Agenda and minutes

Presentation and re-signing of the Armed Forces Covenant by Canon Peter Bruinvels.

The Chairman welcomed Canon Peter Bruinvels who gave a presentation on the Armed Forces Covenant, thanking the Council for its ongoing work with the Military and highlighting the Forces Connect App. 

The Chairman and the Chief Executive re-signed the Armed Forces Covenant on behalf of Hart District Council.

The Community Partnerships and Projects Manager was commended for all his work and efforts on securing the Covenant again.

To confirm the Minutes of the Council Meeting held on 23 February 2023.

The Portfolio Holder for Environment highlighted that:

At Full Council on 23 February 2023, he stated that car parking charges had been frozen for five years. This was not technically correct. A review of long stay and permit parking was undertaken four years ago, and some charges went up and a few went down.

In the subsequent press release he changed this statement to 'short term car parking charges have been frozen for seven years'

The Chairman accepted this information and there were no objections. The Minutes were proposed by Councillor Oliver and seconded by Councillor Radley.

The Minutes of the meeting of 23 February 2023 were confirmed and signed as a correct record and a post meeting note would be added to reflect the correction offered by Councillor Oliver.

To receive any apologies for absence from Members*.

*Note: Members are asked to email Committee Services in advance of the meeting as soon as they become aware they will be absent.

Apologies were received from Councillors Bailey, Engström and Woods.

To declare disposable pecuniary, and any other interests*.

*Note: Members are asked to email Committee Services in advance of the meeting as soon as they become aware they may have an interest to declare.

No declarations made.

To receive any questions from members of the public submitted pursuant to Council Procedure Rule 12.

Note:  The text of any question under Council Procedure Rule 12 must be given to the Chief Executive (email committeeservices@hart.gov.uk) no later than Noon on Friday, 21 April 2023.

No questions received.

To receive any questions from Members submitted pursuant to Council Procedure Rule 14.

Note: The text of any question under the Council Procedure Rule 14.3 must be given to the Chief Executive (email committeeservices@hart.gov.uk) not later than 5.00pm on Monday 24 April 2023

The text of any question under Council Procedure Rule 14.4 must be submitted to the Chief Executive before 10.00am on Monday 24 April 2023

A question had been received from Councillor Farmer as detailed in Appendix A.

Members queried if a second question from Councillor Blewett would be answered, and the Chief Executive confirmed that he would respond to this question, on voter ID, in Chief Executive’s Announcements.  

The Chairman’s engagements since the last meeting were noted:

4 March: Mayor of Yateley's Charity Dinner

16 March: Chairman of East Hampshire's Civic Day 

18 March: Pelly Concert Orchestra at Church on the Heath

21 March: Chairman of Hart's Civic Day at The Elvetham and Hartland Village

13 April: Lord Mayor of Southampton's Charity Dinner

20 April:  Chairman of Hart's Volunteer Award Ceremony and Charity Dinner at The Elvetham

26 April: Chairman of Hampshire County Council's Dinner

The Leader of the Council, and member for Strategic Direction, Partnership and Countryside, Councillor Neighbour:

·         Cabinet approved new staff resources for Hart’s Climate Change work and an existing staff member will move into a new role in May. 

·         The next Climate Change Working Group meeting will be on 8 June. Overview and Scrutiny Committee and Cabinet will also meet to discuss the latest Climate Change targets and developments.

·         Yateley and Odiham Parish Councils continue to trial a scheme loaning out thermal imaging cameras to residents and this scheme is hoped to be rolled out to other parts of the district in the future.

·         Work to install solar panels on the roof of the Civic offices has completed.

·         Work to install EV charging points in council car parks continues.

·         Work to install LED lighting in council car parks is due to be completed over the summer.

The Cabinet Member for Finance, Councillor Radley asked members if they had any questions for him and there were none.

The Cabinet Member for Digital and Communications, Councillor Clarke:

Following the release of the new Council website a few weeks ago, Hart's Communications team have been preparing to release the first Residents' Newsletter and the first issue is expected to be emailed on Tuesday 2 May.

There are 350 subscribers signed up to this new communication channel via the website so far - and we ask members to encourage residents to join them.

The Leader of the Council, Councillor Neighbour read an update from the Portfolio Holder for Community Councillor Stuart Bailey. It highlighted the Overview and Scrutiny Committee’s upcoming visit to the new CCTV control room at Runnymede on 14 June. He included that subject to number restrictions other Members were welcome to attend too. 

The Cabinet Member for Place, Councillor Graham Cockarill gave no update.

The Cabinet Member for Regulatory, Councillor Tina Collins gave no update.

The Cabinet Member for Environment, Councillor Alan Oliver gave no update.

The Chief Executive reported he had written to all Members regarding the new Government requirement to present ID at a polling station. The email was sent in response to Councillor Blewett’s question:

Given that we should ensure appropriate transparency in respect of the elections on Thursday 4 May; I hope that we will record the number of people who become victims of the Government's ID policy and are turned away from each polling station.

Will we be advised of these numbers please?

The Chief Executive confirmed that the Government will decide what information should be disclosed regarding voter ID at polling stations and by law this will not by disclosed on a polling station basis; it will likely by on a district-wide basis.

A Member asked if on polling day, should voters be concerned on how valid ID would be?

The Chief Executive confirmed that the final decision on ID would lie with the individual polling station’s Presiding Officer. However, senior officers acting as Polling Station Inspectors would be able to support Presiding Officers in making any decision on voter ID is such a need arose. 

A Member asked if the Police were concerned about potential problems that may arise at polling stations on Election Day due to the introduction of presenting ID to vote. The Chief Executive confirmed the Police were aware.

The Minutes of the following Committees, which met on the dates shown, are submitted.

In accordance with Council Procedure Rule 14.1, Members are allowed to put questions at Council without Notice in respect of any matters in the Minutes to the Leader of the Council or any Chairman of the relevant meeting at the time those Minutes are received by Council.

The Minutes of the following Committees, which met on the dates shown, were received by Council.

The Chief Executive reminded Members that the Audit item – Item 34, updating the Audit Terms of Reference, if approved would change the Constitution.

The Audit Item was proposed by Councillor Southern and seconded by Councillor Axam and is deferred until the July Council meeting.

To receive any feedback from Members who are representatives of the Council on an Outside Body.

There were no Outside Bodies feedback from Members.

Before finally closing the meeting the Chairman and Group Leaders thanked Councillors Kinnell and Lamb for their contributions to Hart as they were retiring from the Council.