Agenda and minutes

The minutes of the meeting held on 7 July 2022 are attached for confirmation and signature as a current record.

The minutesof 7July wereconfirmed subject to the amendment below  

It was noted that following the suggestion that an anonymous reporting system be includedwithin theWhistleblowing Policy,it hadbeen confirmedthis wouldbe possible and an update to the Policy document would be produced in duecourse. 

The minutes with the amendment were signedas acorrect 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 Cllrs Oliver and Radley.

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.

Councillor Forster declared an interest in Agenda Item 9 – EV charging points as he worked for Osprey Charging Points who were involved in this area of work although they had not bid in the tender process.  

Cllr Farmer declared an interest in Agenda Item 7 as voluntary Chairman of Hart Swimming Club.

The Chairman had no announcements.

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.

There were none.

To seek Cabinet approval for the release of S106 funding towards Hook Community Centre and Sports Pavilion

RECOMMENDATION

That Cabinet

Approves the release of S106 funding to be allocated towards Hook Community Centre and Sports Pavilion

John Elson and Adam Green were welcomed for this item.

Cabinet considered the request made to release S106 funding towards the Hook Community Centre and Sports Pavilion, and discussed:

• How the funds would be utilised
• Funding already in place from other means
• That the process is that standard for release of Parish S106 funding

DECISION

Cabinet:

1. Approved the immediate release of £455,369 held in Parish S106 reserves for Hook Parish Council 4.
   
   

2.    That subject to the receipt of a successful planning application and the letting of an appropriate contact of works, Cabinet approves that delegated authority is given to the Head of Place (in consultation with Local Ward Members) to release £250,000 of earmarked S106 reserves to be used for the provision of the Sports Pavilion

RECOMMENDATION that Cabinet

A.         Notes the provisional revenue outturn position of an underspend of £57k (shown in Table 3).

B.         Notes the capital outturn position on 31^st March 2022.

C.        Approves the unspent capital budget is carried forward into the Capital programme for 2022/2023.

D.        On the recommendation of Overview and Scrutiny committee, Cabinet approves the contributions to and from earmarked reserves detailed in Tables 6 and 7 are approved.

Isabel Brittain and Jo Rayne were welcomed for this item.

Cabinet considered the Revenue and Capital Outturn for 2021/22, and discussed:

• That the outturn to the end of the financial year will be audited throughout September by Ernst & Young
• Questions raised by Overview and Scrutiny had been addressed in the updated report
• The inclusion of the Domestic Abuse Grant, which was passed through our accounts
• Costs for highways management against the additional income of £118k – JR would provide a full written answer to Cabinet on this
• The improvement in our financial position with a reduction in the year end draw down of reserves against budgeted draw down

Officers were praised for keeping expenditure as low as possible, particularly as the year in question was impacted by Covid restrictions.

DECISION

Cabinet unanimously

1.    Noted the provisional revenue outturn position of an underspend of £57k (shown in Table 3).

2.    Noted the capital outturn position on 31^st March 2022.

3.    Approved the unspent capital budget be carried forward into the Capital programme for 2022/2023.

4.  Approved, following recommendation by the Overview and Scrutiny Committee, the contributions to and from earmarked reserves detailed in Tables 6 and 7 of the paper

1.          To replace the Parking Provision Interim Guidance adopted by Cabinet in August 2008 with updated guidance, including new residential cycle and car parking standards, in the form of a Technical Advice Note.

Cabinet is recommended to:

1.    Endorse the content of the Cycle and Car Parking in New Development Technical Advice Note (TAN);

2.    Adopt the cycle and car parking standards set out at paragraphs 4.11 and 5.4 of the TAN as a material consideration in the determination of planning applications;

3.    Revoke the Parking Provision Interim Guidance adopted in 2008; and

4.    Authorise the Head of Place to make further edits and re-publish the TAN as and when required, except for the numerical cycle and car parking standards setting out quantum of parking to be provided with new development, which can only be amended with Cabinet approval.

Mark Jaggard and Daniel Hawes were welcomed for this item.

Cabinet considered the proposed Technical Advice Note (TAN) for cycle and car parking in new developments, and discussed:

• That the TAN was an interim measure which updated the Council’s current policy
• A full Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) would be produced in due course
• The TAN would increase the number of car parking spaces per development and help provide cycle parking and safe storage for bicycles, especially electric bicycles
• That updated building regulations required electric vehicle charging points

• Whether the recommendations from the Climate Change Working Group and Overview and Scrutiny Committee had been taken into consideration, and if so, how
• Greater flexibility regarding on-street parking
• The requirement for motorcycle parking
• Concerns around over-long vehicles (ie vans)
• The percentage of bays allocated for disabled drivers
• Parking for mobility scooters

It was agreed that the last 3 points would be considered further and reviewed to see whether these should be added before the SPD is produced. 

In summary, it was also noted that planning policy often was required to follow national policies and that this was an area that regularly changed. 

DECISION

Cabinet unanimously:

1.    Endorsed the content of the Cycle and Car Parking in New Development Technical Advice Note (TAN);

2.    Adopted the cycle and car parking standards set out at paragraphs 4.11 and 5.4 of the TAN as a material consideration in the determination of planning applications;

3.    Revoked the Parking Provision Interim Guidance adopted in 2008; and

4.    Authorised the Head of Place to make further edits and re-publish the TAN as and when required, except for the numerical cycle and car parking standards setting out quantum of parking to be provided with new development, which can only be amended with Cabinet approval

To obtain Cabinet approval to accept a tender for the installation of Electric Vehicle Charging Points (EVCP) in Harts car parks.

RECOMMENDATION

1.          That the tender submitted by Bidder B for the installation of EVCP in Hart car parks at locations detailed in section 3.2, is accepted.

2.          That 5k is ring fenced in 22/23 climate change budget to provide a working fund for the installation of EVCP.

John Elson and Peter Summersell were welcomed for this item.

Cabinet considered the report on the EV charging points tender process and discussed:

• The fact this was a “good news story” that would deliver a number of high specification charging points in Council car parks at no cost to the Council and which would generate a small income
• The list of car parks included as listed in section 9 of the report
• The fact that a full feasibility study would be undertaken by the preferred bidder before a final decision as to the numbers and types of EVCPs to be installed would be agreed
• What mitigation was in place to ensure that the preferred bidder did not decide to pull out of the process at any stage
• Whether there was a responsibility for the Council to provide EVCPs at Hart Leisure Centre, and whether any revenue would be passed to the Council
• The reasons as to why Church Road and Gurkha Square car parks were excluded
• The standard of chargers and whether these met current EV requirements
• Potential requirements for electricity sub-stations to run the charging points
• The cost per kW to residents – PS to provide a written response to Cabinet on this
• Emerging standards for disabled access

DECISION

Cabinet agreed:

1.         That the tender submitted by Bidder B for the installation of EVCPs in Hart car parks at locations detailed in section 3.2 of the report, should be accepted.

2.         That £5k would be ring fenced in the 2022/23 climate change budget to provide a working fund for the installation of EVCPs

To receive the minutes from the Climate Change Working Group meetings held on 27 June 2022 and 19 July 2022.

To approve the breakdown in budget allocation as set out in Appendix A

RECOMMENDATION

That Cabinet

1.    Notes the minutes of the meetings of the Climate Change Working Group held on 27 June 2022 and 19 July 2022

2.    Approves the budget allocation as set out in Appendix A.

Cabinet discussed various elements of the proposed draft budget, as outlined at Appendix A of the Climate Change Working Group minutes of 19 July 2022, including:

·         The reason for including a £5k budget for EVCPs despite the previous report having said they would be at no charge

·         The proposed budget for the Communications and Engagement Officer and any duplication with messages being sent out by national or other local organisations

·         The budget allocation given to the cost of EVCP for Council owned vehicles and the cost of any feasibility study

DECISION

Cabinet:

1. Noted the minutes of the meetings of the Climate Change Working Group held on 27 June 2022 and 19 July 2022
2. Approved the budget allocation as set out in Appendix A to the Working Group Minutes of 19 July 2022

To consider and amend the Cabinet Work Programme.

Cabinet considered and agreed their Work Programme circulated with the Agenda Pack, and noted amendments as set out by the Joint Chief Executive.  An updated copy would be circulated with the minutes.

Points noted included:

• 2 new reports in September and 1 in November
• Inclusion of all financial reports to Cabinet until end of Municipal Year 2022/23
• Odiham Common Management Plan to now go to September 2022 meeting

The following item(s) contain exempt information.

RECOMMENDATION

Members must decide whether the public interest in maintaining an exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information.

It is suggested that, in accordance with Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the public be excluded during the discussion of the matters referred to, on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information, as defined in paragraphs 1 and 2 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act, and the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information.

Members discussed whether the public interest in maintaining an exemption outweighed the public interest in disclosing the information.

DECISION

Cabinet agreed that, in accordance with Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the public be excluded during the discussion of the matters referred to, on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information, as defined in paragraphs 1 and 2 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act, and the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighed the public interest in disclosing the information.

Discussion was held on the future provision of the Corporate Health and Safety Service (see Part II Exempt Minutes).

DECISION:

Cabinet unanimously agreed to:

1.    Issue Notice to Terminate the provision of the Shared Corporate Health & Safety Service to Basingstoke & Deane Borough Council to terminate on the 31 December 2022;

2.    Authorise the Head of Place to procure an alternative Corporate Health & Safety service for Hart District Council for an initial period of 18 months commencing 1 January 2023; and

3.    Acknowledge the potential redundancy costs associated with the change, as detailed in the report