Rushmoor Borough Council Cabinet Meeting

Having regard to the Council’s Code of Conduct for Councillors, no declarations of interest were made.

The Minutes of the meeting of the Cabinet held on 17th October, 2023 were confirmed and signed by the Chairman.

The Cabinet received Report No. ACE2308, which set out progress in delivering the Council Plan projects during the second quarter of 2023/24. Members were informed that progress against key activities and projects was included in the Report, along with the Council’s business performance monitoring information and the Council’s Corporate Risk Register. It was reported that, at the end of the second quarter, 90% of projects/activities were on track, with the remainder showing an amber status. No project had a red status.

In considering the Report, Members expressed satisfaction with the Council’s performance levels and discussed matters around the uptake of digital services, the administration of fixed penalty notices, recycling and residual waste and missed bin collections.

The Cabinet NOTED the progress made towards delivering the Council Plan and the changes highlighted in the Corporate Risk Register, as set out in Report No. ACE2308.

The Cabinet considered Report No. PG2334, which set out a review of the Rushmoor Local Plan.

The Cabinet was informed that the Council had been required to review the Rushmoor Local Plan in line with planning legislation. The review had been undertaken using the Planning Advisory Service’s toolkit and this had highlighted actions that were required.

The Cabinet RESOLVED that

(i)           in accordance with the conclusions of the review of the Rushmoor Local Plan and as set out in Report No. PG2334, the Local Plan policies are in need of updating; and

(ii)          the review of the Local Plan policies on a full update basis be approved.

The Cabinet considered Report No. PG2338, which set out the draft updated Car and Cycle Parking Standards Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) and sought agreement for this to be published for consultation.

Members were informed that the purpose of this update was to reflect a number of factors, including changes to policy, recent town centre planning applications, 2021 Census data and factual changes since the adoption of the SPD in 2017. In discussing the proposal, Members were assured that parking standards in non-town centre locations would be protected and would remain unaltered according to this proposal.

The Cabinet RESOLVED that the draft Car and Cycle Parking Standards SPD be approved for public consultation.

The Cabinet considered Report No. ACE2310, which set out the work carried out by the Council’s Policy and Project Advisory Board (PPAB) in respect mental health service provision in Rushmoor. The Chairman welcomed Cllr Marina Munro, Chairman of the Policy and Project Advisory Board, who was attending to report on the Board’s recommendations.

Members were informed that, at its meetings in July and September, PPAB had considered evidence in relation to mental health service provision in Rushmoor, both in terms of prevention and treatment. The Board had also considered whether residents would benefit from the Council signing the Prevention Concordat for Better Mental Health. It was noted that around £70,000 would be allocated for health-related projects from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) investment plan. The Board recommended that the whole allocation should be used specifically to support mental health projects. The Cabinet expressed gratitude to the Board in bringing forward these recommendations and considered that work should continue towards the Council signing the Prevention Concordat for Better Mental Health in due course.

The Cabinet RESOLVED that

(i)           the full UK Shared Prosperity Fund allocation for health-related projects being used specifically to support mental health projects when the proposals are brought to the Cabinet in February, 2024, as set out in Report No. ACE2310,  be approved; and

(ii)          full support be expressed for the principles set out in the Prevention Concordat for Better Mental Health, as set out in the Report.