Council - Thursday, 25th February, 2021 7.00 pm - Agenda and minutes

To confirm the Minutes of the Ordinary Meeting of the Council held on 3rd December 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 3rd December, 2020 (copy having been circulated previously) be taken as read, approved and signed as a correct record.

 

(1)     The Mayor reported that, on 22nd February 2021, it had been the 49th anniversary of the IRA bombing of the officers’ mess at 16 Parachute Brigade Headquarters, which had killed seven people and injured a further nineteen.

 

(2)     The Mayor stated that, earlier that evening, the Council had respected a period of silence for those who had lost their lives to the coronavirus.  The Mayor expressed his wish, when the time was right, for the Council to be able to join together as a community to remember and pay their respects.

 

He considered that a glimmer of hope had appeared through the creation of a vaccine against Covid-19 and its roll-out to all adults in the UK.  Although it was early days, the Mayor hoped that the vaccination of people around the world would mean that the process of slowly returning to normal life could be commenced.

 

        The Mayor reported that he would be visiting Rushmoor’s vaccination centres and the Covid-19 testing centre to thank all the volunteers and staff running the centres. 

 

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)      Commonwealth and Gurkha Veterans

 

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

 

“Rushmoor Borough Council are aware of the difficulties experienced by Commonwealth and Gurkha veterans, many of whom live in Aldershot, Home of the British Army, and wish to ensure that those who are currently experiencing problems, whether financial or immigration, are not disadvantaged whilst their applications for visas are ongoing.

 

To that end, Council request that the Leader of the Council write to the Prime Minister, the Minister of State for Immigration, and the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Minister for Defence People and Veterans) outlining the Council's support for all Commonwealth and Gurkha veterans who have served a minimum of 4 years being granted the automatic, free-of-charge right to remain in the UK and for any veteran who completes 12 years of service being automatically given British Citizenship.

 

Further, Council request that the Leader of the Council write to the MP for Aldershot Constituency to ask that he press the Government for a change in the legislation on visas and citizenship that affects Commonwealth and Gurkha veterans who have served Her Majesty The Queen and this country  diligently and honourably.”

 

(2)      Devereux House

 

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

 

“This Council notes the sad closure of Devereux House (formerly the Farnborough and Cove War Memorial Hospital), and pays tribute to the extraordinary work of its staff and volunteers in the service to our Borough over the past 100 years. 

 

In addition, this Council notes its longstanding support for the Trust, as well as the generosity of volunteers, local charitable organisations, and the wider community over many years.

 

This Council affirms its commitment to endeavouring to further the legacy of the Trust, alongside its partners, and continue honouring the fallen of the First World War.”

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

 

(1)      Commonwealth and Gurkha Veterans

 

Cllr Nadia Martin introduced her Motion and said that, since submitting her Motion she had been honoured to have inspired the Leader of the Council to take action and write that day to relevant Members of Parliament on the issues raised within her Motion.  Cllr Martin stated that she felt that this was a great step in the right direction not only for Commonwealth and Gurkha soldiers and veterans in Rushmoor, but also for all those who had served across the country.  Cllr Martin then proposed an Amendment to her Motion. 

 

It was MOVED by Cllr Martin and SECONDED by Cllr T.W. Mitchell – That the Motion be amended as follows:

 

“Rushmoor Borough Council are aware of the difficulties experienced by Commonwealth and Gurkha veterans, many of whom live in Aldershot, Home of the British Army, and wish to ensure that those who are currently experiencing problems, whether financial or immigration, are not disadvantaged whilst their applications for visas are ongoing.

 

To that end, Council records its thanks to the Leader of the Council for writing to the Prime Minister, the Minister of State for Immigration, and the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Minister for Defence People and Veterans) outlining the Council's cross-party support for all Commonwealth and Gurkha veterans who have served a minimum of 4 years being granted the automatic, free-of-charge right to remain in the UK and for any veteran who completes 12 years of service being automatically given British Citizenship.

 

We further hope that the above press the Government for a change in the legislation on visas and citizenship that affects Commonwealth and Gurkha veterans who have served Her Majesty The Queen and this country  diligently and honourably.”

 

With the consent of the Council, the Amendment then became the Substantive Motion.  During discussion, Members referred to the current high costs faced by Commonwealth and Gurkha veterans in the processing of visas and citizenship applications. It was also mentioned that cross-party support for the Motion should give a clear message that Rushmoor was united in its message to Government that those men and women from the Commonwealth and Nepal who had served in Britain’s armed forces and put themselves in harm’s way should have the opportunity to apply for British Citizenship and visas without cost. 

 

Members were in support of the letter sent by the Leader of the Council to the Government urging the Government to make changes to the process for applying for British citizenship, permanent residency and associated rights for Commonwealth and Gurkha veteran soldiers who had served in the British Armed Forces and for their families too.   It was noted that the letter to the Government celebrated the significant contribution that Commonwealth and Gurkha soldiers had made to the British Armed Forces and to the local community in Rushmoor.  The letter recognised the existing barriers to British Citizenship  ...  view the full minutes text for item 46.

At its meeting on 25th January 2021, the Licensing Audit and General Purposes Committee considered the nominations for Mayor-Elect and the Deputy Mayor-Elect for 2021/22 and made the following recommendations:

 

(i)        That Cllr B.A. Thomas be selected as Mayor-Elect for the Municipal Year 2021/22.

 

(ii)       That Cllr C.P. Grattan be selected as Deputy Mayor for the Municipal Year 2021/22.

The Chairman of the Licensing, Audit and General Purposes Committee (Cllr S.J. Masterson) reported that the Committee had considered the nominations for the Mayor-Elect and the Deputy Mayor-Elect for 2021/22 at its meeting on 25th January, 2021. Having regard to the criteria adopted by the Council, the Committee had agreed to recommend that:

 

(i)        Cllr B.A. Thomas be selected as Mayor-Elect for the Municipal Year 2021/22; and

 

(ii)       Cllr C.P. Grattan be selected as Deputy Mayor-Elect for the Municipal Year 2021/22.

 

It was MOVED by Cllr S.J. Masterson; SECONDED by Cllr Mara Makunura  – That the Recommendations of the Licensing, Audit and General Purposes Committee be approved in respect of the Mayor-Elect and Deputy Mayor-Elect.  

 

There voted FOR: 34; AGAINST: 0 and the Motion was DECLARED CARRIED.

 

 

To consider the recommendations of the Cabinet and Committees in relation to the following items:

(1)      Annual Capital Strategy 2021/22

 

Cllr P.G. Taylor introduced the Report of the Cabinet meeting held on 16th February 2021, which recommended the approval of the Capital Strategy 2021/22, including the Prudential Indicators for Capital Finance.   It was MOVED by Cllr P.G. Taylor; SECONDED by Cllr D.E. Clifford – That approval be given to the Capital Strategy 2020/21 and Prudential Indicators. 

 

There voted FOR: 34; AGAINST: 0; ABSTAINED: 1 and the Recommendations were DECLARED CARRIED.

 

(2)      Annual Treasury Management Strategy and Annual Non-Treasury Investment Strategy 2021/22

 

Cllr P.G. Taylor introduced the Report of the Cabinet meeting held on 16th February 2021 which recommended the approval of: the Treasury Management Strategy and Non-Treasury Investment Strategy 2021/22, including the borrowing and investment strategies and treasury management indicators for capital finance for 2021/22 and the Minimum Revenue Provision Statement.   It was MOVED by Cllr P.G. Taylor; SECONDED by Cllr D.E. Clifford – That approval be given to the Treasury Management Strategy and Non-Treasury  Investment Strategy 2021.   

 

There voted FOR: 33; AGAINST: 0; ABSTAINED: 1 and the Recommendations were DECLARED CARRIED.

 

(3)      Revenue Budget, Capital Programme and Council Tax Level 2021/22

 

Cllr D.E. Clifford introduced the Report of the Cabinet meeting held on 16th February 2021 which recommended the approval of the Revenue Budget, Capital Programme, Council Tax Level and Council Tax Support Scheme for 2021/22.   

 

(i)            It was MOVED by Cllr D.E. Clifford; SECONDED by Cllr P.G. Taylor – That, approval be given to the following recommendations set out in the Budget Booklet:

 

(a)          The Executive Head of Finance’s report under Section 25 of the Local Government Act 2003, as set out in Appendix A;

 

(b)          the General Fund Revenue Budget Summary, set out in Appendix B;

 

(c)          the additional items for inclusion in the budget, set out in Appendix 2(CAB);

 

(d)          the Council Tax Requirement of £6,927,715 for this Council;

 

(e)          the Council Tax level for Rushmoor Borough Council’s purposes of £214.42 for a Band D property in 2021/22 (an increase of £5);

 

(f)           the Capital Programme, set out in Appendix 3(CAB);

 

(g)          the Strategy for the Flexible Use of Capital Receipts, set out in Appendix 4(CAB); and

 

(h)          the proposed transfers to and from earmarked reserves in 2021/22 and the holding of reserves, as set out in the Cabinet Report (Appendix B); and

 

(ii)          Approval be given to the following, as detailed in Report No. FIN2030:

 

(a)          following the review of Council Tax Support by the Task and Finish Group, the current scheme for working age customers continue for 2021/22 with the usual alignment to Housing Benefit Rates (this did not require consultation); and

 

(b)          in light of the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, a fundamental review of the Council Tax Support Scheme be deferred until 2021/22.

 

Following debate, the Recommendations were put to the meeting.  On a Recorded Vote, there voted FOR: Cllrs Mrs. D.B. Bedford, J.B. Canty, Sue Carter, Sophia Choudhary, A.K. Chowdhury, D.E. Clifford, R.M. Cooper, P.I.C. Crerar, P.J. Cullum, Veronica Graham-Green, L. Jeffers, Prabesh  ...  view the full minutes text for item 48.

To fix the level of Council Tax for the financial year 2021/22 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 5)

It was MOVED by Cllr D.E. Clifford; SECONDED by Cllr P.G. Taylor – That

 

(i)      it be noted that the Council calculated the amount of 32,309.09 as its Council Tax Base for the year 2021/22 in accordance with Section 31B(3) of the Local Government Finance Act 1992 as amended by the Localism Act 2011 (the ‘Act’).

 

(ii)     the following amounts be calculated by the Council for the year 2021/22 in accordance with Sections 31 and Sections 34 to 36 of the Act:

 

(a)      £85,708,962    being the aggregate of the amounts which the Council estimates for the items set out in Section 31A(2) of the Act

 

(b)      £78,781,247     being the aggregate of the amounts which the Council estimates for the items set out in Section 31A(3) of the Act.

 

(c)     £6,927,715        being the amount by which the aggregate at 2(a) above exceeds the aggregate at 2(b) above, calculated by the Council in accordance with Section 31A(4) of the Act, as its Council Tax requirement for the year

 

(d)      £214.42             being the amount at (ii)(c) above, all divided by the amount at 1 above, calculated by the Council, in accordance with Section 31B(1) of the Act, as the basic amount of its Council Tax for the year.

 

          (e)

Valuation Band	Rushmoor Borough Council
A	£142.95
B	£166.77
C	£190.60
D	£214.42
E	£262.07
F	£309.72
G	£357.37
H	£428.84

 

being the amounts given by multiplying the amount at (ii)(d) above by the number which, in the proportion set out in Section 5(1) of the Act, is applicable to dwellings listed in a particular valuation band divided by the number which in that proportion is applicable to dwellings listed in valuation band D, calculated by the Council, in accordance with Section 36(1) of the Act, as the amounts to be taken into account for the year in respect of categories of dwellings listed in different valuation bands;

 

(iii)       it be noted that for the year 2021/22 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 to the Council, in accordance with Section 40 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992, for each of the categories of the dwellings shown below:

 

Precepting Authority	Precept Amount
Hampshire County Council (HCC)	£43,631,811
Police and Crime Commissioner for Hampshire (PCCH)	£7,316,716
Hampshire and Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Authority (HIWFRA)	£2,275,529

 

Valuation Band	HCC	PCCH	HIWFRA
A	£900.30	£150.97	£46.95
B	£1,050.35	£176.14	£54.78
C	£1,200.40	£201.30	£62.60
D	£1,350.45	£226.46	£70.43
E	£1,650.55	£276.78	£86.08
F	£1,950.65	£327.11	£101.73
G	£2,250.75	£377.43	£117.38
H	£2,700.90	£452.92	£140.86

 

(iv)    That, having calculated the aggregate in each case of the amounts at (ii)(e) and (iii) above, the Council, in accordance with Sections 30 and 36 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992, hereby sets the following amounts as the amounts of Council Tax for the year 2021/22 for each of the categories of dwellings shown below:

 

Valuation Band  ...  view the full minutes text for item 49.
50.	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 two questions had been submitted for response by Members of the Cabinet.    (1)          The first question had been submitted by Cllr P.J. Cullum for response by the Leader of the Council (Cllr D.E. Clifford) and related to the role of the private sector in the response to the Covid-19 pandemic.   In response, the Leader of the Council (Cllr D.E. Clifford) paid tribute to the many organisations in the private sector which has supported the response.  In particular he referred to local pubs, supermarkets and couriers who had supported the call for help in donating and delivering food and essential items, including medicines, to the Borough’s residents.   (2)          The second question had been submitted by Cllr Sue Carter for response by the Democracy, Strategy and Partnerships Portfolio Holder (Cllr A.R. Newell) and related to how long the Borough’s Covid-19 test centre would be running, what the capacity was for testing per day and whether people who come to work in the Borough were also eligible to use the test centre.   In response, Cllr Newell stated that the local community testing centre at Farnborough Leisure Centre had opened earlier that week and was due to run initially for a period of six weeks.  The Director of Public Health at Hampshire County Council was leading the programme and any decision to extend it beyond six weeks would be with Hampshire.  Cllr Newell confirmed that anyone who lived or worked in Hampshire was eligible to use the Rushmoor test centre.  In terms of capacity planning, it was estimated that up to 9,600 people per week could use the test centre.  However, there was the ability to adjust the capacity to accommodate local demand and there was an ongoing communications campaign to encourage anyone eligible to come forward for testing.
51.	REPORTS OF CABINET AND COMMITTEES PDF 521 KB To receive and ask questions on the Reports of the following Meetings (copy reports attached):   Cabinet 8th December, 2020   19th January, 2021   Committees       Licensing, Audit and General Purposes 23rd November, 2020 Development Management 20th January, 2021 Licensing, Audit and General Purposes 25th January, 2021   Minutes: RESOLVED:  That the Reports of the following meetings be received:   Cabinet 8th December 2020 Cabinet 19th January 2021 Licensing, Audit and General Purposes 23rd November 2020 Development Management 20th January 2021 Licensing, Audit and General Purposes 25th January 2021
52.	REPORTS OF OVERVIEW AND SCRUTINY COMMITTEE AND POLICY AND PROJECT ADVISORY BOARD PDF 222 KB To note the Reports of the following meetings (copy reports attached):   Policy and Project Advisory Board 25th November, 2020 Policy and Project Advisory Board 27th January, 2021 Overview and Scrutiny Committee 4th February, 2021   Minutes: RESOLVED:  That the Reports of the meetings of the Policy and Project Advisory Board held on 25th November 2020 and 27th January 2021 and the meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee held on 4th February 2021 be received.