Council - Thursday, 3rd December, 2020 7.00 pm - Agenda and minutes

To confirm the Minutes of the Ordinary Meeting of the Council held on 8th October, 2020 (copy attached).

It was MOVED by Cllr D.E. Clifford; SECONDED by Cllr K.H. Muschamp and

RESOLVED: That the Minutes of the Ordinary Meeting of the Council held on 8th October, 2020 (copy having been circulated previously) be taken as read, approved and signed as a correct record.

(1)  The Mayor reported that, with circumstances having been so different this year with Covid-19 restrictions, he was very proud that Rushmoor had permission to organize a Service of Remembrance at the Cenotaph in Municipal Gardens on Remembrance Sunday.  The wreath laying service had been led by the Mayor’s Chaplain and was attended by Deputy Lieutenant of Hampshire (Lt. Col. Sir Mark Mans), the Garrison Commander (Lt. Col. Paddy Baines) and representatives of the Aldershot Branch of the Royal British Legion, veterans’ associations, Rushmoor’s Chief Inspector of Police, a representative of Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service and representatives of community organisations. 

The Mayor had also represented the Borough at a wreath laying ceremony at the Military Cemetery organized by Aldershot Garrison.  Past Mayor, Cllr S.J. Masterson, had also represented the Borough at another Military wreath laying service at the Garden of Remembrance in front of the Royal Garrison Church of All Saints.

Wreaths had also been laid outside Devereux House War Memorial Home and the War Memorial outside Princes Hall. 

The Farnborough Branch of the Royal British Legion had arranged for their Service of Remembrance at North Camp Methodist Church to be recorded in advance of Remembrance Sunday.  The Mayor had felt honoured to be asked to record one of the readings.  The Service had been made available online for viewing on Remembrance Sunday. 

(2)  The Mayor advised Members that the West End Centre in Aldershot was inviting people to join in a community Christmas singalong on their doorsteps on Saturday, 19th December 2020.  Everyone was encouraged to join in.

To receive any questions by Members submitted in pursuance of Standing Order 8 (3).

The Mayor reported that no questions had been submitted under Standing Order 8.

(1)       Children and Food Poverty -

To consider the following Notice of Motion, which has been submitted by Cllr Gaynor Austin pursuant to Standing Order 9 (1):

“This Council thanks volunteers and organisations who stepped up over the half-term period to help feed children in the Borough.

This Council resolves to support these volunteers and organisations, if necessary, in order to ensure that all local children are fed, whether term-time or not. This Council recognises the COVID-19 pandemic has increased levels of food poverty and food insecurity within the Borough.

This Council believes:

·         all Rushmoor residents should have access to sufficient safe, nutritious food; 

·         local councils can and must play a key role in tackling food poverty.

This Council therefore commits to:

·         nominate a Cabinet Member to have specific responsibility for reducing food poverty and insecurity in Rushmoor;

·         work to increase the take-up of Free School Meals;

·         urge the Government to enshrine its existing commitment to UN Sustainable Development Goal 2 (eradicating hunger by 2030) in legislation;

·         ask the Overview and Scrutiny Committee to investigate the extent and causes of hunger in Rushmoor and make recommendations to tackle it;

·         work with HCC and other partners to develop and implement a comprehensive and sustainable Food Access Plan which would look to eliminate food poverty in Rushmoor through the formalisation of an inclusive local Food Partnership.”

(2)       Citizens Advice Rushmoor –

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

“This Council congratulates Citizens Advice Rushmoor for eighty years of service and support to the residents of Aldershot and Farnborough since the establishment of the first Citizens Advice branch in Aldershot in 1940.

Additionally, this Council affirms its commitment to this long and close partnership with Citizens Advice Rushmoor, and puts on the record its thanks for the advice, support and advocacy given and available to all residents including members of our armed forces in the Borough.”

The Council was asked to consider two Motions which had been submitted in accordance with the provisions of Standing Order 9 (1).

(1)      Children and Food Poverty

It was MOVED by Cllr Gaynor Austin and SECONDED by Cllr Christine Guinness - That

 “This Council thanks volunteers and organisations who stepped up over the half-term period to help feed children in the Borough.

This Council resolves to support these volunteers and organisations, if necessary, in order to ensure that all local children are fed, whether term-time or not. This Council recognises the COVID-19 pandemic has increased levels of food poverty and food insecurity within the Borough.

This Council believes:

·         all Rushmoor residents should have access to sufficient safe, nutritious food; 

·         local councils can and must play a key role in tackling food poverty.

This Council therefore commits to:

·         nominate a Cabinet Member to have specific responsibility for reducing food poverty and insecurity in Rushmoor;

·         work to increase the take-up of Free School Meals;

·         urge the Government to enshrine its existing commitment to UN Sustainable Development Goal 2 (eradicating hunger by 2030) in legislation;

·         ask the Overview and Scrutiny Committee to investigate the extent and causes of hunger in Rushmoor and make recommendations to tackle it;

·         work with HCC and other partners to develop and implement a comprehensive and sustainable Food Access Plan which would look to eliminate food poverty in Rushmoor through the formalisation of an inclusive local Food Partnership.”

Speaking in support of her Motion, Cllr Gaynor Austin paid tribute to all the volunteers and businesses in Rushmoor who had been so quick to step forward and respond to Marcus Rashford’s call to feed children, normally in receipt of free school meals, over recent school holiday periods when no free school meals had been available.  Cllr Austin was of the opinion that, in what was a comparatively affluent society, nobody should have to rely on vouchers or charity for food and that everyone should be able to access basic requirements for life, including safe and nutritious food. 

Cllr Austin acknowledged that much work had been done in conjunction with other organisations and charities over the previous 6 – 12 months, but she felt that much of this had been scattergun in approach and that the Council did not yet know the whole extent of food poverty in the Borough.   Cllr Austin wanted the Overview and Scrutiny Committee to take on this work and to make recommendations for a food action plan to eliminate food poverty in the Borough. Cllr Austin stressed that the issue was not just about food banks, it was about the people who did not have access to public funds, those who worked but were in work poverty and the long-term measures required to combat food poverty and how to monitor the effectiveness of such actions.  Cllr Austin then called on Members to support the Motion. 

In seconding the Motion, Cllr Christine Guinness referred to the pride she felt for the Rushmoor community who had joined together  ...  view the full minutes text for item 39.

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

The Mayor reported that two questions had been submitted by Cllr M.J. Roberts for response by Members of the Cabinet.  The first question was about the economy and post-Covid recovery.

In response, the Leader of the Council (Cllr D.E. Clifford) paid tribute to the hard work being done by members of staff at the Council during the pandemic.  In particular he mentioned the Finance team which had worked over the Easter Bank Holiday to pay over £14 million to over 1000 businesses in the Borough, which was in addition to the £23 million relief on business rates as well as furlough payments.  He also paid tribute to the partnership work with  Rushmoor Citizens Advice and Rushmoor Voluntary Services.  Reference was also made to Government Ministers being regularly in touch with Rushmoor’s Chief Executive and himself and that information was regularly being fed back to the Government and to Hampshire County Council on local issues during the pandemic.

The second question was for the Deputy Leader of the Council (Cllr K.H. Muschamp) and was in regard to the climate change emergency.

In response, Cllr Muschamp outlined a number of schemes the Council was progressing, including: a food waste scheme; linking new ways of working to climate change principles; developing energy management proposals for council-owned buildings; pursuing funding opportunities for green homes and  energy reduction measures; solar schemes for households; joining an EV pilot scheme; working with the Council’s biodiversity officer to encourage biodiversity schemes in the Borough.   The Council was working on its Climate Change Plan and actions that could be delivered over the following twelve months. 

To receive and ask questions on the Reports of the following Meetings (copy reports attached):

RESOLVED:  That the Reports of the following meetings be received:

To note the Reports of the following meetings (copy reports attached):

RESOLVED:  That the Reports of the meetings of the Policy and Project Advisory Board held on 7th October 2020 and the meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee held on 22nd October 2020 be received.