To confirm the Minutes of the Meetings held on 30th May, 2017 and 13th June, 2017 (copies attached).

Further to Minute No. 8, in respect of Manor Park, Aldershot – fence replacement, it was agreed to include that the Cabinet requested that, if practicable, a plaque should be erected close to the replacement railings to explain that the original railings had been donated to the war effort during World War Two.

Subject to the above amendment, the Minutes of the meetings of the Cabinet held on 30th May, 2017 and 13th June, 2017 were confirmed and signed by the Chairman.

To consider Report No. FIN1724 (copy attached), which provides details of the main treasury management operations for 2016/17 and sets out revised prudential indicators for capital financing for 2017/18.

The Cabinet received Report No. FIN1724, which set out the main treasury management activities during 2016/17, provided a review of the treasury management practices and schedules and set out a proposal for an increase to the capital budget for 2017/18, which required a revision to the prudential indicators for capital financing for 2017/18. It was explained that the Council would continue to take advantage of borrowing at lower, short-term interest rates for the time being, whilst closely monitoring the financial markets for signs of potential future interest rate increases. The Cabinet expressed its support for the approach taken in this area.

The Cabinet

(i)           RECOMMENDED TO THE COUNCIL that approval be given to:

(a)          the updates treasury management practices and schedules, as set out in Report No. FIN1724;

(b)          a variation to the Capital Programme of £15 million, with delegation to the Cabinet to draw down for the purposes of investment property acquisition in 2017/18;

(c)          the updated 2017/18 prudential indicators, as set out in Appendix E of the Report; and

(ii)       NOTED the Council’s treasury management operations carried out during 2016/17, as set out in Report No. FIN1724.

To consider Report No. CD1703 (copy attached), which sets out a review of the Community Ward Grants Scheme, which had been introduced on 23rd August, 2016.

The Cabinet considered Report No. CD1703, which set out a review of the activity undertaken during 2016/17 under the Community Ward Grants Scheme pilot.

The Cabinet was informed that the pilot had been well received by Ward Councillors and that grants had been made in all thirteen Ward areas. The Cabinet was assured that Ward Members would be encouraged to use future grants to provide seed funding for new initiatives where possible, rather than to support existing causes. It was confirmed that the application process had now been simplified.

The Cabinet RESOLVED that the continuation of the Community Ward Grants Scheme for 2017/18 and the increase in the value of awards to £1,000 per annum per Ward, as set out in Report No. CD1703, be approved.

To consider Report No. PLN1719 (copy attached), which seeks agreement to publish the draft Car and Cycle Parking Standards Supplementary Planning Document for consultation.

The Cabinet considered Report No. PLN1719, which set out the draft Rushmoor Car and Cycle Parking Standards Supplementary Planning Document 2017 and sought agreement for this to be published for a period of public consultation.

Members were informed that the previous Supplementary Planning Document had been adopted in April 2012. It was reported that, in October 2016, the Cabinet had set up the Parking Strategy Member Working Group and that this Group had had a significant input in the development of the updated standards. It was explained that the standards aimed to provide a framework to minimise parking issues on future developments. They were intended to be stringent but defendable in the case of an appeal. Members were assured that the Working Group had started to address areas where there were known parking problems at present.

The Cabinet considered the draft Supplementary Planning Document and discussed many issues, including the currency of the data used in preparing the document, the use of shared disabled / visitor spaces and the provision of car parking at educational establishments.

The Cabinet RESOLVED that

(i)                       the outcome of the review of the Council’s Car and Cycle Parking Standards Supplementary Planning Document, as set out in Report No. PLN1719, be noted; and

(ii)                      the draft Supplementary Planning Document, as set out in the Report, be approved for consultation; and

(iii)         the Environment and Service Delivery Portfolio Holder, in consultation with the Head of Planning, be authorised to make any necessary minor changes, prior to publication for public consultation.

To consider resolving:

That, subject to the public interest test, the public be excluded from this meeting during the discussion of the undermentioned items to avoid the disclosure of exempt information within the paragraphs of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act, 1972 indicated against such items:

Item                Schedule      Category

Nos.               12A Para.

                        Nos.

6 and 7           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 items to avoid the disclosure of exempt information within the paragraph of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act, 1972 indicated against the items:

Minute           Schedule      Category

Nos.               12A Para.

                        No.

20 and 21      3                      Information relating to financial or business affairs

To consider Exempt Report No. LEG1712 (copy attached), which seeks authority to appropriate land to be held for planning purposes and to dispose of the land to one of the adjoining owners, to be used as garden land.

The Cabinet considered Exempt Report No. LEG1712, which sought approval to appropriate land to be held for planning purposes and then to dispose of the land to the occupier of No. 5 Innisfail Gardens, Aldershot, to allow the land to be used as garden land.

It was explained that the plot in question, to the side of No. 5 Innisfail Gardens, Aldershot, had been left over when the adjoining housing had been built. It was confirmed that no objections had been received to the disposal of the open space, when this had been advertised as part of the planning application process.

The Cabinet RESOLVED that

(i)           the Solicitor to the Council be authorised to publish a notice, under Sections 232 (4) and 233 (4) of the Town and Country Planning Act, giving notice of intention to appropriate the land, shown edged red on the plan at Appendix 1 of Exempt Report No. LEG1712, for planning purposes;

(ii)          the Solicitor of the Council, in consultation with the Corporate Services Portfolio Holder, be authorised to consider any objections to the proposed appropriation and disposal; and

(iii)         the Solicitor of the Council, subject to the consideration of any objections, be authorised to dispose of the land outlined in red in Appendix 1, under Section 233 of the Town and Country Planning Act, at the price stated in the Exempt Report, subject to imposing covenants to fence the land and preventing any built development upon the land without the Council’s consent.

To consider Exempt Report No. LEG1711 (copy attached), which seeks authority to dispose of the property known as No. 2A Windsor Way, Aldershot.

The Cabinet considered Exempt Report No. LEG1711, which sought approval to dispose of No. 2A Windsor Way, Aldershot to the Church of England Diocese of Guildford, to be used for the expansion of the Holy Trinity Church in Aldershot.

Members were reminded that the site had been used previously by St. John Ambulance as an ambulance station but that they no longer required it. The Church was seeking to buy it to expand its existing site to allow more Church activities. It was confirmed that the Church would be required to enter into a planning obligation to restrict the use to a community use in connection with the Church and granting the Council a right of pre-emption should the Church ever wish to dispose of the property.

The Cabinet RESOLVED that

(i)           the Solicitor to the Council be authorised to sell No. 2A Windsor Way, Aldershot to the Church of England Diocese of Guildford for the sum set out in the Exempt Report No. LEG1711, subject to the Church:

(a)          completing the purchase within a period of six months;

(b)          entering into a planning obligation restricting the use of the land to use in connection with the Church;

(c)           granting a right of pre-emption requiring the Church to offer to sell the property back to the Council at community use value should they wish to dispose of the property in the future; and

(ii)          the net capital receipt from the sale be set aside for use under the Council’s Strategy for the Flexible Use of Capital Receipts.