Cabinet - Tuesday, 21st April, 2026 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 17th March, 2026 (copy attached).

The Minutes of the meeting of the Cabinet held on 17th March, 2026 were confirmed and signed by the Chair.

To consider Report No. ED2605 (copy attached), which sets out an update on progress with planning for the Armed Forces Day National Event 2026, along with the revised budget position.

The Cabinet considered Report No. ED2605, which set out an update on progress with planning for the Armed Forces Day National Event 2026, along with a revised budget position that was required to ensure the safe and successful delivery of the event.

Members were reminded that the Council, working in partnership with the Ministry of Defence and local shareholders, had secured the opportunity to host this prestigious event, bringing significant economic, social and community benefits to the Borough. The Cabinet, as its meeting in November, 2025, had agreed to underwrite the cost  of the event and had approved proposals for seeking sponsorship to cover the costs of running the event. Members were informed that, as the Council had gained a clearer understanding of the scale, security and specialist infrastructure required to deliver an event of national significance to the expected standard, it had become clear that the budget would need to be updated to more accurately reflect the operational, safety and logistical demands involved. It was confirmed that considerable commercial sponsorship and in-kind support had already been secured, with further opportunities being actively pursued to close the current funding gap between income and expenditure.

The Cabinet expressed strong support for the hosting of this event, which Members considered would be of significant benefit to the Borough.

The Cabinet RESOLVED that

(i)           the current financial position, as set out in Report No. ED2605, be noted and the underwriting of the current budget gap of £243,250 be approved, to be funded from any remaining balances in the events budget, the community recovery fund and the stability and resilience reserve;

(ii)          the proposals for seeking additional commercial income to cover the remaining costs and to close the budget gap, as set out in the Report, be approved; and

(iii)         the Cabinet should be informed of the projected net cost as the project progresses, with any requests for additional funding being made to the Cabinet before committing expenditure, including how expenditure would be funded.

To consider Report No. REG2602 (copy attached), which sets out the background and reasons for carrying out a Strategic Delivery Review of the Farnborough Civic Quarter project.

The Cabinet considered Report No. REG2602, which set out the background and reasons for carrying out a Strategic Delivery Review of the Farnborough Civic Quarter (FCQ) project.

Members were reminded that, at its meeting in February, 2023, the Council’s Development Management Committee had approved an outline permission in relation to the Farnborough Civic Quarter Masterplan. Unfortunately, since that time, a number of underlying parameters had shifted and this had impacted negatively the viability of the scheme in the current economic climate. It was proposed, therefore, that the Council should commission a Strategic Delivery Review to inform regeneration activity on the FCQ. The Cabinet was informed that this proposal  was being made to comply with the requirements of the Council’s Delivery Plan and that completing the Strategic Delivery Review would enable the Council to manage the risks around the FCQ and would increase the likelihood of successful delivery within the resources available.

During discussions, Members noted the importance of this site in relation to the Council’s housing delivery programme and support was expressed for the suggested approach of commissioning a Strategic Delivery Review.

The Cabinet RESOLVED that the provision of a budget of £98,000 to carry out the review be approved, to be funded from the Stability and Resilience Reserve.

To consider Report No. MD2602 (copy attached), which provides an update on work underway to put in place new strategic management arrangements to enable the Council to maintain services, ensure that the Council Delivery Plan 2026-28 is delivered and to manage the impact of Local Government Reorganisation (LGR).

The Cabinet considered Report No. MD2602, which set out proposed changes to the Council’s management arrangements.

Members were informed that these new arrangements would enable the Council to maintain services, ensure that the Council Delivery Plan 2026-28 was delivered and support the delivery of Local Government Reorganisation (LGR). The proposed strategic management structure set out in Appendix 2 of the Report would seek to strengthen capacity and to support the Head of Paid Service and the LGR process and to ensure that the organisation continued to function effectively, recognising the significant draw of resources towards LGR activity. The report set out several proposed changes, which included the establishment of a new director-level role of Chief Operating Officer, to be recruited internally and appointed to by a Member panel.

The Cabinet was satisfied that the proposals set out provided the best option to enable the Council to tackle the significant challenges it faced in the lead-in to the implementation of LGR.

The Cabinet RESOLVED that

(i)           the proposed strategic management arrangements for the Council, as set out in Appendix 2 of Report No. MD2602, be endorsed, noting that these would be reported to the Council on 2nd July, 2026, in line with Section 11.3 of the Council’s Constitution;

(ii)          given the demands relating to Local Government Reorganisation, the appointment of the new chief officer post of Chief Operating Officer as soon as practicable, in line with the process set out in Paragraph 2.8, be noted, with an appointment panel consisting of four Members, including the Corporate Services Portfolio Holder and the Leader of the Council, having been established by the Interim Managing Director to undertake this appointment; and

(iii)         at the request of the Leader of the Council, the Licensing and Corporate Business Committee being requested to establish an assessment panel to consider the permanent appointment of the Council’s Head of Paid Service be noted, with the panel to include the Leader of the Council, the Corporate Services Portfolio Holder and the Leaders of other political groups.

To note a decision made under the Council’s arrangements for urgency and exceptions relating to the implementation of the Council’s Council Tax Second Home Premium (Record of Executive Decision attached).

The Cabinet received a Record of Executive Decision, which set out a decision made under urgency powers on 20th March, 2026 by the Executive Director to set aside the implementation of the Council’s Council Tax Second Home Premium.

The Record explained that there had been process errors made by officers in the setting of the premium and that statutory guidance had not been followed correctly. It was explained to Members that the decision had been made under urgency powers contained within Part 4 of the Council’s constitution and that it was for this reason that the matter had been presented to the Cabinet for noting.

The Cabinet NOTED the action taken, as set out in the Record of Executive Decision dated 20th March, 2026.