Havant Borough Council Cabinet Meeting

The Leader announced a short adjournment at the start of the meeting.

There were no apologies of absence from members.

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

The minutes of the meeting held on 02 November 2022 were approved as a correct record.

Councillor Rennie informed members that Councillor Bains had retired as Deputy Leader and will step from Cabinet in January 2023 and thanked her for her work for the Council.

Councillor Rennie further welcomed Councillor Robinson as Deputy Leader.

The Leader, on behalf of Cabinet, thanked the Overview & Scrutiny Committee for their work in relation to Housing Development Strategy.

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

RESOLVED that the concerns raised by the Overview and Scrutiny Committee relating to the Housing Development Strategy as set out in the report be noted.

The Cabinet Lead for Community Safety and Transformation thanked officers for their work in relation to the Disabled Facilities Grant Policy.

A motion proposed by Councillor Bains and seconded by Councillor Denton to support the recommendation as set out in the published report was agreed.  It was therefore

RESOLVED that

the implementation of the draft Disabled Facilities Grant (DFG) Policy be approved.

The Cabinet Lead for Levelling-Up introduced a report seeking approval for the Council’s Civil Engineering and Landscape Team (CELT) to continue to work for Hampshire County Council, resulting in a more resilient service and further supports HBC’s corporate objectives.

A motion proposed by Councillor Pike and seconded by Councillor Denton to support the recommendations set out in the published report was agreed.  It was therefore

RESOLVED that Cabinet approved

a. That the Civil Engineering & Landscape Team (CELT) continue to carry out their existing and future consultancy work with Hampshire County Council up to an income value of £600,000 (fee recharge) per financial year for a period of the next 5 years.

b. Cabinet approval will be requested should income forecasts exceed the fee income threshold of £600,000 in any 12-month period.

The Cabinet Lead for Finance introduced a report proposing the adoption of a revised Council Tax Support Scheme.

A motion proposed by Councillor Denton and seconded by Councillor Lloyd to support the recommendations set out in the published report was agreed.  It was therefore

RESOLVED that Council be recommended:

1)   that the 2022/23 Council Tax Support Scheme is retained for 2023/24 but with the following amendments:

(i)   the allowances and premiums used in determining entitlement for working age claims are uplifted in line with the figures applied by the Department for Works and Pensions, (DWP), for the Housing Benefit Scheme in 2023/24;

(ii)  the non-dependant deductions used in determining entitlement for working age claims are adapted in line with the rates as set by the Department of Levelling Up, Housing and Communities for non-dependant pension age claims;

(iii)  the Council continues to facilitate a Council Tax Support Hardship Fund

2)   that the necessary amendments are made to the Council Tax Support Scheme document and that it is then published in accordance with Local Government Finance Act 1992 Section 13A(2)

Cabinet considered an amendment to the recommendations as set out in the report, proposing a capital sum of up to £30k to support a county council led project in relation to Langstone seawall.  Following the proposal by Councillor Pike, which as seconded by the Leader, it was RESOLVED to amend the recommendations to include recommendation I:

“For a capital sum of up to £30k to support a county council led project in relation to Langstone seawall, only west of wade lane, once approved by Hampshire County Council and all relevant stakeholders. For delegated authority to the Executive Head of Coastal Partnership to agree the spend.”

A motion proposed by Councillor Denton and seconded by Councillor Bowerman to support the recommendations as amended was agreed.  It was therefore

RESOLVED that

A.      the revenue forecast outturn for 2022/23 (Appendix A) be noted

B.   the summary performance information (Appendix B) be noted

Council be recommended to approve the following additions to the 2022/23 to 2025/26 revenue and Capital Programme and to put in place necessary delegations for spend:

C.     Receipt of £1.65m Brownfield Grant to proceed with the demolition of Bulbeck Road car park;

D.     Receipt of £0.085m in relation to Springwood play park, funded by Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities and; 

E.      Receipt of £0.1m in relation to Changing Places Toilets funded by Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities

F.      Receipt of the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) allocation for 2022/23 of £0.025M capital and £0.077 revenue funding and to note indicative allocations for 2023/24 funding of £0.203m and £0.695m, a total of £1m funding over the next three years.

G.     Delegate to the Economic Development and Regeneration to drawdown the funds in consultation with s151

H.     The revised 2022/23 to 2025/26 capital programme is detailed in Appendix C

I.    For a capital sum of up to £30k to support a county council led project in relation to Langstone seawall, only west of wade lane, once approved by Hampshire County council and all relevant stakeholders. For delegated authority to the Executive Head of Coastal Partnership to agree the spend.