Agenda and minutes

Venue: Hollybank Room, Public Service Plaza, Civic Centre Road, Havant, Hants PO9 2AX

Contact: Penny Milne  Democratic Services Team Leader

Items
No. Item

48.

Apologies for Absence

To receive and record any apologies for absence.

Minutes:

There were no apologies for absence.

49.

Minutes pdf icon PDF 132 KB

To confirm the minutes of the last meeting held on 16 November 2016.

Minutes:

The minutes of the meeting of the Cabinet held on 16 November 2016 were agreed as a correct record subject to an amendment to minute 44 to reflect that Cllr Wilson presented the Council Tax Support Scheme report to Cabinet.

50.

Matters Arising

To consider any matters arising from the minutes of the last meeting.

Minutes:

There were no matters arising from the minutes of the last meeting.

51.

Declarations of Interests

To receive and record any declarations of interest.

Minutes:

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

52.

Chairman's Report

Minutes:

The Chairman welcomed Councillor Tim Pike to the meeting as the new Cabinet member with responsibility for Strategic Innovation, Infrastructure and Projects.

53.

Cabinet Lead Delegated Decisions, Minutes from Meetings etc. pdf icon PDF 67 KB

To note the minutes of the meeting of the Portchester Crematorium Joint Management Committee held on 12 December 2016.

Minutes:

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting of the Portchester Crematorium Joint Management Committee held on 12 December 2016 be noted.

54.

Recommendations from the Scrutiny Board

55.

Review into the Need for a new Cemetery in the Borough pdf icon PDF 48 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Councillor Fairhurst was invited to join the meeting to present the findings and recommendations of the Economy, Planning, Development and Prosperity Havant Scrutiny Panel arising from its evaluation of the need to identify a site for a new cemetery in the Borough.

 

RESOLVED that

 

(1)          The Council continue with its current provision of cemeteries and aim to make the service financially viable;

(2)          The Cabinet investigate raising the fees and charges for burial sites to cover the operational costs of the service (including maintenance of cemeteries);

(3)          A financial analysis be carried out to investigate the costs of developing the MDA cemetery site as a whole and the costs for developing the site in stages;

(4)          If the decision is made to proceed with the MDA cemetery site, opportunities for private sector investment be fully investigated;

(5)          An update be carried out on the review of other possible sites for a cemetery within the Borough; and

(6)               Officers be requested to complete discussions with Grainger PLC relating to the future provision of a cemetery site arising from the MDA Development before making a decision.

56.

Revenue and Capital Budget 2017/18 to 2021/22

56a

Recommendations from the Scrutiny Board pdf icon PDF 58 KB

Report to follow.

 

Additional documents:

Minutes:

As Chairman of the Scrutiny Board, Councillor Buckley presented the Board’s recommendations to the Cabinet, following an extensive examination by the Budget Scrutiny Panel from June-December 2016 when it met with Cabinet Leads and Heads of Service to look at emerging budgetary issues in the context of the 2017/18 budget strategy.

 

The Board had reviewed the draft 2017/18 budget report at its meeting on 31 January 2017 and, arising from that meeting, a number of additional questions had been forwarded to the Heads of Service.  The Leader sought confirmation that responses to these questions had been provided and circulated to all members of the Scrutiny Board.  This confirmation was given.  Confirmation was also given that a briefing paper on property investment proposals had been circulated to all Councillors as requested by the Scrutiny Board.

 

The Scrutiny Board had recommended to the Cabinet that it recommended to Council the Proposed Revenue and Capital Budgets 2017/18 and the Treasury Management Strategy and Prudential Indicators, subject to an amendment to paragraph 2.9 of Appendix E to the Cabinet report seeking Cabinet approval on all property purchases and clarification on how much may be invested in the scheme in any one year.  Cabinet members were not minded to support this recommendation, however, in seeking to address the Scrutiny Board’s concerns, it was agreed that further consultations be held with all members of the Council on the proposals for a property investment strategy, prior to consideration of the 2017/18 Budget Strategy by full Council at its meeting on 22 February 2017.

 

RESOLVED that

 

(1)          the following be recommended to full Council:

 

   (a)     the proposed Revenue & Capital Budgets for 2017/18, including a Council Tax rate of £192.78 at Band D, representing a 0% increase on the current charge and continuing the Council’s freeze on its portion of the Council Tax since 2009/10; and

(b)       the Treasury Management Strategy and Prudential indicators, and the Prices for Services.

(2)          further consultations be undertaken with all councillors prior to any full Council decision with reference to the Council’s property strategy being made;       

(3)          the responsibilities and associated budgets for all current economic development events and the responsibility for the mayoral service be transferred to the Community Team;

(4)          the appointment of a full or part time Funding Officer within the Community Team be considered with the aim that this post be self funding and to enable the Council to take greater  advantage of external funding;

(5)          the Council considers to a major investment scheme in 2017/18 that will act as the catalyst for town centre regeneration;

(6)          regular economic status reports be reinstated; and

 

(7)          an assurance be given that, in future years, the Budget Scrutiny and Policy Development Panel be given ample opportunity to consider the budget prior to finalisation of the draft proposals.

56b

Report to Cabinet pdf icon PDF 320 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Cabinet considered a report setting out the proposed Revenue and Capital Budget, Reserves and Balances, Treasury and Prices for Services for 2017/18.

 

RECOMMENDED to full Council:

(1)          the proposed Revenue & Capital Budgets for 2017/18, including a Council Tax rate of £192.78 at Band D, representing a 0% increase on the current charge and continuing the Council’s freeze on its portion of the Council Tax since 2009/10; and

(2)               the Treasury Management Strategy and Prudential indicators, and the Prices for Services.

57.

Public Sector Audit Appointments pdf icon PDF 94 KB

Report to follow.

Minutes:

Councillor Cheshire presented a report seeking a recommendation to Council in relation to the future process for external auditor appointments.

 

RECOMMENDED to full Council that the Council opts in to the appointing person arrangements made by the Public Sector Audit Appointments (PSAA) for the appointment of external auditors.

 

58.

CIL Spending 2016/17 pdf icon PDF 98 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Councillor Guest presented a report to Cabinet providing an analysis of the 26 bids received following the CIL Bidding process and setting out recommendations on the spending of CIL funds.

 

At the suggestion of Cllr Turner, Cabinet members minded to support a proposal that the time limit in relation to the Northney Coastal Path project be extended to three years to support efforts to secure match funding.

 

RECOMMENDED to full Council that

 

(i)            the Council invests part of the available CIL Pot of £1,250,724.12 in the following capital infrastructure projects:

 

(a)  Langstone Flood and Coastal Erosion Risk Management Scheme (FCERM) Feasibility Assessment £75,000.

 

(b)  Southmoor Lane, Harts Farm Way Junction Improvements (Short Term) £190,405.

 

(c)  Havant Railway Footbridge Detailed Design up to £150,000, subject to negotiation with Hampshire County Council

 

(d)  Warblington Station Footbridge – Whilst the funding bid for Warblington Station Footbridge scored very highly using the CIL Protocol, the option of Network Rail providing this infrastructure will be explored. S106 funds of £647,784 have already been secured until 2025 to support this project.  A contribution from CIL will be considered further during the next round of bidding.

 

The cumulative effect of expenditure on the CIL 123 List of the above bids is illustrated in Table A:

Bid No

Priority

Title

Amount

Cumulative amount

2

Critical

Langstone FCERM Feasibility Assessment

£75,000

£75,000

4

Essential

Southmoor Lane, Harts Farm Way Junction

Improvements (Short Term)

£190,405

 £265,405

18

Essential

Havant Railway Footbridge Detailed Design

£150,000

£415,405

 

Table A: Cumulative total of all recommended CIL Pot bids

 

ii)            that the council invests part of the available Neighbourhood Portion of £163,305.49 in the following projects:

 

a)    The Hub – Hayling Island Community Centre Association £42,638

 

b)    Northney Coastal Path £90,000–

Funding will be contingent upon other funding opportunities having been exhausted and planning permission being obtained. As there is some uncertainty over the delivery of this project at present it is recommended that a two year time limit is added to this recommendation (that funds be spent by the Council by 31 March 2019).

 

The cumulative effect of expenditure on the CIL 123 List of the above bids is illustrated in Table B:

Bid No

Priority

Title

Amount

Cumulative amount

26

Desirable

The Hub – Hayling Island Community Centre Association

£42,638

£42,638

15

Desirable

Northney Coastal Path

£90,000

 £132,638

 

Table B: Cumulative total of recommended Neighbourhood Portion bids

 

iii)          That the Council agrees a Revised CIL Funding Decision Protocol set out at Appendix F to the Cabinet report.