Agenda and minutes

The minutes of the meeting held on 6 October 2022 are attached for confirmation and signature as a current record.

The minutes of 6^th October 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 for absence were received from Councillor Collins.

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 of interest were made.

The Chairman welcomed Graeme Clark to the meeting in his role of Executive Director – Corporate and S151 Officer. 

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.

In relation to Minute 70, Mr David Turver read out a statement to Cabinet (attached at Appendix 1).

Cabinet noted:

• That Agenda Item 10 on the Shapley Heath Audit Report would address some of the points made

·         That Mr Turver’s statement would be included with the Minutes as an appendix at the discretion of the Chairman and Chief Executive

To seek approval to enter into a lease to transfer the 41 Apartments at Edenbrook (known respectively known as Heather Court and Thistle House) to Butterwood Homes.

RECOMMENDATION

1.         That The Chief Executive be authorised, to agree the terms and then conclude a 20-year lease for Butterwood Homes to manage on behalf of the Council the 41 Apartments at Edenbrook (known respectively known as Heather Court and Thistle House)

Cabinet was asked to approve the entering into a lease to transfer the 41 apartments at Edenbrook (known respectively known as Heather Court and Thistle House) to Butterwood Homes.

Cabinet discussed:

• That this was confirmation of arrangements already put in place
• The advantages and disadvantages of transferring the lease

DECISION

Cabinet agreed:

That The Chief Executive be authorised to agree the terms and then conclude a 20-year lease for Butterwood Homes to manage on behalf of the Council the 41 Apartments at Edenbrook (respectively known as Heather Court and Thistle House)

For Cabinet to adopt the Odiham and North Warnborough Conservation Area Appraisal.

RECOMMENDATION

That Cabinet:

1.    Adopt the Odiham and North Warnborough Conservation Area Appraisal attached at Appendix 1 for planning and development management purposes;

2.    Agrees that the Odiham Conservation Area Character Appraisal and Management Proposals December 2008 and the North Warnborough Conservation Area Character Appraisal and Management Proposals March 2009 are no longer adopted or endorsed by the Council;

3.    Authorise the Executive Director – Place to make minor alterations and typographical corrections to the Appraisal being published.

Cabinet was asked to adopt the Odiham and North Warnborough Conservation Area Appraisal.

Cabinet discussed:

• That this Appraisal covered both areas, rather than being 2 separate Appraisals
• That Cabinet was being asked to adopt the Appraisal rather than endorse and that the wording of the Recommendation would be suitably amended before voting to show that this superseded the previous two Area Appraisal documents
• That thanks were due to Odiham Parish Council for the work they had done with the Council on the Appraisal documentation
• That the documentation was partially funded by the Parish Council although it will become a Hart District Council document as the Planning Authority

DECISION

Cabinet:                                          

1.    Agreed to adopt the Odiham and North Warnborough Conservation Area Appraisal for planning and development management purposes;

2.    Agreed that the Odiham Conservation Area Character Appraisal and Management Proposals December 2008 and the North Warnborough Conservation Area Character Appraisal and Management Proposals March 2009 will be superseded by the new Area Appraisal:

3.   Authorised the Executive Director – Place to make minor alterations and typographical corrections prior to the Appraisal being published.

To seek Cabinet’s approval to enter into a lease with Hartley Wintney Parish Council for the future management of Causeway and Hatton’s Ponds, Hartley Wintney and to release £50,000 from District S106 Leisure and Open Space receipts to support the future restoration of the ponds.

RECOMMENDATION

1.    That Cabinet agrees that the Executive Director for Community be authorised to agree the terms and conclude lease for the transfer of ponds in Hartley Wintney Common (see Appendix 1) to Hartley Wintney Parish Council (HWPC)

2.    That £50,000 of District S106 Leisure and Open Space funding is transferred to HWPC for the on-going restoration of the ponds.

Approval was being sought from Cabinet to enter into a lease with Hartley Wintney Parish Council for the future management of Causeway and Hatton’s Ponds, Hartley Wintney; and also to release £50,000 from District S106 Leisure and Open Space receipts to support the future restoration of the ponds.

Cabinet discussed:

• That this was an excellent example of the Council working together with the local Parish Council
• That thanks were due to Hartley Wintney Parish Council for the work they had undertaken in helping to find an appropriate way forward
• Other agencies would need to be involved in the future
• That the funding request would be used for restoration work on the ponds which was very much required
• That the lease, whilst not yet finalised, would be a long term one rather than a short term lease

DECISION

1.    Cabinet agreed that the Executive Director for Community be authorised to agree the terms and conclude lease for the transfer of ponds in Hartley Wintney Common (see Appendix 1) to Hartley Wintney Parish Council (HWPC)

2.    Cabinet agreed that £50,000 of District S106 Leisure and Open Space funding be transferred to HWPC for the on-going restoration of the ponds.

To seek Cabinet’s approval to expend £110k (£100k Grant and £10k for earmarked reserves) towards the delivery of “Phase 2” of the approved Biodiversity and Carbon Off-Setting Project, and to seek Cabinet approval to procure the necessary expertise to progress the project.

RECOMMENDATION

1.    That Cabinet agrees to expend £110k (£100k Grant and £10k from earmarked reserves) towards the delivery of “Phase 2” of the approved Biodiversity and Carbon Off-Setting Project

2.    That approval is given to procure consultants to project manage and develop the strategy

To seek Cabinet’s approval to spend £110k (£100k Grant and £10k for earmarked reserves) towards the delivery of “Phase 2” of the approved Biodiversity and Carbon Off-Setting Project, and to seek Cabinet approval to procure the necessary expertise to progress the project.

Cabinet discussed:

• That the grant funding had been successfully applied for from DEFRA, and would be used to fund the development of Phase 2 of the strategy.
• That both the grant and additional funding from earmarked reserves would be put towards staffing and other specialist contract work. 
• There was a requirement for a large piece of work to be undertaken to design the potential projects, develop costings and look at income streams and future funding mechanisms
• The project would take around 2 years to complete
• A range of projects would be designed but it would be difficult to give any ballpark costings at present whilst no decisions had been made as to what type of projects would be selected
• There was a need for a Project Initiation Document (PID) giving more in depth details
• That the money from earmarked reserves was in addition to the funding allocated to Climate Change initiatives, although it was recognised that there would be some overlap between this project and the work being undertaken by the Climate Change Working Group
• The need for communications from the Council to be clear about whether it was aiming for carbon neutrality or net zero
• A requirement for an easy to read paper showing all the different strands on Climate Change/Biodiversity that meshed together, for ease of reference
• That there was a wealth of resources in Parish Councils that could be accessed, particularly to meet the District 2040 Climate Change target

DECISION

1.    Cabinet agreed to expend £110k (£100k Grant and £10k from earmarked reserves) towards the delivery of “Phase 2” of the approved Biodiversity and Carbon Off-Setting Project

2.    Approval was given to procure consultants to project manage and develop the strategy

To receive an oral update from the S151 Officer with regards to the proposed action plan.

Cabinet received an oral update from the Chief Executive regarding the proposed action plan.

Cabinet noted:

• The original Audit Report was circulated to Cabinet in September
• Staffing Committee had set up a Panel to look at the staffing issues and would report back to Audit Committee
• It had to be accepted that things had gone awry with the project
• The LGA had confirmed that they would have someone available to undertake the independent review during December/January.  This would involve interviewing Cabinet Members, and members of the Council who were on the Opportunity Board.

The leadership team would be discussing the key outcomes with a view to all future projects being delivered as expected and in a transparent manner

To consider and amend the Cabinet Work Programme.

Cabinet considered and amended the work programme as circulated with the agenda paperwork.

Cabinet noted:

• That the Staffing Committee report on the Shared Chief Executive with Rushmoor may be delayed from December as it had asked for further information from the Inter Authority Agreement (IAA) before being able to make any recommendation(s) to Cabinet
• A short paper would be brought to December’s Cabinet meeting on the composition of the Board of Butterwood Homes, following by the departure of one of the Joint Chief Executives

The work programme would be updated accordingly.