Agenda and minutes

The Chairman to seek Council agreement to suspend Standing Order, 9.3 (Show of Hands for Voting), 22.1 (Standing to Speak) and 22.2 (Chairman Standing).

It was unanimously agreed to suspend Standing Orders 9.3 (Show of Hands for Voting, 22.1 (Standing to Speak) and 22.2 (Chairman Standing).

To confirm the Minutes of the Council Meeting held on 25 February 2021.

The Minutes of the Meeting held on 25 February 2021 were confirmed and signed as a correct record.

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.

No apologies for absence had been received.

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.

None received.

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, 23^rd April 2021.

Questions had been received from Ms Louise Hodgetts, details of which are set out in Appendix A attached to these Minutes.

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, 26 April 2021.

The text of any question under Council Procedure Rule 14.4 must be submitted to the Chief Executive before 10.00am on Thursday 29 April 2021.

Questions had been received from Councillor Crookes, details of which are set out in Appendix B attached to these minutes.

The Chairman announced that during this year about £7,500, most of which has come from the Hart Lottery and he been raised for charitable purposes. He would welcome suggestions from councillors for charities who would benefit from these funds - particularly charities that are in difficulty due to the impact of the current pandemic and also charities that have been particularly helpful in helping those in need.

The Chairman also announced that Councillor Liz Tomlinson is standing down at the May elections and thanked her for services to the Council. Councillors joined the Chairman to thank her for all her hard work and commitment.

The Cabinet Member for Finance and Corporate Services, Councillor Radley announced:

In regard to the various grant schemes which we are administering on behalf of the government to local businesses:

Statistics today are as follows:

· We have received 172 valid discretionary restart grant applications and we have authorised 105 for payment.

· We have received 270 valid main scheme restart grant applications and we have authorised 119 for payment.

· The total value of restart main grant authorised is £953,340.

· The total value of restart discretionary grant authorised is £163K.

Therefore, we have paid in excess of £1m in just the last 12 days. After a government U-turn and there retracting the restart grant from Parish Council Halls, bridal shops, and tailors, we propose to amend our own policy on discretionary grants and use Additional Restrictions Grant funding to pay both the Parish Councils for halls and top up the bridal shops and tailors from non-essential shop level to personal care level.

In an update from the community Safety Team:

In regard to Anti-Social Behaviour (ASB) one Closure Notice is in place and goes to Court in June for a Closure Order hearing and another Closure Order was granted through the Court on 1st April. These have both been successful outcomes in two very persistent and ongoing ASB cases where the impacts of

the behaviours were far reaching on particularly vulnerable victims. A further Closure Notice (and then Order) is being pursued through Legal at present.

A presentation of approximately 40 minutes has also been prepared to share what Hart Community Safety covers, which can be delivered to Members that express an interest. This will be after the elections.

The Cabinet Member for Community, Councillor Bailey, reported:

Lateral Flow Test Centre:

The centre that has been hosted by Hart District Council, closed on Friday 30th April. Thanks to staff and volunteers for tremendous efforts in setting it up and running such an effective resource for Hart residents. We have completed circa 1400 tests and a huge thanks to the 35 volunteers who made the operation of the Centre possible. Lateral Flow tests can now be collected from most high street pharmacies or ordered online for postal delivery.

Hart into Employment:

A pilot service has commenced and will run for six months initially. It is a supportive online community to support people into employment and has three aspects of delivery:

1. There are weekly Zoom sessions by trained career advisors

2. Online community for networking and information sharing

3. Access to online learning and career assessment tools

The Cabinet Member for Regulatory, Councillor Kinnell, reported:

Following the departure of our Dog warden, we took the opportunity to review how this service is delivered. Environmental Health have been providing interim cover for the service using existing internal resources and I can advise that as of the 22nd April the Dog collection service has gone live with its outsourced contract to SDK Environmental.

SDK will be the designated contact point for all reported  ...  view the full minutes text for item 94.

The Chief Executive will include within the report the outcome (if available) of the High Court consideration of Lawyers in Local Government, the Association of Democratic Services Officers, and Hertfordshire County Council’s application for court declarations that pre-existing legislation (the Local Government Act 1972) allows councils in England to hold remote meetings. If the court declaration is that Councils are allowed to hold remote meetings the Joint Chief Executive will make recommendations to Council on how best to proceed with meetings from the May Annual Meeting of Council going forward.

The Chief Executive updated members on the outcome of the High Court consideration of Lawyers in Local Government, the Association of Democratic Services Officers, and Hertfordshire County Council’s application for court declarations that pre-existing legislation (the Local Government Act 1972) allows councils in England to hold remote meetings. The High Court had however, rule that from 7 May meetings by local authorities in England under the Local Government Act 1972 must take place in person with the participants gathering face-to-face at a designated physical location. Therefore, from 7 May all further Council meetings would return to the pre-pandemic arrangements.

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 with Novice 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.

Meeting                                                Date

Cabinet                                                 4 March 2021

No questions asked.

Cabinet (draft)                                      1 April 2021

No questions asked.

Minute 121 – The Equality Objectives 2021 – 2023

Councillor Neighbour put the recommendation, seconded by Councillor

Quarterman.

RESOLVED

That the Equality Objectives for 2021 – 2023 be adopted.

Planning (draft)                                    10 March 2021

No questions asked.

Overview & Scrutiny                            16 March 2021

No questions asked:

Audit (draft)                                            23 March 2021

No questions asked:

Licensing (draft)                                   2 March 2021

No questions asked.

The following Motion has been received from Councillor Anne Crampton, seconded by Councillor Chris Dorn.

This Council declares a climate emergency and will:

1.       Pledge to make Hart District carbon neutral by 2050 whilst maintaining the 2040 target for areas under direct control of Hart District Council.

2.       Report to full Council within six months setting out the immediate actions the Council will take to address this emergency and the plan to measure annual District wide progress towards meeting the 2050 target.

3.       Meaningfully engage with the local community and to work with partners across the District and County to deliver this new goal through all relevant strategies and plans drawing on local, national and global best practice.

4.       Actively work with Hampshire County Council and the Government to provide the additional powers and resources needed to meet the 2050 target.

The following Motion has been received from Councillor Anne Crampton, seconded by Councillor Chris Dorn.

“This Council declares a climate emergency and will:

1. Pledge to make Hart District carbon neutral by 2050 whilst maintaining the 2040 target for areas under direct control of Hart District Council.

2. Report to full Council within six months setting out the immediate actions the Council will take to address this emergency and the plan to measure annual District wide progress towards meeting the 2050 target.

3. Meaningfully engage with the local community and to work with partners across the District and County to deliver this new goal through all relevant strategies and plans drawing on local, national, and global best practice.

4. Actively work with Hampshire County Council and the Government to provide the additional powers and resources needed to meet the 2050 target.”

At the commencement of the debate an amended motion was moved by Councillor Quarterman and seconded by Councillor Radley.

“Following the successful adoption of Hart’s Climate Change Action Plan, this Council now wishes to declare a climate emergency, which commits us to putting the reduction of CO2 in the atmosphere at the front and centre of all policies and formal decision making, particularly Planning, and will:

1. Pledge to make Hart District carbon neutral by 2040 whilst bringing forward the current 2040 target to 2035 for areas under direct control of Hart District Council.

2. Report to full Council every six months setting out the current actions the Council is taking to address this emergency and the plan to measure annual District wide progress towards meeting the 2040 target.

3. Meaningfully engage with the local community and to work with partners across the District and County to deliver these new goals through all relevant strategies and plans drawing on local, national, and global best practice.

4. Actively work with Hampshire County Council and the Government to provide the additional powers and resources needed to meet the 2040 target.

5. Actively encourage and push for Hampshire County Council to reduce its target for net zero Carbon to 2040, acknowledging that 2050 is too far away for such an emergency.”

With the consent of the meeting the amendment was agreed and so it became the substantive Motion.

Members were unanimous in acknowledging the fact that there is a climate emergency and were prepared to set challenging new targets to encourage and promote sustainable communities.

After the debate, a recorded vote was taken on the substantive Motion (as amended) was unanimously agreed:

FOR: Ambler, Axam, Bailey, Blewett, Butler, Clarke, Cockarill, Crampton, Crisp, Crookes, Davies, Delaney, Dorn, Drage, Farmer, Forster, Kennett, Kinnell, Lamb, Makepeace-Browne, Neighbour, Oliver, Quarterman, Radley, Smith, Southern, Tomlinson, Wheale, Wildsmith, Worlock, Wright

AGAINST: None

Abstentions: None.

Decision: The Motion as amended was agreed:

Following the successful adoption of Hart’s Climate Change Action Plan, this Council now wishes to declare a climate emergency, which commits us to putting the reduction of CO2 in  ...  view the full minutes text for item 97.

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

Councillor Quarterman informed Members that Hart has completed its year chairing the Blackwater Valley Advisory Committee for Public Transport and this has now passed to Waverley Borough Council. At the last meeting, issues raised were regarding climate change as a major area of concern and the Council will receive regular reports from transport companies with action plans on climate change.