Hart Borough Council Cabinet Meeting

The minutes of the meeting on 1 December 2022, including the Exempt minutes, were confirmed and signed as a correct record. Councillor Neighbour proposed them and was seconded by Councillor Oliver.

Apologies had been received from Councillors Bailey and Collins.

Councillor Oliver declared an interest in Agenda Item 11 due to also being a member of Fleet Town Council.

Councillor Forster declared an interest in Agenda Item 11 as he is the Hampshire County Council Cabinet Member responsible for Libraries. 

Both were considered to be prejudicial but non-pecuniary interests.

No announcements.

None.

Members were updated on the Council’s performance indicator results for Quarter 2 of 2022/2023 (1 July 2022 – 30 September 2022).

DECISION

Cabinet noted the performance report for Quarter 2 2022/23.

This report was to update Cabinet on the Council’s performance indicator results for Quarter 2 of 2022/2023 (1 July 2022 – 30 September 2022).

The Executive Director, Corporate Services and S151 Officerclarified that the transfer of £212,000 Climate Change spend, had been agreed by Cabinet on 4 August 2022.

He also highlighted that the Budget report is due to go to January’s Overview and Scrutiny meeting on 17 January and will be published next week.

Members asked for clarification on the figures for current pressures on Energy prices and Energy Bills and were satisfied with the response.

Members queried what specific areas of the report Overview and Scrutiny Committee had discussed. It was confirmed it had focused on questions on the Tier 2 savings and the ongoing actions.

DECISION:

Cabinet noted:

•            the projected Outturn at Q2

•            the Capital Overview.

•            the current Pressures/Savings

•            the transfer of £212k of Climate Change spend to the capital programme.

•            the Risks to the current 2022/23 current projected outturn.

•            the rebasing exercise that has led to contingency budgets providing headroom for Medium Term Financial Planning.

The Executive Director, Corporate Services and S151 Officer updated members on the Council’s Treasury Management activities and performance during the first half of the 2022/23 financial year (April-September 2022).

Members questioned if the Council still had funds with Qatar National Bank and it was confirmed it did not.

Members also raised queries about how ethical other banks and investment groups were, and how these groups are responding to Climate Change. 

The Cabinet Member for Finance highlighted that Overview and Scrutiny Committee is keen to discuss ethical investments at a future meeting. 

DECISION:

Cabinet noted the Treasury Management activities during the first half of the 2022/23 financial year.

The work programme, as circulated with the agenda was discussed.

The Leader of the Council confirmed that the Climate Change Action Plan will not meet its publishing deadline due to staffing resources.

The three Executive Decisions that had been added to the Work Programme since the last Cabinet meeting were also highlighted.

Members discussed the reasons why this item should be exempt.

DECISION

Cabinet agreed there was public interest in maintaining an exemption outweighed the public interest in disclosing the information for the following item.

It was therefore agreed that, in accordance with Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the public be excluded during the discussion of the matters referred to for the next item, on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information, as defined in paragraphs 1, 2 and 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act, and the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information.