Agenda and draft minutes

To receive any apologies for absence.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Guest, Harris, Munday, Payter and Richardson, Tindall & Weeks.

To receive any declarations of interests from Members.

To were no declarations of interests from the members present relating to matters on the agenda.

To confirm the minutes of the last meeting of the Council held on 26 July 2023 as a true record.

The minutes of the last meeting of the Council held on 26 July 2023 were approved as a correct record.

For Council to receive and have opportunity to ask questions on the Mayor’s report.

The Mayor had nothing further to add to her published report and there were no questions from members present.

To deal with any public questions or address submitted in accordance with the requirements of Standing Orders 27.5 or 28, which is to deal with public questions or address notified no later than 12 noon three working days before the meeting.

There were no public questions or requests to address Council received in accordance with the requirements of these Standing Orders.

To consider any recommended minutes from the Cabinet and any of the Boards or Committees.

1.     Cabinet on Wednesday, 6th September, 2023

Purchase of Temporary Accommodation

Council is recommended to:

a)  To borrow through the Public Works Loan Board (PWLB) as is required to purchase property for use as temporary accommodation up to a limit of £2m.

b)  To authorise the use of S106 Affordable Housing contributions to fund the purchase, adaptation and fit out, of property for use as temporary accommodation.

c)   To amend the Capital Programme for any purchase of property for use as temporary accommodation.

d)  Delegate authority, subject to a sound Financial Business Case, to the S151 Officer, in consultation with the Leader, Cabinet Lead for Housing and the Cabinet Lead for Finance, to purchase property that will be used to provide temporary accommodation.

2.     Cabinet on Wednesday, 6th September, 2023

Local Authority Fund (1 & 2)

The Council is recommended:

a)     To accept and approve the spend of the additional allocation of Local Authority Housing Fund grant funding in the sum of £3.5m bringing the total sum to £4.2m.

b)    To delegate authority for accepting and spending future Local Authority Housing Fund grant allocations to the Director of Regeneration and Economic Development, in consultation with the s.151 Officer and the Leader of the Council as Cabinet Member responsible for Regeneration.

c)     To approve Public Works Loan Board borrowing up to £6m to provide match-funding for the Council’s allocation of LAHF grant subject to a satisfactory financial appraisal.

d)    To delegate authority to the S151 Officer to amend the Council’s Capital programme to reflect receipt of the additional Local Authority Housing Fund grant funding and the agreed Public Works Loan Board borrowing of up to £6m.

e)    To delegate authority to the S151 Officer to amend the Council’s Minimum Revenue Provision (MRP) policy and agrees that borrowing for the purposes of acquiring residential property is expensed over a 50 year period.

f)      To delegate authority to the Executive Head of Regeneration and Economic Development in consultation with the Leader of the Council to enter into a contract with a Contractor to manage and maintain the Council’s property portfolio purchased under this fund.

g)    To delegate authority to the Monitoring Officer (or their delegate) to negotiate and agree all legal documents to give effect to the above recommendations.

3.     Licensing Committee on Wednesday, 16th August, 2023

Review of statement of Licensing policy, Licensing Act 2003

The Council is recommended to APPROVE the Review of Statement of Licensing Policy – Licensing Act 2003.

4.     Licensing Committee on Wednesday, 16th August, 2023

Review of Statement of Principles, Gambling Act 2005

The Council is recommended to APPROVE the Statement of Principles – Gambling Act 2005.

5.     Licensing Committee on Wednesday, 16th August, 2023

Review of Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Licensing Policy

The Council is recommended to APPROVE the Review of Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Licensing Policy.

There were 5 Cabinet / Board / Committee recommendations for Council to consider at this meeting.

(1)                Purchase of Temporary Accommodation

            Councillor Robinson introduced the item and recommendations to Council arising from the meeting of Cabinet held on 06 September, seeking the agreement of full council to implement a temporary accommodation purchase programme and delegated authority which would result in the Council being able to work in a more agile and commercial manner to purchase temporary accommodation.

            It was proposed by Councillor Robinson and seconded by Councillor Bowerman that the recommendations made by Cabinet be approved.

            The members considered the options set out in the Cabinet report and following a vote, Council 

            RESOLVED to

a)     borrow through the Public Works Loan Board as is required to purchase property for use as temporary accommodation up to a limit of £2m.

b)     authorise the use of Section 106 Affordable Housing contributions to fund the purchase, adaptation and fit out, of property for use as temporary accommodation.

c)     amend the Capital Programme for any purchase of property for use as temporary accommodation.

d)     delegate authority, subject to a sound Financial Business Case, to the Section 151 Officer, in consultation with the Leader, Cabinet Lead for Housing and the Cabinet Lead for Finance, to purchase property that will be used to provide temporary accommodation.

(2)                Local Authority Fund (1&2)

            Councillor Rennie introduced this item and recommendations to Council arising from the meeting of Cabinet held on 06 September 2023, seeking approval to amend the Capital Programme and incur borrowing to meet the aims of the Local Authority Housing Fund programme and grant conditions.

            It was proposed by Councillor Rennie and seconded by Councillor Sceal that the recommendations made by Cabinet be approved.

            The members considered the options set out in the Cabinet report and following a vote, Council 

            RESOLVED to

a)     accept and approve the spend of the additional allocation of Local Authority Housing Fund grant funding in the sum of £3.5m bringing the total sum to £4.2m.

b)     delegate authority for accepting and spending future Local Authority Housing Fund grant allocations to the Executive Head of Regeneration and Economic Development, in consultation with the Section 151 Officer and the Leader of the Council as Cabinet Member responsible for Regeneration.

c)     approve Public Works Loan Board borrowing up to £6m to provide match-funding for the Council’s allocation of Local Authority Housing Fund grant subject to a satisfactory financial appraisal.

d)     delegate authority to the Section 151 Officer to amend the Council’s Capital programme to reflect receipt of the additional Local Authority Housing Fund grant funding and the agreed Public Works Loan Board borrowing of up to £6m.

e)     delegate authority to the Section 151 Officer to amend the Council’s Minimum Revenue Provision policy and agrees that borrowing for the purposes of acquiring residential property is expensed over a 50 year period.

f)      delegate authority to the Executive Head of Regeneration and Economic Development in consultation with the Leader of the Council to enter  ...  view the full minutes text for item 43.

For Council to receive and have opportunity to ask questions on the Leader’s report.

There was nothing further the Leader wished to add to his published report.

The Mayor provided Councillors an opportunity to ask questions of the Leader on his report, which were duly responded to within the meeting.

For Council to receive and have opportunity to ask questions on the Cabinet Lead’s reports.

In addition to her published report, Councillor Lloyd:

1.                  advised that the Council had been given the RSPCA Pawprint Stray Dog Services Silver Award;

2.                  informed members that concerns in relation to dangerous dog breeds were being dealt with locally by officers; and

3.                  highlighted the often difficult work that was being undertaken by our officers.

The Mayor provided Councillors an opportunity to ask questions of the Cabinet Leads on their reports, which were duly responded to within the meeting.

To receive questions from Councillors in accordance with the requirements of Standing Order 27.4.1.

There were 4 questions received from Councillors under the provision of this standing order, which were duly responded to within the meeting by the relevant Cabinet Leads.

A summary of the questions and responses is attached as an appendix to the minutes of this meeting.

To receive urgent questions from Councillors submitted in accordance with the requirements of Standing Order 27.4.2.

There were no urgent questions received from Councillors under the provision of this standing order.

To deal with any motions from Councillors received by 12 noon, at least six clear working days before the meeting in accordance with standing order 14.1.

1.     Making Space

2.     The Borough of Havant stands together with our friends in Ukraine

3.     Motion for the Ocean

4.     Puppy Farms

Council considered 4 notices of motion.

(1)                Making Space

Prior to consideration of this motion, the Mayor, in accordance with standing order 14.12, invited Council to decide, by way of a vote, whether it should refer this motion to Cabinet in view of the potential budget implications.

            Following a vote, in which there were 5 against and 1 abstention, Council

            RESOLVED that the motion relating to Making Space be referred to Cabinet for consideration.

(2)                The Borough of Havant stands together with our friends in Ukraine

            In accordance with standing order 14.9, the motion was withdrawn by the proposer of the motion, Councillor Rennie.

(3)                Motion for the Ocean

            The Council considered the published motion proposed by Councillor Lloyd and seconded by Councillor Fairhurst. 

            An amendment proposed by Councillor Rason and seconded by Councillor Paul Gray that pledges 1,3 & 6 be amended to read as follows:

1      ensure that the Climate and Environment Panel receives updates at least every six months on any actions and projects that will assist ocean recovery around the Borough including that the Panel provides, as part of its updates to Cabinet, progress on the matter;

3      promote closer working between Havant Borough Council and local marine organisations by creating clear channels of communication so the Council is fully informed and updated on evidence of pollution and damage to the harbours and embed interventions in the Local Plan to support ocean recovery.

6      Create opportunities to grow ocean literacy and marine citizenship in Havant Brough with schools, local colleges and adults.

was lost following a debate and vote.

Following a debate and vote, Council approved the published motion.

Council therefore:

RESOLVED that Council pledges to

1. ensure that the Climate & Environment Panel receives regular updates on any actions and projects that will assist ocean recovery around the Borough, including that the Panel provides, as part of its updates to Cabinet, progress on the matter.

2. add ocean recovery to the work the Council is doing as part of its Climate Change Strategy and Action Plan.

3. promote closer working between the Havant Borough Council and local marine organisations and embed interventions in the Local Plan to support ocean recovery.

4. influence the Local Nature Recovery Strategy to support ocean recovery.

5. work with partners locally and nationally to deliver increased sustainability in marine industries and develop a sustainable and equitable “blue economy” that delivers ocean recovery and local prosperity.

6. where opportunity allows grow ocean literacy and marine citizenship in the Havant borough with our schools and local colleges.

7. write to the Government asking them to put the ocean into net recovery by 2030 by:

a) ensuring Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authorities and Natural England have the resources they need to effectively research and monitor our growing number of marine protected areas, and to set and enforce appropriate fishing levels that support local economies and deliver environmental sustainability.

b) ensuring coastal communities have a meaningful say in the development of marine policy which can  ...  view the full minutes text for item 48.

In accordance with Standing Order 51.3, Council should consider any Special Urgency decisions taken by the executive in the preceding 3 months.

In accordance with Standing Order 63.3, Council are provided with details of any decision taken as a matter of urgency.

There were no special urgency decisions for consideration by Council for this meeting.

The Council to receive the minutes of Committees and Chairman to have opportunity to ask questions on minutes of meetings, held since the last meeting of Council:

1.     Planning Committee on Thursday, 20th July, 2023

2.     Overview and Scrutiny Committee on Tuesday, 25th July, 2023

3.     Cabinet on Wednesday, 26th July, 2023

4.     Licensing Committee on Wednesday, 16th August, 2023

5.     Planning Committee on Thursday, 31st August, 2023

6.     Licensing Sub Committee on Friday, 1st September, 2023

7.     Cabinet on Wednesday, 6th September, 2023

Proposed by Councillor Sceal and seconded by Councillor Denton, it was

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