Agenda and minutes

To received and record any apologies for absence.

There were no apologies for absence.

To confirm the minutes of the meetings held on 13  and 31 July 2015.

The minutes of the Cabinet meetings held on 13 and 31 July 2015 were agreed as a correct record.

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

There were no matters the Chairman wished to report.

To receive and record declarations of interests from members present in respect of the various matters on the agenda for this meeting.

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

The Chairman to report the outcome of meetings attended or other information arising since the last meeting of the Committee.

The Chairman reported that, together with the Chief Executive, he had attended a very recent meeting of the Leaders of all the partner authorities involved in the proposed Hampshire Combined Authority and gave an update on the discussion at that meeting.

To receive requests to a make a deputation to the Cabinet.

The Cabinet noted that a deputation request had been received from Mr D R Holmes, to be heard under item 179.

RESOLVED that the following delegated decisions  and minutes of meetings be noted:

(1)  Response to Draft Planning Documents Relating to Minerals and Waste Safeguarding and Oil and Gas Development;

(2)  Havant Town Centre – Proposed Traffic Regulation Order;

(3)  Traffic Regulation Order – Little Hackets, Billy’s Copse and Fulflood Road; and

(4)   Service Level Agreement with Hampshire Biodiversity Information Centre.

There were no recommendations from the Scrutiny Board.

The Cabinet considered a report by the Chief Executive and Executive Director providing an update on the work across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight regarding the possible devolution of powers to local areas from Government.

The Leader reminded all those present that a briefing would held immediately following the Cabinet meeting to apprise all Councillors of the current position prior to consideration of the matter at an extraordinary Council meeting.

RECOMMENDED that the Council

(1)          agrees to delegate to the Chief Executive, in consultation with the Leader, authority to decide the extent of the commitment of this Council to the detailed Hampshire and Isle of Wight Devolution proposal scheduled to be sent to the Government on 4th September 2015, this delegation to take effect up to and including 4 September; and

(2)          notes the appointment by the Cabinet of a Combined Authorities Working Group, consisting of  Councillors Narinder Bains, Gary Hughes and Tim Pike, to work with the Leader and Cabinet in taking forward the proposal for a Hampshire Combined Authority.

Councillor Briggs presented a report to Cabinet setting out objections and representations following the advertising of an Experimental Traffic Regulation Order (ETRO) in Langstone, Havant, and seeking to make the ETRO permanent.

At the invitation of the Cabinet, Mr D R Holmes gave a deputation, referring to incidents that had caused damage to property adjacent to the turning circle in Langstone Avenue and seeking an amendment to the ETRO to install double yellow lines in the turning circle and relocate the associated two car parking spaces.  A written representation from Mr Holmes in support of his deputation was also circulated for Cabinet members’ attention.

Whilst sympathetic to the particular views expressed by Mr Holmes, Cabinet members noted that comprehensive consultations with local residents and Ward Councillors, including two separate consultation phases and a dedicated workshop, had been held over an extended period of time and that every effort had been made to respond positively to the wide-ranging comments received.   Cabinet members were satisfied that the current proposal was supported by the majority of local residents and that, on that basis, the ETRO should be made permanent.

At the conclusion of the debate the Leader thanked all the officers involved in taking forward this complex piece of work.  The Leader also took the opportunity, on behalf of the Cabinet, to thank Mr Oli Seebohm for his outstanding contribution to the Council in recent years as Senior Traffic Engineer and wished him well in his future employment.

RESOLVED that the two phases of the ETRO be made permanent.