Agenda and minutes

Resolved:

That the minutes of the meeting held on 12 September 2018 be confirmed and signed as a correct record.

Recommendations of the Overview and Scrutiny meeting held on 19 September 2018.

Planning Panel’s Final Report

The Planning Portfolio Holder explained that this was the final part of the Overview and Scrutiny Planning Panel’s review which reviewed the role and operation of the three Planning Committees.

Overview and Scrutiny were aware that the Planning Advisory Services would be undertaking an independent review of the Council’s Planning Committees in the autumn and were keen for the Panel’s recommendations to be considered by the Planning Advisory Service during their review. 

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

Resolved:

1.  That the recommendations from the Overview and Scrutiny Committee be noted.

2.  That the recommendations be passed on to the Planning Advisory Service to be considered during their review.

Planning

To seek agreement to the principle of funding Community Transport between 2019 - 2021.

Consideration was given to a report of the Planning Portfolio Holder which sought in principle agreement to fund Community Transport for 2019/20 – 2020/21.  This would enable Hampshire County Council to incorporate the details within their retendering exercise and provide clarity for any future operators submitting tenders.

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

Resolved:

That the recommended funding of £18,530 for 2019/20 and £18,975 for 2020/21 for Community Transport be agreed in principle.

Finance

To recommend the level of charges for services provided by the Council in 2019/20.

Consideration was given to a report of the Finance Portfolio Holder which set out the annual fees and charges for the forthcoming financial year and were presented for approval.

Most charges were to be increased in line with inflation or kept at the same level as 2018/19. Significant increases from 2018/19 were explained in the body of the report.

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

Resolved:

1.  That the fees and charges for 2019/20, as set out in the annexes to the report, be approved.

2.  That the change to the discount for the purchase of 100 season tickets in a single transaction for Shepherds Spring Lane and Chantry Centre car parks only, as set out in paragraph 4.5, be approved for 2018/19 with immediate effect.

3.  That the fees and charges for licences under the Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) (England) Regulation 2018, as set out in paragraph 4.6, be approved for 2018/19 with immediate effect.

4.  That Heads of Service be authorised to increase relevant fees and charges in line with statutory levels should they change following this report.

5.  That the Head of Estates and Economic Development in consultation with the Planning Portfolio Holder be given delegated authority to agree any required incentivised parking schemes, as set out in paragraph 4.5.

Finance

To set out the financial framework within which the 2019/20 budget will be prepared.

Consideration was given to a report of the Finance Portfolio Holder which set out the framework within which the 2019/20 budget will be prepared.  The report also set out the Medium Term Financial Forecast for the General Fund Revenue Budget together with details of Revenue Savings, which will form the basis of the 2019/20 budget.

The Medium Term Financial Strategy took account of all known financial implications and made various assumptions in projecting the budget forward for the next three years.  The budget position outlined in the Medium Term Financial Forecast was not inconsistent with the position most other Local Authorities will face. However, significant savings would need to be found over the coming years.

Resolved:

1.  That the Medium Term Financial Strategy (MTFS) for 2019/20 to 2021/22 be approved.

2.  That the Medium Term Financial Forecast outlined in Annex 3 be noted.

3.  That the delegated action taken by the Chief Executive detailed in paragraph 5.7 be noted.

The following report is confidential.

Resolved:

That pursuant to Regulation 4 of the Local Authorities (Executive Arrangements) (Meetings and Access to Information) (England) Regulations 2012, the public be excluded from the meeting for the consideration of the following matters on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in the following Paragraph of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972, as amended, indicated below.  The public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information for the reason given below:

Andover Cultural Quarter Update 

It is considered that this report contains exempt information within the meaning of paragraph 3 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972, as amended.  It is further considered that the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information because the information relates to the financial or business affairs of both the Council and third parties.

Finance

To consider an update on the Andover Cultural Quarter project.

Consideration was given to a report by the Finance Portfolio Holder which provided an update on the Andover Cultural Quarter project.

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

Resolved:

That the budget requirement, as set out in paragraph 8.5, be approved to progress the Andover Cultural Quarter project and that the cost is met from the Special Projects Reserve.