Agenda and minutes

Prayers were led by Reverend Jill Bentall.

Resolved:

That the minutes of the meeting of the Council held on 13 May 2019 be confirmed and signed as a correct record.

Resolved:

That the minutes of the meeting of the Planning Control Committee held on 30 April 2019 be confirmed and signed as a correct record.

The Worshipful the Mayor mentioned that Demfest 2019 would be held on 7 July at Sir Harrold Hillier Gardens. The festival embraced dementia awareness and featured inspirational and innovative ideas including educational and research speakers. The Mayor encouraged Members to attend.

The Worshipful the Mayor advised that he had attended a service of thanksgiving in Upper Clatford in honour of the late Clive Judd who had served as a TVBC officer for many years.

The Worshipful the Mayor encouraged Members to take part in robust and passionate debate during Council and other committee meetings in the spirit of all Councillors working together towards improving the lives of those living and working in Test Valley.

To receive and, where necessary, adopt reports of Committees

Councillor Daas submitted a question asking the Environmental Portfolio Holder ‘We as a council are well behind other councils across the country and locally in terms of kerbside glass recycling. Bordering councils like Eastleigh and New Forest already have this service in place and is running successfully.

Is this council going to be supporting the environmental efforts, that we all know we must be supporting, by implementing kerbside glass recycling?’

Councillor Johnston responded by highlighting some of the recycling initiatives being undertaken by the Council. It was a key objective of the Council to increase the amount of materials collected, promote behavioural changes to encourage further recycling efforts and implement best practice where it had a track record of success and was cost effective to do so.

During 2018/19 the Council collected 2,855 tonnes of glass through its Local Recycling Centre network. The amount of glass available and captured through the scheme was almost 77%. This compared favourably to other local authorities in Hampshire, placing TVBC 5^th in performance terms, being the highest performing authority who did not collect glass at the kerbside.

The Council continued to participate in the Hampshire wide Project Integra forum and were awaiting the Government response to consultation on a Deposit Return Scheme before considering future action.

Councillor Dass asked a supplemental question; ‘Why can Eastleigh Borough Council collect food waste and Test Valley Borough Council cannot?’

Councillor Johnston responded by advising that Eastleigh Borough Council was the only local authority in Hampshire who currently provided separate food waste collections.

TVBCs approach had centred on the need to reduce food waste altogether, where householders were encouraged to ‘love food and hate waste’.

It was noted that Government had potential plans to make separate food waste collections mandatory by 2023 and was likely to fully fund this.

To consider a Motion proposed by Councillor Celia Dowden, and seconded by Councillor Nick Adams-King.

Council considered the following motion moved by Councillor Celia Dowden and seconded by Councillor Adams-King.

‘That the membership of the Northern Area Planning Committee and the Southern Area Planning Committee be amended to reflect the representation of local ward members.

Therefore, it is proposed that the membership of the Area Planning Committees be as follows:

Northern Area planning Committee (13 Members)

Councillor Borg-Neal (Chairman), P. Lashbrook (Vice-Chairman) and Councillors Andersen, Brooks, Burley, Donnelly, Ecclestone, L Lashbrook, Lodge, Matthews, Rowles, Thorp and Watts.

Southern Area planning Committee (13 Members)

Councillor Cooper (Chairman), Finlay (Vice-Chairman) and Councillors Anderdon, Bailey, Bundy, Burnage, A Dowden, C Dowden, Gidley, Hatley, Parker, Ward and Warnes’.

Upon being put to the vote the motion was carried.

Resolved:

That the membership of the Area Planning Committees be as follows:

·  Northern Area planning Committee (13 Members); Councillor Borg-Neal (Chairman), P Lashbrook (Vice-Chairman) and Councillors Andersen, Brooks, Burley, Donnelly, Ecclestone, L Lashbrook, Lodge, Matthews, Rowles, Thorp and Watts.

·  Southern Area planning Committee (13 Members); Councillor Cooper (Chairman), Finlay (Vice-Chairman) and Councillors Anderdon, Bailey, Bundy, Burnage, A Dowden, C Dowden, Gidley, Hatley, Parker, Ward and Warnes.

The Overview and Scrutiny Chairman to present the OSCOM Annual Report.

Councillor Jeffrey, Chairman of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee presented an overview of the work undertaken by the Committee during 2018/19 which highlighted progress made by the Committee and key achievements.

He informed Council that Members of the Committee had participated in an away day which had helped shaped the work programme for the year. During the year, the Members had participated in a number of positive Member Reviews and Scrutiny Panels as well as attending the regular scheduled committee meetings. 

Resolved:

That the Overview and Scrutiny Committee Chairman’s Annual Briefing 2018/19 be received and noted.

To consider changes to two Council’s Outside Bodies appointments.

Consideration was given to the report of the Corporate Portfolio Holder which sought to appoint new representatives to two of the Council’s Outside Bodies.

Due to changes in circumstances since the original appointments at Annual Council, two replacement appointments were proposed. Firstly, the appointment of a Deputy Representative to the Project Integra Management Board.  Project Integra is Hampshire’s Waste Management Partnership.  Following the appointment of Councillor Johnston as Environmental Portfolio Holder, it was proposed that she replace Councillor Flood as the Council’s Deputy Representative on that Board.

Secondly, the Council’s representative on the Board of Unity, a charity working across the Borough supporting Community Initiatives.  Due to Councillor Anderson’s revised personal commitments and obligations, it was proposed that Councillor Hamilton be appointed in her place.

Resolved:

1.  That Councillor Flood be replaced by Councillor Johnston as Deputy representative on the Project Integra Management Board.

2.  That Councillor Andersen be replaced by Councillor Hamilton as the Council’s representative on Unity.

To receive a presentation from the Head of Planning and Building which will provide an update on the Andover Master planning Process

Councillor North introduced the presentation to Council by Paul Jackson, Head of Planning and Building, which would provide details of the work being undertaken as part of the Councils commitment to enhancing town centre as outlined in the new Corporate Plan.

Paul Jackson gave Members a presentation which provided an update on the masterplanning exercise for Andover Town Centre. In March 2019, Council agreed that a masterplan approach would be adopted for the rejuvenation of Andover Town Centre following the purchase of the Chantry Centre.

A procurement exercise was undertaken to appoint a consultant urban designer/ masterplanner. 29 tenders were submitted in response to this and following interviews, Hemingway Design were awarded the contract.  

Hemingway Design was a multi-disciplinary design agency know for delivering positive and socially responsible schemes which are community focussed and ethically minded.

It was anticipated that a launch event would take place at the end of July with community and stakeholder engagement being undertaken throughout the summer period. Following refinement of ideas and further public engagement it was expected that the plan would be finalised in May 2020.

To receive a report which provides an update on the progress of the Andover Town Centre rejuvenation project and the South of Romsey Town Centre project.

Consideration was given to the report of the Leader and Planning Portfolio Holder which provided an update on the progress of the Andover Town Centre rejuvenation project and the south of Romsey Town Centre project.

The report identified a number of areas of work that would require additional professional support in the future to take the projects forward and ensure successful outcomes.

Resolved:

1.  That the budget requirement, as set out in paragraph 8.3, be approved to progress the Andover Town Centre Rejuvenation and South of Romsey Town Centre projects and the cost is met from the New Homes Bonus Reserve.

2.  Expenditure from the allocated budget be delegated as follows:

a.  For Andover,  to the Head of Planning and Building in consultation with the Head of Revenues Taxation/Enterprise, the Finance Portfolio Holder and the Leader; and

b.  For Romsey, to the Head of Planning Policy in consultation with the Head of Finance, the Finance Portfolio Holder and the Planning and Romsey Futures Portfolio Holder.

To receive a report presenting the Annual Governance Statement  2018/19 for approval.

Consideration was given to a report of the Finance Portfolio Holder which sought approval of the Council’s Annual Governance Statement 2018/19.

Test Valley Borough Council was responsible for ensuring that its business was conducted in accordance with the law and proper standards, and that public money was safeguarded, properly accounted for, and used economically, efficiently and effectively.

Resolved:

That the Annual Governance Statement for 2018/19 be approved and that the Leader and Chief Executive be authorised to sign it on behalf of the Council.

To consider appointments to the Project Enterprise Member Panel.

Consideration was given to the report of the Corporate Portfolio Holder which sought approval for the appointment of Councillors to the Project Enterprise Member Panel.

Test Valley Borough Council operated an income-generating workstream; Project Enterprise.  In order to facilitate agile responses to commercial opportunities the Council had delegated authority to the Head of Estates in consultation with a Member Panel to authorise expenditure from a pre-approved capital allocation.

Due to the retirement of Councillors Giddings, Hurst and Stallard in May 2019, the Council required new appointees to the panel. 

Resolved:

That Councillors A Dowden, Flood and Rowles be appointedto join Councillors P North and Ward on the Member Panel to be consulted by the Head of Estates and Economic Development in respect of proposed property transactions.

To receive information related to property purchases approved by the Head of Estates in consultation with the Member Panel for property investment.

Council considered the report of the Finance Portfolio Holder which gave details of a property investment purchase made under delegated authority to the Head of Estates in consultation with the Member Panel.

Resolved:

1.  That the decision to pursue the purchase of the property identified in the Confidential Annex be noted.

2.  That, following completion of the purchase, the budget for property investments be re-established in the Council’s Capital Programme at £3M, with the additional sum to be financed from the Capital Receipts Reserve.