Agenda and minutes

Prayers were led by Reverend Wharton.

Apologies were received from Councillors Budzynski, Cross, Johnston, Neal, Kirsty North, Phil North, Ward and Warnes.

No members of the public registered to speak.

Councillors Alan Dowden, Celia Dowden and Thom wished to declare a personal interest as they were members of Valley Park Parish Council for item 11 – Community Governance Review – Valley Park and other issues.

Resolved:

That the minutes of the meeting held on 10 November 2021 be confirmed and signed as a correct record.

The Worshipful The Mayor wished to announce that he was planning to hold a mayoral reception for all Councillors at the end of March/ April as the usual civic reception was not held after Annual Council in 2021 due to the pandemic. Further details would be circulated once confirmed.

The Mayor announced that the Union Flags would fly at half-mast on TVBC buildings on Thursday 27 January to mark Holocaust Memorial Day. The Mayor would be attending a service at The Abbey in Romsey to mark the day.

To receive and, where necessary, adopt reports of Committees.

419.1  Minutes of Meetings:

Resolved:

That the minutes of the following Committees and Cabinet meetings be received:

Southern Area Planning Committee – 2 November 2021

Overview and Scrutiny Committee – 3 November 2021

Southern Area Planning Committee – 23 November 2021

Cabinet – 8 December 2021

Northern Area Planning Committee – 9 December 2021

Overview & Scrutiny Committee – 15 December 2021

Northern Area Planning Committee – 6 January 2022

Southern Area Planning Committee – 11 January 2022

General Purposes Committee – 12 January 2022

Cabinet – 12 January 2022

Overview & Scrutiny Committee – 19 January 2022

419.2  To adopt recommendations from the following:

419.2.1  Cabinet – 8 December 2021

419.2.1.1  Asset Management Plan Update

Resolved:

1.  That the revised 2021/22 and original 2022/23 Asset Management Plan, as shown in Annexes 1 and 2 to the report, be approved.

2.  That the Head of Finance and Revenues, after consultation with the Finance & Resources Portfolio holder and Head of Service responsible for any project, be authorised to amend the Asset Management Plan during the year, as discussed in paragraph 7.3.

419.2.1.2  Capital Programme Update 2021/22 to 2023/24

Resolved:

1.  That the new capital schemes with a total cost of £1,100,000 as shown in Annex 2 to the report, be added to the 2021/22 to 2023/24 Capital Programme.

2.  That the revised estimates and financing for the 2021/22 to 2023/24 Capital Programme as shown in Annex 1 to the report, be approved.

419.2.1.3  Platinum Jubilee Celebrations

Resolved:

1.  That the proposed programme of events to celebrate Her Majesty’s Platinum Jubilee as set out in section five of the report be approved.

2.  That £200,000 be added to the Capital Programme for two public art commissions to commemorate Her Majesty’s Platinum Jubilee, to be funded from New Homes Bonus Reserve.

3.  That the application fee for a temporary road closure for public events be waived for those applications that demonstrate that their event is for the purposes of celebrating Her Majesty’s Platinum Jubilee from 2 June 2022 through to 5 June 2022.

419.2.2  Cabinet – 12 January 2022

419.2.2.1  Council Tax Support Scheme 2022/23

Resolved:

1.  That the Council Tax Support scheme for 2022/23, as shown in Annex 1 to the report, be approved.

2.  That the Head of Finance and Revenues, in consultation with the Finance & Resources Portfolio Holder, be authorised to make any necessary changes to the Scheme that are required by the Council Tax Reduction Schemes (Prescribed Requirements) Regulations 2022 when they are confirmed by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities.

3.  In the event that further temporary uplifts to Universal Credit are introduced, the Head of Finance and Revenues, in consultation with the Finance Portfolio Holder, be authorised to disregard the increase in income as part of a national response to the Covid-19 pandemic.

419.2.2.2  Appointment of External Auditors

Resolved:

1.  That the Council opts in to the national scheme for external auditor appointments being administered by Public Sector Audit Appointments Ltd.

2.  ...  view the full minutes text for item 419.

There were no questions under Rule 11.1.

Councillor Thom asked the Deputy Leader the following question:

Councillor Adams-King thanked Councillor Thom for his question and noted that there were a range of initiatives that may be able to support residents.

The Council’s housing team are able to provide advice and support to households who may be struggling to meet their housing costs and can also give advice around efficiency measures that might contribute to reducing fuel bills. The team also administer a number of grants that might be targeted to assist people on low incomes.

The Council’s revenues team can look at whether Discretionary Housing Payments for tenants struggling meet their rent obligations may be appropriate and can also look at housing benefit claims to ensure they are receiving everything they are entitled to.

The revenues team are also responsible for administering the Council Tax Support Scheme, as approved earlier in the meeting, which provides support from the full burden Council Tax for those households on low incomes.

The Council works closely with the local network of food banks and the housing team have food parcels they can provide to households in need, subject to assessment of the presenting situation.

Councillor Thom asked a supplemental question regarding energy efficiency of homes and how the Council could encourage good insulation and sustainable energy sources such as solar panels for homes?

Councillor Adams-King responded that in relation to new build homes national legislation needed to change in order for the Council to be able to insist on some of the sustainable measures however the Council would consider what it could do as part of the development of the new Local Plan.

To approve for public consultation the Council’s proposed Local Plan 2040 Regulation 18 Stage 1.

Consideration was given to a report of the Planning Portfolio Holder which sought approval for public consultation on the Council’s proposed Local Plan 2040 Regulation 18, Stage 1 document. 

The Local Plan is a key policy document for the Council, setting out the planning framework for the Borough together with implementing the spatial aspects of the Council’s priorities and seeking to reflect the aspirations of our communities. 

Councillor Bundy confirmed that the Council would undertake an 8 week public consultation as part of Stage 1.

Councillor Bundy proposed an alteration to the motion to take into account suggested amendments from Councillors as set out in the Schedule of Proposed Amendments which had been made publically available and circulated to all Members. The meeting’s consent was signalled without discussion.

Resolved:

1.  That the Test Valley Borough Local Plan 2040 Regulation 18 Stage 1, attached as the Annex to the report (but amended as set out in the “Proposed wording” column in the document entitled “Schedule of Proposed Amendments to Local Plan Annex to Full Council Report 26th January 2022”), be published for public consultation.

2.  That the Head of Planning Policy and Economic Development, in consultation with the Planning Portfolio Holder, be authorised to make changes of a minor nature, or to improve the presentation in the Annex to the report prior to publication.

To consider a Community Governance Review in relation to Valley Park.

Consideration was given to the report of the Democracy and Governance portfolio holder which set out proposals to undertake a Community Governance Review for Valley Park Parish along with a number of other parishes who had made enquiries.

Undertaking the Community Governance Reviews set out in the report would remove an anomaly which the parish council considered to be unhelpful to local governance and would allow the other parish councils named to achieve a size of council which they consider would best serve their parishes.

Councillor Jeffrey proposed an alteration to the motion to remove recommendations 2b and 2c as Charlton Parish Council and Hurstbourne parish Council had confirmed they did not wish to proceed. The meeting’s consent was signalled without discussion.

Resolved:

1.  That Council agrees to carry out a Community Governance Review to consider removing warding from Valley Park Parish;

2.  That (subject to confirmation being received from the relevant Parish Council in each case) that Council agrees to carry out a Community Governance Review to consider:-

a.  Reducing the size of Vernham Dean Parish Council by one parish councillor;

3.  That the Terms of Reference for the Community Governance Reviews approved above be as set out in Annex 1 to the report (subject to such amendments as the Head of Legal and Democratic Services considers appropriate to reflect the expressed views of the Parish Councils involved).

4.  That the Member Panel already established in respect of the Community Governance Review for Romsey of seven Members (4 Conservative, 2 Liberal Democrat and 1 Andover Independents) be asked to consider representations received as part of the Community Governance Reviews approved above.

There were no Motions to consider.