Council - Thursday, 26th July, 2018 7.00 pm - Agenda and minutes

Venue: Council Chamber, Council Offices, Farnborough

Contact: Jill Shuttleworth, Democratic Services Manager  01252 398822

Items
No. Item

18.

MINUTES pdf icon PDF 208 KB

To confirm the Minutes of the Ordinary Meeting of the Council held on 21st June, 2018 (copy Minutes attached).

Minutes:

It was MOVED by Cllr K.H. Muschamp; SECONDED by Cllr Barbara Hurst and

 

RESOLVED:  That the Minutes of the Ordinary Meeting of the Council held on 21st June, 2018 (having been circulated previously) be taken as read, approved and signed as a correct record.

19.

MAYOR'S ANNOUNCEMENTS

Minutes:

(1)      The Mayor reported that the Armed Forces Day flag had been raised in Princes Gardens, Aldershot on 25th June, 2018 and that he had been joined by the Deputy Lieutenant of Hampshire (Lieutenant General Sir Mark Mans KCB CBE DL), Mayor’s Chaplain, civic guests, members of the public and representatives of the Royal British Legion, Military, Police and Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service.

 

The flag had been flown until the end of Armed Forces Day on 30th July, 2018 when the Mayor had been part of the saluting party outside Princes Hall when around 100 serving soldiers, cadets and veterans had taken part in a march through the town centre to celebrate Armed Forces Day.

 

(2)      The Mayor advised Members that he had attended the 60th Birthday Celebration of 10 The Queen’s Own Gurkha Logistic Regiment at Gale Barracks on 1st July, 2018.  The event had also been attended by HRH The Princess Royal.

 

(3)      The Mayor reported that he had had the pleasure of attending the 10 years’ anniversary of Mike Jackson House on 6th July, 2018. 

 

(4)      The Mayor referred to the recent Farnborough International Air Show and said that he was proud that Rushmoor had the facilities to hold such a prestigious event, reflecting the strength of the global aerospace industry, within the Borough.  He was pleased that, at the Air Show, an announcement had been made that Gulfstream would be relocating to Farnborough and also that Airbus would be opening a new factory in Farnborough.  The Mayor congratulated all the Rushmoor staff who had been involved in helping to ensure that the Air Show was a success and that the Borough’s environment looked clean and welcoming.

 

(5)      The Mayor thanked the Executive Head of Finance, Mandy Fahey, for her service to the Council.  It was Ms Fahey’s last full Council Meeting before taking up her new role at Chelmsford Council as a Director.  Ms Fahey had been at Rushmoor for ten years and had overseen the Council’s finances during a very challenging period.  The Mayor thanked Ms Fahey for her commitment to Rushmoor and for the job she had carried out and wished her well in her new role at Chelmsford.

20.

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 submitted under Standing Order 8 (3).

21.

NOTICE OF MOTION - VIVID HOUSING ASSOCIATION

To consider the following Notice of Motion, which has been submitted by Cr. M.J. Roberts pursuant to Standing Order 9 (1):

 

“This Council seeks to have a meeting with senior management members of VIVID Housing Association within the next 2 months to discuss issues in relation to:

 

1.     The failure to continue dialogue with Rushmoor Borough Council, its Councillors and seemingly residents.

 

2.     To note the level of performance as being less than positive.

 

3.     To examine why in a number of instances such as the disposal of garages there was a complete failure of support as to the outcomes that have occurred.

 

4.     To establish a dialogue pattern which is not cancelled.

Minutes:

The Council was asked to consider a Motion which had been submitted by Cllr M.J. Roberts in accordance with the provisions of Standing Order 9 (1).  It was MOVED by Cllr M.J. Roberts; SECONDED by Cllr A.J. Halstead – That

 

“This Council seeks to have a meeting with senior management members of VIVID Housing Association within the next two months to discuss issues in relation to:

 

(1)       The failure to continue dialogue with Rushmoor Borough Council, its Councillors and seemingly residents;

 

(2)       To note the level of performance as being less than positive;

 

(3)       To examine why in a number of instances such as the disposal of garages there was a complete failure of support as to the outcomes that have occurred; and

 

(4)       To establish a dialogue pattern which is not cancelled.

 

Speaking in support of his Motion, Cllr Roberts referred to the views of a cross-section of residents in respect of repairs, specialist works, anti-social behaviour, communication with tenants and morale support.  Cllr Roberts was of the opinion that communication by VIVID with Members had been poor and urged the Overview and Scrutiny Committee to summon VIVID to a meeting to discuss these matters.

 

During discussion, reference was made to the Council’s current positive working relationship with VIVID by phone, email and in person and that this was also available for tenants, including the existence of regular communications and a secure website.  It was felt that there were also mechanisms in place to resolve problems.  Members were also advised that VIVID would be appearing before the Overview and Scrutiny Committee’s Registered Providers’ Group in the Autumn.   It was also pointed out that the process of the sale of garages had been carried out by First Wessex and not VIVID as referred to in the Motion. 

 

In seconding the Motion, Cllr Halstead referred to the large deaf and hearing impaired community in Farnborough, some of whom had been in touch to complain about VIVID not answering emails or letters and making it impossible for them to communicate with their landlord.  Cllr Halstead commented that this was indirect discrimination under Section 19 of the Equality Act 2010 and also highlighted that, under Section 149 of the Equality Act, 2010, the Council had to take reasonable actions to eliminate discrimination, both direct and indirect, and urged Members to give their support to the Motion.   

 

In summing up, Cllr Roberts stressed the need for VIVID to think of the needs of the tenants and to follow-up issues raised thoroughly and conscientiously before matters deteriorated.

 

On a Recorded Vote there voted FOR: Cllrs D.M.T. Bell, T.D. Bridgeman, A.K. Chowdhury, Keith Dibble, Sue Dibble, C.P. Grattan, A.J. Halstead, B. Jones, Nadia Martin, M.J. Roberts, P.F. Rust and M.D. Smith (12); AGAINST: J.B. Canty, M.S. Choudhary, Sophia Choudhary, R.M. Cooper, Liz Corps, P.I.C. Crerar, Veronica Graham-Green, Barbara Hurst, G.B. Lyon, Mara Makunura, J.H. Marsh, Marina Munro, K.H. Muschamp, M.L. Sheehan, P.G. Taylor, M.J. Tennant, B.A. Thomas and Jacqui Vosper (18); and, ABSTAINED:  ...  view the full minutes text for item 21.

22.

QUESTIONS FOR THE CABINET

To receive any questions by Members to Cabinet Members submitted in accordance with the Procedure Note.

Minutes:

The Mayor reported that no questions had been submitted for the Cabinet.

23.

REPORTS OF COMMITTEES pdf icon PDF 231 KB

To receive and ask questions on the Report of the following Meeting (copy report attached):

 

Committees

 

 

 

Development Management

20th June, 2018

 

 

 

Minutes:

Development Management Committee

 

It was MOVED by Cllr B.A. Thomas; SECONDED by Cllr J.H. Marsh and

 

RESOLVED:  That the Report of the Meeting of the Development Management Committee held on 20th June, 2018 be received.

24.

REPORT OF THE OVERVIEW AND SCRUTINY COMMITTEE pdf icon PDF 139 KB

To note the Report of the meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee held on 7th June, 2018 (copy report attached).

Minutes:

RESOLVED:  That the Report of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee meeting held on 7th June, 2018 be received.