This is a meeting of the Cabinet of Rushmoor Borough Council held on the 11th Mar 2025.
The last meeting was on 22nd Apr 2025. The next meeting is scheduled for 3rd Jun 2025.
Concorde Room, Council Offices, Farnborough
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Item | Title | Minutes |
1 | DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST |
Having regard to the Council’s
Code of Conduct for Councillors, no declarations of interest were made. |
2 | MINUTES |
Minutes of Previous Meeting
The Minutes of the meeting of the Cabinet held on 11th February, 2025 were confirmed and signed by the Chairman. |
3 | BUDGET MANAGEMENT - MONTH 10 |
Budget Management - Month 10 - Report No. FIN2508
The Cabinet considered Report No. FIN2508, which set out an update on the Council’s forecasted financial position for 2024/25, as at the end of January, 2025. Members were reminded that the Council had a statutory obligation to set and maintain a balanced budget. It was reported that, in February 2025, the Council had identified a significant challenge to its future financial sustainability. Members were informed that the forecast outturn for 2024/25 was on track, with the full £740,000 savings requirement achieved for 2024/25. The level of external borrowing had reduced through careful cashflow management, which had delayed and reduced the need to borrow externally. It was confirmed that the overall reduction in the level of borrowing required in the Council’s Medium Term Financial Strategy could only be achieved through capital receipts. The Cabinet was pleased with the progress that had been made in addressing the Council’s challenging financial position and expressed gratitude to the finance team for its work in this respect. The Cabinet RESOLVED that (i)
the revenue budget forecast, as set out in Section
3.1 of Report No. FIN2508, be noted; and (ii)
the virements, as set out in Section 3.12 of the
Report, be approved. |
4 | DISCRETIONARY RATE RELIEF POLICIES - 2025/26 |
Discretionary Rate Relief Policies - 2025-26 - Report No. FIN2507
Discretionary Rate Relief Policies - 2025-26 - Appendix 1 Discretionary Rate Relief Policies - 2025-26 - Appendix 2 The Cabinet considered Report No. FIN2507,
which set out two changes to discretionary rate relief policies that had been
announced by the Government. Members were informed that retail, hospitality
and leisure businesses would continue to receive relief, which had originally
been introduced in 2014, but that the level of relief from 2025/26 would be
reduced on previous years. The other change related to private schools, that
would no longer be receiving mandatory relief. The purpose of the report was to
amend the Council’s existing Discretionary Business Rate Relief Policies to
reflect the changes. The Cabinet RESOLVED that (i)
the amendment to the Retail, Hospitality and Leisure
Rates Relief Policy, as set out in Appendix
A of Report No. FIN2507, be approved; and (ii)
the amendment to the Discretionary Rate Relief Policy for
charities, not for profit organisations and other specified organisations under
the Localism Act 2011 to exclude private schools receiving Discretionary Rate
Relief, as set out in Appendix B of Report No.
FIN2507, be approved. |
5 | COUNCIL TAX SECOND HOME PREMIUM |
Council Tax Second Home Premium - Report No. FIN2509
The Cabinet considered Report No. FIN2509, which set out the proposed
introduction of a Council Tax premium to be paid on second homes. Members were informed that it was hoped that the introduction of a
premium would encourage owners of furnished but unoccupied properties to bring
them back into use. It was confirmed that the Council already levied a premium
in respect of long term vacant properties that were unfurnished. It was
reported that owners would receive at least one year’s notice of the
introduction of the premium and that this period would provide sufficient time
to make any appropriate changes. The premium would be applicable in respect of
98 properties in the Rushmoor area. It was confirmed
that the premium would be introduced on 1st April, 2026 and not 1st April, 2016
as stated in the report. The Cabinet RESOLVED that (i)
the increase of Council Tax by 100% for second home
properties from 1st April, 2026, as set out in
regulations and in Report No. FIN2509, be approved; and (ii) the amendment to the long-term empty homes policy, to include changing an additional 100% to second homes, as set out in Report No. FIN2509, be approved. |
6 | CLIMATE CHANGE STRATEGY & ACTION PLAN 2025-28 |
Climate Change Strategy & Action Plan 2025-28 - Report No. ACE2505
The Cabinet considered Report No. ACE2505, which set out an update to the Council’s Climate Change Strategy and Action Plan. Members were reminded that the Council had declared a climate emergency in June 2019 and that the Cabinet had approved a Climate Change Action Plan shortly after this. Since that time, the Council had been delivering a number of projects and programmes that had sought to mitigate the impact of climate change. The Cabinet was informed that the report provided details of revisions to the Climate Change Strategy and Action Plan to cover the period 2025-28.The Action Plan now identified ten priority actions and these were set out in the report. It was confirmed that, in a change to earlier versions of the report, the use of UKSPF Funding to deliver climate change actions would be considered as an option. In discussing this, Members stressed the importance of the Rushmoor Climate Community Group in progressing the Council’s climate change response. The Cabinet expressed strong support for the updates to the Council’s approach in addressing climate change. The Cabinet RESOLVED that (i)
the Climate Change Strategy 2025-2028, as set out
in Annex 1 to Report No. ACE2505, be approved; and (ii)
the Climate Change
Action Plan 2025-2028, as set out in section 3.3 of the Report, be approved. |
7 | EXCLUSION OF THE PUBLIC |
RESOLVED: That, taking into account the public interest test, the public be
excluded from the meeting during the discussion of the under mentioned item to avoid
the disclosure of exempt information within the paragraph of Schedule 12A to
the Local Government Act, 1972 indicated against the item: Minute Schedule Category No. 12A Para. No. 74 3 Information relating to
financial or business affairs |
8 | LAND DISPOSAL - FARNBOROUGH TOWN CENTRE |
Land disposal - Farnborough town centre - Exempt Report No. REG2502
|
Item | Title | Minutes |
0 | THE FOLLOWING ITEM WAS CONSIDERED <br/>IN THE ABSENCE OF THE PUBLIC |
|
Labour
Present, as expected
Labour
Present, as expected
Labour
Present, as expected
Labour
Present, as expected
LAB
Present, as expected
LAB
Present, as expected