the scope of the agreement and that any identified high priority works will continue to be addressed urgently.
The importance of capital investment to improve the condition of the highways in Southampton was noted. The Committee also outlined expectations with regards to having the opportunity to scrutinise the procurement of key Council contracts moving forward.
Councillor Keogh outlined the approach to the renewal of the Highways Contract and Paul Paskins provided operational detail in relation to the exploration of various approaches and the overall benefits of the selected option.
The Committee noted the update and raised a number of questions in relation to the decision, how it was reached, ongoing and planned monitoring of performance, contract scope and contract value.
Paul Paskins set out that the approach taken was through an existing framework agreement, performance is currently and will continue to be monitored through a combination of amended Key Performance Indicators (KPI’s) and other measurements and assessments. There will continue to be quarterly performance meetings with the provider. It was also confirmed that all categorisations of repair works are included within the scope of the agreement and that any identified high priority works will continue to be addressed urgently.
The importance of capital investment to improve the condition of the highways in Southampton was noted. The Committee also outlined expectations with regards to having the opportunity to scrutinise the procurement of key Council contracts moving forward.
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