Council - Thursday, 5th December, 2019 7.00 pm - Agenda and minutes

To confirm the Minutes of the Ordinary Meeting of the Council held on 3rd October 2019 (copy attached).

It was MOVED by Cllr A.R. Newell; SECONDED by Cllr P.G. Taylor and

RESOLVED: That the Minutes of the Ordinary Meeting of the Council held on 3rd October 2019 (copy having been circulated previously) be taken as read, approved and signed as a correct record.

(1)      The Mayor conveyed her sincere condolences, on behalf of the Council, to the family of former Mayor and Councillor Alan Ferrier who had recently passed away.  Alan Ferrier had served on the Council for 33 years and held the position of Mayor twice.

(2)      The Mayor advised Members that she had visited a number of primary schools in the Borough in recent weeks as well as Farnham, Fleet and Aldershot Sea Cadets to talk to them about being the Mayor.  There had also been a number of community events which the Mayor had attended including the Rushmoor Firework Extravaganza and switching on the Christmas lights in Aldershot Town Centre.  The Community Carol Services had been held the previous evening which had been extremely well attended and included children singing and a spectacular fireworks display.

(3)      The Mayor’s Charity Horse Race Night had been held on 25th October and was very well attended and raised £682 for the Mayor’s charities, the Mayor thanked those that had attended and supported the event.  A charity quiz night was being held on 24th January 2020 and Members were invited to join a team.  The Mayor’s Charity Banquet and Ball was being held on 6th March at Princes Hall and invitations would be sent out shortly.

(4)      The Mayor advised Members that on 10th December a Mayor’s Grotto was being set up at Christ Church in Cove.  The Mayor thanked those Members that had donated presents. The number of presents received from organisations and residents for the Grotto had been overwhelming and, in addition to the Grotto, presents would be donated to schools and hospitals in the area for deserving children.  Members were asked to advise the Mayor of any families they would like to nominate to receive presents.

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).

(1)          Highways Responsibilities -

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

“This Council recognises that the standard of highways in this Borough is crucially important to local people.

The current response and priority given to Rushmoor has been problematical since agency agreements with Hampshire CC have been amended over the years.

We believe that it’s essential for the good of our residents that we take back some control of our own highways’ issues.

We call on those responsible in Hampshire and Rushmoor to enter into negotiations to allow this Council to take back more control of highways in Rushmoor, with Hampshire delegating the necessary resources through a revised agency arrangement.”

(2)          Heathrow Southern Railway –

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

“This Council endorses Heathrow Southern Railway's proposal as its preferred option for a Southern Rail Link from Heathrow Airport to Farnborough, noting the potential benefit to the Borough of Rushmoor from:

• More sustainable transport choices and reduced environmental impacts;
• More convenient, quicker journeys for local residents to Heathrow and Central London;
• Stronger links for businesses that can encourage economic growth and inward investment in Rushmoor.

Additionally, this Council will write to the Department of Transport to request a timescale for a decision to be made on an operator for a Southern Rail Link.”

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

(1)      Highways Responsibilities

A Motion had been submitted by Cllr A.K. Chowdhury in respect of highways responsibilities.  It was MOVED by Cllr A.K. Chowdhury; SECONDED by Cllr T.W. Mitchell - That

“This Council recognises that the standard of highways in this Borough is crucially important to local people.

The current response and priority given to Rushmoor has been problematical since agency agreements with Hampshire CC have been amended over the years.

We believe that it’s essential for the good of our residents that we take back some control of our own highways’ issues.

We call on those responsible in Hampshire and Rushmoor to enter into negotiations to allow this Council to take back more control of highways in Rushmoor, with Hampshire delegating the necessary resources through a revised agency arrangement.”

In introducing the Motion, Cllr Chowdhury said that there was a weakness in the agency agreement with Hampshire County Council in addressing highways issues in the Borough. In three quarters of the case work dealt with by Cllr Chowdhury the issues were the responsibility of the County Council and Rushmoor Council were unable to take any action as only the County Council could make the decision.  Cllr Chowdhury proposed that Rushmoor Council should take back better control of highways management.

An amendment to the Motion was MOVED by Cllr K. Dibble; SECONDED by Cllr D.E. Clifford that the matter should be referred to the Overview and Scrutiny Committee to consider the issues in more detail in respect of cost and resource implications in bringing highway management under the control of Rushmoor Council.

There voted FOR: 32; AGAINST: 0 and the amended Motion was DECLARED CARRIED.

(2)      Heathrow Southern Railway

A Motion had been submitted by Cllr J.B. Canty in respect of the Council endorsing the Heathrow Southern Railway’s proposal as its preferred option for a Southern Rail Link from Heathrow Airport to Farnborough.  Since the Notice of Motion had been published on the agenda, Cllr Canty had agreed that the proposal should be considered further by the Policy and Project Advisory Board.  Therefore, he had withdrawn the Motion from the meeting agenda.

(i)              To note that with effect from 3rd December 2019, Cllr John Woolley resigned as a Member for Fernhill Ward

(ii)             Further to the vacancy arising from the resignation of Cllr John Woolley, and in accordance with seats allocated to the Conservative Group to achieve political balance, the Council is asked to confirm the appointment of Cllr M.S. Choudhary as a Member of the Licensing, Audit and General Purposes Committee for the remainder of the 2019/20 municipal year.

It was NOTED that Cllr John Woolley had resigned as a Member of Fernhill Ward with effect from 3rd December 2019.  As a result of the resignation, there was a vacancy to be filled on the Licensing, Audit and General Purposes Committee. 

It was MOVED by Cllr S.J. Masterson; SECONDED by Cllr D.E. Clifford - that Cllr M.S. Choudhary be appointed as a Member of the Licensing, Audit and General Purposes Committee for the remainder of the 2019/20 municipal year.

There voted FOR: 24; AGAINST: 0 and the appointment 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 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 15th October and 12th November, 2019 be received.

(2)      Licensing, Audit and General Purposes Committee

It was MOVED by Cllr S.J. Masterson; SECONDED by Cllr J.B. Canty and

RESOLVED: That the Reports of the meetings of the Licensing, Audit and General Purposes Committee held on 23rd September and 16th October, 2019 be received.

(3)      Development Management Committee

It was MOVED by Cllr B.A. Thomas; SECONDED by Cllr Mrs D.B. Bedford and

RESOLVED: That the Report of the meeting of the Development Management Committee held on 20th November, 2019 be received.

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

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