Agenda and minutes

To receive and record any apologies for absence.

Apologies were received from Councillors Buckley, Francis, Patrick and Sceal.

On behalf of the Council, the Mayor presented Mr Stuart Pinkney with a gift in recognition of his 41 years’ service to the Council, having recently retired as the Council’s Emergency and Safety Operations Manager.

To receive and record 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 held on 11 July 2018.

Proposed by Councillor Smith and seconded by Councillor Keast, it was

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting of the Council held on 11 July 2018 be approved as a correct record.

To be circulated separately.

There were no questions in connection with the Mayor’s published report.

The Council to receive a representation from local residents in relation to the Borough of Havant (Hayling Island: Beachlands West Car Park) (Experimental Parking Spaces) Order 2018.

The Mayor will allow five minutes for local residents to address the Council.  The Mayor will then allow a maximum of 15 minutes for the Council to debate the issue and agree its response.

The Council received a public representation in relation to the Borough of Havant (Hayling Island: Beachlands West Car Park)(Experimental Parking Places) Order 2018. 

At the invitation of the Mayor, Ms Miranda Diboll addressed the Council in support of the representation, which sought a suspension of the Order banning overnight parking of Motorhomes at the West Beach Car Park so as to allow discussions to be held with users of the Car Park, local residents and businesses in order to address the Health and Safety concerns that had led to the approval of the Order by the Cabinet on 27 June 2018.

The Monitoring Officer advised the Council that, as this matter was an executive function, any final decision on the Order would need be made by the Cabinet at the end of the 18-month experimental period.

As Cabinet Lead, Councillor Bains responded that the Cabinet’s primary concern in implementing the experimental Order had been health and safety and, in particular, fire safety.  The Council had commissioned two Fire Safety reports that had both endorsed the evidence base underpinning the Order.  The Order would remain in place for 18 months while efforts were made to find a solution to the health and safety concerns, in the context of the local restrictions in place as a Site of Special Scientific Interest and the risk of damage by flooding.

The Mayor then invited Councillors to debate the issues raised.  During which Councillors spoke in support of the Order, in the interest of public safety and on the grounds that there was little or no evidence to support the assertion that the Order had had a negative impact on local businesses.

At the conclusion of the debate, Councillor Bains thanked Ms Diboll for her presentation and, whilst the Order would remain in place, Councillor Bains welcomed the opportunity to work with the motorhome owners during the 18-month experimental period to find a solution to the complex challenges and constraints affecting the site.

To receive questions from, and provide answers to, the public, provided they have been submitted in accordance with the requirements of Standing Order 13.4(f).

There were no public questions.

To consider the following recommendations to Council:

(A)         Corporate Governance Policy and Local Code of Governance

To consider a recommendation arising from the meeting of the Governance, Audit and Finance Board held on 20 June 2018.   The agenda and reports for this meeting can be viewed via the following link:

http://havant.moderngov.co.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=477&MId=10713

RECOMMENDED to full Council that the Corporate Governance Policy and the Local Code of Governance be approved and adopted.

(B)         Organisational Development Strategy

To consider a recommendation arising from the meeting of the Joint Human Resources Committee held on 3 July 2018.  The agenda and reports for this meeting can be viewed via the following link:

http://havant.moderngov.co.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=142&MId=10623

RECOMMENDED to full Council that the Organisational Development  Strategy be approved and adopted.

(C)         Houses in Multiple Occupation Policy

To consider a recommendation arising from the meeting of the Licensing Committee held on 12 September 2018.   The agenda and reports for this meeting can be viewed via the following link:

http://havant.moderngov.co.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=125&MId=10780

RECOMMENDED to full Council that the Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMO) Licensing Policy, and associated guidance on standards for HMOs, be approved and adopted as amended by the Licensing Committee at its meeting 12 September 2018.

(D)         Wellbeing Strategy

To consider a recommendation arising from the meeting of the Joint Human Resources Committee held on 13 September 2018.   The agenda and reports for this meeting can be viewed via the following link:

http://havant.moderngov.co.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=142&MId=10778

RECOMMENDED TO full Council that the Wellbeing Strategy be approved and adopted.

(E)         Councillors’ Allowances

To consider any recommendations arising from the meeting of the Governance, Audit and Finance Board to be held on 19 September 2018.   The agenda and reports for this meeting can be viewed via the following link.  The minutes of the meeting of the Board will be available after publication of the agenda for this Council meeting.

http://havant.moderngov.co.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=477&MId=10715

(F)  Recommendations from the Extraordinary Cabinet Meeting

To consider any recommendations arising from the extraordinary meeting of the Cabinet to be held on 19 September 2018.   The agenda and reports for this meeting can be viewed via the following link.  The minutes of the meeting of the Cabinet will be available after publication of the agenda for this Council meeting.

http://havant.moderngov.co.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=128&MId=10788

(A)         Corporate Governance Policy and Local Code of Governance

Councillor Kennett presented a recommendation to Council arising from the meeting of the Goverance, Audit and Finance Board held on 20 June 2018:

Proposed by Councillor Kennett and seconded by Councillor Bowerman, it was:

RESOLVED that the Corporate Governance Policy and Local Code of Governance be approved and adopted.

(B)         Organisational Development Strategy

Councillor Branson presented a recommendation to Council arising from the meeting of the Joint Human Resources Committee held on 3 July 2018.

Proposed by Councillor Branson and seconded by Councillor K Smith, it was:

RESOLVED that the Organisational Development Strategy be approved and adopted.

(C)         Houses in Multiple Occupation Policy

Councillor Weeks presented a recommendation to Council arising from the meeting of the Licensing Committee held on 12 September 2018.

Proposed by Councillor Weeks and seconded by Councillor Keast, it was:

RESOLVED that the Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMO) Policy, and associated guidance on standards for HMOs, be approved and adopted as amended by the Licensing Committee at its meeting on 12 September 2018.

(D)         Wellbeing Strategy

Councillor Branson presented a recommendation to Council arising from the meeting of the Joint Human Resources Committee held on 13 September 2018.

Proposed by Councillor Branson and seconded by Councillor K Smith, it was:

RESOLVED that the Wellbeing Strategy be approved and adopted.

(E)         Councillors Allowances

Councillor Kennett presented a recommendation to Council arising from the meeting of the Governance, Audit and Finance Board held on 19 September 2018.

In recommending the proposed new Scheme of Councillors’ Allowances to Council, Councillor Kennett expressed his thanks to the Governance, Audit and Finance Panel for their thorough review and, particular, to the Democratic Services Officer, Mr Gregory, for the significant amount of research that had been undertaken in seeking to ensure that the recommendations were sound and evidence-based.

Proposed by Councillor Kennett and seconded by Councillor Crellin, it was:

RESOLVED that the following Scheme of Councillors Allowances be approved and adopted, with effect from 1 October 2018:

                            A Councillor may only receive 1 SRA at a time. No more than 50% of the number of Councillors can receive an SRA

                            Joint HR Committee Chairman and Vice Chairman rotates annually with EHDC.

                            *Leaders of any political group, other than the ruling group, comprising two or more members to receive a Special Responsibility Allowance based upon the following formula:

                            Band A           2-5 Members        £911

                            Band B           6-10 Members      £1822

                            Band C          11-15 Members    £2732

                            Band D          16+ Members       £3643

                            From 2020/21 the Basic Allowance be increased in line with any NJC increase as agreed each year from 1 April 2020/21.

                            Future changes to the Special Responsibility Allowances (SRAs) or proposed new SRAs to be submitted to the Governance, Audit and Finance  ...  view the full minutes text for item 23.

To be circulated separately.

There were no matters the Leader wished to add to his published report.

To be circulated separately.

Councillor Turner reported that the joint Animal Welfare Service had won three gold RSPCA awards.

An update to Councillor Pike’s report has been published on the Council’s website alongside these minutes.

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

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

The Cabinet Leads took questions in connection with their published reports.  There were questions of the Committee Chairmen.

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

The following questions were received in accordance with Standing Order 23:

1.            Councillor Davis to Councillor Hughes:

Are there any plans to enable Hampshire’s plastic recycling ability up to the ability of other Counties (like Dorset)?

Response:

As detailed in my report at the last Full Council, Project Integra do have plans to build a Single Material Recycling Facility (SMRF) in Hampshire. The facility would be able to handle a greater range of materials, including the plastics that you enquired about. Dorset Council achieves a high rate of recycling as a consequence of their household food collection. Such schemes are only viable if a suitable use such as an Anaerobic Digester for the waste can be identified. Regrettably, there are no sites currently taking food waste in Hampshire.

However, those plans have been put on hold as a result of the Government’s consultation regarding the introduction of a Deposit Return Scheme. Unexpectedly, the Consultation has been expanded to include tins and aluminum drinks cans and glass. Recycling rates for tin and aluminum are already in excess of 70% and provide a significant proportion of the income generated from the existing MRFs. Glass also has a value of approximately £18 per tonne. If those materials are removed from the recycling stream, it might jeopardize the viability of the existing facilities and the estimated investment of in excess of £20M for a new facility.

It is worth reiterating that if we stop putting textiles, food and black bags in our recycling bins we would reduce our recycling contamination rate, currently 13% considerably. Equally, if we stop putting the 17% of recyclable material in our household waste and recycled it instead, we would be the best recycling authority in Hampshire and be close to achieving the national target of 50% recycling.

2.         Councillor Davis to Councillor Pike

I welcome the information and map for cycling in Havant.

However, I have noticed that in town centres there are only a limited number of Hitch rails for cyclists to lock their bikes to. So as to encourage our residents to use the cycles to shop in our shopping areas, are there any plans to fit /provide more of these Hitch rails in our shopping centres?

Response:

All the main HBC shopping areas have cycle parking.  If Cllr John Davis has a particular shopping area that he wishes cycle parking to be fitted I am happy to put some in but I think in most cases there will already be some.

If further locations are considered necessary then they would need to be funded.

3.         Councillor Davis to Councillor Pike

There is an off road cycle route onto Hayling Island but not all cyclists use it.  There is no law to force cyclist to use the off road cycle facilities.

Overgrown vegetation onto the highway is managed by the Highway Authority (HCC).

The Highway Authority / HBC can construct paths and cycle routes within the land that they own.  It is likely that in these instances  ...  view the full minutes text for item 27.

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 Motions from Councillors received in accordance with Standing Order 14.1.

There were no notices of motion.

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

Governance, Audit and Finance Board – 25 July

Business and Commercial Services Board – 30 July

Extraordinary Cabinet – 31 July

Development Management Committee – 16 August

Operations and Placeshaping Board – 4 September

Licensing Committee – 12 September

Joint Human Resources Committee – 13 September

Proposed by Councillor P Bains and seconded by Councillor M Wilson, it was:

RESOLVED that the minutes of Committees held since the last meeting of the Council be received.