Cabinet - Tuesday, 10th September, 2024 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 6th August, 2024 (copy attached).

The Minutes of the meeting of the Cabinet held on 6th August, 2024 were confirmed and signed by the Vice-Chairman.

To consider Report No. FIN2413 (copy attached), which sets out the Council’s anticipated financial position for 2024/25 as at the end of June, 2024.

The Cabinet considered Report No. FIN2413, which set out the anticipated financial position for 2024/25, based on the budget monitoring information provided by Heads of Service and Service Managers as at the end of June 2024. Members were informed that the Council continued to face a number of external budget pressures that were having an impact on the 2024/25 budget and the Council’s finances over the medium term, including higher than expected interest rates and the rate of inflation. It was reported that, at this stage of the financial year, the projected General Fund net adverse variance was £142,000. The Report set out the reasons for this variance and confirmed that, overall, the financial position was stable. It was confirmed that the risks and pressures were being closely monitored by budget holders and that Cabinet Members were kept updated on a regular basis. The Cabinet expressed appreciation for the work that had been carried out by the Council’s financial officers.

The Cabinet RESOLVED that

(i)           the revenue budget forecast, as set out in Section 2 of Report No. FIN2413, be noted;

(ii)          the Capital Programme forecast, as set out in Section 4 of the Report, be noted;

(iii)         the virements, as set out on Section 3 of the Report, be approved; and

(iv)         the movements to and from earmarked reserves, as set out in Section 3 of the Report, be approved.

To consider Report No. FIN2414 (copy attached), which sets out options for the future provision of its insurance services.

The Cabinet considered Report No. FIN2414, which set out a proposal in relation to the process by which the Council would procure its insurance services in the future.

Members were informed that, for many years, the Council had secured its insurance requirements through Gallaghers, who had been contracted as the broker for the Hampshire Insurance Forum, which consisted of the eleven Hampshire district and borough councils. The Report set out information on how the Hampshire Insurance Forum currently operated. It was reported that the Council’s Section 151 Officer had had experience of an alternative insurance collaboration model which was operated by the London Borough of Sutton (LBS) and comprised Sutton Council and seven Surrey local authorities. The Report set out the process by which this operated and explained the difference between this and the Hampshire model. LBS had expressed agreement to Rushmoor joining that scheme and was in the process of working up an insurance proposal that would be tailored to Rushmoor’s requirements. This was due to be received imminently.

The Cabinet discussed this and expressed support for the LBS approach being progressed, so long as the proposal received demonstrated best value for the Council.

The Cabinet RESOLVED that

(i)           the Executive Head of Finance, in consultation with the Leader of the Council and Finance Portfolio Holder, the Corporate Manager – Legal Services and the Chairman of the Corporate Governance, Audit and Standards Committee, be authorised to agree the collaborative agreement to join the integrated insurance service led by the London Borough of Sutton  as the preferred mechanism for the provision of insurance, subject to a satisfactory proposal being received in September, as set out in Report No. FIN2414;

(ii)          the additional provision of one-off funding of £15,000, to allow the London Borough of Sutton to support the Council’s insurance administration until the new arrangements were in place, to be funded from the Stability and Resilience Reserve, be approved; and

(iii)         subject to the collaboration proposal not being acceptable, the proceeding with the Hampshire Insurance Forum approach, as set out in the Report, be approved.

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.

6                      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.

25                   3                      Information relating to financial or business affairs

To consider Exempt Report No. PG2423 (copy attached), which sets out a proposal to grant a capital contribution to assist with shop fit out costs in respect of a potential new tenant of the Union Yard development in Aldershot.

The Cabinet considered Exempt Report No. PG2423, which set out a proposal to grant a capital contribution to a new tenant that would be coming to the Union Yard development in Aldershot.

Members were informed that the grant would assist the new tenant by contributing towards the cost of fitting out the new commercial unit. The Report set out the amount of the capital contribution and the terms applicable.

In response to a question, it was confirmed that the Council would be exposed to a limited amount of risk of financial loss, which would materialise only if the business concerned failed prior to the commencement of the fit out. Members expressed support for the proposed approach and felt that this would helpful to the overall launch of the Union Yard development.

The Cabinet RESOLVED that the capital contribution towards the tenant fit out of No. 1 Union Yard, Aldershot, on the terms set out in Exempt Report No. PG2423, be approved.