Cabinet - Tuesday, 7th March, 2017 7.00 pm - Agenda and minutes

To confirm the Minutes of the Meetings held on 1st February, 2017 and 7th February, 2017 (copies attached).

The Minutes of the meetings of the Cabinet held on 1st February, 2017 and 7th February, 2017 were confirmed and signed by the Chairman.

To consider the Head of Financial Services’ Report No. FIN1711 (copy attached), which gives details of two applications for discretionary rate relief.

The Cabinet considered the Head of Financial Services’ Report No. FIN1711, which set out details of applications for rate relief from The Well of Life (formerly KC21) (Ground Floor Rear, No. 57 Lynchford Road, Farnborough) and Limbcare (Shop Mobility) (Mobility Scooter Hire Store, Kingsmead, Farnborough).

The Cabinet RESOLVED that

(i)           20% top-up discretionary relief be awarded to The Well of Life from 24th September, 2015 to 31st March, 2022; and

(ii)          20% top-up discretionary relief be awarded to Limbcare from 31st July, 2015 to 31st March, 2022.

To consider the Head of Community and Environmental Services’ Report No. COMM1705 (copy attached), which seeks approval to apply for planning permission for new facilities at Moor Road Recreation Ground, Farnborough.

The Cabinet considered the Head of Community and Environmental Services’ Report No. COMM1705, which sought approval to submit a planning application in respect of new facilities for the Moor Road Recreation Ground.

Members were informed that, to develop a long term vision for the Moor Road Recreation Ground, the Council had adopted the consultation and mapping process that had been used successfully to develop and deliver the vision for Aldershot Park in 2008. This process had produced a vision for Moor Road that had included a BMX pump track, perimeter bike skills course, new playground, youth shelter, multi use games area, outdoor gym, picnic / barbeque area and a skate park. It was reported that the skate park currently located next to the Farnborough Leisure Centre was likely to close due to the redevelopment of the Farnborough Civic Quarter. The Cabinet was informed that the scheme would be financed using developers’ contributions and other funding streams, some of which had already been confirmed.

The Cabinet was broadly supportive of the scheme but expressed concern over the proposed youth shelter, as similar installations elsewhere in the Borough had presented anti social behaviour problems. It was agreed that this would be reconsidered before any such facility was installed at this site. The Cabinet also requested that options should be identified for further potential sites for skate parks in Farnborough, in addition to the proposed new facility at Moor Road Recreation Ground.

The Cabinet RESOLVED that approval be given to the Head of Community and Environmental Services to seek planning permission for the new facilities at Moor Road Recreation Ground, as set out in the Head of Community and Environmental Services’ Report No. COMM1705.

To consider the Head of Community and Environmental Services’ Report No. COMM1706 (copy attached), which seeks approval to apply for temporary planning permission for the Kingsmoat Car Park for a further three year period.

The Cabinet considered the Head of Community and Environmental Services’ Report No. COMM1706, which sought approval to submit a planning application to extend by three years the temporary planning permission for the Kings Moat car park, which would expire in May, 2017.

            In 2007, permission had been given to use this land as a 58 space car park for a period of three years. The time limit had been agreed to ensure that the long-term objectives for the redevelopment of Farnborough town centre were not prejudiced by the permanent use of this land for car parking. In 2011 and again in 2014, permission had been given to continue using this land as a car park. With no redevelopment proposals at the present time that affected the Kings Moat car park, it was proposed that planning permission be sought to retain the parking for a further three years. 

It was noted that the car park attracted 79,000 visits per year with a net income of £60,000 per annum and expenditure of £8,000 per annum.  

The Cabinet RESOLVED that approval be given to the Head of Community and Environmental Services to seek planning permission to continue using the land as a car park for a further three years.

To consider the Head of Community and Environmental Services’ Report No. COMM1707 (copy attached), which sets out details of applications for grants from the Farnborough Airport Community Environmental Fund.

The Cabinet considered the Head of Community and Environmental Services’ Report No. COMM1707, which sought approval to award grants from the Farnborough Airport Community Environmental Fund to assist local projects. 

The Cabinet Member for Environment and Service Delivery had considered three applications and had recommended that two awards should be made. It was noted that a further award to 3rd Farnborough Scout Group had not been recommended, as the project to provide fencing and cut back trees did not meet the criteria of the fund.

The Cabinet RESOLVED that grants be awarded from the Farnborough Airport Community Environmental Fund to the following organisations:

To consider the Solicitor to the Council’s Report No. LEG1705 (copy attached), which sets out details of an urgency decision taken in respect of the making an offer for the acquisition of land adjoining the Optrex Industrial Estate, Hook.

The Cabinet considered the Solicitor to the Council’s Report No. LEG1705, which notified the Cabinet, for information, of an urgency decision that had been taken in respect of the making of an offer to acquire land adjoining the Optrex Business Park, Rotherwick, Hook. The decision had been made under urgency powers in order to secure the purchase of this land, in light of an alternative offer that had been submitted to the owner by a third party.

The Cabinet RESOLVED that the actions taken, as set out in the Solicitor to the Council’s Report No. LEG1705, be noted.

To consider the Solicitor to the Council’s Report No. LEG1704 (copy attached), which sets out a proposed corporate policy on the use of covert investigatory techniques, under the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000.

The Cabinet received the Solicitor to the Council’s Report No. LEG1704, which set out a revised corporate policy on the use of covert investigatory techniques under the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 (RIPA). 

Members were informed that the policy had last been reviewed and revised in April 2013. The proposed changes incorporated the latest guidance, implemented recommendations following an inspection in 2016 and reflected changes in the Council’s structure. It also included some new provisions relating to communications data and the use of social networking sites.

The Cabinet RESOLVED that the Council’s corporate policy on the use of covert investigatory techniques under the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 (RIPA), as set out in Appendix 1 to the Solicitor to the Council’s Report No. LEG1704, be approved.

To consider the Solicitor to the Council’s Report No. LEG1705 (copy attached), which sets out proposed changes to the powers of the Solicitor of the Council to enable decisions to be made promptly and efficiently in relation to the Council’s growing property portfolio.

The Cabinet received the Solicitor to the Council’s Report No. LEG1706, which proposed changes to the powers of the Solicitor to the Council in the scheme of delegation.

Members were informed that the changes were being proposed to enable decisions to be made promptly and efficiently in relation to the Council’s growing property portfolio. Members discussed the proposals and it was agreed that, in relation to the new power for the Solicitor to the Council to be authorised to action the release of restrictive covenants, Ward Councillors should receive informal notification of such action. It was agreed that the new arrangements should be reviewed after a period of twelve months.

The Cabinet RESOLVED that the changes to the powers of the Solicitor to the Council in the Council’s scheme of delegation, as set out in Appendix 2 of the Solicitor to the Council’s Report No. LEG1706, 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 No.                     Schedule 12A          Category

            Para. Nos.

10                                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 12A          Category

No.                  Para. No.

107                3                                  Information relating to financial or business affairs

To consider the Head of Financial Services’ Exempt Report No. FIN1712 (copy attached), which gives details of an application for the remission of non-domestic rates due to hardship.

The Cabinet considered the Head of Financial Services’ Exempt Report No. FIN1712, which set out an application for the remission of non-domestic rates on the grounds of hardship.

Members assessed the application from Ms. Anusha Sareen trading as Mangobean, No. 52 Union Street, Aldershot, taking into account the evidence of financial hardship supplied and whether it was in the interests of local taxpayers to subsidise the business. The Cabinet took into account the nature and circumstances of the business and the availability of alternative facilities in the area.

The Cabinet Member for Concessions and Community Support had visited the premises and had discussed the application with Ms. Sareen. The Cabinet discussed the application but, taking into account the financial information supplied by the applicant, felt unable to support the application.

The Cabinet RESOLVED that the application for hardship relief by Ms. Anusha Sareen trading as Mangobean be refused.