Council - Thursday, 7th December, 2017 7.00 pm - Agenda and minutes

To confirm the Minutes of the Ordinary Meeting of the Council held on 5th October, 2017 (copy Minutes attached).

It was MOVED by Cllr M.L. Sheehan; SECONDED by Cllr R. Cooper and

RESOLVED:  That the Minutes of the Meeting held on 5th October, 2017 (copy having been circulated previously) be taken as read, approved and signed as a correct record of the proceedings.

(1)       The Mayor reported that, on 12th November, 2017, the Deputy Mayor and she had attended Remembrance Sunday services around the Borough and remarked that it had been nice to see so many Members also attending to show their respect.

(2)       The Mayor reported that she and the Mayoress would be hosting a Christmas Afternoon Tea event the following afternoon to raise funds for the Mayor’s Charities and invited all to attend.

(3)          The Mayor advised Members that Oak Furniture Land had donated to the Mayor’s Charities an ornate 2ft high Christmas cake, which had been made for the official opening of the Farnborough store.  The cake would be raffled over the course of the following week, including at the Mayor’s Afternoon Tea event before being drawn on 15th December, 2017.

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

The Mayor reported that no urgent questions had been submitted under Standing Order 8 (3).

In accordance with the Council’s Petition Scheme, a petition containing 2,366 signatures has been submitted opposing the proposed closure of Southwood Golf Course. Under the Scheme, the petition organiser will be given a period of up to ten minutes to present the petition. The Council will then be asked to consider how to respond to the contents of the petition. A copy of the front page of the petition is attached (Annex 1).

The Mayor reported that a petition opposing the proposed closure of Southwood Golf Course had been submitted to the Council in accordance with the Council’s Petitions Scheme.  The petition contained 2,366 signatures and a copy of the first page of the petition had been attached at Annex 1 of the Agenda.

Members were reminded that, under the provisions of the Scheme, the petition organiser – Elle Larsson – had a period of up to ten minutes to present the petition.  The Scheme did not allow for any further speakers or questions.  Miss Larsson was then invited to address the meeting.  Following the presentation, Members then debated how to respond to the contents of the petition. 

During the debate, it was MOVED by Cllr J.B. Canty and SECONDED by Cllr J.H. Marsh – That the petition be noted and referred to the Cabinet for further consideration. 

During discussion, Members referred to the requirements of Natural England to provide more Suitable Alternative Natural Green Spaces (SANGs) in the Borough in order to be able to address the requirement for 3,000 new housing units in the Rushmoor Local Plan. 

Reference was also made to the debate at the joint meeting of the Environment and Leisure and Youth Policy and Review Panels where the possible closure of Southwood Golf Course had been debated and it had been agreed to recommend to the Cabinet that it should defer a decision on the closure for twelve months in order to be able to lobby the Government to review and update its policy regarding SANGs, seeking special dispensation for the area and to examine alternative SANG provision.

Members also spoke of the urgent need to provide affordable housing in the Borough and the regeneration of the town centres and also referred to the current use of Southwood Golf Course.   The Council’s hands were tied over the need for SANGs in order to be able to build housing. 

On a Recorded Vote, there voted FOR: Cllrs Mrs. D.B. Bedford, J.B.Canty, Sue Carter, M.S. Choudhary, D.E. Clifford, R.M. Cooper, Liz Corps, P.I.C. Crerar, D. Gladstone, Barbara Hurst, A. Jackman, G.B. Lyon, J.H. Marsh, Marina Munro, K.H. Muschamp, A. Newell, M.L. Sheehan, M.D. Smith, P.G. Taylor, M.J. Tennant, B. Thomas and J. Woolley (22); AGAINST: Cllrs D.M.T. Bell, T.D. Bridgeman, A.H. Crawford, K. Dibble, Sue Dibble, Jennifer Evans, C.P. Grattan, B. Jones, J. Preece, M.J. Roberts, P.F. Rust and L. Taylor (12) and ABSTAINED: Deputy Mayor (Cllr S.J. Masterson) and the Mayor (Cllr Sophia Choudhary) (2)

Whereupon it was AGREED that the Petition be referred to the Cabinet for further consideration.  

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

“Rushmoor is committed, as a Council, on behalf of its residents to support the founding aims of the NHS.

It is, therefore, very concerned that the Government is focused on, by the backdoor, developing a privatisation through an Accountable Care Organisation US concept which builds on the Sustainable Transformation Programmes for Frimley Health and Hampshire and the IOW concept framework.

RBC declares its full opposition to these moves which have no legal standing and are not in the interests of its wider community.

It will, therefore, determine its policy accordingly in opposition to all such moves."

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 P.F. Rust – That

“Rushmoor is committed, as a Council, on behalf of its residents to support the founding aims of the NHS.

It is, therefore, very concerned that the Government is focused on, by the backdoor, developing a privatisation through an Accountable Care Organisation US concept which builds on the Sustainable Transformation Programmes for Frimley Health and Hampshire and the Isle of Wight concept framework.

RBC declares its full opposition to these moves which have no legal standing and are not in the interests of its wider community. 

It will, therefore, determine its policy accordingly in opposition to all such moves.”

During debate, it was MOVED by Cllr R.M. Cooper and SECONDED by Cllr M.S. Choudhary – That the Motion be amended by deleting all the words after the first paragraph, to read as follows:

“Rushmoor is committed, as a Council, on behalf of its residents to support the founding aims of the NHS.”

In discussion on the proposed amendment, it was mentioned that the NHS needed to exist for generations to come.  Some Members referred to the lack of funding for the NHS in the current round of funding cuts and the constant need for efficiency savings to be made.

Speaking on the amendment, Cllr Rust stated that the more efficient something was in the health care industry, the more it seemed to cost, with people living longer and requiring longer term health care, which involved more costs.  Greater investment was called for to meet the costs of providing health care to the nation. 

The Amendment was then put to the Meeting.  There voted FOR: 21; AGAINST: 1 and the Amendment was DECLARED CARRIED.   

NOTE:  Cllr G.B. Lyon declared a prejudicial interest in this item in accordance with the Members’ Code of Conduct in respect of his employment and left the meeting during the discussion and voting thereon.

To consider the recommendation of the Cabinet in relation to the following item:

Medium Term Financial Strategy 2017/18 – 2020/21 –

To receive a Report from the Cabinet (copy attached – Annex 2), which recommends the approval of the Medium Term Financial Strategy 2017/18 – 2020/21. The Cabinet Member for Corporate Services (Cr. P.G. Taylor) will introduce this item.

The Portfolio Holder for Corporate Services (Cllr P.G. Taylor) introduced the Report of the Cabinet meeting held on 17th October, 2017, which recommended the approval of the Medium Term Financial Strategy 2017/18 – 2020/21. 

It was MOVED by Cllr P.G. Taylor; SECONDED by Cllr K.H. Muschamp – that approval be given to the Medium Term Financial Strategy 2017/18 – 2020/21.

There voted FOR: (23); AGAINST: 0 and the Recommendation was DECLARED CARRIED.

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

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

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

(1)          Cabinet

It was MOVED by Cllr D.E. Clifford; SECONDED by Cllr Barbara Hurst and

RESOLVED:  That the Reports of the Meetings of the Cabinet held on 17th October and 14th November, 2017 be received.

(2)          Licensing and General Purposes Committee

It was MOVED by Cllr A. Jackman; SECONDED by Cllr J. Woolley and

RESOLVED:  That the Report of the Meeting of the Licensing and General Purposes Committee held on 25th September, 2017 be received.

(3)          Development Management Committee

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

RESOLVED:  That the Report of the meeting of the Development Management Committee held on 8th November, 2017 be received.

To note the Reports of the following meetings of the Policy and Review Panels (copy reports attached):

RESOLVED:  That the Reports of the undermentioned meetings of the Policy and Review Panels be received: