Agenda, decisions and minutes

Venue: Hollybank Room, Public Service Plaza, Civic Centre Road, Havant, Hants PO9 2AX

Contact: James Harris  Deputy Democratic Services Team Leader

Items
No. Item

34.

Apologies for Absence

To receive and record any apologies for absence.

Minutes:

Apologies were received from Cllr Turner.

35.

Minutes pdf icon PDF 73 KB

To confirm the minutes of the previous meeting held on 23 October 2019.

Minutes:

The minutes of the previous meeting held on 23 October 2019 were agreed and signed as an accurate record.

36.

Declarations of Interest

To receive and record any declarations of interest.

Minutes:

There were no declarations of interest.

37.

Chairman's Report

Minutes:

The Chairman updated Cabinet on his recent work, along with meetings and event that he had attended on behalf of the Council.

38.

Cabinet Lead Delegated Decisions, Minutes from Meetings etc pdf icon PDF 41 KB

RECOMMENDED that the following Delegated Decision be noted:

 

(1) Charges for the Collection of Garden Waste

Additional documents:

Minutes:

RESOLVED that the following delegated decision be NOTED:

 

(i) Charges for the Collection of Garden Waste

39.

Corporate Performance report 2019/20 Quarter 2 pdf icon PDF 996 KB

Decision:

RESOLVED that Cabinet NOTED:

 

(i)            the revenue and capital forecasts for 2019/20 in the Appendices A and B 2;

(ii)          the forecasted variance outturn for the period;

(iii)         the MTFS at Appendix C 4; and

(iv)         the current KPI position at Appendix D

 

Cabinet AGREED to share the Healthcheck summary position at Appendix E.

Minutes:

The S151 Officer introduced the item and drew Cabinet’s attention to the much improved half year position when compared to previous years and confirmed that the 2020/21 budget proposals would be conveyed to members early in the new year.

 

RESOLVED that Cabinet NOTED:

 

(i)            the revenue and capital forecasts for 2019/20 in the Appendices A and B 2;

(ii)          the forecasted variance outturn for the period;

(iii)         the MTFS at Appendix C 4; and

(iv)         the current KPI position at Appendix D

 

Cabinet AGREED to share the Healthcheck summary position at Appendix E.

40.

Council Tax Support Scheme 2020/21 pdf icon PDF 70 KB

Decision:

RECOMMENDED to Council that the 2019/20 Council Tax Support Scheme is retained for 2020/21 but with the following amendments:

 

(i)        the Allowances and Premiums used in determining entitlement for working age claims are changed as set out in paragraph 5.3 of the report;

(ii)        the Non-Dependant deductions used in determining entitlement for working age claims are changed as set out in paragraph 5.4 of the report; and

(iii)       That the necessary amendments are made to the Council Tax Support Scheme document and that it is then published in accordance with the Local Government Finance Act 1992 Section 13A(2)

Minutes:

Cllr Bowerman presented the report and recommendation to Council.

 

Cabinet recommended to Council that the 2019/20 Council Tax Support Scheme is retained for 2020/21 but with the following amendments:

 

(i)        the Allowances and Premiums used in determining entitlement for working age claims are changed as set out in paragraph 4.3 (i) of the report;

(ii)        the Non-Dependant deductions used in determining entitlement for working age claims are changed as set out in paragraph 4.3 (ii) of the report; and

(iii)       That the necessary amendments are made to the Council Tax Support Scheme document and that it is then published in accordance with Local Government Finance Act 1992 Section 13A(2)

41.

Council Tax Empty Homes Premium pdf icon PDF 91 KB

Decision:

RECOMMENDED to Council that the level of Empty Homes Premium on dwellings that have been unoccupied for more than two years, be applied as follows:

 

(i)            From 1 April 2020, 100% premium in addition to the full council tax charge for each dwelling unoccupied and unfurnished between two and five years, and 200% premium for dwellings unoccupied for more than five years;

 

(ii)          From 1 April 2021, 100% premium in addition to the full council tax charge for each dwelling unoccupied and unfurnished between two and five years, 200% for dwellings unoccupied between five and ten years, and 300% for properties unoccupied for more than ten years; and

 

(iii)         That in co-ordination with the Private Sector Housing Team, owners of dwellings that would be affected by the above changes are contacted during 2020, to encourage occupation and are informed of the changes to the level of premium.

                                               

 

 

Minutes:

Councillor Bowerman presented the report and recommendation to Council.  The aim of the revised policy was to bring empty properties back into use and for it to act as an enabler for the emerging Empty Homes Strategy and the Homelessness and Rough Sleeper Strategy.

 

Cabinet supported the recommendation, although a concern was aired about the lack of evidence to attribute the current policy for the reduction in empty homes from 300 in April 2013 to 101 in August 2019. 

 

Following the discussion, Cabinet recommended to Council that the level of Empty Homes Premium on dwellings that have been unoccupied for more than two years, be applied as follows:

 

(i)            From 1 April 2020, 100% premium in addition to the full council tax charge for each dwelling unoccupied and unfurnished between two and five years, and 200% premium for dwellings unoccupied for more than five years;

 

(ii)          From 1 April 2021, 100% premium in addition to the full council tax charge for each dwelling unoccupied and unfurnished between two and five years, 200% for dwellings unoccupied between five and ten years, and 300% for properties unoccupied for more than ten years;

 

(iii)         That in co-ordination with the Private Sector Housing Team, owners of dwellings that would be affected by the above changes are contacted during 2020, to encourage occupation and are informed of the changes to the level of premium.

42.

Homelessness and Rough Sleeper Strategy pdf icon PDF 101 KB

Additional documents:

Decision:

RESOLVED that Cabinet:

 

(i)            approved the Council’s Homelessness and Rough Sleepers Strategy and Action Plan 2019-2024, subject to the Armed Forces Covenant being recognised in the strategy; and

 

(ii)          Commended the work of the Homelessness Team and that the strategy and work of the team be fully communicated to the public on approval by Full Council.

 

RECOMMENDED to Council that the Council’s Homelessness and Rough Sleepers Strategy and Action Plan 2019-2024 be adopted.

Minutes:

Councillor Pike presented the report and recommendation to Council. 

 

Cllr Raines made a deputation in support of the recommendations on behalf of the Operations and Place Shaping Board, which had considered the topic on 16 December 2019.

 

Cabinet commended the work of the Homelessness Team and requested that the homeless ex-servicemen be specifically mentioned within it.

 

RESOLVED that Cabinet:

 

(i)            approved the Council’s Homelessness and Rough Sleepers Strategy and Action Plan 2019-2024, subject to the Armed Forces Covenant being recognised in the strategy; and

 

(ii)          Commended the work of the Homelessness Team and that the strategy and work of the team be fully communicated to the public on approval by Full Council.

 

RECOMMENDED to Council that the Council’s Homelessness and Rough Sleepers Strategy and Action Plan 2019-2024 be adopted.

43.

Overnight Parking for Motorhomes on Hayling Island pdf icon PDF 128 KB

Additional documents:

Decision:

RESOLVED that the Experimental Traffic Regulation Order be made permanent.

Minutes:

Councillor Bains presented the report.  The Environmental Health Service Manager explained that the primary issue was fire safety and confirmed that no suitable alternative provision had been found.  The recommendation was therefore to make the Experimental Traffic Regulation Order permanent.

 

In response to a question it was confirmed that around 300 Penalty Charge Notices had been issued, however the numbers issued had decreased in volume over time.

 

Cabinet had sympathy with motorhome owners and noted that no suitable provision had been found.  However, this could be looked at again as part of the wider regeneration work at Beachlands.

 

RESOLVED that the Experimental Traffic Regulation Order be made permanent.

44.

Exclusion of Public and Press

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

 

(a)  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 of the descriptions specified in paragraphs of Part 1 of Schedule 12A (as amended) of the Local Government Act 1972; and

(b)   In all the circumstances of the case, the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighed the public interest in disclosing the information.

Minutes:

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

 

(a)  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 of the descriptions specified in paragraphs of Part 1 of Schedule 12A (as amended) of the Local Government Act 1972; and


(b)   In all the circumstances of the case, the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighed the public interest in disclosing the information.

 

45.

Investment in Additional Car Parking

Decision:

RESOLVED that the ‘Spend to Save’ proposal as detailed within the exempt report for the purchase of car park equipment be APPROVED.

Minutes:

Cllr Bains introduced the report.

 

RESOLVED that the ‘Spend to Save’ proposal as detailed within the exempt report for the purchase of car park equipment be APPROVED.

46.

Acquisition for Regeneration

Exempt report to follow under separate cover.

Minutes:

Cllr Pike introduced the exempt report.

 

Cabinet NOTED the exempt report.