Council - Thursday, 23rd June, 2022 7.00 pm - Agenda and minutes

Venue: Council Chamber, Council Offices, Farnborough

Contact: Service Manager - Democracy  Email: jill.shuttleworth@rushmoor.gov.uk

Items
No. Item

9.

MINUTES pdf icon PDF 234 KB

To confirm the Minutes of the Annual Meeting of the Council held on 24th May, 2022 (copy attached).

Minutes:

It was MOVED by Cllr D.E. Clifford; SECONDED by Cllr M.J. Tennant and

 

RESOLVED:  That the Minutes of the Annual Meeting of the Council held on 24th May 2022 (copy having been circulated previously) be taken as read, approved and signed as a correct record.

 

10.

MAYOR'S ANNOUNCEMENTS

Minutes:

(1)      The Mayor reported that it had been a very busy first month in office and that he had attended the following events:

 

·                Farnborough Donkey Derby on 29th May 2022

·                The Gurkha Cup football tournament on 4th June 2022

·                Kids Out on 8th June 2022

·                Beating the Retreat at Aldershot Military Museum on 9th June 2022

·                Victoria Day on 11th June 2022

 

(2)      The Mayor advised Members that, over the Bank Holiday weekend to celebrate the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee, he had attended a Beacon Lighting Ceremony at the Wellington Statue on 2nd June 2022 and a Service of Thanksgiving at the Royal Garrison Church of All Saints on 5th June, both of which had been organised by the Council.  He had also attended a variety of street parties and other parties around the Borough to mark the Platinum Jubilee.

 

(3)      The Mayor reported that, on 18th June 2022, he had had the honour of attending a memorable service of remembrance at the Aldershot Military Cemetery to mark the 40th anniversary of the Falklands War conflict.  The service had been attended by veterans from Aldershot’s former Parachute Regiments and the next of kin of the eighteen soldiers who had given their life.  Following the service, the commemoration had moved to Aldershot town centre where he had been proud to be part of the saluting party outside Princes Hall for a parade of serving soldiers plus hundreds of veterans through the town centre.

 

(4)      The Mayor advised Members that, on 20th June 2022, he had taken part in a ceremony to raise the Armed Forces Day flag in Princes Gardens in Aldershot.   

 

11.

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.

 

12.

NOTICE OF MOTION - PENSIONS FUND

To consider the following Notice of Motion, which has been submitted by Cllr Jules Crossley pursuant to Standing Order 9 (1):

 

“Ahead of the Hampshire Pension Fund (HPF) report on Responsible Investment, which will be considered by the HPF Panel and Board on 28th July, I would like to propose the following motion for the consideration of this Council.

 

The Council Leader will write to the Chair of the Board of the Hampshire Pension Fund, and request that HPF commits to transition it's entire investment portfolio to net-zero greenhouse emissions by 2030, where practical and financially viable, and completely by 2050 at the latest, to be consistent with a maximum temperature rise of 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels by the century's end. The Council also urges the Hampshire Pensions Fund to join the Net-Zero Asset Owner Alliance, which is the investor alliance doing the most robust work on aligning to 1.5C. Other County Council Pension Funds, such as Wiltshire Pension Fund Committee and South Yorkshire Pensions Authority, are members of this alliance.

 

This Council will also review its investment portfolio with a view to not investing in carbon intensive industries or companies which have NOT committed to 1.5C consistent portfolio alignment guarding the critical 1.5-degree Celsius target and will encourage other organisations in the Borough to do the same.”

Minutes:

The Council was asked to consider a Motion which had been submitted by Cllr Jules Crossley in accordance with the provisions of Standing Order 9 (1): 

 

“Ahead of the Hampshire Pension Fund (HPF) report on Responsible Investment, which will be considered by the HPF Panel and Board on 28th July, I would like to propose the following Motion for the consideration of this Council.

 

The Council Leader will write to the Chair of the Board of the Hampshire Pension Fund, and request that HPF commits to transition its entire investment portfolio to net-zero greenhouse emissions by 2030, where practical and financially viable, and completely by 2050 at the latest, to be consistent with a maximum temperature rise of 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels by the century’s end.  The Council also urges the Hampshire Pensions Fund to join the Net-Zero Asset Owner Alliance, which is the investor alliance doing the most robust work on aligning to 1.5C.  Other County Council Pension Funds, such as Wiltshire Pension Fund Committee and South Yorkshire Pensions Authority, are members of this Alliance.

 

The Council will also review its investment portfolio with a view to not investing in carbon intensive industries or companies which have NOT committed to 1.5C consistent portfolio alignment guarding the critical 1.5 degrees Celsius target and will encourage other organisations in the Borough to do the same.”

 

In moving the Motion, Cllr Crossley referred to the declaration of a climate  emergency and the desperate need for action to avoid the pending devastating impact on the world.   Cllr Crossley was of the opinion that county councils and local authorities should lead by example and take action. 

 

In seconding the Motion, Cllr Gaynor Austin referred to the fact that Rushmoor had declared a climate emergency in 2019.   Actions were needed and not just words.  The HPF should be urged to divest from fossil fuel investments and Rushmoor should be leading the way for others to see action being taken, not just following. 

 

During discussion, Members referred to the question whether any real change could be made to the HPF as it was one of the largest funds of its kind in the county with a wide range of advisers who acted carefully and prudently for the HPF.   It was understood that the HPF Board was committed to net zero and invested on that basis.  The view was expressed that, at this stage, any major change in investments could be expensive and unnecessary. The view was also expressed that Rushmoor invested to meet its financial obligations and that the issue of climate change was one that investment pool managers were very aware of and such issues were reviewed on a regular basis. 

 

The opinion was also expressed that radical actions were required across the world to save the planet and intervention was required now.   Members were urged to vote not just on financial implications but on what was morally and ethically right. 

 

The Motion was then put to the Meeting.  There voted FOR:  ...  view the full minutes text for item 12.

13.

REVIEW OF MEMBERS' ALLOWANCES SCHEME pdf icon PDF 147 KB

To receive a report containing the recommendations of the Independent Remuneration Panel which undertook a Review of Rushmoor’s Members Allowances Scheme (copy attached – Annex 1).

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Leader of the Council (Cllr D.E. Clifford) introduced the Report by the Independent Remuneration Panel which had undertaken a review of Members’ Allowances Scheme, involving a fundamental examination of each element of the Scheme.   The new Scheme proposed in the Report reflected the Panel’s view in the light of information provided, representations made by Members and benchmarking data from other authorities.   It was MOVED by Cllr D.E. Clifford and SECONDED by Cllr P.G. Taylor that the Council adopt the proposals set out in the Independent Remuneration Panel’s Seventh Report. 

 

During discussion, it was MOVED by Cllr Gaynor Austin and SECONDED by Cllr K. Dibble – That the following Amendment be made to the proposed Members’ Allowances Scheme:

 

“That the Council adopts the proposals, as set out in the Independent Remuneration Panel’s Seventh Report, subject to:

 

(i)        the current Members’ basic allowance remaining unchanged but be updated in line with the annual percentage pay increase given to Rushmoor’s employees and be updated annually, as set out in the report: and

 

(ii)       no increase to Special Responsibility Allowance payments be made until the next review by the Independent Remuneration Panel.”

 

Following debate, the Amendment was put to the meeting.  On a Recorded Vote there voted FOR:  Cllrs Gaynor Austin, C.W. Card, Jules Crossley, K. Dibble, Christine Guinness, Nadia Martin, T.W. Mitchell, M.J. Roberts, Sarah Spall and the Deputy Mayor (Cllr C.P. Grattan) (10); AGAINST: Cllrs A. Adeola, J. Belbase, J.B. Canty, Sue Carter, M.S. Choudhary, D.E. Clifford, P.I.C. Crerar, P.J. Cullum, A. Gani, M. Hope, L. Jeffers, Prabesh KC, Mara Makunura, S.J. Masterson, Marina Munro, A.R. Newell, M.L. Sheehan, M.D. Smith, P.G. Taylor, M.J. Tennant, N. Thapa, S. Trussler and Jacqui Vosper (23); ABSTAINED: The Mayor (Cllr J.H. Marsh) (1) and the Amendment was DECLARED LOST.

 

Following further debate, the Recommendations of the Independent Remuneration Panel were put to the meeting.  On a Recorded Vote there voted FOR: Cllrs A. Adeola, J. Belbase, J.B. Canty, Sue Carter, D.E. Clifford, P.J. Cullum, A. Gani, M. Hope, L. Jeffers, Prabesh KC, Mara Makunura, S.J. Masterson, Marina Munro, A.R. Newell, M.L. Sheehan, M.D. Smith, P.G. Taylor, M.J. Tennant, N. Thapa, S. Trussler and Jacqui Vosper (21); AGAINST: Cllrs Gaynor Austin, C.W. Card, Jules Crossley, K. Dibble, Christine Guinness, Nadia Martin, T.W. Mitchell, M.J. Roberts, Sarah Spall and the Deputy Mayor (Cllr C.P. Grattan) (10); ABSTAINED: Cllr M.S. Choudhary and The Mayor (Cllr J.H. Marsh) (2) and the Recommendations were DECLARED CARRIED.

 

14.

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 one question had been submitted by Cllr. M.J. Roberts for response by the Leader of the Council on the effect of the economic climate on current projects, expected projects and expenditure for the Council.

 

In response, Cllr D.E. Clifford stated that the Council was aware of the changing economic environment and had been assessing the impact on the revenue and capital budgets as part of the regular financial monitoring.  A report was due to be considered by the Cabinet at its July meeting that would provide Members with an initial assessment of the financial risks from inflation, interest rates and the wider economy. 

 

15.

REPORTS OF CABINET AND COMMITTEES pdf icon PDF 530 KB

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

 

Cabinet

26th April 2022

 

7th June 2022

Committees

 

 

 

Development Management

13th April 2022

Corporate Governance, Audit and Standards

26th May 2022

 

Minutes:

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

 

Cabinet

26th April 2022

Cabinet

7th June 2022

Development Management Committee

13th April 2022

Corporate Governance, Audit and Standards Committee

26th May 2022