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 (Monday 16 March 2026 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 from Cabinet held on 3 March 2026. The report has also been considered by the Governance & Audit & Standards Committee.

To receive and consider the attached report and recommendation to follow from the Employment Committee to be held on 12 March 2026.

Proposer: Councillor Emily Strudwick

Seconder: Councillor George Madgwick

The current cross border taxi and private hire licensing framework allows drivers and vehicles licensed by one local authority to operate freely in other areas of England. This has created a national situation in which councils with the weakest licensing conditions attract the highest number of licence applications, resulting in what many in the sector now describe as a “race to the bottom” in safety standards.

Some licensing authorities have relaxed or removed key safety requirements, including in-vehicle CCTV, in order to attract applications and increase revenue. In contrast, councils such as Portsmouth, Southampton and Oxford have adopted stronger safety measures including mandatory CCTV, which has been proven to reduce crime and protect both passengers and drivers.

The 2015 Casey Report into Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council identified catastrophic failures in taxi licensing and safeguarding that directly contributed to widespread child sexual exploitation. The 2023 Casey Review into the Metropolitan Police Service highlighted continuing systemic failings in the protection of women and girls, underscoring the need for stronger oversight and accountability in all public-facing services.

Local licensing teams currently have no power to take direct enforcement action against drivers licensed by other authorities, even when those drivers operate routinely within this city. This leaves local residents exposed to risk, undermines public confidence, and prevents councils from enforcing their own standards. Some local authorities have now become large-scale national licensing hubs. For example, Wolverhampton City Council licenses nearly 50,000 drivers, of whom around 96 percent live outside the city.

Council notes that:

i. The Secretary of Transport has started an inquiry into licensing of taxis and private hire vehicles and has started consultation and gathering evidence.

Council believes that:

i. Public safety must always take priority over administrative convenience or revenue generation.

ii. The current cross border system has potentiallyfailed to protect passengers, particularly women and girls, and has undermined local democratic control of licensing.

iii. The absence of consistent national standards allows unsafe practices to continue and denies the ability of councils to uphold their own safeguarding responsibilities.

iv. It is unacceptable that authorities with low safety standards can profit from issuing licences to drivers who operate in areas with higher public protection requirements.

Council therefore resolves to:

i. Write to the Secretary of State for Transport and to the Local Government Association calling for urgent national legislative reform of taxi and private hire licensing, including the measures set out below:

· Introduction of a single national licensing database and identification system for all drivers and vehicles.

· Mandatory CCTV in every licensed taxi and private hire vehicle in England.

· A statutory requirement that all journeys must either start or end within the area of the licensing authority that issued the licence.

· Empowering local authorities to take direct enforcement action against any licensed vehicle operating within their boundaries, regardless of where it is licensed.

ii. Request that the Leader of the Council writes to all Hampshire MPs and the Police and Crime Commissioner urging them to support the above reforms.

iii. Publicly affirm this Council’s commitment to the safety of women and girls, and to ensuring that every passenger who enters a licensed vehicle in this city can do so with confidence and protection.

Proposed by: Councillor George Madgwick

Seconded by: Councillor Joe Standen

Full Council removes, immediately, the Council of Sanctuary pledge until such time a full council approved city-wide consultation has taken place.

Full Council agrees that group leaders must have scope on the consultation questions and full unanimous sign off prior to the consultation being published.

Proposed by: Councillor Judith Smyth

Seconded by: Councillor George Fielding

What is depaving and why is it so important?

Urban areas are ecosystems. Each part of the system is interrelated to the rest. Healthy soil underpins resilient ecosystems and is essential for life. With a growing climate emergency and biodiversity crisis, scientists are concerned that too much of the soil in cities is sealed by tarmac, concrete or other impermeable surfaces including buildings, roads and other hard infrastructure. By sealing the soil, cities are losing the benefits of a range of essential ecosystem services such as preventing floods and spills from combined sewers, cleaning road run-off, cooling the air and supporting biodiversity. Such is the alarm in a growing number of countries that strategies for soil desealing (also known as depaving) are being introduced.

It is clear that in England local authorities are beginning to change the way they manage their green spaces, which is a boost for wildlife. They are experimenting with sustainable drainage (SUDS) initiatives such as permeable surfaces and rainwater gardens and encouraging local businesses and residents to install green roofs and walls. Pesticide use has been reduced and there is less mowing of public green spaces. However, many areas of unnecessary soil sealing remain. For example, in school playgrounds, church yards, community centres, hospital business car parks, public squares, road central reservations and street buildouts.

Why does action need to be more ambitious?

To restore ecosystem services, soil needs to be depaved, restructured and planted with native trees, shrubs and flowers. Green roofs, pocketed green walls, planters and permeable membranes might help with biodiversity but are not sufficient to adapt urban environments to an increasingly critical environmental crisis.

The pressure for housing means more development in urban areas. Cities are already particularly vulnerable to the heat island effect, as well as flooding and spills from combined sewers.

It is vital to have incentives that encourage local authorities to identify areas for depaving and renaturing within their urban boundary and not just look to offset development elsewhere. While biodiversity net gain is a step forward, offsetting outside of the city is often the outcome. A contribution to a depaving and greening fund within the city would be better than offsetting elsewhere.

Acknowledging and monitoring the scale of soil sealing

Scotland has introduced a soil sealing indicator as a result of which it is known, for example, that in 2020 39% of the soil in the city of Glasgow was sealed, and the Highlands has seen the greatest sealed area increases since 2009, caused by the expansion of Inverness and the surrounding towns with housing and several new roads. We are not aware of plans for an equivalent indicator for England.

Targets to limit soil sealing

Targets have been introduced in several cities with the aim of reaching net zero by 2050. This can be achieved in different ways, as every city is unique. Dresden has determined that no more than 40% of its total urban space should be sealed. To maintain this target, new developments must offset their soil sealing by desealing and renaturing another part of the city. Berlin has identified 179 sites suitable for soil desealing and renaturing, 31 of which have been completed.

Public engagement is essential

The RHS has identified that between 2005 - 2015 there was an increase of 15 square miles of paving in UK front gardens. Domestic gardens present both a challenge and an opportunity for desealing soil and renaturing our cities. In England they cover an area that is more than four times the area of England’s national nature reserves combined and equal, on average, 25% of the urban area.

Public engagement in soil desealing/depaving projects has a long and successful history. Depave, an Oregon-based project, started in 2008, has “worked with communities to remove underutilized pavement, replacing it with living, permeable design”. Depave has worked on 80 projects, removing a total of 366,535 square feet of paving, restoring the soil and planting it with trees. They calculate that as a result 5-10 metric tonnes of carbon have been sequestered annually and 24.4 million gallons of stormwater runoff has been redirected each year into the depaved soils.

NASA has measured a 7.7 degree Fahrenheit reduction in reflected heat. In the Netherlands a national depaving competition has captured the public’s imagination. The “Tegelwippen” competition involves residents lifting paving slabs (tiles) from their back, front and façade gardens. The competition is supported by a website full of photographs showing examples of depaved gardens, with people of all ages and backgrounds getting involved. Nearly 13 million tegel have been removed since 2020, which corresponds to around 1,175,825 square meters. Such projects bring local residents in contact with nature and have many social, health and well-being benefits.

Progress in Portsmouth so far

Portsmouth City Council has certainly started the journey to reduce soil sealing, depave and increase biodiversity. For example a large number of trees are being planted and more are planned. The Estates team have depaved and planted large areas for example the Buckland estates which were the subject of the scrutiny report on Biodiversity agreed in 2024.

The local plan includes requirements for permeability on new developments and more generally in the green corridors, parks, footpaths and cycle ways. Southern Water have in the last year invested in schemes that increase the drainage of rainwater in order to limit the storm overflows that lead to discharge of sewerage into Langstone Harbour. Green roofs, planters and other planting is to be encouraged but does not increase soil permeability and soil health. However faster progress can and must be made.

This Council Resolves to:

i. Request that the Leader of the council writes to the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs to request more legislation and the publication of national standards and targets to encourage local de-sealing action in England, in-line with other countries, with targets that are monitored and request depavingfunding via the new Nature Restoration Fund.

ii. Ask the Cabinet Member for Climate Change and Greening the City to develop de-sealing targets for Portsmouth – using one of the approaches that have worked well in other countries that could work well for Portsmouth, as well as taking into account national standards as they emerge from thegovernment.

iii. Request that the Cabinet Member for Environmental Services, in anticipation of the ending of the highway maintenance contract with Colas, develop new specifications for depaving across the city, in consultation with members, residents, businesses and environmental groups.

iv. Request that Cabinet Member for Climate Change and Greening the City works with the council’s Corporate Communications team to inform and engage the public about soil desealing both in their own gardens and in their local area, with experience shared from other countries.

Proposed by: Councillor George Fielding

Seconded by: Councillor Yinka Adeniran

This Council Notes:

That Government announcements through the Pride in Place agenda and the Tobacco and Vapes Bill currently in the House of Lords introduce welcome new powers to prevent unwanted shops from proliferating on high streets, including:

Powers to block new betting shops, vape stores and similar premises; A Community Right to Buy to enable local people to take control of valued assets; The introduction of a licensing scheme for the retail sale of tobacco, vapes and nicotine products.

That despite these measures, any rogue traders may continue to exploit loopholes and weak enforcement, engaging in illicit or harmful activity.

That so-called “dodgy shops” — including rogue vape retailers selling unsafe products to young people, “cowboy” barbers operating outside regulation, and fake “American candy” stores trading in potentially unsafe or non-compliant goods — undermine legitimate businesses and erode public confidence in our town centres.

That the National Crime Agency estimates over £12 billion is lost annually through low-level cash-based money laundering, activity often associated with illicit high street operations.

That such practices damage the reputation of our city, drive away families and shoppers, and weaken pride in place.

The good work that Portsmouth City Council’s Trading Standards Service does with local Police and other partners to tackle rogue traders in Portsmouth and recognises that the service received a prestigious national award in July 2025 on their work they do to fight the illegal trade of fake goods.

That Portsmouth City Council did not apply to be an Early Adopter of the High Street Rental Auction (HSRA) powers which can be used by any local authority in England to auction the lease of persistently vacant commercial premises.

That Portsmouth City Council still has the ability to use HSRAs and a fund of over £1 million is available to all English local authorities to support the delivery of HSRAs.

This Council Believes:

That Portsmouth’s high streets should be safe, vibrant and welcoming places for families, shoppers and legitimate businesses.

That rogue traders who repeatedly flout the law should face tougher penalties, including escalating fines and permanent closure where appropriate.

That enforcement must be strengthened through greater coordination between councils, Trading Standards, police, mayors and Government.

That additional safeguards — including stronger checks and due diligence by commercial landlords — should be considered to prevent rogue operators from repeatedly reopening under new names or transferred licences.

That legislative reform should go further to:

Prevent the transfer of premises licences where a licence is under review; Introduce a “three strikes and you’re out” model for repeat offenders; Provide clearer and swifter closure powers for premises engaged in criminal or persistently unlawful activity.

This Council Resolves to:

Back our MPs calls to Government to introduce stronger legislative powers enabling local authorities and enforcement agencies to close down high street premises engaged in criminal or repeat unlawful activity.

ii. Request that the Cabinet Member for Community Safety, Leisure and Sport considers a report within six months setting out:

The scale of rogue retail activity within Portsmouth; Current enforcement action undertaken; Use of closure, licensing and trading standards powers; How forthcoming powers under the Tobacco and Vapes Bill will be implemented locally; Whether additional resources or legislative changes are required to strengthen enforcement.

iii. Establish a High Streets Advisory Board who can guide the Council on how to use the new powers effectively as soon as they become law, composed of both independent local businesses, experts and local residents ensuring a balance of professional insight and community perspective as well as giving residents a formal voice in decisions affecting their high streets, ensuring transparency, accountability and that community priorities are reflected in how changes are implemented.

To continue to work with Police, Trading Standards and relevant agencies to strengthen intelligence-sharing and coordinated enforcement activity targeting repeat offenders.

Write to the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, the Home Secretary, and the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, urging further reforms to:

Strengthen enforcement consistency across local authorities; Introduce tougher penalties for repeat rogue traders; Require commercial property owners to undertake appropriate due diligence when letting high street premises.

Proposed by: Councillor Matthew Winnington

Seconded by: Councillor Suzy Horton

Portsmouth City Council expresses its grave disappointment in the year-on-year reduction over three years of the ring-fenced part of the Public Health grant for substance misuse support and treatment which comes to a total of £207,000, equating to a 9% funding cut.

Added to this is the fact that the small percentage increase in the general Public Health grant, less than 3% over three years, which while welcome is far short of meeting the needs of the people of the city, does not cover the increased costs of the NHS Agenda for Change contracts for staff employed under those terms and conditions nor the increased costs of employers National Insurance contributions paid by contracted charities.

Portsmouth is getting a raw deal when other areas, like Hampshire, are having their funding for substance misuse support and treatment increased.

Portsmouth has an excellent record on engagement with and successful outcomes from our services and is seen as an exemplar authority in the South East, so this reduction to the funding can only do harm.

Therefore, this council resolves to:

i. Invite all members to sign a letter to the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care expressing their deep concern at this cut to funding and asking for it to be instead increased in line with other authorities that are seeing an increase in funding this year.

ii. Have the Cabinet Member for Community Wellbeing, Health & Care write to the two Portsmouth MPs and ask them to lobby on behalf of Portsmouth and secure the additional funding that our services in the city deserve.

Proposed by: Councillor Steve Pitt

Seconded by: Councillor Darren Sanders

Portsmouth has a proud history with our armed forces. It is the home of the Royal Navy and has made significant contributions to the armed forces community.

The Armed Forces Covenant is a promise by the nation ensuring that those who serve or who have served in the armed forces, and their families, are treated fairly. It was introduced as part of the Armed Forces Act 2011, and an Armed Forces Covenant Duty was introduced in 2022, which placed a duty on local authorities to reflect the covenant when exercising their health, education and housing functions.

Those who serve in the armed forces, whether regular or reserve, those who have served in the past, and their families, should face no disadvantage compared to other citizens in the provision of public and commercial services. We also acknowledge our thanks to those who have served, who currently serve and those who may serve our country in the future, not least through our free, annual Armed Forces Day event, held this year on 20 June on Southsea Common.

We also take great pride as a Council in supporting our veterans locally. This is recognised nationally, not least by the city hosting the National Armed Forces Covenant Conference in June and the Army Generalship Programme last month and the Local Government Association (LGA) case study 'Coordinated Veteran Support in Portsmouth: A Holistic Housing and Wellbeing Approach'.

This approach recognises that the Council cannot do everything, for instance by:

· Playing a leading role in the Solent Armed Forces Covenant Partnership (SAFCP).

· Coordinating the Hampshire Veterans’ Liaison and Diversion Steering Group (VLDS), which supports vulnerable veterans in contact with the criminal justice system.

· Seeking to pilot a common assessment framework with Northumbria University, the Royal Marines Charity and Veterans Outreach Support (VOS) to improve consistency in the way veterans’ needs are identified and supported across organisations.

· Co?chairing the LGA Covenant Officers Group, helping shape and share best practice across the country.

· Submitting a comprehensive proposal for a Valour Recognised Centre based in Portsmouth, further to last November's Council decision.

· Working with the Armed Forces Covenant Trust Fund and MoD Early Years Specialist Advisor to improve support for service children under four.

· Making veterans a priority in its 2024 homelessness strategy and working with partners on establishing the underlying causes of veteran homelessness.

· Securing the Gold Defence Employer Recognition Scheme Award, demonstrating Forces-friendly employment practices.

· Putting veterans above party politics, with the Leader - in line with the Covenant - as Armed Forces Champion and Freeman Jonas and Cllr Coles as his Deputies.

Earlier this year, the Armed Forces Bill was introduced as legislation which seeks to extend the covenant duty to all UK Government departments, devolved Governments and additional policy areas. Therefore, this Council notes that, among other things:

Portsmouth Council first signed the Armed Forces Covenant in 2012, committing to support local members of the Armed Forces community. The UK Government's commitment to extend the Armed Forces Covenant further in law is welcome and provides an opportunity to enhance support to the Armed Forces community.

There is, though, no New Burdens funding from Government, even though it acknowledges the strain on Councils the new duties will bring.

This Council resolves to:

Ask the Armed Forces Champion and his deputies to write to the Minister for Veterans and People, in support of The Royal British Legion’s ‘Keep the Covenant Promise’ campaign:

· To call for improved statutory guidance and funding to all public bodies in the scope of the extended Duty, including local authorities, to deliver better support through the expanded Covenant Duty.

· To ask that the UK Government implement a dedicated programme of promotional activity on the Armed Forces Covenant to improve public awareness and positively recognise those who serve/have served in HM Armed Forces.

· To ensure that the impact of the expanded Covenant Duty is thoroughly monitored, and that members of the Armed Forces community can access effective means of redress in cases where the Duty is not fulfilled.