Agenda and minutes

The minutes of the meeting of 12 July 2022 are attached to be confirmed and signed as a correct record.

The minutes of the meeting of 12 July 2022 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.

Apologies had been received from Councillors Davies and Wildsmith. Councillor Crisp was a substitute for Councillor Wildsmith.

Councillor Axam attended virtually.

To declare disclosable, 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.

Councillor Farmer declared a non-pecuniary interest as Chairman of Hart Swimming Club, a voluntary position.

The Chairman reminded officers he was a Ward Member for Odiham in respect of Item 6. 

Councillor Butcher declared during Item 8 that he had a non-pecuniary interest due to his involvement with Fleet Market. 

The Chairman had three announcements:

·       The public participation would take place in Item 6.

·       Councillor Butler was proposed to replace Councillor Davies on the Place Service Panel on a permanent basis and the Committee unanimously agreed this.

·       The Chairman reminded the Committee the role and purpose of the Service Panel Reviews and to report back and summarise to Overview and Scrutiny Committee what had been discussed.

Anyone wishing to make a statement to the Committee should contact Committee Services at least two clear working days prior to the meeting. Further information can be found online.

Stuart Royston had previously submitted a statement, which will be read out during Item 6.

To seek the Committee’s views on the proposed draft Management Plan before submission to Cabinet.

RECOMMENDATION

That Cabinet:

1.    Approves the draft Odiham Common Management Plan attached at Appendix 1.

2.    Approves and adopts a temporary Ash Dieback Strategy until a time where a more formal “Tree Strategy” will supplement this guidance.

The Leader of the Council, who is also Portfolio Holder for the project highlighted that this item is a pre decision scrutiny of the Odiham Common Management Plan, ahead of going to Cabinet to seek approval.

The Countryside Manager and Biodiversity Officer gave a presentation summarising the Plan and its purpose.

Members questions included:

·       How climate change is considered within the Plan and how the Common had feared in the last few weeks due to the extreme heat.

·       The possibility of a dedicated Ranger for the site who is familiar with this specific type of environment.

·       How this Plan differs from the previous one and what officers have learnt from it.

·       The funding sources for the Plan and how it could deliver all the desired objectives.

·       Biodiversity offsetting and the stages that may be required.

·       The possibility of setting up a designated group for the Common, like Fleet Pond Society.

The Countryside Manager to seek further evidence on the differences between this most recent Plan and the previous one and send this to the Committee and Cabinet.

Stuart Royston read out a statement on behalf of a group of Odiham residents. This is attached as Appendix A of the Minutes.

Members questions following this information included:

·       The possibilities that may have caused visitor numbers to the Common to decrease over the last 12 years.

·       Managing the species effectively that are already on the Common.

·       The definition of Hayloing.

Members debated:

·       The cost of the Plan and balancing its requirements and resident’s expectations.

·       Making additional links, ‘a contact group’ between residents and Parish Councils regarding the Common.

·       Balancing biodiversity and moderate access to this Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI).

·       The current standard of the existing pathways and whether additional work is needed to make them more accessible.

·       The possibility of applying for additional Government funding schemes appropriate to local groups for climate change activities.

The Countryside Manager to provide answers to the questions submitted in the appendix by Mr Royston to Cabinet.

DECISION

Members unanimously agreed that Cabinet:

I) Should not approve the draft Odiham Common Management Plan in its current form and ask it to take note of the issues and discussions raised by Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

II) Approves and adopts a temporary Ash Dieback Strategy until a time where a more formal “Tree Strategy” will supplement this guidance.

The purpose of this report is to receive the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman (The LG&SCO) Annual Review Letter 2021 (attached as Appendix 1). It contains a summary of statistics on complaints and enquiries made to the LG&SCO about Hart District Council for the year ending 31 March 2022.

The Committee noted the report and Annual Review letter 2022.

Quarterly update on the budget position.

The Interim Section 151 Officer gave a quarterly update on the Budget position up to 30 June 2022.

Members questions included:

·       The amount spent on climate change and if these spends should be defined as Capital or Revenue items.

·       The possibly that the largest contribution from Earmarked Reserves (EMR) to replace the Leisure Centre shortfall could decrease. 

·       Clarification on savings made since the loss of the dog warden.

·       Clarification on the Place Services costs regarding a Health & Safety case.

·       The amount of Parking income and how it had differed over the years due to the covid-19 pandemic.

Members praised the report’s format and the work from the Finance team.

A Member also requested that more detail on variances and justifications between Budget and Forecast could possibly be included in future reports. 

The Committee noted the report.

To report the Council’s Treasury Management activities during the year ended 31 March 2022 for scrutiny and comments in advance of consideration by Cabinet.

RECOMMENDATION

To forward comments to Cabinet for consideration at its meeting on September 1st, 2022.

The Interim Section 151 Officer summarised the council’s Treasury Management activities during the year ending 31 March 2022.

Members questions included:

·       The Barclays extension of £5 million to £10 million.

·       Centenary House payments.

·       What graphs will be presented to the next Overview and Scrutiny Committee in this type of report.

The Committee noted the report.

To consider the revised August Cabinet Work Programme.

Members questioned the items due to go to Cabinet on the Shapley Heath Audit Review Report in September and the Consideration of the Business Case for a Shared Chief Executive between Hart District Council and Rushmoor Borough Council in November.

The Leader of the Council confirmed that more detail would be known soon.

The Chairman said he would have liked the report that went to Cabinet in August on the Termination of the Shared Corporate Health and Safety Service with Basingstoke & Deane Council, to have come to Overview and Scrutiny beforehand. 

The Leader of the Council confirmed it was a Part 2 paper and apologised it had not come to this Committee first.

To consider and amend the Overview and Scrutiny Work Plan.

The Overview and Scrutiny Work Plan was noted.

The Chairman highlighted that he wanted to see less repetition in the Plan regarding the Service Panel Reviews and that the Committee Services Team was working on this.