Cabinet - Tuesday, 2nd June, 2020 5.00 pm - Agenda and minutes

Venue: Remote Meeting - Link to view the meeting is below

Contact: Chris Todd, Democracy, Strategy and Partnerships  on 01252 398825 or e-mail:  chris.todd@rushmoor.gov.uk

Link: A recording of the live stream of this meeting is available by clicking this text and following the steps set out

Items
No. Item

1.

MINUTES pdf icon PDF 85 KB

To confirm the Minutes of the meeting held on 28th April, 2020 (copy attached).

Minutes:

The Minutes of the meeting of the Cabinet held on 28th April, 2020 were confirmed.

2.

2020-21 BUDGET AND MEDIUM TERM FINANCIAL STRATEGY - COVID-19 IMPACT pdf icon PDF 264 KB

To consider Report No. FIN2017 (copy attached), which sets out the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the Council’s 2020/21 Budget and Medium Term Financial Strategy.

Presented By: Cllr Paul Taylor, Corporate Services Portfolio Holder

Minutes:

The Cabinet considered Report No. FIN2017, which set out the current forecast of the impact from Covid-19 on the Council’s 2020/21 budget.

 

The Cabinet was informed that the current position was set out in Table 1 of the Report and this showed a net adverse impact of £633,165, after allowing for emergency funding provided by the Government. The Report set out an update in relation to the Council’s commercial property investments and investment income. It was reported that Farnborough International had approached members of the funding consortium to seek a deferral of interest payments in relation to the exhibition centre loan, in light of the cancellation of the 2020 Airshow. It was clarified that the shortfall in the Council’s finances would be funded from reserves in the short term but that it was likely that further savings would need to be identified over the period of the Medium Term Financial Strategy.

 

The Cabinet RESOLVED that

 

(i)           the forecasted financial impact of Covid-19, as set out in Report No. FIN2017, be noted;

 

(ii)          the establishment of the Treasury Management Reserve, as set out in Paragraph 5.5 of the Report, be approved; and

 

(iii)         the agreement in principle of the deferment of interest on loans to Farnborough International Limited, subject to the completion of the due diligence process set out in Paragraph 3.12 of the Report, be approved.

3.

COUNCIL BUSINESS PLAN END OF YEAR AND QUARTERLY UPDATE JANUARY - MARCH 2019/20 pdf icon PDF 1 MB

To consider Report No. ELT2002 (copy attached), which sets out the Council Business Plan performance monitoring information for the fourth quarter of 2019/20, including progress in the Regeneration Programme and the ICE Programme.

Presented By: Cllr David Clifford, Leader of the Council

Minutes:

The Cabinet received Report No. ELT2002, which set out progress against the Council Business Plan, as at the end of the fourth quarter of the 2019/20 municipal year. The Report brought together monitoring information in respect of the actions identified as key activities in the three year business plan, including the Council’s corporate projects and the Regeneration and ICE Programmes, which had been identified as two key areas of work that were essential in delivering the priorities,. It was confirmed that the Council continued to make good progress in relation to the Regeneration and ICE programmes despite the Council’s activities being restricted as a result of Covid-19.

 

The Cabinet NOTED the progress made towards delivering the Council Business Plan 2019/20 and the end of year position for the key activities that had been identified for the 2019/20 financial year, as set out in Report No. ELT2002.

4.

CORPORATE POLICY & STRATEGY pdf icon PDF 148 KB

To consider Report No. CX2005 (copy attached), which sets out proposed changes to the corporate policy and strategy function of the Council.

Presented By: Mr Paul Shackley, Chief Executive

Minutes:

The Cabinet considered Report No. CX2005, which set out the Chief Executive’s proposed changes to the corporate policy and strategy function of the Council.

 

The Cabinet was informed that the Council’s response to the Covid-19 Pandemic had identified that some of the Council’s corporate policy and strategy functions were in need of strengthening. These included the areas of policy response and development, strategy, performance, risk, emergency planning and business continuity and Covid-19 recovery. As part of the reorganisation, it was proposed to create a new role of Assistant Chief Executive, remunerated at Executive Head of Service level, and an associated office to which existing roles supporting the areas concerned would be relocated. It was confirmed that the new arrangements would release a large area of responsibility from the existing Head of Democracy, Strategy and Partnerships, which would enable further resources to be allocated to the Council’s activities to support the local community, which had become an area of growth recently. The Chief Executive requested an additional £50,000 across the following two years to support further work in this area.

 

The Cabinet was supportive of the suggested approach and requested that progress in these key areas was kept under ongoing review.

 

The Cabinet RESOLVED that

 

(i)           the challenges faced by the Council, as set out in Report No. CX2005, be noted;

 

(ii)          changes to the corporate policy and strategy functions, as set out in the Report, and the variation of the budget to allocate the sum of £50,000 from the recently received Government grant to fund the changes, be approved; and

 

(iii)         the provision of further funding of £50,000 over the following two years, to allow an increased level of community support, be approved.

5.

CLIMATE CHANGE – STRATEGY STATEMENT 2020-2030 pdf icon PDF 355 KB

To consider Report No. DSP2010 (copy attached), which sets out the Council’s Climate Change Strategy Statement.

Presented By: Cllr Ken Muschamp, Deputy Leader of the Council

Minutes:

The Cabinet considered Report No. DSP2010, which set out a Climate Change Strategy Statement for the Council. The Chairman welcomed Cllr M.J. Roberts to the meeting. Cllr Roberts had requested to address the Cabinet on this matter.

 

Members were reminded that the Council had declared a climate emergency at its meeting on 20th June, 2019 and had agreed to make its activities carbon neutral by 2030 and to build a more sustainable Borough. Since that time, a considerable amount of work had been undertaken to develop a strategy and action plan. It was explained that this was a starting point and that a number of detailed plans would now be developed to address the key principles and priorities for the Council, as set out in the Report and Strategy Statement. The Climate Change Working Group would continue to play a key role in reviewing the strategy document and draft action plan. 

 

It was acknowledged that work to address climate change had continued to receive cross party support and that the Council now intended to establish a clear process and action plan for taking that work forward.

 

The Cabinet RESOLVED that Climate Change Strategy Statement, as set out in Report No. DSP2010, be approved.

6.

APPOINTMENTS TO CABINET WORKING GROUPS

To confirm the appointments to the following groups for the 2020/21 Municipal Year:

 

i)             Budget Strategy Working Group

 

 

 

Corporate Services Portfolio Holder -

Cllr P.G. Taylor

 

 

Additional Cabinet Member -

Cllr A.R. Newell

 

 

Conservative Group (3) -

Cllrs Mrs. D.B. Bedford, J.B. Canty and S.J. Masterson

 

 

Labour Group (2) -

Cllrs Gaynor Austin and A.H. Crawford

 

 

Liberal Democrat Group (1) -

Cllr T.W. Mitchell

 

 

ii)           Climate Change Working Group

 

Chairman of Policy and Project

Advisory Board -

 

Cabinet Members (2) -

 

 

Conservative Group (2) -

 

 

Labour Group (2) -

 

 

iii)          Member Development Group

 

 

 

Cllr J.B. Canty

 

Cllrs K.H. Muschamp and M.L. Sheehan

 

Cllrs Mara Makunura and C.J. Stewart

 

Cllrs Gaynor Austin and M.J. Roberts

 

 

Democracy, Strategy and Partnerships Portfolio Holder -

 

Cllr A.R. Newell

 

 

Additional Cabinet Member -

Cllr P.G. Taylor

 

 

Conservative Group (2) -

Cllrs J.B. Canty and S.J. Masterson

 

 

Labour Group (2) -

Cllrs Nadia Martin and Sophie Porter

 

 

Liberal Democrat Group (1) -

Vacancy

 

Minutes:

The Cabinet RESOLVED that

 

(i)            appointments be made to Cabinet working groups for the 2020/21 Municipal Year as follows:-

 

Budget Strategy Working Group

 

 

 

 

 

Corporate Services Portfolio Holder -

Cllr P.G. Taylor

 

 

 

 

Chairman of Licensing, Audit and General Purposes Committee -

Cllr S.J. Masterson

 

 

 

 

Chairman/Vice-Chairman of Policy and Project Advisory Board -

Cllr J.B. Canty

 

 

 

 

Conservative Group (2) -

Cllrs Mrs. D.B. Bedford and C.J. Stewart

 

 

 

 

Labour Group (2) -

Cllrs Gaynor Austin and A.H. Crawford

 

 

 

 

Liberal Democrat Group (1) -

Cllr T.W. Mitchell

 

 

 

 

Climate Change Working Group

 

 

 

 

 

Chairman of Policy and Project Advisory Board -

Cllr J.B. Canty

 

 

 

 

Cabinet Members (2) -

Cllrs K.H. Muschamp and M.L. Sheehan

 

 

 

 

Conservative Group (2) -

Cllrs Mara Makunura and C.J. Stewart

 

 

 

 

Labour Group (2) -

Cllrs Gaynor Austin and M.J. Roberts

 

 

 

 

Liberal Democrat Group (1) -

Cllr T.W. Mitchell

 

 

 

 

Member Development Group

 

 

 

 

 

Democracy, Strategy and Partnerships Portfolio Holder -

Cllr A.R. Newell

 

 

 

 

Additional Cabinet Member -

Cllr P.G. Taylor

 

 

 

 

Conservative Group (2) -

Cllrs J.B. Canty and S.J. Masterson

 

 

 

 

Labour Group (2) -

Cllrs Nadia Martin and Sophie Porter

 

 

 

 

Liberal Democrat Group (1) -

Cllr T.W. Mitchell

 

 

(ii)          the Head of Democracy, Strategy and Partnerships, in consultation with the Leader of the Council, be authorised to make appointments to these Groups during the 2020/21 municipal year, in order to fill vacancies.