Council - Thursday, 24th February, 2022 7.00 pm - Agenda and minutes

To confirm the Minutes of the Ordinary Meeting of the Council held on 2nd December 2021 (copy attached).

WAR IN UKRAINE

 

The Mayor voiced the Council’s support for the people of Ukraine in their plight to retain their freedoms and to live in a democracy where they could make their own political and economic decisions. 

 

 

MRS CAROL EDGOOSE

 

The Council stood in silent tribute to the memory of former Mayor, Mrs Carol Edgoose, who had passed away in early January 2022 and whose funeral had been held on 8th February at the Holy Trinity Church in Aldershot.

 

 

MINUTES

 

It was MOVED by Cllr M.L. Sheehan; SECONDED by Cllr M.J. Tennant and

 

RESOLVED:  That the Minutes of the Ordinary Meeting of the Council held on 2nd December 2021 (copy having been circulated previously) be taken as read, approved and signed as a correct record.

 

 

 

(1)      The Mayor announced that his Charity Ball would be held on 11th March 2022 at Princes Hall.

 

(2)      The Mayor announced that the Mayoress’ Afternoon Tea would be held on 6th April 2022 at the Council Offices.   The previous Mayoress’ Afternoon Tea event, which had been held on 10th December 2021, had raised £276 for the Mayor’s Charities.

 

(3)      The Mayor announced that his Charity Golf Day would be held on 21st April 2022 at the Army Golf Club in Aldershot. 

 

(4)      The Mayor advised Members that, on 8th December 2021, he had attended the Community Carol Service held at the Cathedral Church of St Michael and St George.  This annual community event was organised jointly by the Aldershot Garrison, Aldershot Town Football Club, Aspire Defence and the Council.

 

(5)      The Mayor reported that he had attended a Holocaust Memorial Service at the Royal Garrison Church on 30th January 2022.

 

(6)      The Mayor reported that, 22nd February 2022 had been the 50th Anniversary of the bombing of the Headquarters of the 16th Parachute Brigade in Aldershot, where one padre and six civilian staff had been killed and 19 wounded.   The Mayor had attended a service of commemoration and the unveiling of a new memorial in Pennefathers Road, together with a dedication of the new Memorial Square in recognition of the loss of life and injury to those who had been involved 50 years previously and to those who had come to their aid.   The unveiling had been followed by a march past in Queen’s Avenue.  It had been a truly poignant and memorable day which had been organised by the Aldershot Parachute Regimental Association.

 

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.

 

To consider the recommendations of the Cabinet and Corporate Governance, Audit and Standards Committee in relation to the following items:

(1)      Decision to opt into the National Scheme for Auditor Appointments managed by the Public Sector Audit Appointments as the ‘Appointing Person’

 

The Chairman of the Corporate Governance, Audit and Standards Committee introduced the Report of the Committee meeting held on 24th January 2022, which recommended that the Council should accept the Public Sector Audit Appointments’ invitation to opt into the sector-led option for the appointment of external auditors to principal local government and police bodies for five financial years from 1st April 2023.

 

It was MOVED by Cllr Sue Carter; SECONDED by Cllr P.J. Cullum – That the Council accept the invitation to opt into the sector-led option for the appointment of external auditors to principal local government and police bodies for five financial years from 1st April 2023.

 

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

 

(2)      Annual Capital Strategy 2022/23

 

Cllr Sue Carter introduced the Report of the Corporate Governance, Audit and Standards Committee meeting held on 15th February 2022, which recommended the approval of the Capital Strategy 2022/23 to 2024/25 and  Prudential Indicators for 2022/23.  

 

It was MOVED by Cllr Sue Carter; SECONDED by Cllr P.J. Cullum – That approval be given to the Capital Strategy 2022/23 to 2024/25 and Prudential Indicators for 2022/23. 

 

There voted FOR: 29; AGAINST: 0; ABSTAINED: 0 and the Recommendations were DECLARED CARRIED.

 

(3)      Annual Treasury Management Strategy and Annual Non-Treasury Investment Strategy 2022/23

 

Cllr Sue Carter introduced the Report of the Corporate Governance, Audit and Standards Committee meeting held on 15th February 2022, which recommended the approval of: the Treasury Management Strategy 2022/23, Annual Borrowing Strategy 2022/23, the Annual Non-Treasury Investment Strategy 2022/23 and the Minimum Revenue Provision Statement.  It was MOVED by Cllr Sue Carter; SECONDED by Cllr P.J. Cullum – That approval be given to the Treasury Management Strategy 2022/23 and Annual Borrowing Strategy 2022/23; Annual Non-Treasury Investment Strategy 2022/23; and, Minimum Revenue Provision Statement.   

 

There voted FOR: 29; AGAINST: 0; ABSTAINED: 0 and the Recommendations were DECLARED CARRIED.

 

 

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

 

Cllr P.G. Taylor, Corporate Services Portfolio Holder, introduced the Report of the Cabinet meeting held on 8th February 2022 which recommended the approval of the budget and Council Tax requirement for 2022/23 and the Council Tax Support Scheme 2022/23.   

 

It was MOVED by Cllr P.G. Taylor; SECONDED by Cllr D.E. Clifford – 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 1;

 

(b)          the General Fund Revenue Budget Summary, set out in Appendix 2;

 

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

 

(d)          the Council Tax Requirement of £7,195,943 for this Council;

 

(e)          the Council Tax level for Rushmoor Borough Council’s purposes of £219.42 for a Band D property in 2022/23 (an increase of £5);  ...  view the full minutes text for item 42.

To fix the level of Council Tax for the financial year 2022/23 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 6).

It was MOVED by Cllr P.G. Taylor; SECONDED by Cllr D.E. Clifford – That

 

(i)      it be noted that the Council calculated the amount of 32,795.29 as its Council Tax Base for the year 2022/23 in accordance with Section 31B(3) of the Local Government Finance Act 1992 as amended by the Localism Act 2011 (the ‘Act’);

 

(ii)     the following amounts be calculated by the Council for the year 2022/23 in accordance with Sections 31 and Sections 34 to 36 of the Act:

 

(a)      £82,641,531  being the aggregate of the amounts which the Council estimates for the items set out in Section 31A(2) of the Act

 

(b)      £75,445,589  being the aggregate of the amounts which the Council estimates for the items set out in Section 31A(3) of the Act.

 

(c)      £7,195,943     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

 

(c)            £219.42    being the amount at (ii)(c) above, all divided by the amount at (i) above, calculated by the Council, in accordance with Section 31B(1) of the Act, as the basic amount of its Council Tax for the year.

 

 

            (d)

Valuation Band	Rushmoor Borough Council
A	£146.28
B	£170.66
C	£195.04
D	£219.42
E	£268.18
F	£316.94
G	£365.70
H	£438.84

 

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 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 2022/23 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 to 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)	£45,613,657.05
Police and Crime Commissioner for Hampshire (PCCH)	£7,754,774.27
Hampshire and Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Authority (HIWFRA)	£2,473,748.72

 

Valuation Band	HCC	PCCH	HIWFRA
A	£927.24	£157.64	£50.29
B	£1,081.78	£183.91	£58.67
C	£1,236.32	£210.19	£67.05
D	£1,390.86	£236.46	£75.43
E	£1,699.94	£289.01	£92.19
F	£2,009.02	£341.55	£108.95
G	£2,318.10	£394.10	£125.72
H	£2,781.72	£472.92	£150.86

 

 

(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 Local Government Finance Act 1992, hereby sets the following amounts as the amounts of Council Tax for the year 2022/23 for each of the categories of dwellings shown  ...  view the full minutes text for item 43.

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

The Mayor reported that three questions had been submitted for response by Members of the Cabinet.

 

The first question had been submitted by Cllr P.J. Cullum for response by the Operational Services Portfolio Holder regarding the next stage for the roll-out of the food waste collection service.

 

In response, Cllr M.L. Sheehan stated that the introduction of the first stage of the food waste service had been a success and that the Council was building on this for Phase Two.   The Chief Executive’s news email to Members would provide an update on progress and further arrangements for the roll-out of the service.  It was noted that the Contracts Team would be contacting Ward Councillors with details of properties and sites in Phase Two. 

 

 

The second question had been submitted by Cllr S.J. Masterson for the Major Projects and Property Portfolio Holder on the next steps for developing the visitor centre and café at Southwood Woodland. 

 

In response, Cllr M.J. Tennant stated that good progress was being made with the visitor centre and the project was on target in terms of timescales and budgets.   Discussions were on-going with the proposed tenant for the café.  A planning application for the visitor centre and café would be submitted in the near future, with the aim of work starting on site in late summer. 

 

 

The third question had been submitted by Cllr Jacqui Vosper for the Planning and Economy Portfolio Holder on the Council’s plans to celebrate the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee and to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the Falklands War.

 

In response, Cllr Marina Munro stated that the Parachute Regimental Association was co-ordinating the commemoration of the 40th anniversary of the Falklands War on 18th June 2022, with an event to be based around Princes Gardens in Aldershot which would include a parade.   In respect of events to celebrate the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee, Cllr Munro stated that the Council would be joining in the national Beacon Lighting event on 2^nd June and that it was proposed to organise a Mayor’s Big Picnic during the Bank Holiday for the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.  Cllr Munro also referred to other events being organised by individuals and organisations around the Borough. 

 

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

 

Cabinet	14th December, 2021
	18th January 2022
	8th February, 2022

 

Committees
Corporate Governance, Audit and Standards	22nd November, 2021
Development Management	8th December, 2021
Development Management	19th January, 2022
Corporate Governance, Audit and Standards	24th January, 2022

 

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

 

Cabinet	14th December 2021
Cabinet	18th January 2022
Cabinet	8th February 2022
Corporate Governance, Audit and Standards Committee	22nd November 2021
Development Management Committee	8th December 2021
Development Management Committee	19th January 2022
Corporate Governance, Audit and Standards Committee	24th January 2022

 

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

 

Policy and Project Advisory Board	24th November 2021
Overview and Scrutiny Committee	9th December 2021
Policy and Project Advisory Board	26th January 2022

 

RESOLVED: That the Reports of the Policy and Project Advisory Board meetings held on 24th November 2021 and 26th January 2022 and the Overview and Scrutiny Committee meeting held on 9th December 2021 be noted.