Cabinet - Tuesday, 9th August, 2022 7.00 pm - Agenda and 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, no declarations of interest were made.

To confirm the Minutes of the meeting held on 5th July, 2022 (copy attached).

The Minutes of the meeting of the Cabinet held on 5th July, 2022 were confirmed and signed by the Chairman.

To consider Report No. FIN2227 (copy attached), which sets out the Council’s anticipated financial position for 2022/23, based on a monitoring exercise carried out with Head of Service and Service Managers during July 2022.

The Cabinet considered Report No. FIN2227, which set out the anticipated financial position for 2022/23, based on the initial budget monitoring carried out with Head of Service and Service Managers during July 2022. Members were informed that the Council faced a number of significant financial risks that were expected to materialise in the following weeks. It was clarified that these risks were mainly external and included interest rates, provision for the pay award, rising energy costs and the rate of inflation. It was reported that, at this early stage of the financial year, the projected revenue budget variance of £1.6 million posed a significant to the Council’s financial sustainability. The Report, therefore, set out a series of urgent actions to be taken over the following weeks to mitigate and reduce the projected variation. The Cabinet was supportive of the actions proposed and it was confirmed that Portfolio Holders would continue to closely monitor budgets within their areas of responsibility.

The Cabinet RESOLVED that

(i)           the revenue budget forecast and impact on reserve balances, as set out in Section 3 of Report No. FIN2227, be noted;

(ii)          the Capital Programme forecast, as set out in Section 5 of the Report, be noted; and

(iii)         the recommended actions to manage and reduce the level of adverse variation across the revenue budget, as set out in Section 4 of the Report, be approved.

To consider Report No. ACE2205 (copy attached), which sets out performance monitoring information in relation to the Council Business Plan for the first quarter of 2022/23.

The Cabinet received Report No. ACE2205, which set out progress in delivering the Council Business Plan projects during the first quarter of 2022/23. Members were informed that progress against key activities and projects was included in the Report, along with the Council’s business performance monitoring information and the Council’s Corporate Risk Register. It was reported that, at the end of the first quarter, 53.8% of projects/activities were on track, with the remainder showing an amber status. No project had a red status.

The Cabinet NOTED the progress made towards delivering the Council Business Plan, as set out in Report No. ACE2205.

To consider Report No. DEM2201 (copy attached), which sets out a proposal to transfer the management of the Alderwood Leisure Centre to Alderwood School.

The Cabinet considered Report No. DEM2201, which proposed the transfer the operation of the Alderwood Leisure Centre to Alderwood Senior School. Members were informed that new community and leisure facilities were introduced at the then Connaught School, along with Wavell and the then Oak Farm Schools, in the early 1990s, as part of the community schools project with Hampshire County Council. It was reported that negotiations had been going on for some time with the School for them to take over the management of the facilities. As part of the deal, the Council would undertake to fund the future replacement of the 3G artificial pitch, using existing S106 contributions. It was noted that the facility had not been able to match expenditure with income in recent years.

The Cabinet was supportive of the suggested approach, which would enable the facility to continue to provide important and well-used community facilities, in one of the more deprived areas of the Borough.

The Cabinet RESOLVED that

(i)           the transfer of the Alderwood Leisure Centre facilities to the Alderwood Senior School, as set out in Report No. DEM2201, be approved, subject to the conclusion of the necessary legal and financial arrangements; and

(ii)          the noting of the estimated accumulated deficit and transfer costs and agreement to draw the costs of the future 3G artificial pitch replacement from existing S106 funding, as set out in the Report, be approved, with necessary amendments to be made to the Council’s General Fund Balances and Earmarked Reserves, as detailed in the Report.