Minutes:
The Leader of the Council, Councillor Neighbour, announced:
Business rates schemes – there are two schemes, the Closure scheme which covers the second lockdown and the Discretionary scheme. We have had 207 applications for the Closure scheme, of which the first 78 were paid this morning and another 32 will be paid on Monday, the final hundred or so are in the process of being paid. The Discretionary scheme opened Monday and to date we have had 44 applications. The first tranche closes 6 December with payments made soon after that, and the last payment will be on 22 December, ensuring that recipients will receive their money before Christmas.
The Cabinet Member for Finance and Corporate Services, Councillor Radley, reported:
Following successful recruitment, Hart Community Safety has now been complete and fully functioning since the start of November. Efforts have been concentrated on sharing contacts for the team, and what they can support with, as far as possible across the community including Councillors, Town & Parish Council Clerks, schools, Neighbourhood Watches and local Neighbourhood Policing Teams (NPT). Responses to the team have been very positive so far and some great connections have been made.
A couple of local Anti-social behaviour issues have already been tackled:
· Edenbrook Country Park and bike track issues are being looked at in partnership with Hart Countryside services
· Youth nuisance noise in Yateley has prompted visits to residents to assess the situation and has been alerted to the detached youth workers of Vision 4 Youth to address whilst out and about
· ASB caused by vehicle nuisance on the Blackbushe Industrial Estate is also being looked at with the local NPT with Community Safety leading on evidence gathering for Police to serve section 59 notices where possible. Contact has also been established with the landowner to request measures be taken to prevent the site being used as a racetrack e.g., the installation of rubber humps or similar
Feedback was provided last week to the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner for their latest Bid Funding round and projects providing support across the Hart area addressing the Community Safety Partnership priorities were supported.
Safeguarding continues to be handled by Community Safety and there have been three referrals since taking the service back in house.
The Cabinet Member for Digital, Councillor Ambler, announced
We are now close to the rollout of modern.gov to members. This is a cloud-based app that provides secure access for Members to view and annotate the latest documents along with automatic download of agendas, reports, decisions and meeting minutes.
The package provides for full meeting management, from production and publication of agendas and minutes to register of interests, all in one platform. The plan is to have a ‘soft launch’ involving a small group of Members. Those of you involved will already have received an invitation from Steve Bennett to a training session. Following those sessions your feedback will be used to structure training for all Members prior to a full rollout which is anticipated for the New Year.
The Cabinet Member for Community, Councillor Bailey, reported
Hart Response Hub - So far we have received over 50 referrals into hub since second lockdown and many more referrals are being passed to hardship team for assistance and support this time round – needing more practical support – financial, food, medicines.
Recovery - A small team is working on community recovery and 19 groups have been supported with a small grant to help them restart face to face activity. Also supported Hart Food Bank with 2 orders on things they were running low on.
Revocation Notice - After almost 2 years of work on a property in Hook, we are pleased to be able to serve a “revocation notice” to all parties as work is now complete. The property was seriously at fault in terms of fire safety and the work of the Private Sector Housing Team has led to a great result. There are a good number of leaseholders who want to rent out or sell and they can now do so.
Rough sleepers head count - This is an annual England wide count. Ours is an estimate; a joint effort across all agencies in Hart. For many years we have reported a zero count but this year we had 2. We are aware of both and have been working with them to engage and come in. One now in B&B; the other one, work is still under way. (They were in a tent in Ewshot and in a pill box at Fleet station).
The Cabinet Member for Regulatory, Councillor Kinnell, updated Members on what the Environmental Health team had been up to recently:
Environmental Health have been out and about ensuring businesses are complying with the current lockdown restrictions. They have been patrolling Harts businesses, providing support and advice, as well as ensuring that they are adhering to Covid guidelines. As part of this work, we have been building, (and web publishing), a database that shows which local businesses remain open, which includes any changes to their normal way of trade, so for example, a food business that has moved from “eat in”, to takeaway or delivery service during the lockdown.
I am pleased to advise that the general level of compliance within Hart’s businesses has been found to be remarkably high and reflects well on the responsibility of our local business community.
So, going forward from the national lockdown restrictions that are due to end on the 2nd December, Environmental Health will continue to provide support and advice to businesses, community groups, towns/parishes etc. for undertaking safe festive period events. Whilst we are not yet fully clear what events may ultimately be proposed, Environmental Health will be working behind the scenes to ensure event organisers have undertaken suitable Covid risk assessments, as well as helping to ensure compliance with Covid controls.
Councillor Forster asked if all complaints about premises being open during the current lockdown were being investigated. Councillor Kinnell invited Councillor Forster to forward any complaints he had received so that they could be cross-checked.
The Cabinet Member for Environment, Councillor Oliver, reported:
Firstly, I am pleased to update the Council and residents of Hart that all of our waste and recycling services have been maintained throughout the second Covid-19 lockdown. As members will remember, during the first Covid-19 lockdown we had to reduce or suspend some services (most notably Green Waste collections) due to staff shortages. Well done to our Waste and Recycling team and our partner Serco.
Secondly, we will be issuing a leaflet to all Hart residents detailing the collection arrangements for the 2020 Christmas period (collection days will change). We will also take this opportunity to remind residents on what we can currently recycle in Hampshire and what can be placed in our Blue bins.