Cabinet - Tuesday, 15th October, 2019 7.00 pm - Agenda and minutes

To confirm the Minutes of the meeting held on 17th September, 2019 (copy attached).

The Minutes of the meeting of the Cabinet held on 17th September, 2019 were confirmed and signed by the Chairman.

To consider Report No. ED1907 (copy attached), which sets out an update on progress against the Rushmoor 2020 Programme and provides details of further modernisation and improvement initiatives, which will be managed through a whole Council transformation programme known as ICE.

The Cabinet considered Report No. ED1907, which set out an update on progress towards the Rushmoor 2020 modernisation and improvement programme, which had been adopted by the Council in 2018. Members were informed that the programme had been established as a mechanism to address the recommendations and improvements set out in the report resulting from the Council’s Peer Challenge exercise in December 2017. The Cabinet was informed that the recent Peer Challenge review exercise had found that the Council had made good progress in many areas.

The Report also explained how the delivery of further modernisation and improvement would be managed through a whole Council transformation programme known as ICE.

The Cabinet RESOLVED that

(i)           the progress to date with the Rushmoor 2020 programme, as set out in Report No. ED1907, be noted;

(ii)          the initial recommendations of the Peer Challenge Review Team, as set out in the Report, be noted and these be taken forward as part of the Council’s ongoing modernisation and improvement work;

(iii)         the Business Mandate and Programme Delivery Plan for the ICE programme, as set out in the Report, be approved;

(iv)         the focus and approach for the organisational redesign project, to be delivered as part of the ICE programme, be noted;

(v)          the confirmation by the Chief Executive of the consequential staffing service changes resulting from the process and organisational redesign projects throughout the programme, be noted; and

(vi)         the Executive Head of Finance be authorised to make alterations to budgets, as required, to enable delivery of the programme.

To consider Report No. FIN1928 (copy attached), which sets out the Council’s Medium Term Financial Strategy and the budgetary framework to support the preparation of the Council’s 2020/21 budget.

The Cabinet considered Report No. FIN1928, which set out the Medium Term Financial Strategy (MTFS) and the budgetary framework to support the preparation of the 2020/21 budget. The Report also provided an update on the Council’s financial position and set out the financial forecast over the medium term, for financial planning purposes.

Members were informed that the current projected deficit in 2021/22 stood at £2,111,000. This was significantly higher than previous years due to a number of factors, including uncertainty over the level of New Homes Bonus, provision for inflation and budget pressures arising from proposed changes by Hampshire County Council to waste and recycling arrangements. It was reported that the Council’s balances and reserves were at good levels, as reflected in Table 4 of the Report. Members were informed that the Government was, currently, carrying out a technical consultation and that the Executive Head of Finance, in consultation with the Corporate Services Portfolio Holder, would prepare a response to this.

The Cabinet RESOLVED that

(i)           the Budget Strategy 2020/21, as set out in Section 6 of Report No. FIN1928, be approved; and

(ii)          the Medium Term Financial Forecast and associated risks and uncertainties, as set out in Sections 7 and 8 of the Report, be noted.

To consider Report No. EPSH1944 (copy attached), which seeks agreement to publish for public consultation and, subject to no substantive policy or resource objections having been received, to adopt the draft Home Improvements and Extensions Supplementary Planning Document.

The Cabinet considered Report No. EPSH1944, which set out the draft Home Improvements and Extensions Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) and sought agreement for this to be published for consultation and, following the consultation period, adopted.

Members were informed that the purpose of this SPD was to provide further guidance to support the implementation of Policy DE1: Design in the Built Environment, which was contained in the recently adopted Rushmoor Local Plan. It was proposed that the Cabinet would adopt the SPD, subject to no substantive policy or resource objections being received during the consultation exercise. If such objections were received, the matter would be brought back to the Cabinet for further consideration.

The Cabinet RESOLVED that

(i)           the draft Home Improvements and Extensions SPD be approved for public consultation for a period of six weeks;

(ii)          the Head of Economy, Planning and Strategic Housing, in consultation with the Planning and Economy Portfolio Holder, be authorised to make factual and/or non-substantive minor amendments to the SPD prior to consultation and adoption;

(iii)         following the consultation period and subject to no substantive policy or resource objections being received during that time, the adoption of the Home Improvements and Extensions Supplementary Planning Document, as set out in Appendix 1 to Report No. EPSH1944, and subject to any subsequent minor amendments, be approved; and

(iv)         in the event of substantive policy or resource objections being received, the matter be brought back to the Cabinet for consideration.

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.

49                   3                      Information relating to financial or business affairs

To consider Exempt Report No. RP1921 (copy attached), which seeks approval for the disposal of the Council’s freehold interest associated with Parsons Barracks Car Park to the Rushmoor Development Partnership.

The Cabinet considered Exempt Report No. RP1921, which sought approval for the disposal of the Council’s freehold interest associated with Parsons Barracks Car Park, Aldershot.  

The Report set out the detailed terms for the proposed disposal. Members were assured that a recent study had shown that there was sufficient capacity within the other car parks in Aldershot town centre, allowing for the growth that was anticipated, to facilitate the disposal of the Parsons Barracks Car Park.

Members expressed strong support for the proposed approach and considered this to be important in relation to the Council’s wider regeneration objectives in Aldershot town centre.

The Cabinet RESOLVED that the disposal of the Council’s freehold interest in the Parsons Barracks Car Park, Aldershot to the Rushmoor Development Partnership, at the value set out in paragraph 3.2 of Exempt Report No. RP1921, be approved.

NOTE:  Cllr M.J. Tennant declared a personal interest under Part 6 of the Members’ Code of Conduct, by virtue of his appointment, by the Council, to the Rushmoor Development Partnership Board. This interest was not considered to be a disclosable pecuniary interest as no payments and, therefore, no profits or gains would be due to partners.  This personal interest was considered, however, to be prejudicial, under Part 8 of the Code, as the Business Plan affected the financial position of the Rushmoor Development Partnership and a member of the public, with knowledge of the relevant facts, would reasonably regard this to be so significant as to prejudice that councillor’s judgement of the public interest. Therefore, Cllr Tennant left the meeting during the discussion and voting on this item.