Council - Thursday, 25th July, 2019 7.00 pm - Agenda and minutes

Venue: Council Chamber, Council Offices, Farnborough

Contact: Jill Shuttleworth, Democracy and Partnerships Manager  01252 398822

Items
No. Item

16.

MINUTES pdf icon PDF 93 KB

To confirm the Minutes of the Ordinary Meeting of the Council held on 20th June 2019 (copy attached).

Minutes:

It was MOVED by Cllr K.H. Muschamp; SECONDED by Cllr M.J. Tennant and

 

RESOLVED:  That the Minutes of the Ordinary Meeting of the Council held on 20th June, 2019 (copy having been circulated previously) be taken as read, approved and signed as a correct record.

17.

MAYOR'S ANNOUNCEMENTS

Minutes:

(1)      The Mayor reported that she had attended the Armed Forces Day flag raising ceremony on 24th June, 2019 at Princes Gardens in Aldershot.  She had been joined by her Chaplain, civic guests, members of the public, representatives of the Royal British Legion, Military, Police and Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service.  

 

The Mayor advised Members that, on 29th June, 2019 she had been proud to be part of the Saluting Party with the Deputy Lieutenant of Hampshire (Brigadier David Harrison JP DL), the Deputy Commander Reserve of HQ 11 Brigade and South East, and the Commanding Officer of 1st Battalion Grenadier Guards, when serving soldiers from the Grenadier Guards, the Corps of Drums and veterans took part in a march through the town centre to celebrate Armed Forces Day. 

 

(2)      The Mayor reported that, on 6th July 2019, she had had the pleasure of attending the unveiling ceremony of the Airborne Soldier Statue in Princes Gardens and being in the Saluting Party for the parade through Aldershot town centre by approximately 600 former members of the Parachute Regiment.  The Mayor advised that she had subsequently received a letter from the Colonel Commandant of the Parachute Regiment – Lieutenant General Sir John Lorimer KCB DSO MBE – in which he thanked Rushmoor for the support given to the Airborne Soldier Statue unveiling project.   Lieutenant General Sir John Lorimer had also commented that the day had been a great success and had demonstrated how much the Regimental and Airborne community appreciated the opportunity to return ‘home’ to Aldershot.

 

(3)      The Mayor advised Members of the following fundraising events for her charities:

 

·           Charity Golf Tournament – Friday, 13th September 2019 at the Army Golf Club, Aldershot

 

·           Charity Race Night – Friday, 25th October 2019 at the Council Offices, Farnborough

18.

STANDING ORDER 8 - QUESTIONS

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

Minutes:

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

19.

NOTICE OF MOTION - 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 recognises food poverty and food insecurity as issues meriting urgent action within the Borough.  Therefore, this Council commits to:

 

·      the development of a Food Poverty Strategy and Action Plan, including the preparation and delivery of a Food Access Plan (identifying the barriers to accessing sufficient affordable and nutritious food, and actions to address them);
 

·      the drawing up of local measures of food poverty and insecurity to provide a baseline by which to monitor interventions and evaluate progress; and
 

·      working with partnership organisations and engaging with external experts in the field where possible, including the facilitation of a Food Insecurity Forum."

 

Minutes:

The Council was asked to consider the following Notice of Motion on food poverty which had been submitted for debate by Cllr Gaynor Austin in accordance with the provisions of Standing Order 9 (1):

 

“This Council recognises food poverty and food insecurity as issues meriting urgent action within the Borough.  Therefore, this Council commits to:

 

·           the development of a Food Poverty Strategy and Action Plan, including the preparation and delivery of a Food Access Plan (identifying the barriers to accessing sufficient affordable and nutritious food, and actions to address them);

 

·           the drawing up of local measures of food poverty and insecurity to provide a baseline by which to monitor interventions and evaluate progress; and

 

·           working with partnership organisations and engaging with external experts in the field where possible, including the facilitation of a Food Insecurity Forum.”

 

In introducing the Motion, Cllr Austin referred to the issues of food poverty and food insecurity and the stigma still associated with going to a food bank and the lack of dignity felt by those who were in need of charity for even very basic food items.   Cllr Austin spoke of the increased usage of food banks within the Borough and also the numbers of school children who received free school meals and the difficulties experienced by many during school holidays, when parents often went without food so that their children were fed.   The link between lack of food and poor educational attainment was also stressed by Cllr Austin.

 

A policy and review panel report from 2015 had examined the use of food banks in the Borough and had recommended that follow-up work should be undertaken on acquiring more data and evidence on the subject.   It was noted that, according to the Trussell Trust, there had been a 19% increase in food bank usage in 2018/19 and that there had been a 73% increase over the previous five years.  Cllr Austin called for a food strategy action plan to ascertain what the levels of food poverty were in the Borough and how to support the work being done by the local food banks.

 

During discussion, reference was made to food poverty being a major issue in the Borough.  Attention was drawn to the lack of breakfast clubs for school children over the summer holiday period.  These clubs were important to families struggling with food poverty.  It was noted that about 10% of the Borough’s children were registered for free school meals. It was the opinion of some that the effect of Universal Credit had added to these problems, where people were not receiving the appropriate support they needed. 

 

The view was expressed that the Council’s deprivation strategy needed to be refreshed and that work in partnership with the voluntary sector was required. However, some Members felt that measuring food poverty would be difficult.  The view was also expressed that that food poverty and food security was not restricted to the disadvantaged. It was pointed out that there were many issues involved and that simplifying  ...  view the full minutes text for item 19.

20.

RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE CABINET AND COMMITTEES pdf icon PDF 83 KB

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

Additional documents:

Minutes:

(1)      Your Future, Your Place – Vision for Aldershot and Farnborough 2030

 

The Leader of the Council (Cllr D.E. Clifford) introduced the report of the Cabinet meeting held on 23rd July, 2019 which recommended the approval of “Your Future, Your Place – A Vision for Aldershot and Farnborough 2030.”   It was MOVED by Cllr D.E. Clifford and SECONDED by Cllr K.H. Muschamp - That “Your Future, Your Place – A Vision for Aldershot and Farnborough 2030” be approved. 

 

On a recorded vote, there voted FOR: Cllrs Diane Bedford, J.B. Canty, M.S. Choudhary, Sophia Choudhary, D.E. Clifford, R.M. Cooper, P.I.C. Crerar, P.J. Cullum, L. Jeffers, Prabesh KC, Mara Makunura, J.H. Marsh, S.J. Masterson, Marina Munro, K.H. Muschamp, A.R. Newell, M.L. Sheehan, M.D. Smith, C.J. Stewart, M.J Tennant, B.A. Thomas, Jacqui Vosper and J.E. Woolley (23); AGAINST: Cllrs Gaynor Austin, T.D. Bridgeman, K. Dibble, C.P. Grattan, Christine Guinness, A.J. Halstead, Sophie Porter and M.J. Roberts (8); and, ABSTAINED: Cllrs A.K. Choudhury, A.S. Dekker, the Deputy Mayor (Cllr P.F. Rust) and the Mayor (Cllr Sue Carter) (4) and the Recommendation was DECLARED CARRIED.

 

NOTE:  Cllr A.J. Halstead left the meeting following this item.

 

(2)      Rushmoor Council Business Plan – April 2019 to March 2022

 

The Leader of the Council (Cllr D.E. Clifford) introduced the report of the Cabinet meeting held on 23rd July, 2019 (copy attached) which recommended the approval of the Council Business Plan from April 2019 to March 2022.   It was MOVED by Cllr D.E. Clifford and SECONDED by Cllr K.H. Muschamp - That approval be given to the three-year Council Business Plan from April 2019 – March 2022. 

 

On a recorded vote, there voted FOR: Cllrs Diane Bedford, J.B. Canty, M.S. Choudhary, Sophia Choudhary, A.K. Chowdhury, D.E. Clifford, R.M. Cooper, P.I.C. Crerar, P.J. Cullum, A.S. Dekker, L. Jeffers, Prabesh KC, Mara Makunura, J.H. Marsh, S.J. Masterson, Marina Munro, K.H. Muschamp, A.R. Newell, M.L. Sheehan, M.D. Smith, C.J. Stewart, M.J. Tennant, B.A. Thomas, Jacqui Vosper, J.E. Woolley (25); AGAINST: Cllrs Gaynor Austin, T.D. Bridgeman, K. Dibble, C.P. Grattan, Christine Guinness, Sophie Porter and M.J. Roberts (7); and, ABSTAINED:  The Deputy Mayor (Cllr P.F. Rust) and the Mayor (Cllr Sue Carter) (2) and the Recommendation was DECLARED CARRIED.

 

(3)      Approval of the Rushmoor Development Partnership Business Plan

 

The Deputy Leader of the Council (Cllr K.H. Muschamp) introduced the report of the Cabinet meeting held on 25th June 2019, which recommended that the first Business Plan of the Rushmoor Development Partnership be approved.   It was MOVED by Cllr K.H. Muschamp and SECONDED by Cllr A.R. Newell – That approval be given to the Rushmoor Development Partnership Business Plan.

 

On a recorded vote, there voted FOR:  Cllrs Gaynor Austin, Diane Bedford, T.D. Bridgeman, J.B. Canty, Sophia Choudhary, R.M. Cooper, P.I.C. Crerar, P.J. Cullum, K. Dibble, C.P. Grattan, Christine Guinness, L. Jeffers, Prabesh KC, Mara Makunura, J.H. Marsh, S.J. Masterson, Marina Munro, K.H. Muschamp, A.R. Newell, Sophie Porter, M.J. Roberts, M.L. Sheehan, M.D. Smith, C.J. Stewart, B.A. Thomas, Jacqui Vosper and J.E.  ...  view the full minutes text for item 20.

21.

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 no questions had been submitted for the Cabinet.

22.

REPORT OF CABINET pdf icon PDF 67 KB

To receive and ask questions on the Report of the following Meeting (copy attached):

 

Cabinet

25th June, 2019

 

Minutes:

It was MOVED by Cllr K.H. Muschamp;  SECONDED by Cllr Marina Munro and

 

RESOLVED:  That the Report of the meeting of the Cabinet held on 25th June, 2019 be received.