Cabinet - Tuesday, 22nd April, 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 consider Report No. ACE2507 (copy attached), which seeks approval of a Council Delivery Plan for 2025/26, for submission to the Council.

The Cabinet considered Report No. ACE2507, which set out a Council Delivery Plan for 2025/26.

Members were informed that the plan set out the Council’s priorities and the key projects and activities that the Council would undertake over the following year to contribute to delivering the new strategic priorities. The plan was structured across five themes:

·                     Skills, Economy and Regeneration

·                     Homes for All: Quality Living, Affordable Housing

·                     Community and Wellbeing: Active Lives, Healthier and Stronger Communities

·                     Pride in Place: Clean, Safe and Vibrant Neighbourhoods

·                     The Future and Financial Sustainability

It was explained that there were two amendments to the version of the plan that had been published with the agenda pack; firstly that the first theme, as listed above, would now read ‘Skills, Economy and Regeneration’ instead of ‘Skills, Economy and Business’ and secondly, that ‘Supporting the priorities of the Armed Forces Champion to deliver activities for the Armed Forces Community’ would be added under the community and cultural activity priority.

In discussing this matter, the Cabinet was pleased that the Council Delivery Plan now reflected the current administration’s priorities and would provide a solid base from which the Council would be able to take on the significant challenges it would face over the following years, including achieving financial sustainability, local government reorganisation and devolution. It was confirmed that, in future, annual delivery plans would be brought forward each year.

The Cabinet

(i)           RECOMMENDED TO THE COUNCIL that the Council Delivery Plan 2025/26, as set out in Report No. ACE2507 and amended as above, be approved;

(ii)          RESOLVED that, following the decision to include Hampshire in the priority programme for devolution, the refreshed priorities, as set out in the Report, be approved; and

(iii)         RESOLVED that a commitment to produce annual Delivery Plans over the following three years be approved.

To consider Report No. PEO2504 (copy attached), which sets out updates to the Council’s Pension Discretions Policy and Organisational Change Policy.

The Cabinet considered Report No. PEO2504, which set out changes to the Council’s Pension Discretions Policy and Organisational Change Policy.

Members were informed that the new Pension Discretions Policy would reflect additional discretions that had been introduced since the policy had been last updated in August 2010. The Council’s Organisational Change Policy had been reviewed at the same time and it had been identified that the clause outlining the process for the protection of pension benefits was no longer valid and should be removed.

The Cabinet RESOLVED that

(i)           the adoption of the updated Pension Discretions Policy, as set out in Appendix A of Report No. PEO2504, be approved; and

(ii)          the deletion of the clause regarding the process for the protection of pension benefits in the Organisational Change Policy, as set out in Appendix B of the Report, be approved.

To consider Report No. OS2507 (copy attached), which sets out details of a review in relation to the level of fines in respect of Fixed Penalty Notices.

The Cabinet considered Report No. OS2507, which set out proposed amendments to the level of fines applicable for the various fixed penalty notice offences where the level of fine was discretionary.

Members were informed that included in the changes was an increase in the fine in respect of fly-tipping from a maximum of £400 to a maximum of £1,000. Members felt that this would represent a much more effective deterrent against fly-tipping. The full list of proposed changes was set out in Appendix 1 of the Report. The Cabinet requested that the new fees should be widely publicised to maximise the effect as a deterrent.

The Cabinet RESOLVED that the amendments to the level of fines, as set out in Report No. OS2507, be approved, to take effect from 1st May, 2025.

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.

88                   3                      Information relating to financial or business affairs

To consider Exempt Report No. PG2510 (copy attached), which sets out information relating to the Council’s current and future provision of temporary accommodation.

The Cabinet considered Exempt Report No. PG2510, which set out the Council’s current and proposed future approaches to the provision of temporary accommodation.

Members were reminded that local housing authorities had a duty to secure accommodation for unintentionally homeless households in priority need under Part 7 of the Housing Act 1996. The Council  currently maintained a number of units of temporary accommodation across the Borough and also used Bed and Breakfast accommodation when required. The Report set out a number of proposals in relation to the future provision of this accommodation and the reasons for the changes.

The Cabinet expressed support for the proposed approach, particularly in respect of the extension of the use of providers that were proven in the delivery of this specialised service.

The Cabinet RESOLVED that

(i)           the approach for entering into a short-term contract until December, 2026 for the provision of supported accommodation at the named property, as set out in Exempt Report No. PG2510, be approved; and

(ii)          the approach for securing appropriate temporary accommodation to meet future need, as set out in the Exempt Report, be approved.