Council - Thursday, 6th December, 2018 7.00 pm - Agenda and minutes

To confirm the Minutes of the Ordinary Meeting of the Council held on 4th October, 2018 (copy Minutes attached).

It was MOVED by Cllr Barbara Hurst; SECONDED by Cllr M.J. Tennant and

RESOLVED: That the Minutes of the Ordinary meeting of the Council held on 4th October, 2018 (having been circulated previously) be taken as read, approved and signed as a correct record.

(1)       The Mayor reported that he had attended the official opening of the Cambridge Primary School on 18th October, 2018, where Lady Portal, representing the Lord-Lieutenant of Hampshire, had unveiled a plaque.

(2)       The Mayor advised that he had attended the Rushmoor Rose Bowl on 20th and 21st October, 2018 at the Gymnastics Centre in Aldershot, where teams from Switzerland, Spain, Holland and Canada took part.

(3)       The Mayor had also attended a number of events to mark the centenary of the end of the First World War, including:

-           The Opening ceremony of the Peace Garden in Manor Park, Aldershot

-           The “Aftermath 1918 – Hampshire at War” presentation at the Council Offices

-           The Silent Vigil in the Municipal Gardens, Aldershot

-           The beacon lighting event in front of Wellington Statue, as part of the national “Beacons of Light” scheme

          On 11th November, 2018, the Mayor and the Deputy Mayor had attended Remembrance Day services around the Borough, which had also been well attended by Members.

(4)       The Mayor reported that he had attended the annual RVS Volunteer recognition event on 14th November, 2018.

(5)       The Mayor reported that the Christmas Afternoon Tea Party on 30th November, 2018 had been a great success, with over £732 raised for the Mayor’s charities. The Mayor expressed thanks to all those who supported the event and, in particular, thanked Cllr Jennifer Evans, Sue Glover and Hazel Masterson for baking cakes for the event.

(6)       The Mayor referred to forthcoming events, including a charity quiz on 25th January, 2019 and the Mayor’s Charity Banquet and Ball on Friday 8th March, 2019 at the Princes Hall, Aldershot. 

(7)       The Mayor reported on the Community Carol Service, Fireworks and Christmas Market, held at the Cathedral Church of St Michael and St George and the Garrison Church of St Andrews, on 5th December, 2018.  In spite of the weather, the services had been well attended.

(8)       The Mayor thanked all Members that had decided to donate money to his chosen charities rather than send Christmas cards.

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 (3).

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

“This Council:

-        Notes multiple reports of Housing Associations in Rushmoor failing to respond to emails, thereby impeding deaf and hearing impaired residents from communicating with their landlord;

-        Notes that local authorities have limited powers to deal with poor performance by Housing Associations.

This Council therefore resolves:

-        To write to the Secretary of State to request additional powers to sanction Housing Associations, including but not limited to fines and in extreme cases confiscation of housing”.

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

“This Council:

-       Notes multiple reports of Housing Associations in Rushmoor failing to respond to emails, thereby impeding deaf and hearing impaired residents from communicating with their landlord;

-       Notes that local authorities have limited powers to deal with poor performance by Housing Associations.

This Council therefore resolves:

-       To write to the Secretary of State to request additional powers to sanction Housing Associations, including but not limited to fines and in extreme cases confiscation of housing”.

Speaking in support of his Motion, Cllr Halstead stated that people had experienced difficulty in getting a response from various Housing Associations in the Rushmoor area. These problems were magnified for anyone with a hearing impairment, where communication was already more difficult. Cllr Halstead knew personally of people who had tried to sort various issues with Housing Associations, including essential repairs and maintenance, without success. Cllr Halstead had himself sent test emails and letters to the Housing Associations and had experienced delays in receiving replies to emails and had not received a reply to a letter at all. It was his opinion that cost cutting and reorganisations had been major factors in the reduction in the level of service received by residents. He also noted that the Housing Association regulator was now less effective than once was the case.

During discussion, reference was made to the Council’s Registered Providers Task and Finish Group, which had been set up by the Overview and Scrutiny Committee to review the performance of Registered Providers in the Borough. It was recommended that Members should raise any problems experienced with Housing Associations through that Group in the first instance. This would allow the Group to collate the issues encountered and investigate these. It was acknowledged that problems had been experienced with the Borough’s largest housing provider, VIVID. The Registered Providers Task and Finish Group had intervened and this had led to an improvement in performance. Problems had been encountered by some Members in relation to other Housing Associations, including A2Dominion, and a commitment to drive up the performance of Housing Associations operating in the Borough was broadly supported.

In seconding the Motion, Cllr Dibble referred to the problems that had been experienced with VIVID and confirmed that, in supporting the Motion, no criticism was intended of either Rushmoor Members or Council staff. It was his contention that the measures referred to in the Motion were required to enable the Council to successfully drive up the performance of Housing Associations operating in the Borough.

In summing up, Cllr Halstead acknowledged that some improvements had been seen but that these had not been enough to ensure a satisfactory service was being received by Rushmoor residents. He would contact Cllr Bedford, as Chairman of the Registered Providers Task and Finish Group,  ...  view the full minutes text for item 36.

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

To receive a report which recommends the adoption of the revised Statement of Licensing Policy 2018 (copy attached – Annex 1). The Portfolio Holder for Operational Services (Cllr M.L. Sheehan) will introduce this item.

The Operational Services Portfolio Holder (Cllr M.L. Sheehan) introduced the Report of the Cabinet which recommended the adoption of the revised Statement of Licensing Policy 2018. It was MOVED by Cllr M.L. Sheehan; SECONDED by Cllr Barbara Hurst – That approval be given to the revised Statement of Licensing Policy 2018, as set out in the Report.

There voted FOR: 19; AGAINST: 0 and the Recommendations were DECLARED CARRIED.

To receive a report which recommends the establishment of new cultural and business links with areas in Nepal, Poland and the United States (copy attached – Annex 2). The Leader of the Council (Cllr D.E. Clifford) will introduce this item.

The Leader of the Council (Cllr D.E. Clifford) introduced the Report of the Cabinet which provided an overview of the background to town twinning and recommended the establishment of new international cultural and links.

It was MOVED by Cllr D.E. Clifford; SECONDED by Cllr Veronica Graham-Green – That

(i)           the establishment of cultural and business links with the following places be approved:

·                     Gorkha Municipality, Nepal

·                     Rzeszow, Poland

·                     Dayton, Ohio, United States; and

(ii)          the Chief Executive and the Head of Democracy, Strategy and Partnerships, in consultation with the Leader of the Council, be authorised to make the necessary arrangements to establish the formal links.

During discussion, Cllr K. Dibble spoke of his reservations regarding the lack of clarity and detail in relation to the proposals.  It was MOVED by Cllr K. Dibble; SECONDED by Cllr Jennifer Evans - That the proposals should be referred to the Overview and Scrutiny Committee for scrutiny.

Following debate, the Motion was put to the Meeting.  There voted FOR: 11; AGAINST: 19 and the Motion to refer to the Overview and Scrutiny Committee was DECLARED LOST.

The Council then voted on the original Recommendations.   There voted FOR: 27; AGAINST: 0 and the Recommendations were 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 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 M.L. Sheehan and

RESOLVED:  That the Reports of the Meetings of the Cabinet held on 16th October and 13th November, 2018 be received.

(2)       Licensing, Audit and General Purposes Committee

It was MOVED by Cllr J.E. Woolley; SECONDED by Cllr M.D. Smith and

RESOLVED:  That the Report of the Meeting of the Licensing, Audit and General Purposes Committee held on 24th September, 2018 be received.

(3)       Development Management Committee

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

RESOLVED:  That the Reports of the Meetings of the Development Management Committee held on 10th October, 2018 and 7th November, 2018 be received.

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

RESOLVED:  That the Reports of the undermentioned meetings of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee and Policy and Project Advisory Board be received: