Meeting

Deputations by members of the public may be made on any item where a decision is going to be taken. The request should be made in writing to the contact officer (james.harris@portsmouthcc.gov.uk) by 12 noon of the working day before the meeting (so Monday 14 July 2025 for this meeting), and must include the purpose of the deputation (for example, for or against the recommendations). Email requests are accepted.

To receive and consider the attached report and recommendation to note for information only from Cabinet held on 24 June 2025.

To receive and consider the enclosed report and recommendation, to follow under separate cover, arising from the from the Governance & Audit & Standards Committee to be held on 9 July 2025.

To receive and consider the enclosed report and recommendation, to follow under separate cover, arising from the from the Governance & Audit & Standards Committee to be held on 9 July 2025.

Proposed by: Councillor Benedict Swann

Seconded by: Councillor Simon Bosher

Planning is one of the issues regularly raised by residents in the city. Concerns over the impact of the density of development and the effects on communities cannot be overstated.

Governments of all colours have failed spectacularly to acknowledge the unique and severely limiting geography here in Portsmouth whilst simultaneously hitting the city with ever more unrealistic housing targets whilst we wrestle with inflexible and illogical Planning regulations.

This motion seeks to ask the Cabinet Member for Planning Policy & City Development to formally invite the housing minister to Portsmouth to meet with members to gain a better understanding of the challenges we face in the nation's only island city and discuss what could be done going forward and how the government can better support us. It also seeks to better the customer and departmental relationship for both PCC and residents.

This Council resolves:

(i) To formally ask the Cabinet Member for Planning Policy & City Development to write to the Housing Minister, Matthew Pennycook (or whomever might be in position when the letter is written) to invite him (or her as it may be) to Portsmouth to meet with members and discuss planning issues and the unique situations encountered in Britain’s only island city; and

(ii) To ask the Cabinet Member for Planning Policy & City Development to ensure that the Planning Department continue to commit to working openly with members and the public to ensure full clarity of the entire planning process and that any discrepancies or ambiguity are addressed fully and with full transparency, and that any questions, queries or comments are dealt with sensitively and respectfully.

Proposed by: Councillor Matthew Winnington

Seconded by: Councillor Peter Candlish

This Council notes that:

(i) Air pollution is one of the greatest environmental risks to health and is the cause of many thousands of premature deaths in the UK each year.

(ii) The World Health Organisation states that by reducing air pollution levels, countries can reduce the disease burden from stroke, heart disease, lung cancer, and chronic and acute respiratory diseases including asthma. Children from highly polluted areas are also more likely to be born premature, have low birth-weight and less lung growth.

(iii) The UK's national limits for nitrogen dioxide and particulate matter are set at four times the level of the World Health Organisation guidelines, and the principal source of these are traffic emissions.

(iv) Air pollution exposure was listed as a cause of death for the first time in December 2020 in the tragic death of Ella Adoo-Kissi-Debrah. In 2019, high levels of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) were estimated to have caused 5,750 early deaths in the UK. Transport is recognised as one of the key sources of pollution, especially in crowded city centres.

(v) Portsmouth City Council recognises these dangers and has brought in a comprehensive range of measures to improve air quality. These include enabling those who can, to use alternatives to the private car by improving the bus network including Park'n'Ride, improving walking and cycling infrastructure, supporting the transition to electric vehicles including buses and introducing a Clean Air Zone for commercial vehicles in the city centre.

(vi) The Council is also focused on greening measures like tree planting within the city as such greening helps absorb or filter air pollution.

(vii) JAQU ( theJoint Air Quality Unit established as a joint venture between Defra and the DfT to deliver the Government's NO2 reduction strategies) noted in its response to a December 2024 council update (due a further update in June 2025) the "commendable progress" Portsmouth has made in moving towards meeting the air quality targets through its delivery on its comprehensive suite of air quality improvement policies.

(viii) The December '24 report found only 3 monitors out of 247 now record levels of air pollution above the Government's target and these are expected to fall below target in 2025 or 2026, based on forecast fleet renewal.

(ix) The January 2025 report, after careful scientific study, also ruled out both the port and the Royal Navy as major sources of air pollution in the city centre even before the council-run port introduces the major 'shore power' electrification project from June 25 that will enable berthed ships to turn off their diesel engines in the port.

(x) Older diesel vehicles including vans were identified as the chief contributor to remaining pollution city centre hotspots and rapid progress would require significant restrictions on their use.

(xi) With the Government refusing to fund a scrappage scheme for older (diesel) vehicles, JAQU accepts no reasonable value-for-money plan exists for additional policies to accelerate this timetable in Portsmouth.

This Council believes that:

(i) Everyone has the basic right to breathe clean air. Urgent action is therefore still required to achieve this and protect the health of us all but particularly children and those with respiratory problems. Ultimately, no level of air pollution is safe.

(ii) Taking practical and positive action on air quality will take pressure off the NHS which is already struggling to meet demand.

(iii) Improving air quality will make our streets, especially the city centre, a safer and more pleasant in which to live, work and visit, bringing economic and social benefits.

This Council resolves:

(i) To continue to support PCC's suite of practical measures noted above to improve air quality in the city and to champion such initiatives as Clean Air Day, (bus) fare free weekends and sustainable transport initiatives.

(ii) To support the Government's commitment to end the sale of new diesel and petrol cars and small vans by 2030; to support the wider introduction of electric and hybrid vehicles including maintaining a commitment to increasing EV charging points within Portsmouth through the conversion of the existing Joju and Ubitricity chargers to Zest, along with the installation of new Zest chargers.

(iii) To ask the Council Leader to write to the minister asking the government to consider introducing a national scrappage scheme targeted at the most polluting old diesel vehicles, the fastest way to make progress.

(iv) To call on the Government to go further and faster in tackling air quality issues through national legislation, specifically through encouraging wider electrification of transport to reduce long term travel costs, increase national energy security and contribute to achieving Net Zero.

Proposed by: Councillor Judith Smyth

Seconded by: Councillor Charlotte Gerada

This Council notes:

Scientists and governments across the globe have warned that carbon emissions must be reduced swiftly to avoid global temperature increases exceeding 1.5°C. Exceeding this threshold poses a critical threat to global ecosystems and, in some regions, may render parts of the planet uninhabitable for both people and wildlife. As Sir David Attenborough approaches 100 years of age, his message remains urgent and clear: action must be taken—and taken quickly.

Portsmouth City Council has taken commendable steps toward reducing carbon emissions. This motion seeks to build upon that progress and calls for a renewed focus, increased urgency, and accelerated implementation of climate measures.

On 19 March 2019, Portsmouth City Council unanimously declared a Climate Emergency—an action described as “historic” by The News, Portsmouth. More recently, in November 2024, following an impassioned speech at Full Council, the Leader of the Council published a blog entitled “The Impacts of Climate Change Are Here.” Despite this acknowledgment, the pace of progress has not yet matched the scale of the challenge.

While the Council has produced multiple strategies and action plans—available on its website—these documents, though well-intentioned and indicative of some good progress in some areas, lack clear commitment to driving and managing rapid change. They do not sufficiently outline stakeholder engagement, public participation, or a robust understanding of the city’s current carbon footprint. Furthermore, they fall short in setting out when and where major emission reductions will be achieved.

This Council believes that:

To achieve significant carbon emissions reductions by 2030, Portsmouth City Council must treat the Climate Emergency with the urgency and coordination demonstrated during the COVID-19 pandemic—an effort this city managed effectively.

During COVID-19, the Council convened an inter-agency, cross-party steering group led by the Chief Executive, Council Leader, and Director of Public Health. An experienced officer was tasked with compiling and updating detailed data, producing regular reports with clear numerical indicators and trend analyses. This group met weekly, then monthly, and provided leadership grounded in data and responsiveness.

A similar approach is now required to manage the Climate Emergency. Specifically, the Council must:

(i) Establish a Shared Vision and Measurable Acceleration: Create a unified, city-wide vision for rapid carbon reduction, with progress measurable through clear baseline data—beginning immediately. Consultants have been engaged; their findings, along with best practices from other local authorities, must be implemented without delay.

(ii) Build Public Momentum for Change: Engage stakeholders and residents by clearly communicating the urgency of the climate crisis, using evidence to show the likely impacts on future generations—including children and grandchildren.

(iii) Demonstrate Relentless and Effective Leadership: Ensure that all decisions are assessed through a climate lens. For example, commit to the immediate replacement of outdated gas boilers in the Council’s housing stock with electric heating systems powered by renewable energy. New projects should only be approved if they contribute to carbon reduction.

(iv) Implement Tracked and Transparent Action: Existing plans must be translated into measurable outcomes. Without consistent data and public reporting, it is impossible to evaluate effectiveness or make informed adjustments.

This Council therefore Resolves to:

(i) Reaffirm the 2019 Declaration of a Climate Emergency, and establish clear, measurable annual carbon reduction targets through to 2030. These targets should be informed by advice from the Council’s consultants, who are understood to have already been appointed, the Local Government Association (LGA), and successful models from other local authorities. Transparent publication of progress will enable the Council, stakeholders, and the public to monitor and be held accountable;

(ii) Strengthen Environmental Impact Assessments across all Council reports, with a commitment to only approving policies and developments that actively reduce or do not affect carbon emissions.

(iii) Urgently implement the public engagement elements of the Council’s climate plans. This includes re-establishing the Climate Board with meaningful representation from community experts. (A stakeholder meeting—thanks to the efforts of Councillor Kimberly Barrett—will have taken place before the 15 July full council meeting and could serve as a catalyst for renewed participation.)

(iv) Support and actively promote the LGA’s campaign for central government funding for local climate action. Although funding remains a challenge, the cost of inaction will be far greater. As with the COVID-19 response, national collaboration is essential to address the climate crisis effectively.

(v) Invite the Council Leader, Chief Executive, and a Council Director to lead and initiate this programme through a cross-party Climate Emergency Steering Group. This group should report progress—including quantified data and analysis—to Full Council at least twice per year.

Proposed by: Councillor Charlotte Gerada

Seconded by: Councillor Hannah Brent

This Council notes that:

(i) Accessible play is a fundamental right for all children, regardless of ability, and a key component of inclusive community development

(ii) Inclusive play environments benefit all children by promoting empathy, diversity, and shared experiences.

(iii) While some play parks in Portsmouth contain accessible equipment, there remains a significant shortfall in inclusive provision across the city.

(iv) Children with disabilities and their families often face barriers to accessing play areas in Portsmouth, which can impact social development, mental wellbeing, and community participation.

(v) Portsmouth families find more accessible equipment for disabled children in nearby areas like Havant and Fareham, but not within our city. This leads to families needing to take trips out of Portsmouth and disabled children missing out on socialising with their local friends.

This Council believes that:

(i) Every child in Portsmouth deserves equal opportunity to access safe, engaging, and inclusive play facilities;

(ii) Increasing the provision of disability-accessible play equipment and physical access to this equipmentis a necessary step toward a fairer, more inclusive city;

(iii) Prioritising accessibility aligns with the Council’s wider commitments to equality, diversity, and community wellbeing.

(iv) Portsmouth families with disabled children shouldn't feel forced to travel out of their city to access suitable play equipment.

This Council therefore resolves to:

(i) Request that the Education, Children & Young People Scrutiny Panel conducts a review by the end of this municipal year (May 2026)of all existing play park equipment in Portsmouth to assess current levels of accessibility and identify gaps. As part of the review, work with disability advocacy groups, local families, and accessibility experts to develop a plan for upgrading parks to include more disability-accessible play equipment.

(ii) Ask the Cabinet Member for Community Safety, Leisure and Sport to develop a funding strategy—through capital budgets, external grants, and community partnership opportunities—that could assist in supporting a phased implementation of the accessible play equipment and park adaptations.

(iii) Ensure that any future redevelopment or construction of play parks incorporates inclusive design principles from the outset and that ward councillors and park users are properly consulted on the potential plans before any installation.

(iv) Ask that the Cabinet Member for Community Safety, Leisure and Sport publicly reports on progress on improving accessibility in parks annually, with clear timelines and accountability measures.

Proposed by: Councillor Russell Simpson

Seconded by: Councillor George Madgwick

The Government’s guidance on certificates of lawfulness, provides a mechanism by which applicants or property owners can apply for legal confirmation that an existing or proposed use of land or buildings is lawful for planning purposes.

The process of application for a certificate of lawfulness, either of existing or proposed use or development, is a legal right provided under sec191 and sec192 of the Town and Country Planning Act, that is the starting point of consideration. Any person who wishes to ascertain whether the existing use of a building is lawful, or whether a use they wish to put a building to would be considered lawful, can make a formal application to the council and if satisfactory information is provided the council is required to issue a certificate confirming that lawful use. The burden of proof to demonstrate lawfulness is upon the applicant and the most common reasons that certificates are granted are that there is no contrary evidence suggesting that the use described by the applicant is not the lawful use; or that as a matter of judgement the use described is not a material change of use from the existing use as known to the council.

Whilst a certificate of lawfulness is a statement of fact, demonstrably evidenced and publicly determined and therefore is incapable of contradicting the purpose of the council's Article 4 Direction regarding the change of use of C3 dwellings to C4 HMO or effecting the council's ability in the widest sense to manage the housing mix in the city it is a position that needs an urgent review with respect to applications for lawful use which as can be stated principally relate to houses of multiple occupation.

The current legal and lawful framework for application and reliance upon a certificate of lawful use enables grant of permission outside any discretion based application having to be considered by the Planning Committee such a state of affairs whilst entirely lawful at this point denies a local control over this aspect of planning, especially in cities like Portsmouth where housing balance, community cohesion, and infrastructure pressures are significant considerations. This current situation has the potential to erode public confidence in the planning system and limit the council’s ability to manage the housing mix in our city effectively.

Therefore, Council resolves to:

(i) Ask the Leader of the Council and the Cabinet Member for Planning Policy & City Development to write to the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities and the Minister for Housing to raise serious concerns about the current legal position stressing the unintended consequences of Lawful Development Certificates grants, particularly in relation to HMOs.

(ii) Urge the Government to undertake an urgent review of the current law, policy and guidance, and to work with local authorities to ensure that any new process aligns the ability to grant to the relevant LPA upon a decision-based approach.

(iii) Share this motion with the Local Government Association (LGA) and other local authorities' protections to build support for a coordinated national response.

Proposed by: Councillor George Fielding

Seconded by: Councillor Rajah Ghosh

This Council notes:

(i) The growing problem of illegal tobacco, counterfeit vapes, and rogue traders who sell these products operating across Portsmouth, which is undermining public health, harming legitimate local businesses, and contributing to organised crime.

(ii) The illicit tobacco market in the UK continues to flourish. HM Revenues & Customs (HMRC) estimates the annual tax shortfall stands at around £2.5?billion. HMRC’s Operation CeCe (April 2023–March 2024) led to the seizure of over 51?million illicit cigarettes and nearly 13?tonnes of hand?rolling tobacco.

(iii) Demand is clearly shifting to the black market: between 2021 and 2024, legal cigarette sales dropped from 23.6bn to 13.2bn sticks (a 44% decline), despite only a modest fall in the number of smokers, suggesting consumers are turning to illicit sources.

(iv) Illicit vapes are also surging. In 2023?24, Trading Standards seized 1.19?million illegal vapes nationally, many with dangerous nicotine levels.

(v) That illicit tobacco and vape products are often sold to children and young people, putting their health at serious risk.

(vi) The impact these traders have on local retailers who operate legally and pay their fair share of taxes and business rates. Many local business owners have raised concerns about these practices taking place in Portsmouth and are facing huge challenges with remaining financially viable, due to having to complete with dramatically lower prices among the sale of illegal products.

(vii) Portsmouth City Council Trading Standards recently seized over £33,000 worth of illegal tobacco and vapes comprising around 500 cigarette packs, 2.5?kg of rolling tobacco, and over 2,400 illegal vapes during raids in North End and Fratton in July 2024. The council seized 4,877 illegal vape units during 2023, and 2,889 units between January and October 2024 and Trading Standards officers conducted 32 separate investigations in 2024 relating to businesses stocking illegal vaping products.

(viii) The illicit tobacco trade is strongly linked to serious criminal networks, including gangs, money?laundering and other illegal activities.

This Council believes that:

(i) All Portsmouth residents have the right to be protected from the dangers of illegal tobacco and vape sales.

(ii) illegal and unregulated sales of nicotine products undermine public health efforts, particularly around smoking cessation and youth protection.

(iii) robust enforcement and a strong message from this Council can help disrupt these illegal activities and support legitimate businesses.

(iv) Trading Standards and other enforcement agencies play a vital role in tackling this issue but often face limited resources and growing demand.

(v) Longstanding, family-run convenience stores are pillars within our communities, with many local business owners taking pride in selling products that are legal, properly regulated and are of the highest standards. Businesses like these deserve the support of the council.

(vi) Due to media coverage about the impact of illegal tobacco sales, illicit vapes and pop-up vape shops that may be covering up much more serious, criminal activity, public awareness has been raised and there is growing concern among residents about what business is being conducted on our high streets.

This Council therefore resolves to:

(i) Support and enhance enforcement by urging the Council’s Trading Standards team, through the Cabinet Member for Community Safety, Leisure & Sport, to prioritise investigations and enforcement action against those selling illegal tobacco and vapes, especially those targeting young people. Additionally, request that the Trading Standards team works with local businesses to improve reporting procedures, transparency of when/how complaints are investigated and inform complainants when an investigation has taken place.

(ii) Work in partnership with Hampshire Constabulary, HMRC, the NHS, schools, and community groups to raise awareness of the dangers of illicit tobacco and vaping products by requesting, through the Cabinet Member for Central Services that Corporate Communications launches a public information campaign encouraging residents to report suspected rogue traders, with assurances of confidentiality and follow-up.

(iii) Ensure that central government funding is being used for effective local enforcement, and the issuing penalties for those found selling illegal products.

(iv) Request that the Cabinet Member for Children, Families and Education works with local schools and youth services to educate young people about the health risks associated with illegal tobacco and unregulated vape products.

(v) Request that the Cabinet Member for Community Safety, Leisure & Sport and the Chair of the Licensing Committee reviews the current processes relevant to the inspection of premises requiring a licence.

(vi) To request that PCC and Portsmouth International Port explores ways to increase investigations into potential smuggling into the city and access funds that could be used on the ground to tackle criminal behaviour.

Proposed by: Councillor Hugh Mason

Seconded by: Councillor Kimberly Barrett

Council notes that the OFWAT ‘Overview of Southern Water’s PR24 Final Determination’ dated April 2025 envisages that the average household bill for Southern Water will rise from £420 in 2024-25 to £642 in 2029-30, a total rise of 52.8% or an average of a little under 9% per year.

Council is aware that the increase in charges made by Southern Water for sewage disposal for an un-metered band D property in Portsmouth has risen from £349.90 in 2024-25 to £546.40 for 2025-26, an increase over one year of 56.16%, that is 3.36% above the average level of increase that OFWAT envisaged at the end of the five year period. It is also almost two and a half times the average increase charged by other water and sewerage undertakings in England.

Council also notes that Southern Water has been described by OFWAT as ‘lagging behind’ on key performance indicators since 2020. It is therefore expecting, amongst other improvements, a modest 24% reduction in the number of spills by storm overflow by 2030.

Council therefore requests the administration to engage with Southern Water to seek an assurance that, in view of the unprecedented rise in charges for sewage disposal this year, there will be no further increases in the charges for sewerage over the remainder of the five year period and to obtain and publish details of the improvements which Southern Water will be making by 2030 to ensure that spills by storm overflows into Langstone Harbour and into the sea around Portsmouth are reduced by at least 24%.