Cabinet - Tuesday, 15th March, 2022 7.00 pm - Agenda and minutes

To confirm the Minutes of the meeting held on 8th February, 2022 (copy attached).

The Minutes of the meeting of the Cabinet held on 8th February, 2022 were confirmed and signed by the Chairman.

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, no declarations of interest were made.

To consider Report No. EPSH2210 (copy attached), which seeks approval of the Basingstoke Canal and Manor Park Conservation Area Character Appraisals and Management Plans.

The Cabinet considered Report No. EPSH2210, which set out proposed character appraisals and management plans, following a review of the Basingstoke Canal and Manor Park Conservation Areas.

Members were informed that consultation exercises had been carried out on the draft appraisals and management plans and ten responses in respect of the draft Basingstoke Canal document and eleven in respect of the draft Manor Park document had been received. Taking into account the comments received, it was now considered that the boundary amendments proposed in the draft documents should be implemented.

The Cabinet RESOLVED that

(i)           the Basingstoke Canal Conservation Area Character Appraisal and Management Plan, as set out in Appendix 1 of Report No. EPSH2210, be approved; and

(ii)          the Manor Park Conservation Area Character Appraisal and Management Plan, as set out in Appendix 3 of Report No. EPSH2210, be approved.

To consider Report No. REG2202 (copy attached), which sets out an update on The Galleries regeneration scheme and seeks approval for the next steps.

The Cabinet considered Report No. REG2202, which set out an update on the Galleries regeneration scheme in Aldershot town centre.

Members were informed that an opportunity had arisen to provide a public car park on the site of the former Conservative Club on Little Wellington Street. It was proposed that officers should explore a land transfer option to allow for this to take place, as an alternative to a new car park being provided on a long lease basis within the Galleries scheme, as had previously been agreed. The advantage of this solution would be that the new car park would be provided prior to the planned closure of the High Street Multi-Storey Car Park.

The Cabinet RESOLVED that

(i)           in principle, the disposal of the existing High Street Multi-Storey Car Park freehold to the developer of the Galleries scheme, in return for the transfer of the freehold interest of the former Conservative Club site at Little Wellington Street, Aldershot to the Council, on the basis that a new, purpose-built public car park of at least 250 spaces would be constructed by the developer prior to handover, subject to planning permission being granted, as set out in Report No. REG2202, be approved; and

(ii)          the above transaction being subject to due diligence, with further reports to be presented to the Cabinet for consideration in due course, be noted.

To consider Report No. REG2203 (copy attached), which sets out the funding requirement to enable the progression of regeneration projects in Farnborough.

The Cabinet considered Report No. REG2203, which set out a proposal for the release and allocation of grant and capital funding to enable the completion of key stages of projects relating to the Farnborough Civic Quarter and the wider Farnborough town centre area.

Members were informed that the three areas requiring additional funding to enable robust progression to the next stage of project delivery were the production of a business case for the Leisure Centre/Leisure and Civic Hub, the Leisure Centre demolition and the production of a town centre strategy for Farnborough. Members heard that a bid to the One Public Estate (OPE) fund, to support the work in relation to the preparation of the leisure centre business case, had been successful and that £300,000 had been received. It was reported that further asbestos had been discovered during the demolition of the Leisure Centre and that this had increased the cost of the demolition project overall.

The Cabinet RESOLVED that

(i)           the allocation of £103,000 of revenue funding to the ongoing delivery of the Leisure and Civic Hub detailed business case, as set out in Report No. REG2203, be approved;

(ii)          the allocation of £627,514 of capital funding from the current capital programme, following the discovery of significant asbestos in the existing Leisure Centre over and above that provided for in the approved demolition budget, as well as the provision of a further contingency to address any additional asbestos finds prior to completion, be approved, including a total of £10,000 to provide additional hoarding and anti-climb paint at the Leisure Centre demolition site; and

(iii)         the allocation of £35,000, for the development of a town centre strategy for Farnborough, be approved.

To receive an update on urgent works required to the party wall at Nos. 35-39 High Street, Aldershot and to note a further Record of Executive Decision, which was made following the receipt of final cost estimates (Report No. ED2201 and Record of Executive Decision attached).

The Cabinet received Report No. ED2201 and a Record of Executive Decision, which set out an urgent decision made on 22nd February, 2022 by the Executive Director in relation to urgent works required to a party wall between Nos. 35-39 High Street, Aldershot. The matter had been reported previously to the Cabinet in December, 2021. Members were informed that, since that time, the cost of the repairs had increased and now stood at £294,000 plus VAT.

The Cabinet RESOLVED that the action taken, as set out in the Record of Executive Decision dated 22nd February, 2022, be noted and endorsed.