Eastleigh Borough Council Cabinet Meeting

There were no declarations of interest in relation to items of business on the agenda.

Following review of the Council’s Constitution at Council on 18 November 2024, at which a typographical error had been corrected to ensure that CIP Schemes over £50,000 needed agreement by Cabinet not Council, Cabinet noted that the previous meeting’s decision on a CCTV review was potentially affected.

RESOLVED -

(1)  That the Minutes of the meeting held on 24 October 2024 be agreed as a correct record.

(2)  That the CCTV Review, which was approved at Cabinet on 24 October 2024, be re-approved for the avoidance of doubt, in light of the Constitution change.

There was no public participation on this occasion.

Issues

Committees can refer items to Cabinet under the Council’s Constitution. (Paper 4a)

Considerations

Cabinet must consider any recommendations made by Committees as part of their decision-making process.

RESOLVED –

That Cabinet:

(1)  agreed the intention to reduce the subsidy required by the Council in line with the business plan;

(2)  considered the proposed fees and charges detailed in appendix three and paragraph 15 after consideration of the consultation feedback (paragraphs 17-27 and appendix 3, 4, 5, 6);

(3)  agreed that the Business Director brings a progress report to the Committee at an appropriate juncture with details of targets and trigger points and regular reports thereafter;

(4)  agreed the lack of reserves, particularly to cover the future ongoing urgent maintenance and repairs, and if urgent repairs are needed it will impact the speed at which the subsidy can be reduced; and

(5)  agreed that the increase in fees and charges is not a guarantee of success in achieving the aims in the Business Plan as some of it relies on untested activity.

Issue

There is a need to review the Local Plan. The issues and options consultation gives local communities and all interest parties the opportunity to comment at an early stage in the process. (Paper 5)

Consideration

The recommendations enable the Eastleigh Borough Local Plan Review to progress. The Local Plan will set out the spatial strategy for the area and guide the determination of planning applications for new development. It will therefore deliver on the aims of the Council’s Corporate Plan 2023 – 2026.

RESOLVED –

(1)  The Eastleigh Borough Local Plan Review Issues and Options documents were approved for public consultation:

• ‘Have Your Say’ summary document (Appendix 1);

• Issues and Options: Consultation Document (Appendix 2).

(2)  Authority was delegated to the Planning Policy Manager, in consultation with the Service Director for Planning and the Environment and the Leader of the Council, to make minor changes to the Issues and Options documents prior to publication.

[NOTE: Councillors thanked the team for their hard work.]

Issue

Due to ongoing financial pressures, the Council has conducted a review of Arts and Culture services with a view to reducing service reliance on Council subsidy. (Paper 6)

Consideration

This report provides an overview of the financial and operational models for The Point and The Berry Theatre, including a summary of activities, financial performance, and associated risks. It outlines the plan to reduce the Council’s subsidy and is informed by consultations with internal and external stakeholders, including Arts Council England (ACE).

RESOLVED –

That Cabinet approved the proposed fees and charges detailed in appendix three and paragraph 15 after consideration of the consultation feedback (paragraphs 17-27 and appendix 3, 4, 5, 6).

[NOTE: Councillors thanked the team for their hard work.]

Issue

The purchase of land across the Borough and taking it out of agricultural use reduces nutrients levels, enabling nitrate and phosphate credits to be sold to offset the impact from new development. (Paper 7)

Consideration

The creation of wetlands is an infrastructure-led approach to achieving the same outcomes. Both approaches align with the Corporate themes of Creating Homes and Communities and Protecting our Environment.

RESOLVED –

That Cabinet:

(1)  Considered and commented on the contents of this report;

(2)  Ratified the Partnership for South Hampshire (PfSH) Inter-Authority Agreement for a Solent Local Nutrient Mitigation Fund Project; and

(3)  Delegated authority to the Chief Executive, in consultation with the Leader of the Council and the Head of Legal Services, to agree minor amendments to the PfSH Inter-Authority Agreement as may be required from time to time.

[NOTE: Councillors thanked the team for their hard work.]

RESOLVED -

(1)  That, in pursuance of Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following items of business on the grounds that they are likely to involve the disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act; and

(2)  That, in pursuance of the public interest test, the public interest in disclosing the information contained in the following item of business was outweighed by the public interest in maintaining the exemption.