Agenda and minutes

The minutes of the meeting held on 1^st September 2022 are attached for confirmation and signature as a current record.

The minutes of 1^st September 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.

The Joint Chief Executive declared a non-pecuniary interest in item 54, as a Director of the Housing Company.

Recognising that this would be his last meeting, the Chairman and his Cabinet colleagues thanked Mr Elson for all his hard work and long service to Hart District Council.

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.

Mr Wilf Hardy and Ms Tamsin Briggs from Blackwater Valley Friends of the Earth were at the meeting.  Mr Hardy made a statement relating to agenda item 7, in which he stated that it was hoped that the Council would produce a meaningful and comprehensive action plan for the future which would include timescales, milestones and checkpoints, and owners.

This is a report from the Housing Company Scrutiny Panel and provides an update of the performance of the company for consideration by Cabinet.

RECOMMENDATION

That

1.       The 2021/22 performance of the Housing Company against the initial business plan is noted.

2.       That the altered Terms of Reference, endorsed by Overview and Scrutiny Committee, are adopted by Cabinet.

Cabinet received a report from Cllr Farmer on the recent Scrutiny Panel on the operation of Butterwood Homes.  Income and expenditure were broadly in line with previous forecasts and there were no significant issues on the horizon.

The Terms of Reference for Butterwood Homes had been amended to show that there were now 4 Directors, with the only other amendment being the amalgamation of 2 separate but similar clauses into 1, making the intent clearer.  The Terms of Reference also stated that the Directors would meet twice a year, and there were no plans to change this arrangement.  The Terms of Reference were reviewed annually by the Board.

The Portfolio Holder for Commercialisation had also attended the Scrutiny Panel meeting as an observer and thanked Cllr Farmer for his accurate overview of the meeting,

DECISION

Cabinet:

1.             Noted the 2021/22 performance of the Housing Company against the initial business plan

2.             Adopted the altered Terms of Reference, which had been endorsed by Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

To seek Cabinet endorsement of the 2035 Net Zero Operational Road Map and Net Zero Carbon Action Plan which make recommendations on the actions that the council may wish to take to achieve the targets set in its Climate Emergency declaration.

To receive the minutes from the Climate Change Working Group meeting held on 20 September 2022.

RECOMMENDATION

That Cabinet endorse:

a.    The 2035 Net Zero Operational Road Map attached at appendix 1.

b.    The Net Zero Carbon Action Plan attached at appendix 2.

To note the Minutes from the Climate Change Working Group meeting on 20 September 2022.

Cabinet received the background to the presentation of the delivery of the two reports from Eunomia.  These covered the pathway to Operational Net Zero by 2035 and District Wide Net Zero by 2040.  Both reports included indicative pathways on how the Council could achieve these targets.

Cabinet discussed a range of items, including:

• Whether the cost analysis had included a historical cost for energy or current prices, it was noted that the figures provided had broad variables included and the current cost of energy was not part of that calculation
• What would happen to the baseline data – this would be used to formulate the new action plan, and will inform outcomes and any milestones required
• The amount of carbon reduction that would be achieved against the costs involved
• What funding was likely to be available in future budgets
• Setting a short term (2-4 years) action plan that will still allow us to meet the trajectory required to achieve the 2035 target date.  This should be pragmatic and focussed, with “owners” for all items to ensure they were effectively managed
• Prioritisation of items and ensuring that there were some “quick wins” for the District
• The potential of future developments to greater assist the pathway to net zero

It was agreed that a third recommendation be added, in that a proposed action plan be brought back to Cabinet at their February 2023 meeting for endorsement. 

DECISION

Cabinet endorsed:

1.     The 2035 Net Zero Operational Road Map which had been circulated to the Cabinet members. 

2.     The Net Zero Carbon Action Plan which had also been circulated to the Cabinet members. 

3.     That a proposed action plan be presented to Cabinet at the February 2023 meeting for endorsement

To update Committee on the Council’s performance indicator results for Quarter 1 of 2022/2023 (1 April 2022 – 30 June 2022).

RECOMMENDATION

That the performance report for Quarter 1 2022/23 is noted.

The Quarterly Performance Reports for Q1 had been discussed and agreed at the recent Overview & Scrutiny Meeting.

It was noted that the absence of data relating to the waste contract when reported to Overview & Scrutiny was due to a contractual dispute.  Details had now been provided but, as indicated by the report’s narrative comments, this data was not validated by both parties.

DECISION

Cabinet noted the performance report for Quarter 1 2022/23.

To authorise a budget provision of up to £25,000 to be allocated to undertake essential works of repair to The Cross Barn as identified in the Building Survey Report undertaken by Cooper & Withycombe dated May 2021.

RECOMMENDATION

That £25,000 is allocated from central reserves to fund essential repair works to The Cross Barn, Odiham.

For background, the Chairman advised that the Cross Barn was a Grade II listed building which was owned by the Council and leased and managed by a Board of Trustees.

DECISION

Cabinet agreed:

That £25,000 be allocated from central reserves to fund essential repair works to The Cross Barn, Odiham. 

Designated Protected Areas for shared ownership were created through a Statutory Order and came into effect on 7th September 2009. The Order restricts owners of shared ownership homes to purchase up to 80% of the home only, in order to protect the availability of affordable home ownership in specified areas which are generally, but not always, rural locations.

Homes England have recently revised their guidance on granting waivers for Designated Protected Areas (i.e. where permission to staircase is increased above 80%) and this paper seeks to bring the Hart Policy in line with this guidance.

RECOMMENDATION

That Cabinet agrees to extend the existing delegated authority to the Portfolio Holder, to consider and decide the outcome of any application seeking a waiver for shared ownership properties in a designated protected area, however the shared ownership homes are funded, in consultation with the local Ward Members.

The Portfolio Holder for Communities gave the background to the paper and explained that the amendment being proposed was to bring the Council into line with current Government legislation.

Cabinet discussed:

• The need for waivers to be made on occasion when dealing with shared ownership staircasing within designated protected areas
• That the Portfolio Holder for Communities already had the delegated power to deal with waivers but that there were changes to our procedures that needed to be “tidied up”
• Consultation was always undertaken with Ward Members before any decision was made
• There were maps and lists showing where the designated protected areas were within Hart
• Most who were able to staircase up to 100% did not usually do this, preferring to move out of shared ownership into the normal housing market
• There were very few shared ownership properties in Hart that have owners who have staircased to 100%

DECISION

Cabinet agreed:

That the Council move in line with the updated Government guidance which required all shared ownership properties to seek a waiver, where they wished to staircase above 80%, however the shared ownership homes were funded. 

To gain approval for the commencement of public consultation on the draft Corporate Plan. 

RECOMMENDATION

1.    That Cabinet approves the draft Corporate Plan for consultation purposes as set out in Appendix A and;

2.    That Cabinet approves the timetable and approach for public consultation set out in Appendix B

Cabinet was advised that they were being asked to agree that the draft Corporate Plan go out to consultation, with a view to a final report coming back to Cabinet in the new year.

Thanks were given to the working group for the quality of the plan.  Cabinet members felt that it was easy to understand and navigate, and well laid out.

DECISION

Cabinet approved:

1.    The draft Corporate Plan for consultation purposes, which had previously been circulated to the Cabinet members. 

2.    The timetable and approach for public consultation which had also been previously circulated to Cabinet members

To consider and amend the Cabinet Work Programme.

Cabinet considered and approved the Work Programme as circulated prior to the meeting.

It was noted that it was likely that there would be an additional paper for the Civic Regen item, due to go to the December Cabinet meeting.  A potential paper on bio-fuels and changes to Council vehicles was also raised.

As outlined, a paper would be coming forward to Cabinet on the outcomes of the public consultation on the Corporate Plan in February