28/07/2008 Key decisions from Cabinet

The following decisions were made by Cabinet at its meeting on Monday July 28:

New agreement for the Oak Lodge Project in Bitterne

Cabinet approved an agreement which will change the way food and beverages are provided to the day centre users.

A section 75 agreement was also approved – and agreement between Southampton City Primary Care Trust and the council which means nursing charges can be paid by the SCPCT to the council.

Helping adults with learning disabilities

New arrangements for the Southampton’s Adult Placement Scheme were backed by Cabinet.

The new national arrangements mean that residents of the Southampton placement scheme will have more independence and support because they will get the chance to apply for benefits and opportunities not previously available to them.

Looking at non residential social care

A review will how the council charges for non-residential social care in the city.

This will mean the council will be able to consult with service users and find a better way to collect charges.

Setting budgets for schools

Cabinet agreed to set deficit budgets for schools which may overspend this year.

This will be paid for by schools who have reported a surplus budget. The figures show a marked improvement schools in managing their budgets since last year.

Building schools for the future

Funding was agreed to take forward the exciting Building Schools for Future plan in the city.

£585,000 has been set aside to fund the development of a multi-million pound investment in the city’s secondary schools.

The decision comes after the Department for Children Schools and Families (DCSF) confirmed Southampton was accepted into the latest round of its Building Schools for the Future (BSF) programme. This will enable many of Southampton’s secondary schools to be rebuilt or refurbished and provide facilities fit for 21st Century learning.

Planning for more clarity

A planning enforcement policy was approved by Cabinet which will clearly set out the council’s guidelines.

This means developers will now have a city policy they can refer to and will be able understand with more clarity exactly what is required of them. The policy also adds clarity for those people complaining and requesting the council to take enforcement action when developers and developments have broken the rules.

Sports and social club’s future secured

Cabinet was delighted to grant a 25 year lease for BTC sports and social club, to use Stoneham Lane sports ground.

The lease will now allow the club to apply for grant funding which will help to secure its future success.

Removing lorry and bus ban

The city’s overnight bus and lorry parking ban – which prevents on street parking – will now be removed.

New legislation says that if the city were to keep the ban in place, 4,400 new signs would need to be placed around the city – a huge expense to the tax payer.

The council recently carried out an experimental removal of the ban and found that, in fact, removing the ban made no difference, and that there was no increase in the amount of lorries and buses parking outside of their designated areas.

Tackling homelessness in the city

The law requires that councils come up with a new homelessness strategy every five years.

The council’s last strategy was created in 2003. The council has made huge strides in tackling homelessness since then and Cabinet agreed the new strategy which among other things aims to prevent homelessness and maximise the number of good quality available homes in the city.

Providing affordable housing to our residents

Cabinet backed a revised Housing Association Programme which will see £2.6m spent on new affordable housing schemes during 2008/2009.

The Southampton affordable housing partnership aims to provide an extra 2,000 affordable homes in the city by 2012.

Changes to tenant heating charges

A clearer and fairer way of charging council tenants for their heating bills was agreed by Cabinet.

This will see individual heating metres installed in council properties that are part of the communal heating system.

The changes will mean much more transparency for residents.

Delivering sport and recreational service in the city

Cabinet agreed to look at a procurement approach, seeking alternative management for the council’s sport and recreational facilities.

Discussions will now take place with potential partners who will be able to help the council fulfil its aims to increase public use of the council’s facilities, improve quality and customer satisfaction and reduce the cost of running and providing the facilities.

Reviewing rent from Renault

Plans to up the rent paid by Renault from £53,000 to £57,000 a year, for use of the site in West Quay Road was agreed by Cabinet.

The increase is part of the lease agreement.

More lease renewals

The cabinet agreed to new lease terms for units at the City Industrial Park, Southern Road.

Swapping properties

The Cabinet agreed to dispose of four freehold interests in East Bargate in exchange for the purchase of the freehold interest in 183 High Street – the Current Burger King.

This will improve the council’s holdings in High Street and will bring forward possible redevelopments in East Bargate Street.

Royal Pier

Proposals to reinvigorate the Royal Pier Site with the re-development of the area, moved a step closer after Cabinet agreed to an exclusivity agreement with the Kilmartin property group.

It is hoped that the area will be turned into a world class waterfront destination.

Looking after animal welfare

Cabinet agreed that the council should be able to recruit inspectors from outside the council to help with animal welfare.

This means that the council can now use the highly specialised skills of other near-by authorities.

To find out more about the decisions from Cabinet see the full meeting papers.