Agenda and draft minutes

To receive any apologies for absence.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Denton, Guest, Payter, Raines, Sceal and Turner.

To receive and note any disclosable pecuniary interests from councillors. In accordance with the Code of Conduct, a councillor is required to disclose at the meeting any disclosable pecuniary interest (DPI) that they may have in respect of any matter for consideration on this agenda.  Any councillor with a DPI must not participate in any discussion or vote regarding that matter and they must also withdraw from the meeting immediately before consideration of the matter.

 

Councillors are further invited to disclose any personal or prejudicial interests which may be relevant to any matter on this agenda. Participation in the meeting and vote shall depend upon the nature of the interest.

 

Councillors should refer to the declaration of interest flowchart and raise any queries with the Monitoring Officer in advance of the meeting.

 

Members are reminded that they should re-declare their interest before consideration of the item or as soon as the interest becomes apparent and if appropriate, withdraw from the room immediately thereafter.

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

Proposed by Councillor Weeks seconded by Councillor Shimbart, it was

 

RESOLVED that Councillor Peter Wade be provisionally appointed as Mayor for 2024/2025.

 

The Mayor, in consultation with the Chief Executive, deferred consideration of the provisional appointment of the Deputy Mayor to the next meeting of Full Council.

 

To consider recommendations made by Cabinet and other committees which in addition to the recommendations set out in item 6 on the agenda, relate to the setting of the budget, the Medium Term Financial Strategy and other legal matters associated with the determination of the council tax.

 

Cabinet – 14 February 2024

 

Council Tax Support Scheme 2024/25

 

Council is Recommended to RESOLVE to:

 

1)         agree to amend the current scheme so that the allowances and premiums used in determining entitlement for working age claims are uplifted in line with the figures applied by the Department for Works and Pensions, (DWP), for the Housing Benefit Scheme in 2024/25;

 

2)         agree to amend the current scheme so that the non-dependant deductions used in determining entitlement for working age claims are adapted in line with the rates as set by the Department of Levelling Up, Housing and Communities for non-dependant pension age claims;

 

3)         approve that the Council continues to facilitate a Council Tax Support Hardship Fund;

 

4)         approve the retention of all remaining elements of the current 2023/24 scheme; and

 

5)         approve the necessary amendments being made to the Council Tax Support Scheme document and that it then being published in accordance with Local Government Finance Act 1992 Section 13A(2).

 

Licensing Committee - 16 January 2024

 

Review of Street Trading Consent Fees

 

Council is Recommended to RESOLVE that the new fees as set out in Appendix A of the report submitted to the Licensing Committee on 16 January 2024 be approved for implementation for the financial year commencing 1 April 2024.

 

Licensing Committee – 16 January/27 February 2024

 

Review of Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Licensing Fees

 

Recommendations to follow.

 

Planning Policy Committee – 5 February 2024

 

Update of Community Infrastructure Levy Spending Protocol

 

Council is recommended to:

 

1.              approve the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) Spending Protocol (2024) as set out in Appendix A of the report submitted to the Planning Policy Committee on 5 February 2024;

 

2.              delegate authority to the Executive Head of Place, in consultation with the relevant Cabinet Lead to amend the CIL Spending Protocol following adoption, provided those changes are limited to the correction of factual errors and changes necessary to accommodate national or local changes in regulations, guidance or procedures and shall not otherwise alter the meaning of the Protocol;

 

3.              delegate authority to the Executive Head of Place, in consultation with the relevant Cabinet Lead to prepare guidance and relevant process notes for the implementation and administration of CIL spending decisions in line with the Spending Protocol;

 

4.              delegate authority to the Executive Head of Place, in consultation with the relevant Cabinet Lead to determine applications for spends from the Neighbourhood Portion; subject to the total expenditure not exceeding that set out in the Capital Spending Programme for the stated year; and

 

5.              update the Local Scheme of Delegation to record the delegation of authority at b–d above and the revocation of the earlier authorisations contained in b–g of Council minute 83/03/201.

There were 4 recommendations for Council to consider at this meeting.

 

(1)        Council Tax Support Scheme 2024/25

 

Councillor Bowdell introduced the item and recommendations to Council arising from the meeting of Cabinet held on 14 February 2024, requesting Full Council to adopt the Council Tax Support Scheme for 2024/25.

 

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

 

RESOLVED to

 

a)                  agree to amend the current scheme so that the allowances and premiums used in determining entitlement for working age claims are uplifted in line with the figures applied by the Department for Works and Pensions, (DWP), for the Housing Benefit Scheme in 2024/25;

 

b)                  agree to amend the current scheme so that the non-dependant deductions used in determining entitlement for working age claims are adapted in line with the rates as set by the Department of Levelling Up, Housing and Communities for non-dependant pension age claims;

 

c)                  approve that the Council continues to facilitate a Council Tax Support Hardship Fund;

 

d)                  approve the retention of all remaining elements of the current 2023/24 scheme; and

 

e)                  approve the necessary amendments being made to the Council Tax Support Scheme document and that it then being published in accordance with Local Government Finance Act 1992 Section 13A(2).

 

(2)        Review of Street Trading Consent Fees

 

            Councillor Patrick introduced the item and recommendations to Council arising from the meeting of the Licensing Committee held on 16 January 2024, requesting Full Council to agree revisions to the street trading consent fees.

 

            The members noted that no representations had been received following the public consultation exercise. Members considered the options set out in the Licensing Committee report and following a vote, Council

 

            RESOLVED that the street trading consent fees as set out in Appendix A of the submitted Licensing Committee report be approved for implementation for the financial year commencing 1 April 2024.

 

(3)        Review of Hackney and Private Hire Licensing Fees

 

            Councillor Patrick introduced the item and recommendations to Council arising from the meeting of the Licensing Committee held on 16 January 2024, requesting Full Council to agree revisions to the hackney carriage and private hire licensing fees.

 

            The members noted that no representations had been received following the public consultation exercise. Members considered the options set out in the Licensing Committee report and following a vote, Council

 

            RESOLVED that the hackney carriage and private hire licensing fees as set out in Appendix A of the submitted Licensing Committee report be approved for implementation for the financial year commencing 1 April 2024.

 

(4)        Update of Community Infrastructure Levy Spending Protocol

 

            Councillor Patel introduced the item and recommendations to Council arising from the meeting of the Planning Policy Committee held on 5 February 2024, requesting Full Council to agree changes to the Community Infrastructure Levy Spending Protocol.

 

            Members considered the options set out in the Planning Policy Committee report and following a vote, Council

 

            RESOLVED that the

 

a)                  the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) Spending Protocol (2024) as set out  ...  view the full minutes text for item 86.

·                     Councillor Rennie, as Leader of the Council will give his budget speech to the Council (No time limit)

 

·                     Budget speech by the Leaders of the Opposition (No time limit)

 

·                     Debate (Normal time limits apply)

 

·                     Right to Reply – Councillor Rennie (Normal time limits apply)

 

 

To consider:

 

a.                  the recommendations from Cabinet held on 14 February 2024 as set out in the attached revised report; and

 

b.                  in the event of amendments being received in accordance with CSO 20.3 (Section A, Council Standing Orders) the report from the Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

 

It should be noted that a named vote must be taken on the setting of the Council’s budget.

 

Council received budget speeches from:

 

A.                  Councillor Rennie, as Leader of the Council;

 

B.                  Councillor Munday, as Leader of the Labour Group; and

 

C.                 Councillor Phillipa Gray, as Leader of the Liberal Democrats Group.

 

Council debated the recommended budget.

 

In his response to issues raised during the debate, Councillor Rennie agreed to:

 

a)                  provide support for climate change in the budget every year;

 

b)                  support the creation of jobs, including “green jobs”, in all employment sectors across the Borough;

 

c)                  work with Solent Cluster to deliver green policies;

 

d)                  consider improvements to the public conveniences in South Street, Emsworth;

 

e)                  consider the extension of the opening hours of the public conveniences at Emsworth Recreation Ground;

 

f)                    provide a breakdown by ward of the 250 second homes in the Borough;

 

g)                  ensure play parks are disability friendly;

 

h)                  consider the introduction of a car parking ticket for all car parks in Hayling Island as part of the car parking review;

 

i)                    provide a link to the key performance indicator (KPI) portal; and

 

j)                    ensure that all asylum seekers are looked after in the Borough;

 

 

RESOLVED that Council:

 

1)                  approve the proposed Revenue Budget and Capital Programme for 2024-25 and set a Council Tax rate of £232.82 at Band D, representing a £6.76 increase on the current charge;

 

2)                  approve the Medium-Term Financial Strategy for the period 2024/25 to 2028/29, Capital Strategy, Investment Strategy, Treasury Management Strategy Business Rates 2024/25 and Prudential Indicators;

 

3)                  approve the Fees & Charges schedule for 2024-25;

 

4)                  approve the Council Tax Resolution, as per Appendix I;

 

5)                  approve the application of a Council Tax premium of 100% for all dwellings which are unoccupied but substantially furnished (second homes) with effect from 1^st April 2025;

 

6)                  approve the drawdown of up to £500,000 from the ringfenced Leisure Contingency Reserve to be used to secure the main leisure facilities in Havant Town and Waterlooville;

 

7)                  delegate authority to the Chief Executive Officer, in conjunction with the Section 151 Officer to agree terms with Horizon Leisure Trust in line with the approved drawdown; and

 

8)                  note and endorse the Statement of the S151 Officer on the robustness of the budget and the adequacy of the Council’s reserves.

 

In accordance with the Local Authorities (Standing Orders) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2014 and the requirements of Council Standing Order 22.6, the vote on this resolution was recorded as follows:

 

For the Motion:

 

Councillor Blades   

Councillor Bowdell  

Councillor Bowerman

Councillor Brent

Councillor Briggs

Councillor Coates

Councillor Crellin

Councillor Diamond

Councillor Fairhurst

Councillor Philippa Gray

Councillor Harris

Councillor Keast

Councillor Kennett

Councillor Linger

Councillor Lloyd

Councillor Milne

Councillor Munday

Councillor Patel

Councillor Patrick

Councillor Rason

Councillor Redsull

Councillor Rennie

Councillor Richardson

Councillor Robinson

Councillor Shimbart

Councillor Stone

Councillor Tindall

Councillor Wade

Councillor Weeks

 

Against the motion

 

None

 

Abstentions

 

Councillor Paul Gray

 

Absent:

 

Councillors Denton, Guest, Payter, Raines, Sceal and Turner.