Havant Borough Council Cabinet Meeting

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Munday.

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

The minutes of the Cabinet meeting held on 12 June 2024 were approved as a true record and signed by the Chairman.

Councillor Philippa Gray as Chairman of the meeting thanked the officers for their support since the elections in May. The Chairman also raised that there is work being undertaken on the Corporate Strategy, which will be finalised and shared.

There were no questions from Councillors under the provision of Standing Order 68.3.

There were no matters for Cabinet to consider under the provision of Standing Order 68.7.3.

Following the approval of appointments of Outside Bodies taken on 12 June 2024, the amendments shown on page 12 of the agenda were noted by the committee.

In addition it was proposed by Cllr Philippa Gray and seconded by Cllr Redsull and agreed by Cabinet that Cllr Tansom be appointed to the West of Waterlooville Forum.

In Councillor Munday’s absence, Councillor Philippa Gray introduced the report on the Engagement Strategy; explaining that this strategy will underpin and support our future priorities and Corporate Strategy, and how we effectively communicate and engage to deliver these priorities for the borough.

Following any questions from members and a vote it was

RESOLVED that Cabinet APPROVE the Engagement Strategy.

Councillor Philippa Gray gave an introduction to the Revenue and Treasury Outturn Report 2023/24, which form part of the annual accounts published in draft on 31^st May 2024.

Following questions from Councillors and a vote it was

RESOLVED that Cabinet:

1. note the General Fund Revenue (Cost of Service and Funding), Capital and Treasury Outturn as set out in the report.

2. agree the use of £1.1M reserves for the financial year 2023/2024

Cabinet recommends to Council to:

1. Ratify the use of £1.1M reserves for the financial year 2023/2024.

Councillor Rason as the relevant cabinet lead introduced the item for  Warblington Footbridge and explained the reasons for the project to be put on hold.

Following questions from members and a vote it was

RESOLVED that Cabinet:

1.     note that it is not financially feasible to take forward the Warblington Station Footbridge scheme at this time.

2.     agree that work on the Warblington Station Footbridge shall be put on hold and the current phase of the project closed, until a stronger financial business case can be demonstrated.

3.     agree that the remaining allocated funds for this project will now go back into the Community Infrastructure Levy budget to be reallocated to other Borough infrastructure projects.

Councillor Redsull, as relevant cabinet lead introduced the item and answered questions from Councillors.

Following debate and a vote, it was

RESOLVED that Cabinet:

1.     Endorse the Borough’s Housing Strategy 2024 to 2029;

2.     Recommend to Council that the Borough’s Housing Strategy 2024 to 2029, be adopted as part of the Council’s policy framework.

As relevant Cabinet Lead, Councillor Harris introduced the item and explained the key points. Following questions from Councillors and a vote, it was

RESOLVED that Cabinet recommend to Council that it:

1.     Approves the use of £2.8m of Capital Resources to be funded by the Council’s Community Infrastructure Levy to contribute to the replacement of the footbridge at Havant Railway Station.

2.     Delegates authority to the Executive Head of Regeneration, Economic Development and Preventative Services in consultation with the Section 151 Officer and Cabinet Lead for Regeneration to negotiate and enter into a funding agreement with Hampshire County Council.

3.     Delegates authority to the S151 Officer to amend the Council’s Capital Programme as appropriate.

There were no delegated decisions since the last meeting of Cabinet, to be considered at this meeting.

Cabinet RESOLVED that the following Minutes of Meetings be NOTED:

(1)                 Porchester Crematorium Minutes 24 June 2024

(2)                 Solent Freeport Consortium Board Minutes

Councillor Paul Gray, as relevant cabinet lead introduced the item and provided background information to the report.

Following questions and a vote it was

RESOLVED that Cabinet :

1. Agree to the extension, in principle, of the current Environmental Services service level agreement with the current Joint Venture Company (JVC) partner Norse Commercial for a period of up to four years.

2. Authorise the Executive Head of Commercial to undertake negotiations with Norse Commercial over the summer period to agree a robust suite of Key Performance Indicators, for inclusion in the Service Level Agreement. A final decision on the future delivery of the service is subject to approval by Cabinet in September 2024.

Following Councillor Paul Gray’s introduction to the item, questions and a vote it was

RESOLVED that Cabinet:

1. AGREE not to extend the IT service from the 5 Councils Contract at the end of the contract, September 2025

2. AGREE to the extension of the Revenues and Benefits service in the 5 Councils Contract for a period of up to 3 years after the initial contract term ends, September 2025

3. AGREE to the extension of the Land Charges service in the 5 Councils Contract for a period of up to 3 years after the initial contract term ends, September 2025

4. AGREE not to extend the Customer Service contact centre, including front of house, from the 5 Councils Contract at the end of the contract, September 2025

5. AUTHORISE the Executive Head of Commercial, in consultation with the Chief Legal Officer (Monitoring Officer) and Chief Finance Officer (S151), to finalise the negotiations, give relevant notices and to implement the contract changes with Capita Business Services Limited and the Capita Client Liaison Team

6. AUTHORISE the Executive Head of Commercial, in consultation with the relevant statutory officers, to complete any ancillary documents and to publish any notices required.