Agenda, decisions and minutes

No members of the public had registered to speak.

There were no declarations of interest.

There were no urgent items.

Resolved:

That the minutes of the meeting held on 18 August 2021 be confirmed and signed as a true record.

There were no recommendations to consider from the Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

Planning

To review the timetable and scope for preparing the next Local Plan and consider the consequent proposal to update the Local Development Scheme.

Resolved:

1.  That the Test Valley Local Development Scheme (2021), as Annexed to the report, be approved.

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 to the Test Valley Local Development Scheme (2021) prior to publication. 

Consideration was given to a report of the Planning Portfolio Holder which set out the scope for preparing the Local Plan and amendments to the Local Development Scheme to reflect the amended timetable.

The revised timetable for the Local Plan would enable the Council to take an evidence led approach, taking into account current circumstances and ensuring engagement and consultation could be considered and reflected in the Local Plan.

Having considered the options and for the reasons set out in the report, Cabinet agreed the following:

Resolved:

1.  That the Test Valley Local Development Scheme (2021), as Annexed to the report, be approved.

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 to the Test Valley Local Development Scheme (2021) prior to publication. 

Finance

To review the Council’s revenue spending for the first four months of the 2021/22 financial year.

Resolved:

That the financial position for each Portfolio and the key revenue areas contained in the Annex to the report be noted.

Consideration was given to a report of the Finance Portfolio Holder which reviewed the Council’s revenue spending for the first four months of the 2021/22 financial year. The report set out the main differences between the original estimate for 2021/22 and actual spend to 31 July 2021 and provided explanation for significant variances.

Net expenditure to 31 July 2021 was £460,000 lower than budgeted at this stage of the year. The favourable variance comprised additional income and savings of £434,000 due to service related expenditure and £26,000 additional income from the Council’s investing and borrowing activities.

Having considered the options and for the reasons set out in the report, Cabinet agreed the following:

Resolved:

That the financial position for each Portfolio and the key revenue areas contained in the Annex to the report be noted.

Corporate

To consider staff resource levels across two Services and requests for additional staffing to be approved.

Resolved:

1.  That the following changes be made to the Council’s Establishment.

·  A Project Support Officer post, in the Strategy & Innovation Service, be created for a two-year period

·  That the vacant Electoral Services Assistant post (50823967) be increased from 18.5 hours to 37 hours per week on a permanent basis

2.  That the funding for the posts be approved, as set out in section 7 of the report.

Consideration was given to a report of the Finance Portfolio Holder which set out proposals for increased resource requirement across the Strategy & Innovation and Legal & Democratic Service.

It was proposed that a temporary project officer be funding in the Strategy and Innovation Service to help in the delivery of key projects to enable to Council to meet its corporate priorities.

It was also proposed that an Electoral Service Assistant post be increased from part-time to full-time to manage an increase in the volume and complexity of work.  

Having considered the options and for the reasons set out in the report, Cabinet agreed the following:

Resolved:

1.  That the following changes be made to the Council’s Establishment.

·  A Project Support Officer post, in the Strategy & Innovation Service, be created for a two-year period

·  That the vacant Electoral Services Assistant post (50823967) be increased from 18.5 hours to 37 hours per week on a permanent basis

2.  That the funding for the posts be approved, as set out in section 7 of the report.

Community and Leisure

To allocate resources for the creation of an extensive and diverse programme of events, activities and meanwhile (temporary) use of spaces in and around the town.

Resolved:

1.  That the temporary curation and management of a programme of meanwhile events and activities (as set out in section 6.3 of the report) be approved.

2.  That the necessary resource allocation of £90,141 be approved (as set out in section 8 and confidential Annex 2 to the report) and the new posts be created for a period of 18 months.

3.  The Head of the Community and Leisure Service in consultation with the Community and Leisure Portfolio Holder be delegated authority to agree the detail and content of the programme.

Consideration was given to a report of the Community & Leisure Portfolio Holder which set out details of proposals tocurate, programme, market and manage a diverse series of events, activities and meanwhile (temporary) use of spaces, in and around Andover town centre.

It was intended that the programme of meanwhile events and activities complement the Masterplan by encouraging consumer confidence and interest in returning to, using and enjoying the town as well as promoting Andover to a wider range of audiences.

Having considered the options and for the reasons set out in the report, Cabinet agreed the following:

Resolved:

1.  That the temporary curation and management of a programme of meanwhile events and activities (as set out in section 6.3 of the report) be approved.

2.  That the necessary resource allocation of £90,141 be approved (as set out in section 8 and confidential Annex 2 to the report) and the new posts be created for a period of 18 months.

3.  The Head of the Community and Leisure Service in consultation with the Community and Leisure Portfolio Holder be delegated authority to agree the detail and content of the programme.

The following Annex is confidential.

No confidential information was discussed on item 10 therefore the public were not required to leave the meeting.

Confidential Annex in relation to agenda item 10.

No confidential information from the annex to item 10 was discussed.