Agenda item

To receive any questions by Members to Cabinet Members submitted in accordance with the Procedure Note.

(1)  Cllr Sarah Spall had submitted a question for response by the Finance and Resources Portfolio Holder (Cllr A.H. Crawford) on the progress of the Financial Recovery Working Group to achieve a sustainable financial position.

 

Cllr Crawford advised that he was very pleased with the improvements made to the Council’s financial position and the resulting outturn report. It was noted that £4million less had been drawn down from reserves than anticipated, through the stabilisation on borrowing costs, savings targets being met and additional work underway to improve the position further. Cllr Crawford extended his thanks to the Finance Team and wider staff for all their hard work.

 

(2)  Cllr Halleh Koohestani had submitted a question for response by the Pride in Place and Neighbourhood Services Portfolio Holder (Cllr Christine Guinness) on National Anti-Social Behaviour Awareness Week.

 

Cllr Guinness advised that the events had been really well received and showed strong engagement with the community. 110 people had engaged across the two towns and personal attack alarms, purse and key bells and bottle top covers had been handed out during the event. The Police, PCSO’s and anti-social behaviour team had all been involved in the event and played a key role in engaging with the community.

 

The event had gone so well that another event would be held before the next national event in 2026.

 

(3)  Cllr Thomas Day had submitted a question for response by the Policy, Performance and Sustainability Portfolio Holder (Cllr Jules Crossley) on the Pathways to Work Green Paper.

 

In the absence of Cllr Crossley, the response to this question would be made in writing.

 

(4)  Cllr Lisa Greenway had submitted a question for response by the Housing and Planning Portfolio Holder (Cllr Keith Dibble) on the Housing Register.

 

Cllr Dibble advised that 232 homes had been made available during 2025. This number included the units at Union Yard, Aldershot, identified specifically for NHS workers. It was noted that rental costs had been set at £800 for a one bed, £1,000 for a two bed, £1,295 for a three bed and £1,699 for a four bed property. There were currently 1,958 families looking for a home in Rushmoor. It was recognised that the number was not good, but the team were working hard to address it.

 

(5)  Cllr Steve Harden had submitted a question for response by the Healthy Communities and Active Lives Portfolio Holder (Cllr Sophie Porter) on the Farnborough Leisure Centre.

 

The Portfolio Holder advised that the Council’s pre-planning consultation related to the new Farnborough leisure centre, which included two pools, a 110-station gym facility, fitness studio, spin studio, soft play and café. The survey provided a range of questions relating to the building and its design, with opportunities for free text responses. Since the launch of the consultation, there had been over 220 responses and around 100 attendees at the drop in events. In accordance with good consultation practice, as with all of the Council’s surveys, the Council had used a range of standard demographic questions that helped the Council to understand survey respondents better. It was also reported that a number of separate on-line and face to face consultation sessions with key user groups (e.g.: RAAG/skate park users) had taken place, all of which had been very well received. The survey would close on 25 July and the Council were still very keen to hear from all residents and future users of the new facility.

 

Cllr Porter advised that a track was being kept of social media commentary and had noted that some residents were disappointed. However, it was noted that the Council could not afford to replace all the facilities in the old leisure centre but were committed to providing a new facility within the limits of the funding available and through listening to residents’ views. The survey feedback would be important in shaping any changes to the Leisure Centre planning application and she would encourage anyone who wanted to influence this to respond to the survey.

 

Cllr Harden asked a supplementary question regarding extending the closing date of the survey and was the new facility going to be like the one in Camberley?

 

Cllr Porter advised that the plans were for a fully costed facility, and the Council were unable to fund everything that the public wanted.

 

(6)  Cllr Gareth Lyon had submitted a question for response by the Housing and Planning Portfolio Holder (Cllr Keith Dibble) on the delivery of housing units.

 

Cllr Dibble advised that the unverified number of housing units delivered in Rushmoor in 2025 was 412 units. The Council’s aim was to deliver communities with decent housing for all, ensuring homes were designed to last a lifetime.

 

(7)  Cllr Mike Smith had submitted a question for response by the Pride in Place and Neighbourhood Services Portfolio Holder (Cllr Christine Guinness) on progress towards a police shop unit in Farnborough Town Centre.

 

In the absence of Cllr Smith, the response to this question would be made in writing.

 

(8)  Cllr Paul Taylor had submitted a question for response by the Healthy Communities and Active Lives Portfolio Holder (Cllr Sophie Porter) on the cost of security.

 

In the absence of Cllr Taylor, the response to this question would be made in writing.

 

(9)  Cllr Lisa Greenway had submitted a question for response by the Pride in Place and Neighbourhood Services Portfolio Holder (Cllr Christine Guinness) on fly tipping fines.

 

Cllr Guinness confirmed that, fines had been issued for fly tipping in the last quarter.

 

In addition, it was noted that there had been a steady increase in enforcement since 2023/24, when 27 fines were issued and only three had been paid. In 2024/25, 45 fines were issued, of which 32 were paid. The Place Protection Team continued to pursue those responsible and followed up with enforcement. Performance was also monitored closely.