Agenda and minutes

To receive and record any apologies for absence.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Heard and Patrick.

To receive any declarations of interests from Members.

There were no declarations of interest from any of the members present.

To confirm the minutes of the last meeting of the Council held on 9 December 2015 and the extraordinary meeting held on 20 January 2016.

The minutes of the Council meetings held on 9 December 2015 and 20 January 2016 were agreed as a correct record.

To consider any matters arising from the minutes.

There were no matters arising from the minutes.

There were no matters the Mayor wished to add to her published report.

Proposed by  Councillor Cheshire and seconded by Councillor Branson it was

RESOLVED that Councillor Faith Ponsonby be provisionally elected as Mayor for 2016/17.

Proposed by Councillor Weeks and seconded by Councillor K Smith it was

RESOLVED that Councillor Mrs Elaine Shimbart be provisionally elected as Deputy Mayor for 2016/17.

(1)          Budget speech by the Leader of the Council:

(2)          Reply by the Leader of the Opposition Group;

(3)          Leader reply to the Opposition Group; and

(4)          Questions for clarification to the Leader of the Council

The Leader presented his budget speech to the Council focusing on the Council’s ongoing strategic approach to driving financial sustainability and economic growth in the Borough through the implementation of alternative service delivery models to generate efficiency savings and potential income generation opportunities and the Prosperity Havant agenda. 

In concluding his speech, the Leader was pleased to announce that, notwithstanding the current financial difficulties facing all local authorities and the ongoing reduction in the Government’s revenue support grant, Havant Borough Council had, through prudent financial management, achieved a balanced budget for 2016/17 with no increase in its share of the Council Tax.

The Leader of the main opposition group was given an opportunity to reply to the Leader’s speech and all members were given an opportunity to ask questions of clarification of the Leader.

The recommendation from the Cabinet meeting held on 3 February 2016 is attached.

The Leader presented the 2016/17 Revenue and Capital Budget.  Proposed by Councillor Cheshire and seconded by Councillor Briggs it was

RESOLVED that

(a)          that the following be approved, as set out in the report to the Cabinet on 3 February 2016:

(1)       The proposed Revenue and Capital Budget for 2016/2017, including a Council Tax rate of £192.78 at Band D (0% increase);

(2)       The Treasury Management Strategy and Prudential Indicators; and

(3)       Proposed Prices for Services for 2016/2017

(b)          That it benoted that (on 21st January, 2016) the Chief Finance Officer calculated the Council Tax Base 2016/2017 for the whole Council area as 39,290.50 [Item T in the formula in Section 31B(1) of the Local Government Finance Act 1992, as amended, (the “Act”)] and that this Council Tax base be split between the regions of the Environment Agency as follows:

Southern – Hampshire – 38,561.90

Southern – Sussex – 728.60

(c)          That the following amounts be calculated by the Council for the year 2016/2017 in accordance with Sections 31 and 34 to 36 of the Act.

(i)        £ 70,368,000 being the aggregate of the amounts which the Council estimates for the items set out in Section 31A(2) of the Act;

(ii)       £ 62,793,578 being the aggregate of the amounts which the Council estimates for the items set out in Section 31A(3) of the Act;

(iii)      £7,574,422 being the amount by which the aggregate at d(i) above exceeds the aggregate at d(ii) above, calculated by the Council, in accordance with Section 31A(4) of the Act, as its Council Tax requirement for the year (Item R in the formula in section 31A(4) of the Act);

(iv)      £192.78 being the amount at d(iii) above (Item R), divided by Item T  (c above), calculated by the Council, in accordance with Section 31B(1) of the Act, as the basic amount of its Council Tax for the year;

(e)          Valuation Bands

A                    B                     C                     D

£128.52        £149.94          £171.36          £192.78

E                    F                      G                     H

£235.62        £278.46          £321.30          £385.56

being the amounts given by multiplying the amount at d(iv) above by the number which, in the proportion set out in Section 5(1) of the Act, is applicable to dwellings listed in a particular valuation band divided by the number which in that proportion is applicable to dwellings listed in valuation band D, calculated by the Council, in accordance with Section 36(1) of the Act, as the amounts to be taken into account for the year in respect of categories of dwellings listed in different valuation bands.

(f)           That it be noted that for the year 2016/2017 the Hampshire County Council (see (h) below) and Police and Crime Commissioner for Hampshire and Hampshire Fire and Rescue Authority have stated the following amounts in precepts issued to the Council, in accordance with Section 40 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992, for each of the categories of the dwellings shown below:

Valuation Bands – Hampshire County Council

A                    B                     C                     D

£719.52        £839.44          £959.36          £1,079.28

E                    F  ...  view the full minutes text for item 70.

Havant Energy Strategy

To consider the following recommendation to Council arising from the Cabinet meeting held on 3 February 2016.  The Cabinet report can be found via the following link:

https://havantintranet.moderngov.co.uk/documents/s14972/Cabinet%20Report%20February%202016%20-%20havant%20energy%20strategy%20FINAL.pdf

RECOMMENDED to full Council that:

(1)          the Energy Strategy for Havant set out in Appendix 1 to the Cabinet report be approved; and

(2)          the next steps highlighted in section 4.4 of the Cabinet report be agreed.

(A)            Havant Energy Strategy

Councillor Guest presented a recommendation from the Cabinet meeting held on 3 February 2016 seeking approval of the draft Energy Strategy for Havant.  Proposed by Councillor Guest and seconded by Councillor K Smith it was

RESOLVED that

(1)       the Energy Strategy set out in Appendix 1 to the Cabinet report be approved; and

(2)          the next steps highlighted in section 4.4 of the Cabinet report be agreed.

In accordance with the Local Authorities (Members’ Allowances) (England) Regulations 2003 the Council received and considered a report and recommendations from the Independent Remuneration Panel on Councillors Allowances.  The Panel had recommended a schedule of basic and special responsibility allowances for Councillors and the introduction of performance related arrangements for the basic allowance.

The Leader took the opportunity to record his thanks to the Panel for their comprehensive review and their independent report, which he had discussed with Councillors from all the political groups.  During those discussions significant concern had been expressed about the viability of introducing performance related allowances for Councillors and, in particular, the difficulty of introducing an equitable mechanism for assessing performance in a political environment.

Based upon the feedback of discussions with Cabinet members and the wider Council membership, an alternative scheduled of allowances, that would offer a reduction in overall costs as compared with the current scheme and that proposed by the Independent Panel, was circulated (Appendix B).

As an amendment to the Independent Panel’s recommendation, it was proposed by Councillor Cheshire and seconded by Councillor Briggs that:

(1)          the scheme of allowances listed in the Column headed ‘Cabinet Recommendations’ and the supporting text set out in the paper labelled ‘Appendix B’ be agreed to take effect from 1 April 2016; and

(2)          the Council is not minded to implement performance related arrangements at the present time.

The vote having been taken and the amendment carried, the Mayor took a vote on the substantive motion and it was

RESOLVED that

(1)          the scheme of allowances listed in the Column headed ‘Cabinet Recommendations’ and the supporting text set out in the paper labelled ‘Appendix B’ be agreed to take effect from 1 April 2016; and

(2)          the Council is not minded to implement performance related arrangements at the present time.

Circulated separately.

In addition to his published report, the Leader provided an update on the most recent discussions with the partners taking forward the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Devolution bid.

Circulated separately.

The Mayor gave the Cabinet Leads an opportunity to provide updates on their published reports.

Councillor Weeks reported that the pipeline development at Station Road, Hayling Island was now under construction.

(i)                the Leader and Cabinet Leads to answer questions on matters within their respective reports.

(ii)           Committee Chairmen to answer questions on minutes since the last Council meeting

The Cabinet Leads and Committee  Chairmen answered questions in relation to their published reports.

To receive questions from Councillors in accordance with the requirements of Standing Order 23.4(a).

Questions submitted by Councillor Cousins to Councillor Briggs:

(1)          Would the PH agree it would be useful for all councillors to have a copy of the Norse Focus magazine?.

Norse are happy to make copies of “Focus” available to Councillors. For information Focus is published on a quarterly basis. Officers will also determine if Focus can be made available to members in an electronic format.

(2)          Noting the upgrading of the Alton MRF are there any plans to upgrade the Portsmouth MRF?

Not at present – Hampshire County Council have commissioned “Atkins” a consultancy firm to examine the opportunities that the Alton refit presents. Results from this study are projected to be made available in the second quarter of 2016. If sustainable opportunities for whole system change are identified from the Atkins report, disposal authorities will present a plan based on them.

(3)          What is the current rate of recycling in the borough and what is the target rate?

The current recycling rate for the borough of Havant is 29.2%. The target rate is 45% (in line with central government targets).  No Hampshire authority has achieved the central government target.

(4)          What recycling education is being undertaken in the borough at the present time – are we still going into schools?

Alongside other partners across Hampshire Havant Borough Council has withdrawn from the Recycle for Hampshire programme. This programme supported the ongoing education activity in schools in Havant Borough.

If recycling information through visitation was specifically requested by local schools or community groups Operational Services officers would be able to assist with this. However at present Havant Borough Council does not fund an active education programme.

To receive urgent questions from Councillors submitted in accordance with the requirements of Standing Order 23.4(b).

There were no urgent questions.

To consider any reports and recommendations from the Scrutiny Board.

There were no reports from the Scrutiny Board.

There were no notices of motion.

To receive the minutes of meetings of Committees  held since the last meeting of the Council:

Development Management Committee – 17 December 2015

Joint Human Resources Committee – 5 January 2016

Extraordinary Scrutiny Board – 12 January 2016

Development Management Committee – 14 January 2016

Extraordinary Cabinet Meeting – 20 January 2016

Scrutiny Board – 26 January 2016

Cabinet – 3 February 2016

The minutes of Committees held since the last meeting of the Council were received.

The Council is asked to consider whether to pass a resolution excluding the public from the meeting during consideration of any of the items on the agenda.  If members wish to do so then this could be achieved by passing the following resolution.  Members are not required to pass the resolution but the Monitoring Officer recommends this as to the item set out below.

That the public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the item headed and numbered as below because:

(a)       it is likely, in view of the nature of the business to be transacted or the nature of the proceedings, that if members of the public were present during that item there would be disclosure to them of exempt information of the descriptions specified in paragraphs of Part 1 of Schedule 12A (as amended) of the Local Government Act 1972 shown against the heading in question; and

(b)       in all the circumstances of the case, the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information.

Item 21 - 5 Councils' Corporate Services Procurement - Joint Committee and Joint Overview and Scrutiny Committee

(Paragraph 3)

A recommendation to exclude the press and public for the following item was put before the Council as the Cabinet report from which the recommendations arose was exempt from publication.

At the invitation of the Mayor, the Council’s solicitor advised that this item of business related to the appointment of Committees under the Five Councils’  Corporate Services Procurement and, in itself, did not require the press and public to be excluded from the debate.

Should any member be minded to refer to matters in the exempt report that were of a commercially sensitive nature, members were requested to indicate this before speaking, at which point the Council would be requested to consider passing a resolution to exclude the press and public.

To consider the following recommendation to Council arising from the Cabinet meeting held on 4 February 2016.  The Cabinet report is not for publication under paragraph (3) of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972.

RECOMMENDED to full Council that the following be approved:

(1)          to establish a Joint Committee in accordance with the details outlined in Appendix 3 and to delegate authority to the Chief Executive, in consultation with the Cabinet Lead for Corporate Services, to make any minor changes to the Joint Committee terms of reference as necessary and the Monitoring Officer be delegated to sign the agreement on behalf of the Council; and

(2)          to establish a Joint Overview and Scrutiny Committee with details outlined in appendix 4 and to delegate authority to the Chief Executive, in consultation with the Cabinet Lead, to make any minor changes to the Joint Committee terms of reference as necessary and the Monitoring Officer be delegated to sign the agreement on behalf of the Council.

On the advice of the Council’s solicitor at minute 81 above, the press and public were not excluded during the debate for this item.

Councillor Fairhurst presented a recommendation arising from the Cabinet meeting held on 3 February 2016 setting out proposals for a Joint Committee and Joint Overview and Scrutiny Committee for the Five Councils’ Corporate Services Procurement.  The Council was now requested to approve the required amendments to its constitution.

At the Cabinet meeting held on 3 February, Councillor Jackie Branson had been invited to present the findings and recommendations of the Scrutiny Panel arising from its recent scrutiny review of the 5 Councils proposals, which had sought an assurance that the Panel would continue to be consulted on the proposals prior to entering into the contract.   An amended recommendation to Council was tabled to reflect that discussion at Cabinet.

Proposed by Councillor Fairhurst and seconded by Councillor Branson it was

RESOLVED that the following be approved:

(1)       To establish a Joint Committee in accordance with the details outlined in Appendix 3 to the Cabinet report and to delegate authority to the Chief Executive, in consultation with the Cabinet Lead for Corporate Services, to make any minor changes to the Joint Committee terms of reference as necessary and the Monitoring Officer be delegated to sign the agreement on behalf of the Council; and

(2)       To establish a Joint Overview and Scrutiny Committee with details outlined in appendix 4 to the Cabinet report and to delegate authority to the Chief Executive, in consultation with the Cabinet Lead, in consultation with the 5 Councils Procurement Scrutiny Panel, to make any minor changes to the Joint Committee terms of reference as necessary and the Monitoring Officer.

At the conclusion of the meeting the Leader was given an opportunity to express his gratitude to Jane Eaton for her considerable contribution to the work of the Council as its Section 151 Officer and Head of Governance and Logistics and, in particular, for the significant amount of work she had undertaken in progressing the 5 Councils Corporate Services Procurement project.  On behalf of the Council the Leader wished Mrs Eaton well in her new position.