Venue: Council Chamber, Council Offices, Farnborough
Contact: Corporate Manager - Democracy Email: jill.shuttleworth@rushmoor.gov.uk
No. | Item | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
To confirm the Minutes of the Ordinary Meeting of the Council held on 7th December 2023 (copy attached). Minutes: It was MOVED by Cllr M.L. Sheehan; SECONDED by Cllr G.B. Lyon and RESOLVED: That the Minutes of the Ordinary Meeting of the Council on 7th December, 2023 (copy having been circulated previously) be taken as read, approved and signed as a correct record. |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
MAYOR'S ANNOUNCEMENTS Minutes: (1)
The Mayor reported that
events he had attended since the previous meeting of the Council had included: ·
the Rushmoor Community Carol Service at the
Garrison Church on 8th December; ·
a charity quiz night in aid of his charities on
2nd February, where a total of £611 was raised; ·
the Holocaust Memorial Service at St. Andrew’s
Church, Aldershot on 28th January: and ·
a wreath-laying service, organised by the
Aldershot Parachute Regimental Association, at Pennefather’s
Road to mark the 52nd Anniversary of the Aldershot Officers’ Mess Bombing. (2)
The Mayor reported that
1st April, 2024 would mark 50 years since the official formation of Rushmoor
Borough Council from Aldershot Borough Council and Farnborough Urban District
Council. The Council would be marking the occasion throughout the year,
including the compilation of a digital memory book and various events. (3) The Mayor reminded Members that his Mayoral Gala event was planned for 15th March at The Empire in Aldershot. Members were asked to reserve their places as soon as possible. |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
STANDING ORDER 8 - QUESTIONS To receive any questions by Members submitted in pursuance of Standing Order 8 (3). Minutes: The Mayor reported that no questions had been accepted under Standing Order 8. |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
NOTICES OF MOTION (1)
Financial Resilience “This Council notes that, facing heightened risk from
debt levels of over ten times its annual income, the historic failure to fix
interest costs at a manageable level will cost taxpayers over £15m and has
plunged the Council into financial crisis.
This failure was completely contrary to best practice financial
management and despite clear warnings signs as interest rates rose in 2022. The Budget report states that
without significant mitigation in 2024-25 the Council will not be able to set a
balanced budget in 2025-26. The
implications of the report are that the Cabinet has been forced into actions it
was unwilling to make voluntarily, to address serious financial shortcomings
that would have led to the issuing of a Section 114 Notice. These actions include the sale of £40m of as-yet
unspecified assets and a review of the funding plans for the Civic Hub. Residents deserve a full account of the Council’s
mismanagement of its debt and whether these actions will be enough to prevent
financial disaster for Rushmoor. We call
on Rushmoor Borough Council to publish the financial resilience review
commissioned from CIPFA, in full, as soon as it is available, so that residents
can judge for themselves.” (2)
Community Safety To consider the following Notice of Motion, which has been
submitted by Cllr David Clifford pursuant to Standing Order 9 (1): "Rushmoor
Borough Council welcomes the Government's Safer Streets Fund support secured by
Donna Jones, Hampshire's Police and Crime Commissioner, for a youth outreach
project to engage with 60 young people involved in ASB in Hart and Rushmoor,
and improvements to CCTV in key areas of Rushmoor to improve public safety. This
Council supports the Police and Crime Commissioner's projects to tackle
violence against women and girls in Hampshire and will work with her to ensure
the streets of Aldershot and Farnborough are safe for all in our
community. Furthermore,
this Council believes that the increased roll out of CCTV will help change the
attitudes and behaviours that will prevent crimes from happening in the first
place. This
Council also commits to supporting newly recruited police officers in Rushmoor
through providing forums in Aldershot and Farnborough for them to meet with local residents.” Minutes: (1)
Financial Resilience The Council was asked to consider a
Motion which had been submitted by Cllr Gareth Williams in accordance with the
provisions of Standing Order 9 (1): “This Council notes that, facing
heightened risk from debt levels of over ten times its annual income, the
historic failure to fix interest costs at a manageable level will cost
taxpayers over £15m and has plunged the Council into financial crisis. This failure
was completely contrary to best practice financial management and despite clear
warnings signs as interest rates rose in 2022. The Budget report states that without
significant mitigation in 2024-25 the Council will not be able to set a
balanced budget in 2025-26. The implications of the report are that the Cabinet
has been forced into actions it was unwilling to make voluntarily, to address
serious financial shortcomings that would have led to the issuing of a Section
114 Notice. These actions include the sale of
£40m of as-yet unspecified assets and a review of the funding plans for the
Civic Hub. Residents deserve a full account of
the Council’s mismanagement of its debt and whether these actions will be
enough to prevent financial disaster for Rushmoor. We call on Rushmoor Borough
Council to publish the financial resilience review commissioned from CIPFA, in
full, as soon as it is available, so that residents can judge for themselves.” In proposing the
Motion, Cllr Williams stated that the Council’s 2022 budget had involved £155
million of borrowing. He explained that this borrowing had been subject to
short-term interest rates and, whilst most other local authorities had moved to
long-term rates, Rushmoor still held 91% of its debts on short-term rates. Cllr
Williams contended that the financial resilience review report was needed to
provide residents with a clear view of the Council’s financial situation. During debate,
views were expressed that the Council’s financial situation and risk profile
were clearly set out within the budget report, to be considered that evening,
and that officers would start work in early May towards a full budget review to
be completed in July. At this time, all of the papers,
including the report requested by Cllr Williams, would be made available for
scrutiny. In seconding the
Motion, Cllr Gaynor Austin stated her concerns about the Council’s approach to
borrowing and interest rates, and that the current year’s budget could only be
shown to be balanced by the significant use of reserves and that the Council would
not be in a position to present a balanced budget for
the following year as things stood. Following further
discussion, the Motion was put to the meeting.
There voted FOR: 15; AGAINST: 21; ABSTAINED: 2 and the Motion was DECLARED
LOST. (2)
Community Safety The Council was asked to consider a
Motion which had been submitted by Cllr D.E. Clifford in accordance with the
provisions of Standing Order 9 (1): "Rushmoor Borough Council welcomes the Government's Safer Streets Fund support secured by Donna Jones, Hampshire's Police and Crime Commissioner, ... view the full minutes text for item 39. |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
MAYOR-ELECT AND DEPUTY MAYOR-ELECT 2024/25 At its meeting on 31st January 2024, the Corporate Governance, Audit and Standards Committee considered the nominations for Mayor-Elect and the Deputy Mayor-Elect for 2024/25 and made the following recommendations: (i) That Cllr Mara Makunura be selected as Mayor-Elect for the Municipal Year 2024/25; and (ii) That Cllr Gaynor Austin be selected as Deputy Mayor-Elect for the Municipal Year 2024/25. Minutes: The Chairman of the Corporate
Governance, Audit and Standards Committee (Cllr P.J. Cullum) reported that the
Committee had considered the nominations for the Mayor-Elect
and the Deputy Mayor-Elect for 2024/25 at its meeting on 31st January, 2024.
The Committee had agreed to recommend that: (i) Cllr
Mara Makunura be selected as Mayor-Elect for the Municipal Year 2024/25; and (ii) Cllr Gaynor Austin be
selected as Deputy Mayor-Elect for the Municipal Year 2024/25. It was MOVED by Cllr P.J. Cullum;
SECONDED by Cllr Christine Guinness – That the Recommendations of the Corporate
Governance, Audit and Standards Committee be approved in respect of the Mayor-Elect and Deputy Mayor-Elect for 2024/25. There voted FOR: 35; AGAINST: 0; ABSTAINED: 2 and the Recommendations were DECLARED CARRIED. |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE CABINET AND COMMITTEES To consider the recommendations of the Cabinet and the Corporate Governance, Audit and Standards Committee in relation to the following items: |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Annual Capital Strategy 2024/25 To receive a report from the Corporate Governance, Audit and Standards Committee (copy attached – Annex 1) which recommends the approval of the Council’s Annual Capital Strategy for 2024/25 to 2026/27 and Prudential Indicators for 2024/25. Cllr Peter Cullum, Chairman of the Corporate Governance, Audit and Standards Committee will introduce this item. Minutes: Cllr P.J. Cullum introduced the Report of the Corporate Governance,
Audit and Standards Committee meeting held on 31st January,
2024, which recommended the approval of the Capital Strategy 2024/25 to
2026/27, including the Prudential Indicators for capital finance for
2024/25. It was MOVED by Cllr P.J. Cullum; SECONDED by Cllr S.
Trussler – That approval be given to the Capital Strategy 2024/25 to 2026/27
and Prudential Indicators for 2024/25. There voted FOR: 20; AGAINST: 0; ABSTAINED: 17 and the Recommendations were DECLARED CARRIED. |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Annual Treasury Management Strategy and Annual Non-Treasury Investment Strategy 2024/25 To receive a report from the Corporate Governance, Audit and Standards Committee (copy attached – Annex 2) which recommends the approval of the Treasury Management Strategy and Non-Treasury Investment Strategy for 2024/25. Cllr Peter Cullum, Chairman of the Corporate Governance, Audit and Standards Committee will introduce this item. Minutes: Cllr P.J. Cullum introduced the Report of the Corporate
Governance, Audit and Standards Committee meeting held on 31st January, 2024, which recommended the approval of the
Treasury Management Strategy and the Non-Treasury Investment Strategy for the
year 2024/25. It was MOVED by Cllr P.J. Cullum; SECONDED by Cllr S.
Trussler – That approval be given to the Treasury Management Strategy and the
Non-Treasury Investment Strategy for the year 2024/25. There voted FOR: 20; AGAINST: 13; ABSTAINED: 4 and the Recommendations were DECLARED CARRIED. |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Revenue Budget, Capital Programme and Council Tax Level To receive a report from the Cabinet (copy attached – Annex 3) which recommends the approval of the Revenue Budget, Capital Programme, Medium Term Financial Strategy and Council Tax Level, including a recommendation on the Capital Tax Support Scheme for 2024/25. Cllr G.B. Lyon, Leader of the Council will introduce this item. Minutes: Cllr P.G. Taylor introduced the Report of the Cabinet
meeting held on 6th February, 2024, which recommended
the approval of the Revenue Budget, Capital Programme, Medium Term Financial
Strategy and Council Tax requirement for 2024/25 and the Council Tax Support
Scheme 2024/25. It was MOVED by Cllr P.G. Taylor; SECONDED by Cllr G.B. Lyon
– That (i)
approval be given to the following
recommendations as detailed in report FIN2406: (a)
the Executive Head of Finance’s report under
Section 25 of the Local Government Act 2003, as set out in Appendix 7; (b)
the Medium-Term Financial Strategy and the
strategy set out to resolve the Medium Term Financial
Strategy, as set out in the Report; (c)
the Draft General Fund Revenue Budget Estimates
Summary 2024-25, as set out in Appendix 4; (d)
the Council Tax Requirement of £7,683,131 for
this Council; (e)
the Council Tax level for Rushmoor Borough
Council’s purposes of £232.74 for a Band D property in 2024/25 (an increase of
£6.76); (f)
the UK Shared Prosperity Fund project list, as
set out in Appendix 6 of the Report; (g)
the Capital Programme, set out in paragraph 8.5
of the Council Report; and (h)
the Strategy for the Flexible Use of Capital
Receipts, as set out in paragraph 9.2 of the Council Report;
Following debate,
the Recommendations at (i) (a)-(h) above were put to
the meeting. In a recorded vote, there voted FOR: Cllrs A. Adeola, Jessica
Auton, Mrs. D.B. Bedford, Jib Belbase, J.B. Canty, Sue Carter, P.J. Cullum,
Peace Essien Igodifo, A. Gani, Michael Hope, G.B. Lyon, S.J. Masterson, Marina
Munro, M.L. Sheehan, C.J. Stewart, P.G. Taylor, M.J. Tennant, Nem Thapa, S.
Trussler Jacqui Vosper (20); AGAINST: Cllrs Abe Allen, Gaynor Austin, Jules
Crossley, K. Dibble, Christine Guinness, Halleh Koohestani, Nadia Martin,
Sophie Porter, M.J. Roberts, Dhan Sarki, Sarah Spall, Becky Williams, Gareth
Williams (13); and ABSTAINED: Cllrs C.W. Card, T.W. Mitchell, the Deputy Mayor
(Cllr Mara Makunura) and the Mayor (Cllr
C.P. Grattan) (4) and the Recommendations were DECLARED CARRIED; and It was MOVED by Cllr P.G. Taylor; SECONDED by Cllr G.B. Lyon
– That (ii) approval be given to the following
recommendations, as set out in the Report No. FIN2405: (a)
the Council Tax Support Scheme for working age
customers being adjusted to increase the maximum Council Tax liability used to
calculate Council Tax Support from 88% to 100%, effective from 1st April 2024
and to apply to all calculations made within the Council Tax Support Scheme
relating to liabilities occurring on or after 1st April,
2024; and (b)
that, in all other respects, the current Council
Tax Support Scheme for working age customers should continue unchanged, with
the addition of the annual uplift to rates used within the calculation
mirroring that applied to national Housing Benefits rates, as advised by the
Department for work and Pensions. The Recommendations at (ii) were
put to the meeting. There voted FOR: 35; AGAINST: 0; ABSTAINED: 2 and the
Recommendations were DECLARED CARRIED. NOTE: ... view the full minutes text for item 44. |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Pay Policy Statement and Gender Pay Gap To receive a report from the Corporate Governance, Audit and Standards Committee (copy attached – Annex 4), which recommends approval of the Pay Policy Statement. Cllr Peter Cullum, Chairman of the Corporate Governance, Audit and Standards Committee will introduce this item. Minutes: Cllr P.J. Cullum
introduced the Report of the Corporate Governance, Audit and Standards
Committee held on 31st January, 2024 which proposed
the approval of a Pay Policy Statement for 2024/25 and the noting of the Gender
Pay Gap calculations for 2022/23. It was MOVED by Cllr
P.J. Cullum; SECONDED by Cllr S. Trussler – That the Pay Policy Statement
2024/25, as set out in Appendix A of the Report, be approved and that the
Gender Pay Gap calculations for 2022/23, as set out in the Report, be noted. There voted FOR: 35;
AGAINST: 0; ABSTAINED: 2 and the Recommendations were DECLARED CARRIED. |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Variation to Capital Programme - Farnborough Regeneration and Leisure and Cultural Hub To receive a report from the Cabinet (copy attached – Annex 5) which seeks approval for an amendment to the Capital Programme 2023/24 to enable the next steps in the regeneration of Farnborough. Cllr M.J. Tennant, Major Projects and Property Portfolio Holder, will introduce this item. Minutes: Cllr M.J. Tennant, Major Projects and Property Portfolio Holder,
introduced the Report of the Cabinet meeting held on 6th February, 2024 which recommended variations
to the Capital Programme to enable the progression of the next steps in the
regeneration of Farnborough and the delivery of the Leisure and Cultural
Hub. It was MOVED by Cllr M.J. Tennant and SECONDED by Cllr G.B.
Lyon – That approval be given to: (i)
an increase of £255,000 into the Capital
Programme for 2023/24, funded from a further draw down from the Levelling Up
grant for the Leisure and Cultural Hub; and (ii)
the £1.725 million One Public Estate Brownfield
Land Release Fund grant, to enable the demolition of the Pinehurst Car Park and
site preparation and utilities work across plots established by the Civic
Quarter Masterplan, being included in the 2023/24 and 2024/25 Capital
Programmes, as appropriate. There voted FOR: 35;
AGAINST: 0; ABSTAINED: 2 and the Recommendations were DECLARED CARRIED. |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
THE COUNCIL TAX 2024/25 To fix the level of Council Tax for the financial year 2024/25 taking into account precepts of Hampshire County Council, the Police and Crime Commissioner for Hampshire and Hampshire Fire and Rescue Authority. (A copy of the appropriate draft resolution is attached – Annex 6). Minutes: It was
MOVED by Cllr G.B. Lyon; SECONDED by Cllr P.G. Taylor – That (i)
it
be noted that the Council had calculated the amount of £33,011.65 as its
Council Tax base for the year 2024-25 in accordance with Section 31B(3) of the Local Government Finance Act 1992 as amended by
the Localism Act 2011 (the ‘Act’); (ii)
it
be noted that the following amounts had been calculated by the Council for the
year 2024-25, in accordance with Sections 31 and Sections 34 to 36 of the Act: (a)
£43,283,163.00
being the aggregate of the amounts which the Council estimates for the items
set out in Section 31A(2) of the Act; (b)
£35,600,031.58
being the aggregate of the amounts which the Council estimates for the items
set out in Section 31A(3) of the Act; (c)
£7,683,131.42
being the amount by which the aggregate at (ii)(a) above exceeds the aggregate
at (ii)(b) above, calculated by the Council in accordance with Section 31A(4) of the Act, as its Council Tax requirement for the
year; (d)
£232.74
being the amount at (ii)(c) above, all divided by the amount in (i) above, calculated by the Council, in accordance with
Section 31B(1) of the Act, as the basic amount of
Council Tax for the year; (e)
(iii)
it
be noted that, for the year 2024-25, Hampshire County Council, the Police and
Crime Commissioner for Hampshire, and Hampshire and Isle of Wight Fire and
Rescue Authority have stated the following amounts in precepts issued the
Council, in accordance with Section 40 of the Local Government Finance Act
1992, for each of the categories of the dwellings shown below:
NOTE:
Hampshire County Council and Hampshire and Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue
precepts are provisional until the above notified amounts are formally set at
their respective meetings on Thursday 29th February,
2024. In the event that any of the precepting bodies
elects to change their precept, Rushmoor Borough Council will need to reflect
the revised precept in line with that formally approved by the precepting body.
|