Hart Borough Council Council Meeting

Paul German, Headteacher at Yateley School, presented on funding from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund for the Yateley School Wellbeing and Community Hub, as well as the Young Persons Employment and Skills project. He addressed challenges young people face in accessing education and introduced the hub, which opened in February 2025 and includes a community area. Mr. German thanked Hart District Council for their support.

Members inquired about the impact of the new services on young people, and he was thanked for his presentation.

The Minutes of the meeting of 20 February 2025 were confirmed and signed as a correct record.

Apologies were received from Cllr Axam, Davies, Delaney, Harward and Woods. 

No declarations made.

No questions received.

No questions received.

The Chairman thanked everyone that had attended or donated to the recent Casino event held in support of the Chairman’s charities, confirming that over £2,700 had been raised.

Cabinet members gave their announcements, as summarised below:

·         The Leader of the Council, and Portfolio Holder for Strategic Direction, and Partnerships, Councillor Neighbour announced that this week HDC is participating in the Corporate Peer Challenge, facilitated by the Local Government Association. He thanked staff and members who have helped with focus groups this week.

Additionally, the SANG at Grove Farm has been adopted and Cabinet has approved proposals for delivering a Habitat at Whitewater with implementation later in the year. Conservation Grazing has started at Edenbrook for the first time.  

A member queried issues with Sandy Lane Ditch. This was noted and it was agreed that updates on progress would be provided to the member.

•      The Deputy Leader and Portfolio Holder for Finance, Councillor Radley gave no report.

•      The Portfolio Holder for Community Services, Councillor Bailey made three announcements, one to inform members that the Heathlands Court remodelling proposals (on display prior to this meeting) would be considered by Cabinet in June. 

The Community Team will be holding a health fair on Saturday 12 July at Fleet Market. There will be several practical stalls and mental health support, with a particular focus on men's health.

The new allocations policy is progressing well and remains on track for implementation by 1 June.

•      The Portfolio Holder for Digital and Communications, Councillor Clarke announced that there is a new events section on the website and encouraged members to let the Communications team of upcoming events.

•      The Portfolio Holder for Planning Policy and Development Management, Councillor Oliver announced that the procurement process for support to develop the new Local Plan was underway. 17 responses to the tender have been received.

A member queried the level of work being undertaken prior to government guidance being issued and when the next update would be. It was hoped that an update would be provided to the next Overview & Scrutiny meeting.

•      The Portfolio Holder for Regulatory, Councillor Wildsmith announced that the Environmental Enforcement service have started to tackle the fly posting and unauthorised signage across the district. The focus will be on education initially ahead of any enforcement action unless a danger to public safety has been identified.

Officers will shortly be using the Single Justice Procedure (SJP) for cases, which will reduce the potential costs of attending court and ensure that our enforcement action, where necessary, will be entered into a process and no longer at risk of not being heard in court within the stipulated 6-month period for summary (low level) offences.

•      The Portfolio Holder for Parking and Community Safety, Councillor Collins confirmed the Think Safe event will once again host over 500 Year 6 children to learn about a range of safety issues. 

Community Safety are also developing a rural crime plan in conjunction with the police. It was also confirmed that the new parking tariffs would come in o effect on 16 June 2025.

•      The Portfolio Holder for Climate Change and Corporate Services, Councillor Quarterman thanked members for attending the recent waste briefing and confirmed that further briefings would be held.

Members were informed of a serious incident where maritime flares were placed in domestic waste and caused a fire on a waste vehicle. No staff or damage to the vehicles occurred. Residents were contacted and social media posts will undertaken.

A member queried how fireworks could be disposed of.  It was agreed that this information would be passed to the member.

The Chief Executive reported that discussions regarding local government reorganisation are progressing rapidly, with all 15 Hampshire and Solent Councils collaborating effectively, supported by the expertise of KPMG. Significant progress has been made in shaping a vision for what unitary authorities in our area could look like. Although this is a challenging task, there is confidence that some well-thought-out proposals for public engagement will be ready by July. The alignment of Hart, Rushmoor, and Basingstoke has been noted as a top contender among the available options.

Members learned that:

·         The Chief Executive has been assisting with the Devolution and Mayoral process, although this initiative is being led by upper-tier authorities. There is a by-election for a County Council representative on May 1 for the Yateley East and Blackwater division, with the count to be held at the Civic Offices on 2 May.

·         The IT department has received praise for achieving exemplar status from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government's Cyber Assessment Framework.

The Minutes of the following Committees, which met on the dates shown, were received by Council.

Staffing and Appeals – Minute No. 12. Pay Policy Statement 2025/26

Cllr Farmer as Vice-Chair of the Staffing and Appeals Committee introduced the Pay Policy Statement 2025/26.

Proposed by Cllr Farmer, seconded by Cllr Neighbour.

Decision

Council unanimously agreed the pay Policy Statement 2025/26.      

Portfolio Holder for Planning Policy and Development Control introduced the Odiham and North Warnborough Neighbourhood Plan review 2014-2032.

Making of the plan was proposed by Cllr Oliver and seconded by Cllr Hale and was agreed by Council.    

Decision

That Council makes the Odiham and North Warnborough Neighbourhood Plan review 2014-2032.

Feedback was received from Council representatives on Outside Bodies.

Councillor Quarterman reported that the Blackbushe Airport Consultative Committee is awaiting a decision from the Planning Inspector on their proposed land exchange.

Councillor Collins shared that the Fleet, Crondall, and Crookham Welfare Trust has closed after 194 years of helping those in poverty. The Board thanked Hart District Council for their support, and remaining funds have been sent to Citizens Advice Hart.

Councillor Hale announced the 100th anniversary of RAF Odiham and praised the commitment of serving personnel, thanking Council officers for their support.

Councillor Oliver reported on emergency meetings of the Hampshire Police and Crime Panel, noting that Chief Constable Scott Chilton has resigned. Sam Carey is now Acting Chief Constable, and the Police and Crime Commissioner is handling the selection process, with ongoing investigations into conduct.