Eastleigh Borough Council Cabinet Meeting

There was no public participation on this occasion.

Councillors House, Craig and Kyrle declared a non-pecuniary interest on item 7 as they are County Councillors.  

The Council have been part of a process which has asked for views of pharmaceutical needs. The Health and Communities Partnership Manager has submitted a response to the consultation on 21 March 2025. The response has been appended to the Minutes.

There was a clarification of Budget Minute Recommendation 9.

(9) approved transfers to/from Earmarked Reserves and the continued freeze of any further discretionary transfers to or from all reserves (para 36-38) with the exception of decisions already made at meetings or where recommended from Local Area Committee Team meetings.

RESOLVED -

(1)  That the Minutes of the meeting held on 20 February 2025 be agreed as a correct record; and

(2)  Approved the amendment to Budget Minute Recommendation 9, as written above. 

Issues

Committees can refer items to Cabinet under the Council’s Constitution. (Paper 5)

Considerations

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

RESOLVED –

That Cabinet agreed the following recommendation from the Audit and Resources Committee with regards to the Residential Development at Hanns Way (Item 12):

(1)  Cabinet noted that they recognised that there is a risk in not securing grant funding but recognise that the Council can change the tenure from affordable housing to market rent to mitigate this risk. On balance the Audit and Resources Committee could understand the need to progress this programme as it was clear there was a local need for affordable housing.

Issue

The Government has selected Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, and all councils in the area including Eastleigh Borough Council, known as ‘Hampshire and the Solent’, to be part of its Devolution Priority Programme (DPP) and is now publicly consulting on establishing a Mayoral Combined County Authority (MCCA). The consultation opened on 17 February 2025 and will close on 13 April 2025. (Paper 6)

Consideration

The proposal to implement a Mayoral Combined County Authority (MCCA) across Hampshire, Portsmouth, Isle of Wight and Southampton, known as ‘Hampshire and the Solent’ is inconsistent with the Council’s Corporate Plan as a number of the Council’s published strategic ambitions will ultimately have to be carried forward and re-defined amid the development of a new MCCA.

RESOLVED –

That Cabinet approved the Council’s proposed response to the Government’s ‘Hampshire and the Solent’ devolution consultation presented in Appendix two and Appendix three.

[NOTE: Councillors thanked the Corporate Strategy Manager for the work carried out.]

Issue

The Government has selected Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, and all councils in the area including Eastleigh Borough Council, to be part of its Devolution Priority Programme (DPP). A requirement of the DPP is that district and county councils should merge with neighbouring authorities to form larger unitary councils (also known as local government reorganisation or LGR). The Secretary of State has formally requested that interim LGR proposals are made by 21 March 2025, with final business cases to be submitted by 26 September 2025. (Paper 7)

Consideration

Following the final business case submission, it is expected that Ministers will decide their preferred option for LGR in Hampshire, and lay legislation in Parliament leading to the new councils taking legal effect from 1 April 2028 at the latest.

RESOLVED –

That Cabinet:

(1)  approved submission of the interim local government reorganisation proposal that has been developed in Hampshire to the Government;

(2)  noted that Councils across Hampshire have commenced promoting emerging proposals for change including a place-led model from Basingstoke & Deane Borough Council for four mainland Unitary Authorities in wider Hampshire, and finance-led ‘principles’ from Hampshire County Council for two or three mainland Unitary Authorities in wider Hampshire;

(3)  noted that local government reorganisation is being forced on councils by central government despite no assurance that new structures will be financially viable, and that new councils of around 500,000 population will be more remote than existing Borough Councils such as Eastleigh;

(4)  specifically rejected a Southampton-Eastleigh Unitary as this is likely to be financially unviable and fails to meet the government’s test of being capable of securing long-term housing growth;

(5)  specifically rejected suggestions of large new councils with populations significantly above the government’s 500,000 proposal;

(6)  endorsed the approach as agreed by all Council Leaders across Hampshire of the four major cities and large towns as the basis for place-based sustainable new authorities with their city regions;

(7)  recognised that this will be best secured by considering options that amend existing local government boundaries; and

(8)  delegated authority to the Leader and Chief Executive to negotiate the final business case for local government reorganisation, prior to approval by Council and submission to Government later in 2025, and to make representations to Ministers as appropriate.

[NOTES: (A) Councillors House, Craig and Kyrle declared a non-pecuniary interest on item 7 as they are County Councillors. (B) The following two changes were made to the master version of the LGR Appendix 2 document after publication:

• Page 9, section 4: the HCC deficit figure was wrong and will be corrected in the version sent to Government; and
• The signatures page at the end will be removed as Leaders’ names are being provided on the covering letter.]

Issue

The Corporate Housing Policy Statement supports the Corporate Plan (2023-26) theme of ‘Creating homes and communities’. The Eastleigh Homes Delivery Policy Statement supplements the Corporate Housing document and identifies how the Council will continue to intervene in the local housing market to accelerate delivery of new homes. (Paper 8)

Consideration

The Homes Delivery document outlines a number of aims that the Council has for housing delivery which support the wider themes for the Corporate Plan. In addition, it also emphasises the importance of driving up standards and addresses the objective in the Council’s Climate and Environmental Emergency Strategy to lead by example in its own activity.

The Homeless and Rough Sleeping Strategy highlights the importance of a new build programme for housing supply, accommodating homeless households and aligns with the Corporate Plan theme of ‘enabling a healthier Eastleigh’.

RESOLVED –

Cabinet approved the documents contained in Appendices 1 to 3.

[NOTE: Councillors thanked the Team for their work on the Policy.]

Issue

Enabling residential developments to be offset by nutrient mitigation schemes outside of the Borough of Eastleigh ensures housing provision is maintained and much needed homes are delivered. This aligns with the Corporate themes of Creating Homes and Communities and Protecting our Environment. (Paper 9)

Consideration

Bargate Homes propose to use the Winchester City Council approved Sparsholt Nutrient Mitigation Package to provide part of the nutrient mitigation for 49 dwellings on land west of Allbrook Way, Knowle Hill Eastleigh. Outline planning permission was granted by Eastleigh Borough Council in 2024 (O/19/86980). The mitigation scheme is owned by Alfred Homes (the Landowner). The site of the mitigation scheme falls within Winchester District and outside of the schemes proposed to be brought forward via the Partnership for South Hampshire (PfSH) Inter-Authority Agreement (IAA) for a Solent Local Nutrient Mitigation Fund Project (LNMF). To provide sufficient assurance the scheme will be retained in perpetuity, an agreement pursuant to section 33 of the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1982 (s33 agreement) must be entered into between the Landowner and the Council. Bargate Homes would be the recipient of the allocation agreement for the credits. Winchester City Council (WCC) has entered into a section 106 Town and Country Planning Act 1990 agreement (s106 agreement) as enforcing authority against the Landowner, thereby ensuring the nutrient mitigation is maintained in perpetuity.

RESOLVED –

That Cabinet delegated authority to the Head of Legal Services, in consultation with the Service Director for Planning and Environment, to agree final terms and enter into an agreement pursuant to section 33 of the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1982 with Alfred Homes as a nutrient mitigation provider in accordance with the Habitat Regulations.

Issue

In November 2023 Cabinet approved a draft version of a combined Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan to go out to public consultation. Following consultation in early 2024, revisions have been made to both the broader strategy and the action plan. The strategy maps the most important areas and sets priorities for nature recovery in the Borough and sets targets to contribute towards the aspirations for the Government’s “30 by 30” national targets for biodiversity protection and enhancement. (Paper 10)

Consideration

The Action Plan details the actions required by the Ecology Team and partners to deliver the strategy. The strategy will require annual reporting of progress and review to ensure that it aligns with the County Nature Recovery Strategy that is expected to be formally adopted later in 2025.

RESOLVED –

That Cabinet approved the adoption of the Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan 2024-2034, with any last minute minor changes to be delegated back to the Cabinet Member for Environment and the Council’s Ecologist.

Issue

The Service Director - Governance and Support is responsible for the co-ordination of Corporate Risk Management. The Strategic Risk Management Group (SRMG) are responsible for overseeing and monitoring the Council’s response to Risk Management.

This Annual Report provides a summary of Risk Management activity during 2024/25 and also presents the Risk Management Framework 2025/26 (the Policy) (appendix 1), Risk Appetite Statement 2025/26 (appendix 2) and Terms of Reference for SRMG (appendix 3). (Paper 11)

Consideration

This report relates to all of the Council’s Corporate Objectives and the framework that supports the management of risks to meet those objectives. The Risk Appetite supports strategic priorities in certain areas and is designed to be flexible in recognition of the Council operating more innovatively and dynamically.

RESOLVED –

That Cabinet:

(1)  considered the Annual Risk Management Report; and

(2)  approved the Risk Management Framework, Risk Appetite Statement and Terms of Reference for the Strategic Risk Management Group.

Issue

The Council is the freehold owner of land at Hanns Way, Eastleigh. The site previously housed a retail warehouse unit which was demolished in 2005 in anticipation of future development. The site has been operating as a temporary pay and display car park since the demolition and is soon to be a vacant unconstrained site. It is proposed that the site be redeveloped to provide a residential scheme, as part of the Council’s Housing Programme to meet identified local housing needs. Feasibility studies and financial appraisals demonstrated that the site has redevelopment capacity for up to six dwellings, with associated cycle storage and landscaping following a detailed pre-application process. (Paper 12)

Consideration

Budget approval is sought from Cabinet for up to £2.2M to fund the clearance of the site and construction of the residential scheme, along with associated fees. The project will be funded by borrowing, to be repaid from the revenue generated from the development. The final budget requirement and level of New Homes Bonus is subject to the chosen tenure plan and associated bid to Homes England under the Affordable Homes Programme.

RESOLVED –

That Cabinet approved a budget of up to £2.2M to fund the redevelopment of Land at Hanns Way, Eastleigh to deliver a six-unit residential scheme with associated landscaping. The redevelopment is to be funded by borrowing and repaid over time from the revenue generated from the development.

Issue

Community assets such as public open space and allotments provide high-quality outdoor environments for residents to enjoy and recreate in, supporting their mental and physical health and wellbeing. Community buildings provide spaces that facilitate residents coming together to access different services and enjoy events that enhance their quality of life. The transfer of community assets to town and parish councils in accordance with the Council’s adopted policy supports the continued provision and protection of such assets at a local level, aligned with the Council’s ‘local first’ approach. (Paper 13)

Consideration

Since 1994 the Council has had an adopted policy of transferring assets to town and parish councils. This process aligns with the localism agenda, transferring assets to the most local level of government for the benefit of local communities. Over the last 30 years, a range of transfers have been completed to each of the town and parish councils, with the transfer of allotments to Boyatt Wood and Allbrook Parish Councils and Eastleigh Town Council most recently. A wider programme of transfers to Eastleigh Town Council has been initiated at the request of the Town Council in September 2024.

A fully-resourced and borough-wide project has been created to support community asset transfers from Eastleigh Borough Council (EBC) to local town and parish councils. This will maximise local benefit, ensuring local assets are protected and managed by the local community.

RESOLVED –

That Cabinet:

(1)  Re-ratified the Council’s adopted Asset Transfer Policy and approves the process for the community asset transfer programme as set out in this report; and

(2)  Approved in principle the transfer of Council-owned assets and delegates the final approval to the Service Director of Finance, Improvement & Strategic Housing and Head of Property, in consultation with the Leader of the Council and the appropriate Local Area Committee Chair.

Issue

The Disabled Facilities Grant Programme helps to achieve the objectives of the Council’s Corporate Plan 2023-2026 through enabling a healthier Eastleigh, with expenditure in this area. Targeted expenditure in this area leads to an increased quality of life for some of the most vulnerable residents in the Borough, as well as preventative positive health outcomes in other areas of society. (Paper 14)

Consideration

The Disabled Facilities Grant (DFG) is capital funding for the provision of home adaptations to help eligible older and disabled people to live as independently and safely as possible in their homes, and therefore aims to improve the lives of some of the most vulnerable residents in the Borough, giving them a better quality of life.

The projects undertaken through the DFG programme play a vital role in the prevention of hospital admissions, tackling bed-blocking and reducing the need or extent of care packages through adaptations within residents homes.

RESOLVED –

That Cabinet:

(1)  approved capital expenditure in 2024/25 of £317,847 on the Disabled Facilities Programme to be funded through the Disabled Facilities Grant; and

(2)  approved capital expenditure in 2025/26 of £1,637,608 on the Disabled Facilities Grant Programme to be funded through the Disabled Facilities Grant.

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 paragraphs 2 and 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.