Havant Borough Council Cabinet Meeting

There were no apologies for absence received from members.

There were no declarations of interest from the members present relating to matters on the agenda.

The minutes of the meeting held 18 January 2023 were approved as a correct record.

The Leader informed members of the meeting being hosted by Havant Borough Council at the Public Service Plaza on 15 February at 5.00pm to discuss water resource management and the proposal to use Havant Thicket Reservoir for water recycling.  Seating to attend the meeting in person has now reached capacity, however the meeting will be broadcast live for those who have not been able to secure a seat.

The Leader informed Cabinet that Item 9 – Responses to the DRAFT Water Resource Management Plan Consultations for Portsmouth Water and Southern Water will be considered first.

RESOLVED that the following decision taken under the Scheme of Delegations be NOTED:

1)    18/01/2023 - Charges for the Collection of Garden Waste.

The Leader informed members that this item would be considered as part of Item 8 – 2023/24 Revenue Budget, Capital Budget, Reserves & Balances, Capital Strategy, Treasury Management Strategy and Medium Term Finance Strategy.

The Leader welcomed Councillor Keast, Chairman of Overview & Scrutiny Committee to the meeting, who provided some key points of note that were raised by the Overview & Scrutiny Committee at their meeting of 02 February 2023 in relation to the budget.

The points raised by the committee in relation to temporary staffing levels, planning income, off-street parking charges, a proposal to implement a community grant, the cost of homelessness and finally the level of fees and charges, were debated and responded to within the meeting.

The Leader further confirmed that Cabinet is keen to support community projects and there is work underway already in relation to this and is looking forward to bringing an item to Cabinet and welcomed any insight that the Overview & Scrutiny Committee would like to bring to Cabinet in relation to a review of Fees and Charges.

Councillor Denton introduced the report as Cabinet Lead for Transformation and noted there was some uncertainty in relation to a one-year spending settlement set by Central Government instead of a multi-year spending review and uncertain economic environment.  Councillor Denton further noted that close monitoring of the budget is needed to ensure the budget is adjusted to meet varying budget pressures to ensure long term stability is maintained given.

Councillor Denton thanked Councillor Keast, the Overview & Scrutiny Committee and Officers for their work in enabling a balanced budget to be brought forward.

Councillor Denton proposed an amendment to the published recommendations, which is to add a recommendation ‘E’:

‘To agree additional expenditure as part of the capital budget of £100,000 for the purposes of an expanding the current Garden Waste scheme. This will be funded from Corporate Reserves’

The Leader informed members that the proposed amendment will enable further work to be undertaken to introduce a 3^rd waste collection round and provide a garden waste collection service to those residents currently on a waiting list.

Proposed by Councillor Denton and seconded by Councillor Satchwell, it was 

RESOLVED that recommendation ‘e’ be added to the recommendations set out in the published report.

Officers confirmed that a portion of the Civic Events budget will be set aside to fund celebrations for the Coronation and an item will be considered at Cabinet in due course.

Cabinet noted a minor typographical error relating to photocopying charges detailed in Appendix G, which will be corrected prior to the reports being considered at Full Council.  The amendment will see an increase of the photocopying charge from 10p to 11p.

Cabinet thanked Officers and the Budget Working Group for their hard work in ensuring a transparent and robust budget that puts the Council in a strong financial position for the future and is able to deliver the Corporate Strategy.

A motion proposed by Councillor Denton and seconded by the Leader to agree the recommendations was approved. It was therefore

RESOLVED that Cabinet recommends that Full Council:

a)      Agrees the proposed Revenue and Capital budgets for 2023-24 including a Council Tax rate of £226.06 at Band D, representing a £6.58 increase on the current charge;

b)      Agrees the proposed Medium Term Financial Strategy, Capital Strategy, Treasury Management Strategy and Prudential Indicators.

c)      Agrees the Fees & Charges schedule for 2023-24.

d)      Agrees the Council Tax Resolution

e)      To agree additional expenditure as part of the capital budget of £100,000 for the purposes of an expanding the current Garden Waste scheme. This will be funded from Corporate Reserves.

The Cabinet Lead for Local Plan, Environment and Water Quality introduced a report providing an overview to the Water Resource Management Plans proposed by Portsmouth Water and Southern Water, which set out how drinking water is to be supplied in the future in the Borough.

Cabinet considered the proposed consultation responses that were published with the agenda and outlined the Council’s concerns in relation to the proposed project. 

A motion proposed by Councillor Lloyd and seconded by the Leader to agree the recommendations as set out in the submitted report was approved.  It was therefore

Resolved that Cabinet:

A        Approve the consultation responses to the Draft Water Resources Management Plans for Portsmouth Water (Appendix A) and Southern Water (Appendix B) for submission to the two water companies.

B        Delegate authority to the Cabinet Lead for the Local Plan, Environment and Water Quality (in consultation with the Leader) to submit any further relevant responses, including any arising out of the consultation responses (at Appendices A and B) as a result of the residents’ meeting with Portsmouth Water and Southern Water.

The Leader introduced a report proposing an updated Corporate Strategy noting the positive comments from residents around the Council’s regeneration plans, wellbeing and the planned investment in play parks and outdoor spaces.

A motion proposed by the Leader and seconded by Councillor Bowerman to agree the recommendations set out in the submitted report was approved.  It was therefore

RESOLVED that Council be recommended to adopt the updated Corporate Strategy.