Havant Borough Council Cabinet Meeting

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Robinson

There were no declarations of interests relating to matters on the agenda.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the Cabinet meeting held on 24 January 2024 were approved as a true record and signed by the Chairman.

Councillor Rennie, the Chairman, had no matters to report.

There were no questions from Councillors under the provision of Standing Order 9.3.3.

There were no matters for Cabinet to consider under the provision of Cabinet Standing Order 9.4.

Councillor Bowdell, as relevant Cabinet Lead, introduced a report setting out the budget for 2024/25.

Cabinet discussed the budget and the options available to Cabinet.

Following a debate and vote, Cabinet agreed the report’s recommendations for the reasons set out in the submitted report.

RESOLVED that Council be RECOMMENDED to:

1)         approve the proposed Revenue Budget and Capital Programme for 2024-25 and sets a Council Tax rate of £232.82 at Band D, representing a £6.76 increase on the current charge;

2)         approve the Medium-Term Financial Strategy for the period 2024/25 to 2028/29, Capital Strategy, Investment Strategy, Treasury Management Strategy Business Rates 2024/25 and Prudential Indicators;

3)         approve the Fees & Charges schedule for 2024-25 subject to the fees and charges for cricket pitches being frozen in line with other pitch charges;

4)         approve the Council Tax Resolution, as per Appendix I;

5)         approve the application of a Council Tax premium of 100% for all dwellings which are unoccupied but substantially furnished (second homes) with effect from 1st April 2025;

6)         approve the drawdown of up to £500,000 from the ringfenced Leisure;

7)         approve the drawdown of up to £500,000 from the ringfenced Leisure  Contingency Reserve  to be used to secure the main leisure facilities in Havant Town and Waterlooville.

8)         Delegate authority to the Chief Executive Officer, in conjunction with the Section 151 Officer to agree terms with Horizon Leisure Trust in line with the approved drawdown.

9)         Note and endorse the Statement of the S151 Officer on the robustness of the budget and the adequacy of the Council's reserves.

Councillor Bowdell, as relevant Cabinet Lead, introduced a report setting out the proposed Council Tax Scheme for 2024/25.

Cabinet discussed the report and the options available to Cabinet.

Following a question and answer session, debate and vote, Cabinet agreed the report’s recommendations for the reasons set out in the submitted report.

RESOLVED that Council be RECOMMENDED to:

1)         agree to amend the current scheme so that 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 2024/25;

2)         agree to amend the current scheme so that 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;

3)         approve that The Council continues to facilitate a Council Tax Support Hardship Fund;

4)         approve the retention of all remaining elements of the current 2023/24 scheme; and

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

Councillor Fairhurst, as relevant Cabinet Lead, introduced a report on the coastal environmental and research initiatives.

Cabinet discussed the report and the options available to Cabinet.

Following a question and answer session, debate and vote, Cabinet agreed the report’s recommendations for the reasons set out in the submitted report.

RESOLVED that:

1)                  it be noted that Coastal Partners are bidding for up to £1,920,500 of funding across six initiatives for the benefit of the Council and the Southern Coastal Group / SCOPAC; and

2)                  authority be delegated to the Executive Head of Coastal Partners, following consultation with the Cabinet Lead for Coastal and the S151 Officer, to implement the six Coastal Environmental & Research Initiatives identified in the submitted report, subject to securing the necessary funding.