Agenda and minutes

Prayers were led by Reverend Waako.

The Mayor called for a one-minute silence to reflect on people across the world who were impacted by conflict.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors A Dowden, C Dowden, Gillies, Gwynne, Neal, K North, P North, and Sangster.

Mr Burley had registered to speak in accordance with the Council’s Public Participation Scheme under item 7 - To Receive and Adopt Committee Reports and Item 11 – Regeneration programme and Financial Strategy.

Mr Vignaux, Dr Dougall and Mr Taylor had registered to speak in accordance with the Council’s Public Participation Scheme under item 14 – Notice of Motion Rule 12.

There were no declarations of interest.

To approve as a correct record the minutes of the meeting of the Council held on 17 January 2024.

The minutes of the Council meeting held on 17 January 2024 were proposed by Councillor Adams-King and seconded by Councillor Flood.

Resolved:

That the minutes of the meetings of the Council held on 17 January 2024 be confirmed and signed as a correct record.

The Worshipful The Mayor of Test valley advised tat the Borough Council had received the official portrait of His Majesty King Charles III from the palace which was now displayed in the main chamber of the Guildhall, Andover.

The Mayor reminded Councillors that the Commonwealth Day flag raising ceremonies would be held in Andover High Street and outside the FMC in Romsey on Monday 11 March from 9.50am. All Councillors were welcome to attend.

To consider a motion proposed by Councillor Drew.

The Mayor moved agenda item 14 forward due to the number of members of the public who had registered to speak on this item.

In accordance with the Council’s Public Participation Scheme, Mr Vignaux, Dr Dougall and Mr Taylor each made a statement on the motion as set out in the agenda.

Councillors asked the public speakers a number of questions on their statements which they responded to.

Council considered the following motion moved by Councillor Drew and seconded by Councillor Hasselman:

This Council strongly opposes Southern Water pumping wastewater into the River Test or its tributaries. The Council is therefore calling on Southern Water to fix the problem by improving its infrastructure more widely and at greater speed, and work with OFWAT and the Environment Agency to enable the required investment funding to be released. In addition, we are calling on all parties to inform and closely engage with affected communities and relevant agencies. Water quality must be monitored and transparency must be maintained by publishing all testing data promptly.

Upon being put to the vote the Motion was carried.

To consider the Council Tax resolution for 2024/25.

The Finance and Resources Portfolio Holder presented details of the Council Tax for 2024/25 and proposed an alteration to the motion to replace the figure shown for Andover Town Council on page 103 from £226.17 to £206.32. The meeting’s consent was signalled without discussion.

The Worshipful the Mayor reminded Councillors that a recorded vote was required on this item. The Head of Legal and Democratic Services took the vote, Members voted as follows:

Resolved:

1.  That approval is noted of the revised revenue forecast for the year 2023/2024 and the revenue estimates for the year 2024/2025, together with the revised capital programme for the year 2023/2024 and the capital programme for the year 2024/2025.

2.  That for the purposes of Section 35(2) (d) of the Local Government Finance Act 1992, as amended (the Act), the sum of £343,604, being the aggregate sum of expenses in relation to burial grounds, sports grounds and playgrounds incurred by the Council in performing in the parish of Andover the functions not performed by the Town Council, shall be treated as Special Expenses and any expenditure other than the £343,604 herein specified shall be treated as general expenses.  The Special Expenses sum equates to an amount of £19.85 per Band D Council Tax.

3.  That it be noted that the Head of Finance & Revenues has calculated the Council Tax Base for 2024/2025 for the whole Borough area as 52,059 (Item T in the formula in Section 31B(1) of the Act) and, in those parts of its area to which a Parish/Town precept relates, as per the table below:

4.  That the following amounts be now calculated by the Council for the year 2024/2025 in accordance with Sections 31, 34 and 35 of the Act and subsequent regulations:

4(a)  £133,218,927  being  ...  view the full minutes text for item 470.

Councillor Geoff Cooper asked a question in relation to the minutes of the Council meeting held on 17 January 2024, minute number 408 – Notion of Motion – Rule 12. Councillor Geoff Cooper asked whether the Chief Executive had written to the CEO of Aster Group outlining the Council’s concerns and whether he had received a response.

Councillor Adams-King responded to confirm that the Chief Executive had written the letter, but no response had been received to date. Councillor Adams-King further advised that he understood Aster were now looking to assess the maintenance of sewage treatment plants in their ownership to review whether there was outstanding maintenance that should have been undertaken and consider next steps.

Councillor Yalden asked the Recycling and Environmental Services Portfolio Holder the following question:

‘As the Councillor is aware, there are 24 recycling centres in the HWRC network of which 12 are under consultation for closure. Hampshire County Council has stated that Casbrook recycling centre at Romsey will be closed unless there is significant investment. Council leader Rob Humby said: "We currently have 24 HWRCs and we think that's more than any other shire county. He said "We truly believe most of the residents of Hampshire are law abiding and will not fly-tip." However, as you can imagine residents are very angry about these proposals. Will TVBC formally request via the current consultation that HCC retains and upgrades Casbrook Common HWRC?’

Councillor Drew responded to confirm that the Council did not support the closure of the Household Waste and Recycling Centre located at Bunny Lane, Romsey. He noted that it was an important and essential facility that was valued by residents based in the south of the borough and that closing the site would cause an inconvenience to residents who, in many cases, would have to travel much further afield to dispose of their waste.

Councillor Drew further advised that the Council would be making this clear in the formal consultation response to the County Council and thanked Councillor Yalden for her question.

Councillor Yalden asked a supplementary question expressing concern that she felt that the closure of the site could lead to an increase in fly tipping and a reduction in the Council’s recycling rate and that if the centre should be closed would the Borough Council consider assisting with funding to allow the centre to remain open and to make improvements to the facilities available?

Councillor Drew responded that he felt that most residents would not fly tip should the centre close and that the recycling rates at the centre were unlikely to impact on the Council’s own recycling rate as it was owned and operated by Hampshire County Council. He further advised that as the consultation had not yet concluded he would not be supportive of the Council investing funding in the Household Waste and Recycling Centre located at Bunny Lane, Romsey.

Councillor Drew noted that it was vital that all Councillors made their own representations to the consultation and encouraged their communities to do so to.

Councillor Parker asked the Community and Leisure Portfolio Holder the following question:

‘Could the portfolio holder please advise us as to when the report from the consultants conducting the review of tourism in Test Valley will be made available to members?’

Councillor Swain responded that the outcomes of the report were presented to an Overview and Scrutiny Committee roundtable on 22 November 2023 where the consultant outlined the outcome of the study and what actions could be undertaken to best support the tourism sector in the Borough. Councillor Swain confirmed that the Tourism Review report would be made available on a confidential basis to Councillors in the next Councillor Bulletin. 

Councillor  ...  view the full minutes text for item 472.

To consider projects recommended to be delivered as part of the masterplans for Andover and Romsey and set out a strategy for funding the initial delivery phase.

In accordance with the Council’s Public Participation Scheme, Mr Burley made a statement on the Regeneration Programme and Financial Strategy.

Councillors asked Mr Burley a number of questions on his statement which he responded to.

Consideration was given to a report of the Strategic Regeneration and Partnerships (North) which considered the priorities and funding strategy for the delivery of the regeneration programme for Romsey and Andover town centres.

The report set out the background of the masterplans approved for both town centres and highlighted four priority projects which had been identified and well as considering the financial resources available to the Council to meet the forecast cost of the projects, setting out a range of potential funding delivery mechanisms.

The recommendations were proposed by Councillor Flood and seconded by Councillor Adams-King.

Resolved:

1.  To approve the regeneration priority projects as identified in section 3 of the report.

2.  To approve the funding strategy for the regeneration programme, as outlined in section 4 of the report.

3.  That £2M be added to the Capital Programme for architectural services for the Romsey Bus Station redevelopment, as set out in paragraph 7.5 of the report, to be funded from the Capital Receipts Reserve and that officers be authorised to procure the works set out in paragraph 3.13 of the report to deliver this.

4.  That £3M be added to the budget for the creation of the linear riverside park at Western Avenue, as set out in paragraph 7.3 of the report, to be funded from the Capital Receipts Reserve.

5.  That the funding sources identified in paragraph 4.30 be approved for delivery of the regeneration projects identified in the report, in respect of:

·  Levelling Up Funding

·  Capital receipts from the disposal of assets

·  Use of Capital Receipts Reserve balances

·  Use of Regeneration Reserve balances

·  Use of Community Infrastructure Levy contributions

To consider the work of the Member and Community Development Group in respect of options for broadcasting committee meetings.

Consideration was given to a report of the Democracy and Governance Portfolio Holder which considered the work undertaken by the Member and Community Development Group to consider options available for the broadcasting of the Council’s Democratic meetings.

The Member and Community Development Group had agreed principles for any broadcasting system which had been used in considering the options available to provide a live stream of Council meetings to allow members of the public to access meetings without attending in person.

The recommendations were proposed by Councillor Lodge and seconded by Councillor Adams-King.

Councillor Daas proposed an amendment to the second recommendation as set out in the report, to remove the current wording and include that the Council commits to following recommendation 5.18 of the report – option 2 – to install an audio only solution in all 4 current meeting venues. Councillor Gregori seconded the proposed amendment/

Upon being put to the vote, the amendment was carried.

Resolved:

1.  That the work undertaken by the Member and Community Development Group to investigate the implications of broadcasting the Council’s Democratic meetings as set out in the report be noted.

2.  That the Council commits to paragraph 5.18 of the report – Option 2 – to install an audio only solution in all 4 current meeting venues.

To approve the Pay Policy Statement for 2024/25.

Consideration was given to a report of the Leader which set out the Pay Policy Statement for 2024/25. The Council was required in accordance with section 38 of the Localism Act 2011 to prepare and publish an annual Pay Policy Statement.

As a minimum, the pay policy statement must set out the Council’s policies for the financial year relating to:

·  The remuneration of its chief officers,

·  The remuneration of its lowest paid employees,

·  The relationship between the remuneration of its chief officers and the remuneration of its employees who are not chief officers.

The Pay Policy Statement attached as an annex to the report assembled the required statutory information from the Council’s existing policies and presented them as a single document to meet the requirements of the Localism Act.

Councillor Adams-King proposed, and Councillor Flood seconded the recommendation.

Resolved:

That the Pay Policy Statement, attached at the Annex to the report, be approved.