Agenda item

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

 

1            Licensing Committee – 14 September 2021

 

Hackney Carriage Fare Tariff

RECOMMENDED to Council that:

 

(1) The following increases in the Hackney Carriage Fares be advertised:

 

                i)    an increase in the ‘flag drop’ from £2.40 to £3.00;

 

                ii)    an increase in the rolling mile charge from £1.70 to £1.80;

 

                iii)   an increase in the fare charged from 18:00 hours on Christmas Eve to 24:00 hours on Christmas Day and from 18:00 hours New Year’s Eve to 24:00 hrs on New Year’s Day from time and half to double time; and

 

                iv)   an increase in the soil charge from £50.00 to £75:00

 

(2) Any objections to the above proposals following the advertisement be considered by the Licensing Committee; and

 

(3) If there are no objections then the increase be implemented 28 days from the date the proposed fare increases were first advertised.

 

2            Standards Committee – 13 December 2021

 

Changes to the Constitution

RECOMMENDED that Council make the following amendments to the Council’s constitution:

 

(a)        The following paragraph be added to Access to Information Standing Order 57.1 in Part 3 Section B of the Constitution

 

“The Council will operate a presumption of access to confidential or
exempt parts of Council, Committee, Sub-Committee or Cabinet
meetings, and related documents, for all Councillors. The examples
given below of where a “a need to know” will apply are not exhaustive and there is an expectation that exclusion of a councillor from a meeting, or access to a document, will be exceptional.”

 

(b)        Paragraph 2.2.5 of Part 2 Section E1 be amended to provide as follows:

“Where, within four weeks of its receipt by the Council, or within seven days of being notified of an intended officer decision to determine a Planning Application:

 

(a) The local ward Councillor (or in the absence of the local ward
Councillor, the Chairman or Vice Chairman of the Planning
Committee) requests in writing to the Head of Planning, giving
good material planning reasons, that the application be
determined by the Planning Committee, and/or

 

(b) Where five or more individual letters, each raising material
planning objections, have been received by the Council, and
the referral is supported by a ward Councillor and is agreed by
the Chairman of the Planning Committee, the Head of Planning
and the Cabinet member with portfolio responsibility for
Planning, that the application be determined by the Planning
Committee.”

 

(c) Paragraph 2.2.7 of Part 2 Section E1 be amended to read as follows:

 

“Where the application is to vary or remove a condition that was imposed by the Planning Committee, on an application under section 73 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990, or to make any other amendment to an approved scheme, which the Head of Planning in consultation with the Chairman of Planning Committee is of the opinion will have a significant impact on the relevant planning permission to which the amendment or condition may attach so as to change the character and basis of that planning permission.”

 

2       Cabinet – 26 January 2022

 

      Withdrawal from Joint Management and Shared Staff Arrangements

 

Cabinet – 26 January 2022

 

Withdrawal of Joint Management and Shared Staff Arrangements

 

This matter was considered outside of this substantive item.  The Mayor informed Council that this item directly affected Ms Gill Kneller, Chief Executive and Ms Kim Sawyer, Chief Operating Officer and duly invited both officers to leave the Council chamber whilst the matter was debated and decided.

 

Councillor Rennie, as Leader of the Council introduced the item and proposed the recommendations and reflected on the successful, positive partnership with East Hampshire District Council, but commented that this decision gave the Council the opportunity to focus on priorities for the benefit of the residents of the Borough.  

 

The Mayor read out the questions from the member of the public related to this matter that was duly responded to by Councillor Rennie.  Councillor Rennie further responded to questions from Councillors.

 

Seconded by Councillor Francis, following debate and a vote, it was RESOLVED that Council:

 

a.      note the initial discussions between the two Councils Leaders and their mutual view based on the reasoning set out in this report, that it is in the interests of both Councils to consider the withdrawal from shared management arrangements, with a degree of expediency.

 

b.      agree to withdraw from the Joint Management Team Agreement, subject to a business case being reported to the next meeting of the Council exploring the risks, issues, benefits and costs of the withdrawal and further exploring those in light of a proposed reduction of the 24 months exit period.

 

c.       In the interests of ensuring that both Councils ensure appropriate governance, to request that the Chief Executive

 

                                i.        puts in place appropriate measures for both Councils to adhere to the conflict-of-interest policy as this matter is considered, and in that respect to ensure appropriate acting up arrangements or deputies are appointed to represent the interests of both Councils.

                               ii.        to report to each meeting of the Council on progress against the proposals to exit the Joint Management Team Agreement with a view to reporting separate management structures to each Council meeting by May 2022, ensuring stability in the management teams at the earliest opportunity.

 

d.      request that Kim Sawyer is confirmed as the acting Chief Executive and Head of Paid Service for Havant Borough Council until such time as the Council may secure an interim Chief Executive.

 

e.      That Council receive legal advice on:

 

i.                 appropriate procedures to recruit an interim Chief Executive

ii.                the process to secure a permanent Chief Executive and to make appropriate arrangements to begin a recruitment process, subject to confirming the advice received

 

f.        request that as part of the budget report to be brought to the next full Council, it includes a timetable and project plan in respect of the actions above 

 

The Mayor invited Ms Gill Kneller, Chief Executive and Ms Kim Sawyer, Chief Operating Officer to re-join the meeting.

 

Councillor Rennie thanked the Chief Executive for her hard work and support she has provided Council in her time as both Chief Executive and prior to that as a Director and commended her dedication to the Borough. 

 

The Mayor called a short adjournment and resumed with the meeting agenda as published.

 

 

Licensing Committee – 14 September 2021

 

Hackney Carriage Fee Tariff

 

Councillor Turner as Chair of the Licensing Committee introduced the item and proposed the Committee’s recommendations to Council. 

 

The Recommendation was seconded by Councillor Patrick.

 

Following a vote, it was RESOLVED that Council APPROVED:

 

(1)        The following increases in the Hackney Carriage Fares be advertised:

i)         an increase in the ‘flag drop’ from £2.40 to £3.00;

ii)       an increase in the rolling mile charge from £1.70 to £1.80;

iii)      an increase in the fare charged from 18:00 hours on Christmas Eve to 24:00 hours on Christmas Day and from 18:00 hours New Year’s Eve to 24:00 hrs on New Year’s Day from time and half to double time; and

iv)             an increase in the soil charge from £50.00 to £75:00

(2)        Any objections to the above proposals following the advertisement be considered by the Licensing Committee; and

(3)        If there are no objections then the increase be implemented 28 days from the date the proposed fare increases were first advertised.

 

Standards Committee – 13 December 2021

 

Changes to the Constitution

 

Councillor Wilson as Chair of the Standards Committee introduced the item, thanked key members for their work on this matter and proposed the Committee’s recommendations to Council. 

 

The recommendation was seconded by Councillor Patrick.

 

Following a vote, it was RESOLVED that:

 

(A)       The following paragraph be added to Access to Information Standing Order 57.1 in Part 3 Section B of the Constitution

 

“The Council will operate a presumption of access to confidential or exempt parts of Council, Committee, Sub-Committee or Cabinet meetings, and related documents, for all Councillors. The examples given below of where a “a need to know” will apply are not exhaustive and there is an expectation that exclusion of a councillor from a meeting, or access to a document, will be exceptional.”

 

(B)       (Paragraph 2.2.5 of Part 2 Section E1 be amended to provide as follows:

 

“Where, within four weeks of its receipt by the Council, or within seven days of being notified of an intended officer decision to determine a Planning Application:

 

(a)  The local ward Councillor (or in the absence of the local ward Councillor, the Chairman or Vice Chairman of the Planning Committee) requests in writing to the Head of Planning, giving good material planning reasons, that the application be determined by the Planning Committee, and/or

 

(b)  Where five or more individual letters, each raising material planning objections, have been received by the Council, and the referral is supported by a ward Councillor and is agreed by the Chairman of the Planning Committee, the Head of Planning and the Cabinet member with portfolio responsibility for Planning, that the application be determined by the Planning Committee.”

 

(c)   Paragraph 2.2.7 of Part 2 Section E1 be amended to read as follows:

“Where the application is to vary or remove a condition that was imposed by the Planning Committee, on an iv application under section 73 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990, or to make any other amendment to an approved scheme, which the Head of Planning in consultation with the Chairman of Planning Committee is of the opinion will have a significant impact on the relevant planning permission to which the amendment or condition may attach so as to change the character and basis of that planning permission.”