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Weekly updates

Sat Jun 22
Sat Jun 15
Sat May 25

Winchester Council Approves New Eco-Friendly Waste Vehicles

This week, the Winchester Council held three meetings: the Cabinet on Wednesday, the Licensing & Regulation Committee on Monday, and the Cabinet Committee: Regeneration on Tuesday. Both the Licensing & Regulation Committee and the Cabinet Committee: Regeneration meetings were cancelled, so the focus will be on the Cabinet meeting.

Cabinet Meeting Highlights

Key Decision: Procurement of Waste and Recycling Vehicles

The Cabinet convened on Wednesday, 19 June 2024, to discuss several urgent matters, the most significant being the procurement of waste and recycling vehicles. The Council approved the purchase of nine 12-tonne food waste vehicles to operate on hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO) and an electric refuse collection vehicle (RCV) for a new route to be introduced in autumn 2024.

The council has been on a long journey to increase recycling rates in the district, and the paper in front of us is to enable us to move ahead at pace on the next stage. — Cabinet Transcript

Environmental and Financial Considerations

The decision to procure these vehicles aligns with the Council's strategic priority of going greener faster and aims to reduce the district's carbon waste emissions by 1,900 tonnes of CO2 per year. The vehicles will be funded by the New Burdens Capital grant provided through DEFRA.

Introducing a food waste service could reduce the district's carbon waste emissions by 1,900 tonne equivalent CO2 per year. — Cabinet Transcript

The Council decided to purchase 12-tonne trucks instead of the 7.5-tonne trucks initially funded by the government. This decision reflects the rural and urban nature of the district, requiring larger vehicles to efficiently manage waste collection.

The main change versus what we've been giving new burdens funding to do is that we're proposing to purchase 12-tonne trucks rather than 7.5-tonne trucks and that partly reflects the rural and urban nature of our district. — Cabinet Transcript

Scrutiny and Public Engagement

The Scrutiny Committee had previously reviewed the procurement issue and provided limited feedback due to the high-level nature of the summary slides presented. The Cabinet acknowledged the need for better scrutiny and public engagement in future decisions.

The feedback from the Scrutiny Committee is therefore extremely limited and should not be taken to represent proper scrutiny of this item. — Cabinet Transcript

Understanding the Cabinet's Role

The Cabinet is responsible for making key decisions on the Council's policies and budget. It plays a crucial role in implementing the Council's strategic priorities and ensuring that services are delivered effectively and efficiently. The Cabinet's decisions can have a significant impact on the local community and environment.

Historical Context: Waste Management Policies

Winchester's waste management policies are guided by the Environment Act, which mandates local authorities to introduce separate food waste collections by March 2026. The Act aims to improve recycling rates and reduce the environmental impact of waste.

Conclusion

This week's Cabinet meeting highlights the Council's commitment to environmental sustainability and efficient waste management. The approval of the procurement of waste and recycling vehicles underscores the importance of addressing both environmental and financial considerations in Council decisions. As always, the Council remains dedicated to transparency and public engagement in its decision-making processes.

Winchester Council Approves Key Development with Conditions - Planning Committee Highlights

This week, the Winchester Council held three meetings: the Winchester Town Forum on Thursday, the Licensing Sub-Committee also on Thursday, and the Planning Committee on Wednesday. Both the Winchester Town Forum and the Licensing Sub-Committee meetings were cancelled, so the focus will be on the Planning Committee meeting.

Planning Committee Meeting Highlights

Key Decision: Development Approval with Conditions

The Planning Committee convened on Wednesday, 12 June 2024, to discuss several development applications. A significant decision was made regarding a redevelopment project in Oxford. The committee approved the project with specific conditions to address concerns about overlooking and materials used.

The decking areas shall not be constructed until details have been submitted to and approved in writing by the local planning authority, showing screening and boundary treatments to prevent overlooking of the neighbor to the south from its raised height. — Planning Committee Transcript

Overlooking and Privacy Concerns

A major point of discussion was the potential for overlooking from the new development into neighbouring properties. The committee imposed conditions to ensure that windows on the south side of the building would be opaque to protect the privacy of adjacent residents.

The windows which are dark, those are the windows which we refer into as being opaque. — Planning Committee Transcript

Use of Materials

The choice of materials, particularly the use of zinc, was debated. While some concerns were raised about its appropriateness in the local context, the committee ultimately decided that the design, which includes zinc, was acceptable and aligned with contemporary architectural standards.

Zinc isn't an alien material. From the applicant's point of view, zinc is also highly sustainable. — Planning Committee Transcript

Environmental Considerations

The development includes several environmentally friendly features, such as a high thermally efficient structure, an air source heat pump, and flush-mounted photovoltaic panels. These elements align with the Council's commitment to sustainability and reducing carbon footprints.

The owner has decided to retain the vast majority of the structure and its embodied carbon footprint and adding new, thermally efficient, highly sustainable series of additions to create a new family home. — Planning Committee Transcript

Understanding the Planning Committee

The Planning Committee is responsible for making decisions on planning applications and ensuring that developments comply with local and national planning policies. This includes considering the impact on the local environment, community, and infrastructure. The committee's decisions can significantly influence the character and development of the local area.

Historical Context: Winchester's Planning Policies

Winchester's planning policies are guided by the Winchester District Local Plan, which sets out the framework for development in the district. The plan aims to balance the need for new housing and infrastructure with the preservation of the district's unique historical and environmental character.

Conclusion

This week's Planning Committee meeting underscores the Council's ongoing efforts to balance development with environmental sustainability and community concerns. The approval of the redevelopment project with specific conditions highlights the importance of addressing privacy and material use in new developments. As always, the Council remains committed to transparency and public engagement in its decision-making processes.

Heated Debates and New Initiatives: Key Takeaways from This Week's Winchester Council Meetings

This week, the Winchester Council held three meetings: the Cabinet on Wednesday, the Planning Committee on Thursday, and the Appointments Panel also on Wednesday. The Cabinet meeting was particularly impactful, covering a range of significant topics.

Cabinet Meeting Highlights

Section 21 Eviction Order

A heated discussion took place regarding a Section 21 no-fault eviction order for a property in St. Paul's Ward. Mr. Tate accused the Council of acting like a rogue landlord and questioned the leader's commitment to opposing such evictions. Councillor Martin Toed clarified that the eviction was due to subsidence issues requiring major construction work. He assured that no one would be left homeless and that immediate assistance would be provided.

The building in question had subsidence issues and required major construction work before it could be re-let. — Councillor Martin Toed

Performance Report Q4

The Deputy Leader presented the Q4 performance report, highlighting progress in areas like cost of living support, greener initiatives, and pride in place. Key concerns were raised:

Retrofit Programme: Councillor Horrell questioned the failure to meet annual targets. Councillor Westwood explained that the programme had ramped up significantly and outlined plans for better communication and engagement with residents.
Complaints Handling: Concerns about the Council's response time to complaints were acknowledged, with ongoing efforts to improve the system.
KPIs: There were suggestions to align KPIs more closely with strategic objectives and include more quantitative measures.

Local Projects and Initiatives

Councillor Becker provided updates on several local projects:

Football Stadium: Construction has started on a 3G pitch at Winchester Football Club to support women's, girls', and disabled football.
KGV Pavilion: The official opening is on May 30th, offering facilities for women's and girls' football and cricket.
Winchester Walking Weekend: Scheduled for June 14-16, supported by Winchester Ramblers.
Ukrainian Community Photo Exhibition: Opens on May 25th at the Nutshell.
Violence Against Women and Girls Prevention Strategy: Launching today, focusing on public safety and education.

Governance and Public Engagement

Mr. Davis criticized the Council for handling major projects in private groups and called for more public reporting. Councillor Toed and others assured that public engagement is a priority and outlined various ways the Council is working to improve transparency.

Public engagement is a priority, and we are working on various ways to improve transparency. — Councillor Martin Toed

Appointments to Committees and External Bodies

The Council made several appointments to internal committees and external bodies, emphasizing proportional representation and effective public engagement.

Future Items for Consideration

The forward plan for June 2024 was noted, with specific attention to the need for better public governance and transparency in decision-making processes.

Other Meetings

The Planning Committee met on Thursday, but the notes from this meeting have not yet been summarized. The Appointments Panel also met on Wednesday, but no video broadcast of this meeting is available.

This week's discussions highlight ongoing themes of public engagement, transparency, and effective governance. The Council's commitment to these principles will be crucial as they move forward with various initiatives and projects.