Cabinet - Tuesday, 11th March, 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, no declarations of interest were made.

To confirm the Minutes of the meeting held on 11th February, 2025 (copy attached).

The Minutes of the meeting of the Cabinet held on 11th February, 2025 were confirmed and signed by the Chairman.

To consider Report No. FIN2508 (copy attached), which sets out the Council’s forecasted financial position for 2024/25 as at the end of January, 2025.

The Cabinet considered Report No. FIN2508, which set out an update on the Council’s forecasted financial position for 2024/25, as at the end of January, 2025.

Members were reminded that the Council had a statutory obligation to set and maintain a balanced budget. It was reported that, in February 2025, the Council had identified a significant challenge to its future financial sustainability. Members were informed that the forecast outturn for 2024/25 was on track, with the full £740,000 savings requirement achieved for 2024/25. The level of external borrowing had reduced through careful cashflow management, which had delayed and reduced the need to borrow externally. It was confirmed that the overall reduction in the level of borrowing required in the Council’s Medium Term Financial Strategy could only be achieved through capital receipts.

The Cabinet was pleased with the progress that had been made in addressing the Council’s challenging financial position and expressed gratitude to the finance team for its work in this respect.

The Cabinet RESOLVED that

(i)           the revenue budget forecast, as set out in Section 3.1 of Report No. FIN2508, be noted; and

(ii)          the virements, as set out in Section 3.12 of the Report, be approved.

To consider Report No. FIN2507 (copy attached), which sets out amendments to two local policies to award business rate relief to organisations in the Borough.

The Cabinet considered Report No. FIN2507, which set out two changes to discretionary rate relief policies that had been announced by the Government.

Members were informed that retail, hospitality and leisure businesses would continue to receive relief, which had originally been introduced in 2014, but that the level of relief from 2025/26 would be reduced on previous years. The other change related to private schools, that would no longer be receiving mandatory relief. The purpose of the report was to amend the Council’s existing Discretionary Business Rate Relief Policies to reflect the changes.

The Cabinet RESOLVED that

(i)           the amendment to the Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Rates Relief Policy, as set out in Appendix A of Report No. FIN2507, be approved; and

(ii)          the amendment to the Discretionary Rate Relief Policy for charities, not for profit organisations and other specified organisations under the Localism Act 2011 to exclude private schools receiving Discretionary Rate Relief, as set out in Appendix B of Report No. FIN2507, be approved.

To consider Report No. FIN2509 (copy attached), which sets out amendments to the discretionary Council Tax premium charged in respect of second homes.

The Cabinet considered Report No. FIN2509, which set out the proposed introduction of a Council Tax premium to be paid on second homes.

Members were informed that it was hoped that the introduction of a premium would encourage owners of furnished but unoccupied properties to bring them back into use. It was confirmed that the Council already levied a premium in respect of long term vacant properties that were unfurnished. It was reported that owners would receive at least one year’s notice of the introduction of the premium and that this period would provide sufficient time to make any appropriate changes. The premium would be applicable in respect of 98 properties in the Rushmoor area. It was confirmed that the premium would be introduced on 1st April, 2026 and not 1st April, 2016 as stated in the report.

The Cabinet RESOLVED that

(i)           the increase of Council Tax by 100% for second home properties from 1st April, 2026, as set out in regulations and in Report No. FIN2509, be approved; and

(ii)          the amendment to the long-term empty homes policy, to include changing an additional 100% to second homes, as set out in Report No. FIN2509, be approved.

To consider Report No. ACE2505 (copy attached), which sets out a revised Climate Change Strategy and Action Plan for the period 2025-28.

The Cabinet considered Report No. ACE2505, which set out an update to the Council’s Climate Change Strategy and Action Plan.

Members were reminded that the Council had declared a climate emergency in June 2019 and that the Cabinet had approved a Climate Change Action Plan shortly after this. Since that time, the Council had been delivering a number of projects and programmes that had sought to mitigate the impact of climate change. The Cabinet was informed that the report provided details of revisions to the Climate Change Strategy and Action Plan to cover the period 2025-28.The Action Plan now identified ten priority actions and these were set out in the report. It was confirmed that, in a change to earlier versions of the report, the use of UKSPF Funding to deliver climate change actions would be considered as an option. 

In discussing this, Members stressed the importance of the Rushmoor Climate Community Group in progressing the Council’s climate change response. The Cabinet expressed strong support for the updates to the Council’s approach in addressing climate change.

The Cabinet RESOLVED that

(i)           the Climate Change Strategy 2025-2028, as set out in Annex 1 to Report No. ACE2505, be approved; and

(ii)          the Climate Change Action Plan 2025-2028, as set out in section 3.3 of 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 paragraphs of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act, 1972 indicated against such item:

Item                Schedule      Category

No.                  12A Para.

                        No.

8                      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.

74                   3                      Information relating to financial or business affairs

To consider Exempt Report No. REG2502 (copy attached), which seeks authority to dispose of the freehold interest in respect of a Council-owned property in Farnborough town centre.

The Cabinet considered Exempt Report No. REG2502, which sought approval to dispose of the freehold interest in a property that was currently owned by the Council in Farnborough town centre, subject to the finalisation of terms.

Members were informed that this disposal would contribute towards the Council’s capital receipts target that had been agreed at the Council meeting in February, 2025. The Exempt Report set out details of the disposal and how this would contribute to the delivery of the Council’s Financial Recovery Plan.

The Cabinet expressed support for the proposed approach as an important strand towards delivering stability to the Council’s financial position. Members requested that the Portfolio Holder should be satisfied with the preferred purchaser’s approach to the provision of affordable housing and that the finalisation of terms should only be progressed with the agreement of the Portfolio Holder in this regard.

The Cabinet RESOLVED that

(i)           in principle and subject to due diligence, the disposal of the freehold interest of the property to the preferred purchaser at the conditional value set out in paragraph 3.5 of Exempt Report No. REG2502, be approved; and

(ii)          the Executive Head of Property and Growth, in consultation with the Economy, Skills & Regeneration Portfolio Holder and the Executive Head of Finance, be authorised to confirm the final terms and enable the disposal, subject to the Economy, Skills & Regeneration Portfolio Holder confirming satisfaction with the preferred purchaser’s approach to the provision of affordable housing.