Cabinet - Tuesday, 6th March, 2018 7.00 pm - Agenda and minutes
Venue: Concorde Room, Council Offices, Farnborough
Contact: Chris Todd, Democratic Services on 01252 398825 or e-mail: chris.todd@rushmoor.gov.uk
No. | Item |
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To confirm the Minutes of the meeting held on 6th February, 2018 (copy attached). Minutes: The Minutes of the meeting of the Cabinet held on 6th February, 2018 were confirmed and signed by the Chairman. |
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BUSINESS RATES - DISCRETIONARY RATE RELIEF POLICY FOR DISCRETIONARY REVALUATION RELIEF PDF 142 KB To consider Report No. FIN1812 (copy attached), which sets out proposed amendments to the Council’s existing Discretionary Rate Relief Policy to reduce business rates liabilities to those Ratepayers most affected by the 2017 national revaluation. Presented By: Cllr Gareth Lyon, Concessions and Community Support Portfolio Holder Minutes: The Cabinet RESOLVED that |
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UPDATED FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE POLICY FOR HOUSING GRANTS AND LOANS PDF 3 MB To consider Report No. EHH1808 (copy attached), which sets out proposed amendments to the Council’s Financial Assistance Policy for Housing Grants and Loans. Presented By: Cllr Barbara Hurst, Health and Housing Portfolio Holder Minutes: The Cabinet RESOLVED that the adoption of
the updated Financial Assistance Policy for Housing Grants and Loans, as set out
at Appendix 1 to Report No. EHH1808, be approved. |
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PROPOSED TAXI SHARING ARRANGEMENTS FOR FARNBOROUGH INTERNATIONAL AIRSHOW 2018 PDF 2 MB To consider Report No. EHH1809 (copy attached), which outlines proposals for public consultation on a taxi-sharing scheme to run for the duration of the Farnborough International Airshow 2018. Presented By: Cllr Ken Muschamp, Business, Safety and Regulation Portfolio Holder Minutes: The Cabinet considered Report No. EHH1809, which outlined proposals for a taxi-sharing scheme to run for the duration of the Farnborough International Airshow 2018. Members were informed that similar schemes had operated successfully at each Airshow since 2004. It was reported that this year’s proposed scheme was identical to that implemented in 2016. Details of how the scheme would operate were set out in the Report. In discussing the proposal, Members agreed that this represented an attractive proposition for both taxi operators and customers and provided an opportunity to increase taxi capacity, which would complement the traffic arrangements put in place to accommodate the Airshow. The Cabinet RESOLVED that |
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REVIEW OF CHARGING FOR PRE-APPLICATION PLANNING ADVICE PDF 219 KB To consider Report No. PLN1805 (copy attached), which sets out a review of the arrangements for charging for pre-application planning advice and proposes amendments to the scheme. Presented By: Cllr Ken Muschamp, Business, Safety and Regulation Portfolio Holder Minutes: The Cabinet considered
Report No. PLN1805, which set out a review of the financial returns and impact
on services of the introduction of charges for pre-application planning advice.
It was also proposed to make some amendments to the
scheme. Members were reminded that
the charges had been in place since 1st February, 2017
and a breakdown of the charges received was included in Section 3 of the
Report. It was now proposed to increase the charges to
reflect Government policy regarding planning application fees. It was also recommended to introduce some exemptions from
charges in respect of applications from charities and community groups. In response to a question, it was confirmed
that the introduction of charging for pre-application advice had not led to a decline
in the quality of planning applications received by the Council. The Cabinet RESOLVED that (i)
the continuation of charging for pre-application
discussions be approved; (ii)
the increase in charges to
£720 for major schemes, £240 for small to medium sized developments and £40 for
householder and minor developments be approved; (iii)
exemptions from
pre-application advice charges be approved in respect of: -
Wellesley
/ Grainger PLC schemes in relation to the Aldershot Urban Extension; -
the
Council’s own developments and those of Hampshire County Council, where they
relate to the provision of public services in the Borough; and (iv)
the application of the new
minimum householder / minor development charge of £40 to all requests for
pre-application advice, irrespective of the proposal type, made by community /
charity groups be approved, subject to the group meeting the following criteria: -
a
registered charity; -
headquarters
in the Rushmoor area; -
involved
in activity serving the people of Rushmoor; and -
not part of a national
charity with multiple UK or international offices. |
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NEW DEPOT CONSTRUCTION PDF 263 KB To consider Report No. COMM1803 (copy attached), which sets out the current position in relation to the Design and Build Contract for the Council`s new depot in Lysons Avenue, Ash Vale and seeks a supplementary capital budget for 2018/19. Presented By: Cllr Martin Tennant, Environment and Service Delivery Portfolio Holder Minutes: The Cabinet considered Report No. COMM1803,
which set out the latest position in relation to a design and build contract
for the construction of the Council’s new depot in Lysons
Avenue, Ash Vale and sought a variation to the Council’s Capital Programme . The Report set out the process to date and
Members were reminded that the build contract had been
awarded to Neilcott Construction, following the
design work provided by Kier Construction. Members had been advised previously
that additional costs had been likely to accrue due to issues relating to the
novation of contractors that had carried out work for Kier and the significant
increase in the amount of soil needed to be removed
which contained low levels of contamination. The latest cost
report from the Council’s Quantity Surveyor had indicated an estimated
overspend of £210,000 on the agreed budget of £3,180,000. Completion of
the construction was due in mid-June 2018. The Report stated that other
unforeseen costs might yet be incurred in relation to
this project. The Cabinet RESOLVED that |
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VOYAGER HOUSE, SOUTHWOOD BUSINESS PARK PDF 180 KB To consider Report No. LEG1803
(copy attached), which provides an update to the Cabinet in relation to the
provision of primary and community health care within the West Farnborough
locality, as advised by the North East Hampshire and Farnham Clinical Commissioning
Group. Presented By: Cllr Barbara Hurst, Health and Housing Portfolio Holder Minutes: The Cabinet considered
Report No. LEG1803, which set out an update from the North East Hampshire and
Farnham Clinical Commissioning Group on the provision of primary and community
health care within the West Farnborough locality. The Report described how
the position had been worsening progressively. This meant that the acquisition
of Voyager House, to provide a local health facility, was becoming urgent. It
was confirmed that an item would be coming to the Cabinet at its next meeting
in this respect. The Cabinet NOTED the increasing need for the earliest practicable
acquisition of Voyager House to provide improved service access and an
Integrated Care Centre for the population of Farnborough, as set out in Report
No.
LEG1803. |
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EXCLUSION OF THE PUBLIC 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. No. 9 and 10 3 Information
relating to financial or business affairs Minutes: 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. 79 and 80 3 Information relating to
financial or business affairs |
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THE FOLLOWING ITEMS WERE CONSIDERED |
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COMMERCIAL PROPERTY ACQUISITIONS UPDATE AND PROPOSED ACQUISITION OF PLOT NO. 13 INVINCIBLE ROAD, FARNBOROUGH To consider Exempt Report No.
LEG1802 (copy attached), which updates the Cabinet on commercial property
acquisitions generally and sets out a proposal for the Council to acquire Plot No.
13 Invincible Road, Farnborough. Presented By: Cllr Paul Taylor, Corporate Services Portfolio Holder Minutes: The Cabinet considered
Exempt Report No. LEG1802, which sought approval to acquire Plot No. 13
Invincible Road, Farnborough and provided an update on progress in relation to
the acquisition of the Meads, Farnborough and on the financial implications of
the acquisition of Voyager House, Farnborough. The Report contained all
the relevant financial information relating to the acquisitions. Members
considered that all three sites were of strategic importance to the Council. It
was confirmed that the Council would continue to
borrow at short-term interest rates for the time being. The Cabinet RESOLVED that (i)
the capital expenditure for the
acquisition of Plot No. 13 Invincible Road, Farnborough, associated capital
costs, full year General Fund revenue income and revenue expenditure, in the
sums set out in Exempt Report No. LEG1802, be approved; (ii)
the decision taken to
acquire the Meads, Farnborough for the sum set out in the Exempt Report,
together with associated capital costs, full year General Fund revenue income
and revenue expenditure, be noted; and (iii)
the estimated costs for the acquisition of Voyager House, Farnborough, in
the context of the Commercial Property Acquisitions budget for 2018/19, as set
out in the Exempt Report, be noted. |
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ALDERSHOT TOWN CENTRE REGENERATION HOUSING INFRASTRUCTURE FUND To consider Exempt Report No. CD1802 (copy attached), which provides an update in relation to the funding allocation of £8.4 million recently secured via the Housing Infrastructure Fund. Presented By: Cllr Martin Tennant, Environment and Service Delivery Portfolio Holder Minutes: The Cabinet considered
Exempt Report No. CD1802, which, following the Council’s success in securing
£8.4 million of funding towards Aldershot Town Centre regeneration projects,
provided an update on the bid process and set out the implications of accepting
the funding allocation and the next steps. Members were informed that the monies had been received from the
Housing Infrastructure Fund - Marginal Viability Gap Fund and, in particular, would
support the delivery of the two key development sites at Union Street East and
The Galleries. The Cabinet RESOLVED that (i)
the implications for the
Council and the terms and conditions of the Housing Infrastructure Fund be
noted and accepted; (ii)
the Head of Financial
Services be authorised to enter into any funding agreement associated with the
Housing Infrastructure Fund Marginal Viability Gap Fund grant; (iii)
the Solicitor to the
Council be authorised, following receipt of appropriate valuation advice, to
negotiate and acquire, by agreement, any legal interests or rights held in
respect of the Union Street properties listed in Paragraph 3.9 of Exempt Report
No. CD1802; (iv)
the Corporate Director /
Principal Regeneration Officer be authorised to submit planning applications
and to secure the appropriate permissions as required to enable the
regeneration of Aldershot Town Centre, to include a scheme for Union Street, as
set out in Paragraph 3.7 of the Exempt Report; (v)
the Solicitor to the Council
be authorised to enter into and agree the terms of: (a)
any
legal documentation necessary in respect of the purchases or acquisition of
rights authorised by (iii) above and to undertake any ancillary action in
connection therewith; (b)
the
Development Agreement, Lease and any ancillary documentation with the developer
of the Galleries scheme (subject to the developer meeting the Council’s
reasonable legal costs); (c)
any
funding agreements to release Housing Infrastructure Fund monies to any development
partner (subject to the developer meeting the Council’s reasonable legal
costs); and (vi)
the future financial implications associated with entering into a new long
term lease arrangement for a new public car park, be noted. |