Council - Thursday, 23rd February, 2023 7.00 pm - Agenda and minutes

To confirm the Minutes of the Ordinary Meeting of the Council held on 8th December, 2022 (copy attached).

It was MOVED by Cllr M.S. Sheehan; SECONDED by Cllr D.E. Clifford and

 

RESOLVED:  That the Minutes of the Meeting of the Council held on 8th December 2022 be taken as read, approved and signed as a correct record.

 

(1)      The Mayor reported that, on 10th December 2022 he had cut the ribbon at the Visitors’ Centre at Southwood Country Park to mark the official opening of this new facility.  It was noted that there was also a new playground adjacent to the Visitors’ Centre which included a tree house and zip wire as well as swings and a roundabout, accessible for children of all abilities.

 

(2)      The Mayor advised that his charity fundraising committee had organised a Quiz Night on 27th January in aid Phyllis Tuckwell and Parity for Disability and that £460 had been raised for his charities.  He expressed his thanks and appreciation to the evening’s Quizmaster, Ian Harrison, and to all those who had supported this entertaining event.

 

(3)      The Mayor reported that, on 29th January 2023, he had attended the Holocaust Memorial Service at the Royal Garrison Church.

 

(4)      The Mayor advised Member that, on 14th February 2023 he had hosted a visit by the Mayor of Gweru City in Zimbabwe to the Parlour. Cllr Hamutendi Kombayi and his security guard had then been taken on a tour of the Borough by the Leader of the Council - Cllr David Clifford - together with Cllr Mara Makunura.  

 

(5)      The Mayor reported that, the previous day, he had attended a wreath-laying service organised by Aldershot Parachute Regimental Association at the new memorial square off Pennefathers Road. This had been to mark the 51st Anniversary of the Aldershot Officers’ Mess Bombing where one Padre and six civilian staff were killed and 19 wounded.  

 

(6)      The Mayor reminded Members that his Mayoral Banquet would be held on 10th March 2023 at Princes Hall in Aldershot.  Everyone was welcome.

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.

 

At its meeting on 30th January 2023, the Corporate Governance, Audit and Standards Committee considered the nominations for Mayor-Elect and the Deputy Mayor-Elect for 2023/24 and made the following recommendations:

 

(i)        That Cllr C.P. Grattan be selected as Mayor-Elect for the Municipal Year 2023/24; and

 

(ii)       That Cllr Mara Makunura be selected as Deputy Mayor-Elect for the Municipal Year 2023/24.

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 2023/24 at its meeting on 30th January 2023.  The Committee had agreed to recommend that:

 

(i)        Cllr C.P. Grattan be selected as Mayor-Elect for the Municipal Year 2023/24; and

 

(ii)       Cllr Mara Makunura be selected as Deputy Mayor-Elect for the Municipal Year 2023/24.

 

It was MOVED by Cllr P.J. Cullum; SECONDED by Cllr Jessica Auton – That the Recommendations of the Corporate Governance, Audit and Standards Committee be approved in respect of the Mayor-Elect and Deputy Mayor-Elect for 2023/24.  

 

There voted FOR: 36; AGAINST: 0 and the Motion was DECLARED CARRIED.

To consider the recommendations of the Cabinet and Corporate Governance, Audit and Standards Committee in relation to the following item(s):

(i)        Annual Capital Strategy 2023/24

 

Cllr P.J. Cullum introduced the Report of the Corporate Governance, Audit and Standards Committee meeting held on 30th January 2023, which recommended the approval of the Capital Strategy 2023/24 to 2025/26 and  Prudential Indicators for 2023/24.  

 

It was MOVED by Cllr P.J. Cullum; SECONDED by Cllr Jessica Auton – That approval be given to the Capital Strategy 2023/24 to 2025/26 and Prudential Indicators for 2023/24. 

 

There voted FOR: 23; AGAINST: 2; ABSTAINED: 0 and the Recommendations were DECLARED CARRIED.

 

(ii)       Annual Treasury Management Strategy and Annual Non-Treasury Investment Strategy 2023/24

 

Cllr P.J. Cullum introduced the Report of the Corporate Governance, Audit and Standards Committee meeting held on 30th January 2023, which recommended the approval of: the Treasury Management Strategy 2023/24, Annual Borrowing Strategy 2023/24, the Annual Non-Treasury Investment Strategy 2023/24 and the Minimum Revenue Provision Statement.  It was MOVED by Cllr P.J. Cullum; SECONDED by Cllr Jessica Auton – That approval be given to the Treasury Management Strategy 2023/24 and Annual Borrowing Strategy 2023/24; Annual Non-Treasury Investment Strategy 2023/24; and, Minimum Revenue Provision Statement.   

 

There voted FOR: 23; AGAINST: 0; ABSTAINED: 0 and the Recommendations were DECLARED CARRIED.

 

(iii)      Revenue Budget, Capital Programme and Council Tax Level

 

Cllr D.E. Clifford, Leader of the Council, introduced the Report of the Cabinet meeting held on 7th February 2023, which recommended the approval of the Revenue Budget, Capital Programme and Council Tax requirement for 2023/24 and the Council Tax Support Scheme 2023/24. 

 

Members’ attention was drawn to an amendment in respect of Appendix 3 – Major Projects and Property Portfolio Capital Programme 2022/23 to 2026/27 - Page 88 – and the need to remove “(bc)” after “The Meads”

 

Subject to the amendment outlined above, it was MOVED by Cllr D.E. Clifford; SECONDED by Cllr P.G. Taylor – That

 

(i)        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 5;

 

(b)   the Medium-Term Financial Strategy, as set out in Appendix 1;

 

(c)   the Savings and Transformation items for inclusion in the budget, as set out in Appendix 2;

 

(d)   the Council Tax Requirement of 7,448,144.87 for this Council;

 

(e)   the Council Tax level for Rushmoor Borough Council’s purposes of £225.98 for a Band D property in 2023/24 (an increase of £6.56);

 

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

 

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

 

(h)   the balances and reserves position including proposed reserve transfers for 2023/24, as set out in Section 5 of the Report; and

 

(ii)     the current Council Tax Support Scheme for working age customers be retained for 2023/24, with the annual uplift to rates within the calculation mirroring that applied to national Housing Benefits rates as detailed in Report No. FIN2301.    .

 

Following debate, the Recommendations were put to the meeting.  ...  view the full minutes text for item 36.

To fix the level of Council Tax for the financial year 2023/24 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 P.G. Taylor; SECONDED by Cllr D.E. Clifford – That

 

(i)        it be noted that the Council had calculated the amount of 32,959.11 as its Council Tax base for the year 2023-24 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 2023-24 in accordance with Sections 31 and Sections 34 to 36 of the Act:

 

(a)      £13,335,734.00 being the aggregate of the amounts which the Council estimates for the items set out in Section 31A(2) of the Act;

(b)      £5,887,589.13 being the aggregate of the amounts which the Council estimates for the items set out in Section 31A(3) of the Act;

(c)       £7,448,144.87 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)      £225.98 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 it Council Tax for the year;

(e)       

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 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 2023-24, 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:

 

Precepting Authority	Precept Amount £
Hampshire County Council (HCC)	48,128,832.43
Police & Crime Commissioner for Hampshire (PCCH)	8.287,948.09
Hampshire & Isle of Wight Fire & Rescue Authority (HIWFRA)	2,650,917.30

 

Valuation Band	Hampshire County Council     £	Police & Crime Commissioner for Hampshire   £	Hampshire & Isle of Wight Fire & Rescue Authority   £
A	973.50	167.64	53.62
B	1,135.75	195.58	62.56
C	1,298.00	223.52	71.49
D	1,460.25	251.46	80.43
E	1,784.75	307.34	98.30
F	2,109.25	363.22	116.18
G	2,433.75	419.10	134.05
H	2,920.50	502.92	160.86

 

(iv)      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  ...  view the full minutes text for item 37.

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

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

 

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

 

Cabinet	17th January, 2023
	7th February, 2023

 

Committees
Corporate Governance, Audit and Standards	28th November, 2022
Development Management	18th January, 2023
Corporate Governance, Audit and Standards	30th January, 2023

 

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

 

Cabinet	17th January 2023
Cabinet	7th February 2023
Corporate Governance, Audit and Standards Committee	28th November 2022
Development Management Committee	18th January 2023
Corporate Governance, Audit and Standards Committee	30th January 2023

 

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

 

Overview and Scrutiny Committee	1st December, 2022
Policy and Project Advisory Board	31st January, 2023

 

RESOLVED:  That the Reports of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee meeting held on 1st December 2022 and the Policy and Project Advisory Board meeting held on 31st January 2023 be noted.