Cabinet - Tuesday, 3rd March, 2020 7.00 pm - Agenda and minutes

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.

88                   3                      Information relating to financial or business affairs

The Restricted Minute of the meeting of the Cabinet held on 4th February, 2020, in relation to Minute No. 86 (Aldershot town centre regeneration – Union Street), was confirmed and signed by the Chairman.

To confirm the Minutes of the meeting held on 4th February, 2020 (copy attached).

The Minutes of the meeting of the Cabinet held on 4th February, 2020 were confirmed and signed by the Chairman.

To consider Report No. DSP2003 (copy attached), which sets out a review of the Rushmoor Community Lottery, following the second year of operation, and proposes changes to its working arrangements.

The Cabinet considered Report No. DSP2003, which set out a review of the Rushmoor Community Lottery, following the second year of operation.

Members heard that the Lottery had been operating since July, 2017 and had raised over £53,000 of new money for the 97 local good causes that had signed up. The Cabinet was reminded that it had, at its meeting in January, 2019, approved the creation of a Community Forum to allocate amounts from the Community Fund to good causes in respect of which a grant application had been received. The Forum had met in July, 2019 and had allocated grants to 16 organisations. Following a review of the allocation process by the Democracy, Strategy and Partnerships Portfolio Holder, it was proposed that, in future, a fresh round of grant applications would be invited each time the balance of the Community Fund exceeded the sum of £10,000.

It was also reported that, in future, the annual report would be published on the Council’s website and that any adjustments to the scheme in future should be made by the Portfolio Holder.

The Cabinet RESOLVED that

(i)           the contents of Report No. DSP2003 be noted;

(ii)          in future years, information concerning the Rushmoor Community Lottery be included on the Council’s website;

(iii)         the proposed process of the triggering of subsequent grant application processes, when the balance of the Community Fund reached a minimum level of £10,000, be approved; and

(iv)         the Democracy, Strategy and Partnerships Portfolio Holder, in consultation with relevant officers, be authorised to make any future adjustments to the scheme.

To consider Report No. DSP2002 (copy attached), which sets out details of applications for grants from the Farnborough Airport Community Environmental Fund.

The Cabinet considered Report No. DSP2003, which sought approval to award grants from the Farnborough Airport Community Environmental Fund to assist local projects.

The Operational Services Portfolio Holder had considered four applications and had recommended that awards should be made to all four. The Cabinet enquired whether the agreement allowed for the contribution made by the Airport to the fund to be reviewed. This would be investigated.

The Cabinet RESOLVED that grants be awarded from the Farnborough Airport Community Environmental Fund as follows:

To consider Report No. FIN2010 (copy attached), which sets out proposed amendments to the existing Retail Discount Policy to reduce business rates liabilities to retail outlets and seeks approval of a new Pub Discount Scheme.

The Cabinet considered Report No. FIN2010, which set out proposed amendments to the Council’s existing Retail Discount Policy and proposed the  reintroduction of a Pub Discount Scheme.

Members were informed that the Retail Discount Policy was being changed due to the Government increasing the amount of the discount from 33% to 50% and broadening the qualifying criteria to include music venues and cinemas. Members were informed that the Pub Discount Scheme would provide a discount of £1,000 to eligible pubs with a rateable value of less than £100,000 in 2020/21.

The Cabinet RESOLVED that

(i)           the amendments to the Council’s Retail Discount Policy, as set out in Report No. FIN2010, be approved;

(ii)          the establishment of a local Pub Discount Scheme, as set out in the Report, be approved; and

(iii)         the Executive Head of Finance, in consultation with the Corporate Services Portfolio Holder, be authorised to award the reliefs and resolve disputes around eligibility for the schemes.

To consider Report No. OS2008 (copy attached), which sets out a proposed way forward following a public consultation exercise on possible changes to the current scheme of hackney carriage fares.

The Cabinet considered Report No. OS2008, which set out a proposed way forward following a public consultation exercise on possible changes to the current scheme of hackney carriage fares. The Cabinet was informed that the Council had received 116 responses to the public consultation exercise, of which 112 were from members of the taxi trade. All of the 116 responses made objections to the Council’s published proposals. The Operational Services Portfolio Holder, along with the Head of Operational Services and other officers, had met with members of the taxi trade where their concerns had been discussed. Following this meeting, it was felt that the Council’s proposals should be withdrawn at this time. Members were informed that a review of the Council’s taxi licensing policy was ongoing and it was proposed that a further review of the scheme of fares should be carried out as part of this process. It was further suggested that the use of a specialist consultant at this time would enable the Council and the taxi trade to provide clearer evidence to assist the negotiation of an amended scheme of fares that would be acceptable to all parties.

The Cabinet was supportive of the proposed approach, and, in particular, requested that the review should consider the equity of the £1 extra charge when a journey crossed the Borough’s border, such as with trips to or from Frimley Park Hospital.

The Cabinet RESOLVED that

(i)           the withdrawal of the proposed variation to the existing scheme of hackney carriage fares, as set out in Report No. OS1909 (Cabinet 16th December, 2019), be approved;

(ii)          the existing scheme of hackney carriage fares (effective from 1st September, 2018) be retained and the consideration of amendments to the scheme be undertaken as part of the future review of the Council’s taxi licensing policy. The review to be supported by the engagement of a specialist consultant; and

(iii)         the 3.4% notional uplift for 2019/20 be taken into account as part of the fares review.

To consider Report No. OS2007 (copy attached), which seeks approval to apply for temporary planning permission for the Kings Moat Car Park for a further three year period.

The Cabinet considered Report No. OS2007, which sought approval to submit a planning application to extend by three years the temporary planning permission for the Kings Moat car park, which was due to expire in May, 2020.

Members were reminded that, 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, 2014 and 2017, permission had been given to continue using this land as a car park. Whilst the car park was located within the Civic Quarter redevelopment site and would, at some point, be part of the regeneration scheme, it was recommended that the retention of  the area as a public car park was the best option for the Council for the time being.

It was noted that the car park attracted 66,500 visits each year, with a net income of £60,000 per annum and operational expenditure of £8,000 per annum.  

The Cabinet RESOLVED that the Head of Operational Services be authorised to seek planning permission to continue using the land as a car park for a further three years from May 2020.

To consider Report No. DSP2004 (copy attached), which seeks approval for the adoption of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IFRA) Working Definition of Antisemitism, for submission to the Council on 23rd April, 2020.

The Cabinet considered Report No. DSP2004, which set out a proposal to recommend to the Council the adoption of International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) Working Definition of Antisemitism.

Members were informed that the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government had recently written to local authorities to encourage the adoption of the definition.

The Cabinet RECOMMENDED TO THE COUNCIL that approval be given to the adoption of the formal definition as follows:

 “Antisemitism is a certain perception of Jews, which may be expressed as hatred toward Jews. Rhetorical and physical manifestations of antisemitism are directed toward Jewish or non-Jewish individuals and/or their property, toward Jewish community institutions and religious facilities.”.

To consider Report No. RP2005 (copy attached), which sets out the next steps in relation to the delivery of the Council’s Union Street scheme in Aldershot town centre and seeks authority to submit necessary planning applications.

The Cabinet considered Report No. RP2005, which provided an update on the next steps in relation to the delivery of the Union Street regeneration scheme in Aldershot and sought permission to submit the necessary planning applications in this regard.

Members were informed that a proposed mixed use scheme for the site had been the subject of a public consultation exercise in January and February, 2020. The consultation had attracted a good response and 85% of respondents had expressed support for the proposals. Subject to agreement by the Cabinet, a planning application would be submitted in early March in order to comply with the milestones attached to a successful funding bid to Home England’s Housing Infrastructure Fund Marginal Viability Fund (HIF) and further external funding from the Enterprise M3 Local Enterprise Partnership.

The Cabinet RESOLVED that

(i)           the Executive Head of Regeneration and Property be authorised to submit planning applications and secure the appropriate permissions as required to enable the Union Street regeneration scheme in Aldershot town centre, as set out in Report No. RP2005; and

(ii)          the proposed decision making process for the implementation of the scheme, as set out in Section 3 of the Report, be noted.