Cabinet - Tuesday, 16th April, 2024 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 meeting held on 12th March, 2024 (copy attached).

The Minutes of the meeting of the Cabinet held on 12th March, 2024 were confirmed and signed by the Chairman.

To consider Report No. FIN2404 (copy attached), which sets out a local policy to award a Council Tax discount to Rushmoor residents that qualify as care leavers.

The Cabinet considered Report No. FIN2404, which set out a proposed local policy to enable the Council to award a discount from the Council Tax liability in respect of Rushmoor residents that qualified as care leavers and were aged up to 25 years.

Members were informed that the scheme would provide up to 100% discount if the resident fulfilled the qualification criteria, which were set out in the policy. There were, currently, six individuals that were liable for Council Tax that had been identified as qualifying as care leavers and the total value of the discount would be around £7,063, of which the Council’s proportion would total £791.

The Cabinet RESOLVED that the establishment of a local Care Leavers Discount Policy, as set out in Report No. FIN2404, be approved.

To consider Report No. DEM2403 (copy attached), which sets out a Reservist Policy in relation to the Council’s workforce.

The Cabinet considered Report No. DEM2403, which set out a new Reservist Policy for the Council.

Members were informed that this policy would demonstrate that the Council supported and recognised the need to ensure flexible working practices to help staff to maintain their working responsibilities if they were, or were to become, Reservists in the Armed Forces. The adoption of the Policy would support the Council’s ambition to reach the Gold Award standard in the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme. In discussing the policy, the Cabinet expressed support for the proposed approach and felt that this may encourage other local employers to adopt similar arrangements.

The Cabinet RESOLVED that the Reservist Policy, as set out in Appendix 1 of Report No. DEM2403, be approved.

To consider Report No. ACE2405 (copy attached), which sets out the Council’s approach to dealing with the third round of the Local Authority Housing Fund, including governance and funding arrangements.

The Cabinet considered Report No. ACE2405, which set out proposed governance arrangements in relation to the third round of the Local Authority Housing Fund.

Members were informed that Round 3 of the Local Authority Housing Fund had been established by the Government to provide better quality, affordable temporary accommodation to prevent people becoming homeless. In March, 2024, the Government had announced that £518,000 of capital funding was being made available to the Council. This would be used to provide temporary homeless accommodation and sustainable settled housing to those on the Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme. Match funding for Local Authority Housing Fund Round 3 had been identified from unallocated grant funding.

The Cabinet

(i)           RESOLVED that:

(a)          the agreement in principle with the purchase of homes for temporary homelessness accommodation and to accommodate an Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme household using Local Authority Housing Fund Round 3 funding with match funding from unallocated grant funding from the wider Resettlement Programme and Homeless Prevention Grant, as set out in Report No. ACE2405, be approved;

(b)          the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding relating to the Local Authority Housing Fund Round 3, following the principle set out in the Report, be approved;

(c)          the governance arrangements associated with the purchase of properties, as set out in paragraphs 3.4 to 3.6 of the Report, be approved; and

(d)          the providing of grant funding to Rushmoor Homes Limited for the purchase of a property to accommodate an Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme household be approved; and

  (ii)        RECOMMENDED TO THE COUNCIL that the Capital Programme for 2024/25 be increased by £742,000, to be fully funded from a combination of Local Authority Housing Fund and resettlement grants.

It was confirmed that Cllr J.B. Canty was standing down at the forthcoming Borough elections and the Leader (Cllr G.B. Lyon) wished to place on record his thanks for Cllr Canty’s excellent service to the Council and to the Cabinet.