Agenda and minutes

To receive and record any apologies for absence.

Apologies were received from Councillor Guest.

To confirm the minutes of the last meeting held on 2 September 2015.

The minutes of the meeting of the Cabinet held on 2 September 2015 were agreed as a correct record.

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

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

To receive and record any declarations of interest.

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

There were no matters the Chairman wished to report.

To note the following minutes of meetings and delegated decisions:

(a)  Delegated Decision: Service Level Agreement with Hampshire Biodiversity Information Centre;

(b)  Delegated Decision: Response to draft planning documents relating to minerals and waste safeguarding and oil and gas development;

(c)  Delegated Decision:  Proposed Traffic Regulation Order (Various Roads) Ver.2; and

(d)  Minutes of the Portchester Crematorium Joint Committee meeting held on 14 September 2015.

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

(a)       Delegated Decision: Service Level Agreement with Hampshire Biodiversity Information Centre;

(b)       Delegated Decision: Response to draft planning documents relating to minerals and waste safeguarding and oil and gas development;

(c)       Delegated Decision: Proposed Traffic Regulation Order (Various Roads) Ver.2; and

(d)       Minutes of the Portchester Crematorium Joint Committee meeting held on 14 September 2015.

The Cabinet considered a proposal from the Local Plan Panel  that its membership be extended to included all Councillors directly involved in planning issues in addition to the members of the Development Management Committee.

RESOLVED that membership of the Local Plan Panel be extended to include all members of the Development Management Committee, DMC Standing Deputies and members of the Economy and Planning Scrutiny and Policy Development Panel.

Councillor Branson, as Chairman of the Scrutiny Board, and Councillor Francis representing the Economy and Communities Panel, presented a report from the Panel setting out recommendations arising from its review of tourism in the Borough.  Cabinet members were supportive of the Panel’s recommendations and for a borough-wide approach to promoting Havant as a visitor destination.

RESOLVED that the following recommendations from the Economy and Communities Scrutiny and Policy Development Panel be endorsed by the Cabinet:

(1)          There needs to be increased coordination between the Public Service Plaza and Beachlands regarding tourist information to ensure visitors to the borough can access relevant information year round;

(2)          Progress continues to be made on raising the profile of the boroughs attractions online;

(3)          An investigation in to introducing the slogan “Havant: Where the Downs Meet the Sea” online and on road signs leading into the borough be conducted to help create a unique brand;

(4)          The need to develop tourism links with Chichester District Council and West Sussex County Council;

(5)          Investigate the possibility of introducing a Tourism Marketing Strategy for the borough; and

(6)          This should be an on-going piece of work with another review in two years time to assess whether the current and proposed tourism initiatives have been successful.

The Cabinet considered a report from the Governance and Logistics Scrutiny and Policy Development Panel setting out the Panel’s findings following its review of the Council’s mail services.

RESOLVED that the findings of the review be noted.

The Cabinet considered a report from the Planning and Built Environment Scrutiny and Policy Development Panel setting out its findings following a review of Community Infrastructure Levy Spending Allocations.

RESOLVED that the Panel’s findings on the allocation of CIL funds be noted.

The Cabinet considered the Financial Outturn report for the 2014-15 financial year.  At the conclusion of the debate the Leader took the opportunity to thank all the officers for their prudent management of budgets during the course of the year.

RESOLVED that

(1)          the outturn position be noted; and

(2)          the surplus as set out in the report be committed to fund transformational projects in 20105-16 and beyond.

The Cabinet considered a report setting out a draft Enforcement Plan providing a clear framework and a consistent approach to dealing with all enforcement cases across the borough.

RECOMMENDED to full Council that the Enforcement Plan be approved and adopted.

Councillor Wilson presented a report providing an overview of the Councillor Competency Framework, which had been adapted from the LGA Political Skills Framework for use within the Council as an objective standard for measuring Councillors’ performance, in conjunction with the Councillor Development Strategy and Training Plan.

Cabinet members fully endorsed the proposed framework for recommendation to full Council subject to additional wording referring to the need for political leadership across all parties in order to support individual councillors and secure a consistent application of the framework.

RECOMMENDED to full Council that the Councillor Competency Framework be approved and implemented, to ensure that there is a clear understanding of what is expected of Councillors in their role.

The Cabinet 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 Solicitor to the Council 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 13 – Delivering Differently – Future Service Delivery of Operational Services – Outline Business case for JVC (paragraph 3)

Item 14 – Land at Horndean Road, Emsworth (paragraph 3)

RESOLVED that the press and the public be excluded from the meeting during the consideration of the following items as:-

(1)             it was 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 as specified in paragraph 3 of Part I of Schedule 12A (as amended) to the Local Government Act 1972; and

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

The reports to be considered were exempt under Paragraph 3 – Information  relating to the financial affairs or business affairs of any particular person

(including the Authority holding that information).

(This item was taken in Camera)

Councillor Briggs presented an exempt report setting out the outline business case for the future delivery of operational services.  Officers reported at the meeting that the agreed implementation date for the proposed Joint Venture Company was now 1 April 2016, and that the timeframe for taking forward the negotiations and consultations set out in the report would be revised accordingly.

As part of a programme of consultations on the proposals prior to final consideration by the full Council in January 2016, the Leader reminded members that a presentation had been arranged and all members of the Council would be expected to attend as far as possible.  The Scrutiny Board would also be given an opportunity to fully review the proposals and make recommendations to Cabinet.

The Leader also took the opportunity to thank the officers on behalf of the Cabinet for their work in taking the complex negotiations forward.

RESOLVED that

(1)          the outline business case be noted and the officers proceed with a full business case subject to Cabinet comments as set out in the restricted minute; and

(2)          the Business Plan objectives that are due to be delivered prior to 1 April 2016 be noted subject to Cabinet comments as set out in the restricted minute.

(This item was taken in camera)

The Cabinet considered an exempt report providing an update on the future of land at Horndean Road, Emsworth, following previous consideration of this matter by the Cabinet at its meeting on13 July 2015.

RESOLVED as set out in the restricted minute.