Agenda and minutes

There were no apologies for absence.

To confirm the minutes of the last meeting held on 18 December 2019.

The minutes of the previous meeting held on 18 December 2019 were agreed and signed as an accurate record.

To receive and record any declarations of interest.

There were no declarations of interest.

The Chairman confirmed that he would be attending a Partnership for South Hampshire meeting on 10 February 2020 which would discuss topics including the Statement of Common Ground and Nutrient Neutrality.

RECOMMENDED that the following minutes be noted:

(1) Minutes of the meeting of the Portchester Crematorium Joint

     Management Committee held on 9 November 2019.

Cabinet noted the minutes of the Portchester Crematorium Joint Management Committee held on 9 November 2019.

Councillor Wilson presented a report requesting that the appended draft Council report and Corporate Strategy be recommended to Council for adoption.

Some Councillors believed that the Corporate Strategy was not yet at an advanced enough stage to be adopted. In response it was highlighted that a high-level policy framework was required to support the Medium-Term Financial Strategy and that it was a living document.  As drafted, it would form the basis of wider public engagement.  Service specific business plans and ancillary strategies would contain the detail to support the delivery of the overarching Corporate Strategy.

Whilst this was acknowledged, some Councillors believed that it was important to acknowledge that the document was draft within the recommendations and that a number of revisions were required to the document before it was considered by Council for adoption.

Proposed by the Leader and seconded by Cllr Turner it was RESOLVED that:

(i)            the report and Appendices 2, 3 and 4 be AGREED;

(ii)          approval of a revised version of Appendix A, the draft Corporate Strategy, be delegated to the Leader prior to submission to Council; and

(iii)         the draft Corporate Strategy be recommended to Council for adoption.

Councillor Pike presented a report detailing the bids received following the CIL Bidding Process and outlined the significant consultation that had taken place in putting forward the recommendations.  The recommendations were in line with approved Council strategies and the proposals for the revised protocol included at Appendix A1 encouraged match funding from applicants.

Cabinet received a deputation from Cllr Branson supporting the application for Storey Community Garden to be awarded £40,439.   

Cabinet discussed the applications, with some Councillors feeling the allocations proposed to be awarded to some parts of the Borough disproportionate.  Particular reference was made to the Feasibility Study for the Langstone Roundabout improvements, along with the Hayling Billy Trail and Hayling Billy Bridge Feasibility Studies.  In response, it was explained that the Langstone Roundabout was an important infrastructure project which impacted upon a wide area.  This application, along with those relating to the Hayling Billy Trail and bridge were also key to the Local Plan and the Regeneration Strategy.

The need to revise the CIL allocation process was highlighted, in particular to ensure that awards were made which had a link to the Corporate Strategy.

Whilst the application for Storey Gardens was supported, Cabinet felt that the funding for it should be split between the three different Neighbourhood Pots, given the Borough wide nature of the project.

Cllr Pike proposed the recommendations as set out in the report, with the exception that the Storey Gardens application be removed from the Wider Havant Neighbourhood Pot.  Alongside this, he proposed a motion that delegated authority be given to the Director of Regeneration and Place, in consultation with the relevant Cabinet Lead and Statutory Officers, to agree a recommendation to Council for the most appropriate funding option to spread the allocation of funds for Storey Gardens across the three Neighbourhood Pots.

This proposal was duly seconded by Cllr Turner.

Following a vote it was unanimously RESOLVED that:

(i)            the Director of Regeneration and Place, in consultation with the Cabinet Lead and Statutory Officers, agree a recommendation to Council for the most appropriate funding option to spread the allocation of funds for Storey Gardens across the three Neighbourhood Pots; and

(ii)          Cabinet recommends to Full Council that it:

a)     Adopts the amendments to the CIL Funding Decision Protocol (Appendix A2);

b)     Approves a review of the CIL Funding Decision Protocol (Appendix A1);

c)     Invests the available Main CIL Pot funds as at 31 March 2020 in the capital infrastructure projects outlined in Table A1: Bids Recommended for Funding and Table A2: Bids Recommended for funding as at 1/4/2020 contingent upon third party outcomes:

Report to follow under separate cover.

Cllr Briggs presented the findings of the Governance, Audit and Scrutiny Committee’s review of members allowances.

In the wider context of the Councils finances, some Cabinet members believed that the allowance scheme should remained unaltered and that there would be merit in driving towards a paperless culture.  It was suggested that part of the modernisation allowance could be used for the purchase of necessary equipment to facilitate a mover to paperless.

Cllr Pike proposed the motion put forward and this was duly seconded by Cllr Bowerman.

RESOLVED that:

(i)            Council be recommended to adopt the Members’ Allowance Scheme attached as Appendix B to the report; and

(ii)          Provision be made in the 2020/21 budget for the allowances set out in Schedule 1 of Appendix B of the report.

The Leader abstained from the vote due to the uplift proposed to the Leader’s allowance.

Cllr Briggs, Chairman of the Governance, Audit and Finance Board outlined the scrutiny of the draft budget that had taken place and commended it to Cabinet.

Cllr Turner introduced the budget report, outlining the process involved in arriving at a balanced budget, including the comprehensive reviews and challenge sessions that had taken place.

The S.151 Officer advised Cabinet that the budget would require recasting prior to being put forward to Council following the recommendation in respect of councillor’s allowances.

Cabinet thanked officers for their hard work in producing a balanced budget which remained in line with the Council’s key priorities.

Cllr Turner proposed the recommendations, and this was duly seconded by Cllr Bowerman.

Recommended that Council:

a)    Approves the proposed Revenue and Capital Budgets for 2020/21 including a Council Tax rate of £209.48 at Band D, representing a £5 increase on the current charge;

b)    Agrees the Capital Strategy, Treasury Management Strategy and Prudential Indicators; and

c) Agrees the increase to fees and charges for 2020/21.

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 11

(Paragraph 3)

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.

Exempt report to follow under separate cover.

Resolved as set out in the restricted minute.