Eastleigh Borough Council Cabinet Meeting

Councillor House declared a non-pecuniary interest in item 7 as he is on the County decision-making committee for the planning application.

RESOLVED -

That the Minutes of the meeting held on 22 January 2024 be agreed as a correct record.

There was no public participation on this occasion.

There were no recommendations from Committees on this occasion.

Issue

This Corporate RTC Policy provides the statutory framework and the Council’s guidance for the use of overt and covert surveillance camera systems, namely Redeployable Trial Cameras, to investigate and deter fly tipping, whilst ensuring the public authority does not infringe a person’s Article 8 rights under the Human Rights Act 1998. (Paper 6)

Consideration

RTCs are a useful investigative and deterrent tool and have been effectively utilised by neighbouring and national local authorities to identify those people(s) and/or company(s) responsible for fly tipping and/or act as a deterrent to fly tippers.

RESOLVED –

That Cabinet adopted the ‘Corporate Policy and Procedures for use of Redeployable Trail Cameras (RTC) for Investigating Fly Tipping’ (attached as Annex 1), which sets out the statutory framework and procedures which permit the Council’s lawful use of overt and covert surveillance, undertaken by the use of Redeployable Trail Cameras, to investigate and deter fly tipping.

Issue

Hampshire County Council (HCC) and its partner Authorities, Southampton City Council, Portsmouth City Council, New Forest National Park Authority and South Downs National Park Authority (collectively known as the Hampshire Authorities), are progressing a Partial Update to the Hampshire Minerals and Waste Plan (HMWP, the Plan). This will guide minerals and waste decision making in the Plan area until 2040. (Paper 7)

Consideration

The Plan has reached the second stage of consultation. The Council responded to the consultation on a draft Plan in January 2023. The Hampshire Authorities have considered the responses received and are now consulting on a proposed submission Plan until 5 March 2024.

RESOLVED –

That Cabinet:

(1)  responded to Hampshire County Council’s (HCC’s) consultation on the Hampshire Minerals and Waste (HMWP) - Partial Update - Proposed Submission plan. The consultation response is contained in sections 23 – 40 in this report;

(2)  upheld its continued objection to include the former Hamble Airfield site in the HMWP Partial Update for minerals extraction;

(3)  formally requested that HCC remove Hamble Airfield as an allocated site for minerals extraction from the HMWP Partial Update;

(4)  agreed that Council officers should participate in examination hearing session(s) on the key issues as required in connection with this representation; and

(5)  delegated the preparation of hearing statements and any representations on minor matters to the Planning Policy Manager in consultation with the Leader of the Council, Chair of the Bursledon, Hamble-le-Rice and Hound Local Area Committee and the Corporate Director.

[NOTE: (a) Councillor Corben Chaired this item as Councillor House declared a non-pecuniary interest and did not take part. (b) Councillors thanked Officers for their hard work.]

Issue

activities involving animals, collect stray dogs and to promote and protect animal welfare. There are a variety of animal related complaints that are reported to the Council by members of the public that can be dealt with using the legislation listed below. An Animal Licensing and Welfare Policy has been drafted to assist with the regularisation and enforcement of all statutory animal licensing activities and issues of animal welfare that are reported within the Borough. (Paper 8)

Consideration

In addition to this it has been identified that the Borough wide Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) in respect of dog fouling lapsed in October 2020 during the Covid pandemic. It is proposed to re-introduce a PSPO under the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014 to address this.

RESOLVED –

It is recommended that Cabinet approves the public consultation of the draft Animal Licensing and Welfare Policy and draft Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) to control Dog Fouling within the Borough.

Issue

On 30 November 2023, the NHS published details on proposals for a consultation into how between £700 million and £900 million would best be invested in hospital services across northern and central Hampshire (including Eastleigh). (Paper 9)

Consideration

The proposals could result in two acute hospitals for the area, with refurbishment of the Royal Hampshire County Hospital in Winchester and the building of a brand-new specialist acute hospital on either the existing Basingstoke and North Hampshire Hospital site, or at a new location near Junction 7 of the M3.

While some services would be retained and improved at Winchester, Accident and Emergency services (A&E) would be relocated to the new hospital under all options.

RESOLVED –

That:

(1)  Cabinet approved the response below, on behalf of EBC, to the NHS consultation on ‘a new hospital for Hampshire: proposed changes to acute hospital services in and around Basingstoke and Winchester.’

(2)  Final sign-off is delegated to the Cabinet Member for Health and Wellbeing following Policy and Performance.

Issue

The Budget underpins the Council’s ability to meet Strategic Priorities set out in the Corporate Plan. The Budget aligns resources to enable services and projects to be delivered to support residents and other stakeholders. The Budget is a vital management mechanism to ensure financial sustainability of the Council and fulfilment of statutory obligations. (Paper 10)

Consideration

The adoption of the revised Corporate Plan for 2023-2026 in Feb 2023 has helped set the direction and key delivery objectives within the Medium-Term Financial Plan (MTFP) and reflects the Council’s priorities against the anticipated future levels of resourcing.

RESOLVED –

That Cabinet recommends Council:

(1)  sets the revised Net Revenue Budget Requirement for 2023/24 at £12,157,000 and notes the impact on the Council’s General Fund balance (para 16);

(2)  sets the Net Revenue Budget Requirement for 2024/25 at £13,235,000 and notes the impact on the Council’s General Fund balance (para 16);

(3)  notes the Local Government Finance settlement for 2024/25 (para 56);

(4)  approves budget adjustments for 2023/24 and 2024/25 incorporated within the appended Medium-Term Financial Plan (Appendix A & para 19-42);

(5)  approves the Medium-Term Financial Plan for 2023/24 – 2028/29 (Appendix A)

(6)  approves an increase of £5 for 2024/25 for the average Council Tax for Eastleigh Borough Council (para 58);

(7)  approves the Special Expenses for Parished areas (para 62-63);

(8)  notes the revised Service Improvement and Efficiencies requirement in 2023/24 and 2024/25 (para 52-55);

(9)  approves the amendment to Fees and Charges for Section 52/106 compliance checks and agreements (para 78);

(10)approves the transfer to/from Earmarked Reserves and the temporary freeze of any further discretionary transfers to service reserves (para 50);

(11)approves that where an underspend arises at 31 March and the Chief Financial Officer deems that the funding will not be required for future years, the relevant budget is removed from the following year as a saving. (para 23); and

(12)approves the continuation of the policy to not purchase any further Investment Properties (as defined by the CIPFA Code and PWLB Guidance). (para 12).

Issue

Regular monitoring and management of the Council’s operational and financial performance is essential to understanding and supporting delivery against the corporate themes set out in the Council’s Corporate Plan 2023-2026 and contributes to the management of corporate risk. (Paper 11)

Consideration

This report presents the Council’s performance position for the third quarter (Q3) of 2023/24 including a forecast of the financial position for the full year against the Rolling Eastleigh Borough Council Budget. The report also highlights significant and emerging financial and performance activity including a positive compliance audit report received from Homes England.

RESOLVED –

That Cabinet:

(1)  noted the performance for the third quarter of the year and forecast financial position of a £225,000 draw on the General Fund Reserve and consider any recommendations from the Policy and Performance Scrutiny Panel;

(2)  noted performance against Service Improvement and Efficiencies targets in Appendix B;

(3)  noted the performance of the Community Investment Programme in Appendix C;

(4)  approved capital expenditure of £337,500 for the purchase of vehicles currently hired, to be financed from borrowing (para 71); and

(5)  noted the positive Homes England compliance audit report for 2023/24 at Appendix E.

Issue

The Capital, Treasury Management and Investment Strategies set out the long-term context in which capital expenditure decisions are made and gives due consideration to both the risk and reward of these decisions and the impact on the achievement of priority objectives. (Paper 12)

Consideration

The strategies appended to this report give a high-level overview of how capital expenditure, treasury management and investment activity contribute to the provision of local services along with an overview of how associated risk is managed and the implications for future financial sustainability.

RESOLVED –

That Cabinet:

(1)  recommended to Council to approve the Capital Strategy at Appendix 1;

(2)  recommended to Council to approve the Treasury Management Strategy at Appendix 2;

(3)  recommended to Council to approve the Investment Strategy at Appendix 3;

(4)  recommended to Council to approve the Flexible Use of Capital Receipts Strategy at Appendix 1D;

(5)  recommended to Council to approve the Minimum Revenue Provision (MRP) Statement at Appendix 2A;

(6)  recommended to Council to approve the Prudential Indicators at Appendix 2B;

(7)  recommended to Council to approve the Treasury Management Policy Statement at Appendix 2C; and

(8)  recommended to Council to approve the Treasury Management Practices (TMP’s) and Investment Management Practices (IMP’s) at Appendix 2D;

[NOTE: Councillors thanked staff for their hard work with regards to the finance papers.]

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.