Eastleigh Borough Council Cabinet Meeting

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

RESOLVED -

That the Minutes of the meeting held on 21 December 2023 be agreed as a correct record.

There was no public participation on this occasion.

There were no recommendations from Committees on this occasion.

Issue

The Council has a statutory duty to administer the mandatory licensing regime in respect of Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs) which are to be occupied by five or more persons within the Borough. (Paper 6)

Consideration

The Council is required to have a policy which is published, outlining how it will deliver this duty and how the fees charged in relation to the licensing scheme are determined.

The previous policy was approved in 2018 and is now due for review.

RESOLVED –

That Cabinet approved the updated Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMO) Licensing and Fees Policy in Appendix 1.

Issue

These policy changes will support a number of strategic objectives including bringing empty or unoccupied homes into use to support housing provision across the Borough. (Paper 7)

Consideration

It will provide additional funding to the collection fund which will be shared between the Council, the major precepting authorities and the local precepting authorities in line with their relevant share of the Council Tax.

RESOLVED –

That Cabinet:

1)  approved the changes to the Empty Homes premium charges as detailed in this report; and

2)  approved the changes to the Second Home premium as detailed in this report.

Issue

The Council has been a local authority Registered Provider of affordable homes since May 2021 and is due to be the landlord of its first affordable housing tenants (from the Hampshire Home Choice Register) in 2023/24. As a Registered Provider of affordable housing the Council must ensure that it meets not only its regulatory requirements but also puts in place a transparent high performing service for its customer. (Paper 8)

Consideration

Several policies require approval to enable the timely delivery of the Council’s new affordable housing service. The draft policies are fully compliant and up to date with the latest regulations. The policies will be monitored and reviewed annually, using lessons learnt and tenant input to further improve them and the services they underpin.

RESOLVED –

That Cabinet considered the sixth tranche of policies (Fire Policy, Health and Safety Policy, Neighbourhood and Estate Management Policy and Resident Engagement Policy) and then they were approved on the terms as outlined in this report.

Issue

Hampshire County Council has been appointed as the Responsible Authority to produce the Local Nature Recovery Strategy (LNRS) for the county. The strategy will be a spatial strategy for nature and environmental improvements. It will map the most valuable areas for nature and proposals for creating or improving habitats and agree priorities for nature recovery. (Paper 9)

Consideration

Eastleigh Borough Council has a supporting role in the preparation of the LNRS and is a statutory consultee for the strategy. Delegated authority is requested to ensure that the Council can respond to draft documents within the statutory timescales set out in the regulations if this does not provide sufficient time to take this decision to Cabinet.

RESOLVED –

That Cabinet approved delegated authority to the Cabinet Member for Planning and Property to agree and submit responses to Hampshire County Council if required at the key stages in the preparation of the Hampshire Local Nature Recovery Strategy.

Issue

The Council received a Best Value Notice (BVN) on 19 December 2023.  This followed a review of the Council’s borrowing by the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA) on behalf of the Minister for Local Government.  The BVN requires the Council to agree and monitor an action plan. (Paper 10)

Consideration

The proposed approach to the Council’s response to the Best Value Notice and other recent external reviews in the form of a single consolidated action plan will help to support all of the themes within the Corporate Plan 2023-26. In particular, as several of the proposed actions and improvements will seek to develop internal and procedural matters, this includes the theme of ‘Improving our Organisation’.

RESOLVED –

That Cabinet:

(1)  noted the contents of this report, including an acknowledgement of the improvements made to date; and

(2)  agreed the broad proposed approach set out below.

Issue

A Corporate Peer Challenge (CPC), run by the Local Government Association (LGA) is a trusted voluntary method of reviewing the workings of a council, undertaken by Members and officers from other, nationwide, Local Authorities who volunteer their time (known as the ‘peer team’). (Paper 11)

Consideration

The Council voluntarily hosted an on-site CPC review from 17-19 October 2023. Undertaking a CPC review provided a timely opportunity to gain impartial feedback on the Council, allowed for meaningful validation of the Council’s performance and overall forward plans and helped to identify further actions to help improve performance.

RESOLVED –

Cabinet noted the Corporate Peer Challenge outcome report (attached at Appendix one) and approved the action plan (attached as Appendix two).

Issue

The Council has a statutory duty to administer disabled facility grants (DFGs) for adaptations that will allow residents remain in their homes for longer. The Council are required to have a policy on how grants (and other financial assistance) are provided. The policy has been reviewed and updated in response to continuing pressures on the service’s budget to enable cost-effective spend and it can benefit the maximum number of people as possible. (Paper 12)

Consideration

This updated policy (Appendix 1) has updated and strengthened wording to items within the DFG Eligible Works section so as to make clearer the limitations and extent of works to which grant funding may be provided, updated and strengthened wording in the DFG and Loans Conditions section in relation to requirements to notify us if intending to move afterwards and removed the discretionary provision for a Handy Person Service.

RESOLVED –

That Cabinet approved the updated Financial Assistance Policy in Appendix 1.

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.