Winchester City Borough Council Council Meeting

RESOLVED:

That the minutes of the Ordinary meeting of the Council held on 6 November 2024 be approved and adopted.

Councillors Porter, Tod, Wallace and Williams each declared disclosable pecuniary interests in respect of agenda items due to their role as Hampshire County Councillors.  However, as there was no material conflict of interest, they remained in the room, spoke and voted under the dispensation granted on behalf of the Audit and Governance Committee to participate and vote in all matters which might have a County Council involvement.  

The Mayor firstly paid tribute to former councillor and the 791^st Mayor of Winchester, Pamela Peskett who had recently passed away. Council stood in silent tribute to her memory.

The Mayor then referred to recent events he had attended and also those arranged in aid of his charities.  He then advised that the annual Mayor of Winchester’s Community Awards had been launched and that presentations would take place on 13 March 2025.

The Mayor then advised that he had written to the following recipients in the King’s New Year Honours:

·       James Murray and Sarah Parish of Alresford – both an MBE for services to children with illnesses and their families.

·       David Bond of Winchester – a CBE for services to the defence supply chain.

·       Gillian Reid of Southampton – a CBE for services to the chemical sciences, and to inclusion and diversity.

·       Roderick Bransgrove of Winchester – an MBE for services to sport.

·       Kenneth Weatherley of Shawford – an MBE for services to young people.

·       Alexander James Morrice of Meonstoke – a BEM for services to the community in Meonstoke and Corhampton.

·       Kenneth Galton of Southwick – a BEM for services to Hazel Coppicing and to Heritage Crafts.

The Leader made no announcements but referred to agenda item 8 on which he would update the Council on the English Devolution White Paper. 

The Chief Executive announced apologies for the meeting.

There were no written questions received for response at the meeting.

Councillor Tod (Leader and Cabinet Member for Asset Management) moved that the Recommended Minute of Cabinet be approved and adopted (seconded by Councillor Learney, Cabinet Member for Climate Emergency).

Council proceeded to ask questions and then debate the matters in the recommended minute.

At conclusion of debate and following the seconder (Councillor Learney, having reserved her right to speak) addressing the meeting and then summing up by the proposer (Councillor Tod), Council then voted on the Recommended Minute before it.

RESOLVED:

That the recommended minute of Cabinet held 11 December 2024 be approved and adopted:

1. That the Council Plan 2025-2030 (Appendix 1 to Report CAB3480, as amended) be adopted with effect 1 April 2025.

Councillor Morris (Chairperson of the Audit and Governance Committee) moved that the Recommended Minute of the Audit and Governance Committee be approved and adopted (seconded by Councillor Chamberlain).

Council proceeded to ask questions and then debate the matters in the recommended minute.

At conclusion of debate and following the seconder (Councillor Chamberlain, having reserved his right to speak) addressing the meeting and then summing up by the proposer (Councillor Morris), Council then voted on the Recommended Minute before it.

RESOLVED:

That the recommended minute of the Audit and Governance Committee held 28 November 2024 be approved and adopted:

1. That the Pay Policy Statement for the financial year 2025/26 be adopted.

Councillor Morris (Chairperson of the Audit and Governance Committee) moved that the Recommended Minute of the Audit and Governance Committee be approved and adopted (seconded by Councillor Chamberlain).

There were no questions from Council and at conclusion of debate and following the seconder (Councillor Chamberlain, having reserved his right to speak) addressing the meeting and then summing up by the proposer (Councillor Morris), Council then voted on the Recommended Minute before it.

RESOLVED:

That the recommended minute of the Audit and Governance Committee held 28 November 2024 be approved and adopted:

1. That the arrangements for dealing with code of conduct complaints (Appendix 2 to Report AG146) be adopted and is incorporated into the Council’s Constitution.

Councillor Tod (Leader and Cabinet Member for Asset Management) provided a verbal report to Council regarding the English Devolution White Paper. 

In summary, the Leader explained that Hampshire County Council, Portsmouth City Council, Southampton City Council and the Isle of Wight Council had indicated to Government that they wished to join the Devolution Priority Programme in order to bring forward proposals for a County Combined Authority with an elected Mayor. A County Combined Authority had strategic oversight for transport and infrastructure, skills and employment support, housing and strategic planning powers. The combined authority would also incorporate functions from the Police and Crime Commissioner and the Fire Authority. If accepted on the priority programme, it was anticipated that Mayoral elections would take place in May 2026.

The Leader then referred to local government reorganisation. The White Paper sets outs that The Government will facilitate a programme of?local government reorganisation for two tier areas and for small unitary councils, or where there are failures in unitary councils. Although there was not yet a fully defined timetable for any reorganisation, it was anticipated local government reorganisation would take place at pace to support devolution proposals. Although this could take a phased approach, new unitary councils could be established in Hampshire and Isle of Wight in 2028. The Leader indicated that he had invited Parish and Town Councils to a virtual meeting to brief them on the proposals in early February and committed to keeping members of council updated as discussions progressed.

There had been five questions submitted by members of the council related to this matter (that would ordinarily have been dealt with at agenda item 10) and the Mayor proposed that the Leader now respond to these, and the questioners be also allowed to ask one associated supplementary question, as was usual.

There were no changes to committees to announce.

12 written questions had been received which were heard at the meeting along with associated supplementary questions. The questions received and their response were subsequently set out on the council’s website.