Cabinet - Tuesday, 8th April, 2025 7.00 pm - Agenda and draft minutes

Under the Council’s Code of Conduct for Councillors, all Members are required to disclose relevant Interests in any matter to be considered at the meeting.  Where the matter directly relates to a Member’s Disclosable Pecuniary Interests or Other Registrable Interest, that Member must not participate in any discussion or vote on the matter and must not remain in the room unless they have been granted a dispensation (see note below). If the matter directly relates to ‘Non-Registrable Interests’, the Member’s participation in the meeting will depend on the nature of the matter and whether it directly relates or affects their financial interest or well-being or that of a relative, friend  or close associate, applying the tests set out in the Code.

NOTE:

On 27th May, 2021, the Council’s Corporate Governance, Audit and Standards Committee granted dispensations to Members appointed by the Council to the Board of the Rushmoor Development Partnership and as Directors of Rushmoor Homes Limited.

Having regard to the Council’s Code of Conduct for Councillors, the following declaration of interest was made: 

To confirm the Minutes of the meetings held on 11th March, 2025 and 20th March, 2025 (copy attached).

The Minutes of the meetings of the Cabinet held on 11th March, 2025 and 20th March, 2025 were confirmed and signed by the Chairman.

To consider resolving:

That, subject to the public interest test, the public be excluded from this meeting during the discussion of the undermentioned item to avoid the disclosure of exempt information within the paragraph of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act, 1972 indicated against such item:

Item                Schedule      Category

No.                  12A Para.

                        No.

4                      3                      Information relating to financial or business affairs

RESOLVED: That, taking into account the public interest test, the public be excluded from the meeting during the discussion of the under mentioned item to avoid the disclosure of exempt information within the paragraph of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act, 1972 indicated against the item:

Minute           Schedule      Category

No.                  12A Para.

                        No.

82                   3                      Information relating to financial or business affairs

To consider Exempt Report No. REG2502 (copy attached), which sets out options for the disposal of 82 residential units contained within the Union Yard scheme in Aldershot.

The Cabinet considered Exempt Report No. REG2502, which set out options  for the disposal of 82 residential units contained within the Union Yard scheme in Aldershot town centre.

Members were informed that a Cabinet report in July, 2021 had set out an ‘exit strategy’ for the different components of the scheme. It was agreed at that time that the 82 apartments for private rent would be subject to disposal on completion to the Council’s Housing Company, Rushmoor Homes Limited (RHL). Members heard that the scheme had now reached practical completion, with all elements having been handed over to the Council following an opening event in March, 2025.

The Chairman brought the Cabinet’s attention to the draft minutes of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee meeting held on 27th March, 2025 and Members considered the comments contained therein.

The Cabinet considered and discussed the risks of each option, as set out in the updated risk table, and decided that Option 1, disposal to RHL, now demonstrated a significant short-term risk to the Council’s revenue account that meant that this option was the least favourable in terms of short-term financial risk. The Cabinet therefore agreed to discount this option. Option 2 was for the direct sale of the units to the open market but it was felt that this would carry a high risk in terms of potential delays in receiving the capital receipts when compared to the other options. There was a further risk in respect of the future sales of the units not achieving the same value as agents had forecasted. This option was, therefore, also discounted. Option 5 was for the sale of the units to private investors. The highest offer received was not competitive when compared against the other proposals under consideration. Option 5 was, therefore, also discounted at this point.

Option 4(b), whilst having a higher value than option 4(a), was also discounted as the proposed leaseback value for the commercial properties represented an additional risk to the Council, outweighing the higher value.

Members discussed the remaining two options, which were Option 3 to a named registered housing provider and Option 4(a), which was to a provider of sub-market rental accommodation for key workers. It was noted that Option 3 would provide increased affordable housing whilst Option 4(a) would provide key worker accommodation. The Cabinet agreed that both the provision of social housing and the provision of key worker accommodation fitted with the Council’s priorities. In discussing the options in detail, the Cabinet felt it needed more information in relation to the two options and the two operators to be able to make an informed choice. It was proposed, therefore, that the meeting should be adjourned until this further information could be obtained, at which point the meeting would be reconvened and the decision made.

At 8.38pm on 8th April, 2025, the Cabinet RESOLVED that the Cabinet meeting be adjourned for further information on the two options and operators to be obtained. The meeting would be reconvened at  ...  view the full minutes text for item 82.