Agenda item

To consider the recommendations of the Cabinet and Corporate Governance, Audit and Standards Committee in relation to the following items:

(1)      Decision to opt into the National Scheme for Auditor Appointments managed by the Public Sector Audit Appointments as the ‘Appointing Person’

 

The Chairman of the Corporate Governance, Audit and Standards Committee introduced the Report of the Committee meeting held on 24th January 2022, which recommended that the Council should accept the Public Sector Audit Appointments’ invitation to opt into the sector-led option for the appointment of external auditors to principal local government and police bodies for five financial years from 1st April 2023.

 

It was MOVED by Cllr Sue Carter; SECONDED by Cllr P.J. Cullum – That the Council accept the invitation to opt into the sector-led option for the appointment of external auditors to principal local government and police bodies for five financial years from 1st April 2023.

 

There voted FOR: 36; AGAINST: 0; ABSTAINED: 0 and the Recommendation was DECLARED CARRIED.

 

(2)      Annual Capital Strategy 2022/23

 

Cllr Sue Carter introduced the Report of the Corporate Governance, Audit and Standards Committee meeting held on 15th February 2022, which recommended the approval of the Capital Strategy 2022/23 to 2024/25 and  Prudential Indicators for 2022/23.  

 

It was MOVED by Cllr Sue Carter; SECONDED by Cllr P.J. Cullum – That approval be given to the Capital Strategy 2022/23 to 2024/25 and Prudential Indicators for 2022/23. 

 

There voted FOR: 29; AGAINST: 0; ABSTAINED: 0 and the Recommendations were DECLARED CARRIED.

 

(3)      Annual Treasury Management Strategy and Annual Non-Treasury Investment Strategy 2022/23

 

Cllr Sue Carter introduced the Report of the Corporate Governance, Audit and Standards Committee meeting held on 15th February 2022, which recommended the approval of: the Treasury Management Strategy 2022/23, Annual Borrowing Strategy 2022/23, the Annual Non-Treasury Investment Strategy 2022/23 and the Minimum Revenue Provision Statement.  It was MOVED by Cllr Sue Carter; SECONDED by Cllr P.J. Cullum – That approval be given to the Treasury Management Strategy 2022/23 and Annual Borrowing Strategy 2022/23; Annual Non-Treasury Investment Strategy 2022/23; and, Minimum Revenue Provision Statement.   

 

There voted FOR: 29; AGAINST: 0; ABSTAINED: 0 and the Recommendations were DECLARED CARRIED.

 

 

(4)      Revenue Budget, Capital Programme and Council Tax Level

 

Cllr P.G. Taylor, Corporate Services Portfolio Holder, introduced the Report of the Cabinet meeting held on 8th February 2022 which recommended the approval of the budget and Council Tax requirement for 2022/23 and the Council Tax Support Scheme 2022/23.   

 

It was MOVED by Cllr P.G. Taylor; SECONDED by Cllr D.E. Clifford – That,

 

(i)            approval be given to the following recommendations set out in the Budget Booklet:

 

(a)          The Executive Head of Finance’s report under Section 25 of the Local Government Act 2003, as set out in Appendix 1;

 

(b)          the General Fund Revenue Budget Summary, set out in Appendix 2;

 

(c)          the Savings and Transformation items for inclusion in the budget, set out in Appendix 2 (CAB);

 

(d)          the Council Tax Requirement of £7,195,943 for this Council;

 

(e)          the Council Tax level for Rushmoor Borough Council’s purposes of £219.42 for a Band D property in 2022/23 (an increase of £5);

 

(f)           the Capital Programme, set out in Appendix 3;

 

(g)          the Strategy for the Flexible Use of Capital Receipts, set out in Appendix 4(CAB); and

 

(h)          the proposed transfers to and from earmarked reserves in 2022/23 and the holding of reserves, as set out in Table C3; and

 

(i)           approval be given to the following, as detailed in Report No. FIN2206:

 

(a)          following the review of Council Tax Support by the Task and Finish Group, the current scheme for working age customers continue for 2022/23 with the usual alignment to Housing Benefit Rates (this would mean that the minimum contribution would remain at 12%); and

 

(b)          the Council Tax Support Task and Finish Group be requested to undertake a detailed review of the Council Tax Support Scheme in early 2022/23 to take into account the continuing impact of the Covid-19 pandemic and the increasing cost of the Scheme and its local impact on Scheme recipients and other local Council Tax payers.

 

Following debate, the Recommendations were put to the meeting.  On a Recorded Vote, there voted FOR: Cllrs Jessica Auton, Mrs. D.B. Bedford, J. Belbase, J.B. Canty, Sue Carter, M.S. Choudhary, Sophia Choudhary, A.K. Chowdhury, D.E. Clifford, R.M. Cooper, P.I.C. Crerar, P.J. Cullum, M. Hope, L. Jeffers, Prabesh KC, Mara Makunura, S.J. Masterson, Marina Munro, A.R. Newell, M.L. Sheehan, M.D. Smith, C.J. Stewart, P.G. Taylor, M.J. Tennant, N. Thapa, Jacqui Vosper and the Deputy Mayor (Cllr J.H. Marsh) (27); AGAINST: Cllrs Gaynor Austin, T.D. Bridgeman, K. Dibble, Christine Guinness, A.J. Halstead, Nadia Martin, Sophie Porter, M.J. Roberts and Sarah Spall (9); and ABSTAINED: Cllr T.W. Mitchell and the Mayor (Cllr B.A. Thomas) (2) and the Recommendations were DECLARED CARRIED.

 

(5)      Council Business Plan Update 2022-2025

 

Cllr A.R. Newell, Democracy, Strategy and Partnerships Portfolio Holder,  introduced the Report of the Cabinet meeting held on 8th February 2022, which recommended the approval of the updated three-year Council Plan 2022-25.   It was MOVED by Cllr A.R. Newell; SECONDED by Cllr M.L. Sheehan – That approval be given to the updated three-year Council Plan 2022-25.

 

Following debate, the Recommendation was put to the meeting. On a Recorded Vote, there voted FOR: Cllrs Jessica Auton, Mrs. D.B. Bedford, J. Belbase, J.B. Canty, Sue Carter, M.S. Choudhary, Sophia Choudhary, A.K. Chowdhury, D.E. Clifford, R.M. Cooper, P.I.C. Crerar, P.J. Cullum, M. Hope, L. Jeffers, Prabesh KC, Mara Makunura, S.J. Masterson, Marina Munro, A.R. Newell, M.L. Sheehan, M.D. Smith, C.J. Stewart, P.G. Taylor, M.J. Tennant, N. Thapa, Jacqui Vosper and the Deputy Mayor (Cllr J.H. Marsh) (27); AGAINST: Cllrs Gaynor Austin, T.D. Bridgeman, K. Dibble, Christine Guinness, A.J. Halstead, Nadia Martin, M.J. Roberts and Sarah Spall (8); and ABSTAINED: Cllr T.W. Mitchell and the Mayor (Cllr B.A. Thomas) (2) and the Recommendations were DECLARED CARRIED.

 

(6)      Rushmoor Homes Limited – Business Plan Update 2022-2027

 

Cllr D.E. Clifford, Leader of the Council, introduced the Report of the Cabinet meeting held on 8th February 2022 which set out a five-year business plan for the Council’s local housing company, Rushmoor Homes Limited for approval.  It was MOVED by Cllr D.E. Clifford; SECONDED by Cllr M.J. Tennant – That approval be given to

 

(i)         the updated Business Plan 2022-2027;

 

(ii)       the amendment of the Shareholder Agreement to enable Rushmoor Homes Limited to purchase leasehold property where this supports its primary aim of providing market rented homes; and

 

(iii)      in the event of the Government introducing a requirement to provide ‘Minimum Revenue Provision’ on loans to wholly owned Housing Companies, Rushmoor Homes Ltd be required to review the Business Plan in co-operation with the Council.

There voted FOR:  32; AGAINST: 0; ABSTAINED: 0 and the Recommendations were DECLARED CARRIED.

 

NOTE:   Cllr K. Dibble declared a personal and prejudicial interest in this item in respect of his involvement as a Director of Rushmoor Homes Limited and, in accordance with the Members’ Code of Conduct, left the meeting during the discussion and voting thereon.