Agenda, decisions and minutes

No members of public registered to speak.

There were no declarations of interest.

There were no urgent items to consider.

Resolved:

That the minutes of the meeting held on 14 April 2021 be confirmed and

signed as a correct record.

There were no recommendations from the Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

Housing and Environmental Health

To consider the adoption of the Private Sector Housing Renewal Policy.

Resolved:

1.  That the Private Sector Housing Renewal Policy attached as Annex 1 to the report be adopted.

2.  That the Head of Housing & Environmental Health be given delegated authority, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Housing & Environmental Health and Head of Finance & Revenues, to utilise funds from the Better Care Fund where there are exceptional circumstances which sit outside of the policy, but where key objectives would be met (as set out in paragraph 2.9 of the report).

3.  That the Head of Housing & Environmental Health be given delegated authority, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Housing & Environmental Health and Head of Finance & Revenues, to make changes of a minor nature in response to updates in legislation, including delegated authority to calculate and charge fees associated with the policy.

4.  That income received from civil penalties and rent repayment orders is used to support further enforcement activity involving sub-standard private rented sector properties.

5.  That repayments received from grants and loans are used to support further grants and loans from within the Private Sector Housing Renewal policy.

6.  That the Park Homes Grant be added to the Grants paid from the existing allocated budget in the Capital Programme.

Consideration was given to a report of the Housing & Environmental Health Portfolio Holder which set out details of the revised Private Sector Housing Renewal Policy.

The Private Sector Housing Renewal Policy provided detailed guidance to all parties who own, manage, or live in private sector housing within Test Valley. The revised policy provided updated guidance to meet all statutory requirements, and enabled the Council to introduce new fees and charges associated with regulatory changes, as well as maximising the use of grants to assist vulnerable residents to live independently in their own home.

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

Resolved:

1.  That the Private Sector Housing Renewal Policy attached as Annex 1 to the report be adopted.

2.  That the Head of Housing & Environmental Health be given delegated authority, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Housing & Environmental Health and Head of Finance & Revenues, to utilise funds from the Better Care Fund where there are exceptional circumstances which sit outside of the policy, but where key objectives would be met (as set out in paragraph 2.9 of the report).

3.  That the Head of Housing & Environmental Health be given delegated authority, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Housing & Environmental Health and Head of Finance & Revenues, to make changes of a minor nature in response to updates in legislation, including delegated authority to calculate and charge fees associated with the policy.

4.  That income received from civil penalties and rent repayment orders is used to support further enforcement activity involving sub-standard private rented sector properties.

5.  That repayments received from grants and loans are used to support further grants and loans from within the Private Sector Housing Renewal policy.

6.  That the Park Homes Grant be added to the Grants paid from the existing allocated budget in the Capital Programme.

Planning

To consider that a Strategic Regeneration Reserve is established to assist with the delivery of the adopted masterplans for both Andover and Romsey using Community Infrastructure Levy funds.

Resolved:

1.  That Community Infrastructure Levy funds are used towards the Strategic Regeneration Reserve to assist the delivery of the Romsey and Andover town centre masterplan objectives.

2.  That the Strategic Regeneration Reserve and Community Project Reserve is implemented as set out in Section 6 of this report.

3.  That the CIL Spending Protocol is amended so as to apply a cap of 50% of the total project cost to bids from the Community Project Reserve. 

Cabinet considered a report of the planning Policy and Economic Development Portfolio Holder which provided details for the future use of Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) funds.

It was proposed that a proportion of CIL be set aside for a Strategic Regeneration Reserve starting in the 2021/22 financial year which would be used to assist the delivery of the Romsey and Andover town centre masterplan objectives. A separate Community Projects Reserve would remain for CIL bids to continue to come forward for community projects and local scale infrastructure in line with the Council’s adopted CIL Spending Protocol.

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

Resolved:

1.  That Community Infrastructure Levy funds are used towards the Strategic Regeneration Reserve to assist the delivery of the Romsey and Andover town centre masterplan objectives.

2.  That the Strategic Regeneration Reserve and Community Project Reserve is implemented as set out in Section 6 of this report.

3.  That the CIL Spending Protocol is amended so as to apply a cap of 50% of the total project cost to bids from the Community Project Reserve. 

Planning

To consider the Independent Retailers Grant.

Resolved:

1.  That the terms of the Independent Retailer Grant Scheme attached at Annex 2 to the report are confirmed.

2.  That a one off grant of £250 from the 2021/22 Independent Retail Grant budget be paid after the third month of their occupation to eligible independent retailers in the Andover retail incubator (Unit 15, The Chantry Centre, Andover) in line with Annex 2 to the report.

3.  That delegated authority be given to the Economic Development Officer in consultation with the Head of Finance and Revenues and Economic Development and Tourism Portfolio Holder to determine applications for and to administer the Independent Retailers Grant.

4.  That delegated authority be given to the Economic Development Officer in consultation with the Head of Finance and Revenues and Economic Development and Tourism Portfolio Holder to reduce the Independent Retailer Grant where the Council is making an equivalent level of financial support.

Cabinet considered a report of the Economic Development and Tourism Portfolio Holder which sought to confirm the terms of the Independent Retailer Grant scheme.

The report also sought delegated authority to the Economic Development Officer in consultation with the Head of Finance and Revenues and Economic Development and Tourism Portfolio Holder to determine applications for and to administer the grant and in appropriate circumstances there was equivalent in kind financial support from the Council. 

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

Resolved:

1.  That the terms of the Independent Retailer Grant Scheme attached at Annex 2 to the report are confirmed.

2.  That a one off grant of £250 from the 2021/22 Independent Retail Grant budget be paid after the third month of their occupation to eligible independent retailers in the Andover retail incubator (Unit 15, The Chantry Centre, Andover) in line with Annex 2 to the report.

3.  That delegated authority be given to the Economic Development Officer in consultation with the Head of Finance and Revenues and Economic Development and Tourism Portfolio Holder to determine applications for and to administer the Independent Retailers Grant.

4.  That delegated authority be given to the Economic Development Officer in consultation with the Head of Finance and Revenues and Economic Development and Tourism Portfolio Holder to reduce the Independent Retailer Grant where the Council is making an equivalent level of financial support.

Finance

To consider the Annual Governance Statement for 2020/21.

Recommended to Council:

That the Annual Governance Statement for 2020/21 be approved and that the Leader and Chief Executive be authorised to sign it on behalf of the Council.

Cabinet considered a report from the Finance Portfolio Holder which sought approval for the Annual Governance Statement, which will be published alongside the 2020/21 Statement of Accounts.

On the basis of Internal Audit work completed in 2020/21 only, the Temporary Chief Internal Auditor of Portsmouth City Council had provided a “substantial assurance” in respect of the Council’s risk management, control and governance arrangements.

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

Recommended to Council:

That the Annual Governance Statement for 2020/21 be approved and that the Leader and Chief Executive be authorised to sign it on behalf of the Council.

Corporate

To appoint the membership of the Eastleigh Borough Council/Test Valley Borough Council Liaison Group.

Resolved:

ThatCouncillors Bundy, A Dowden, Hatley and Swain be appointed to the Eastleigh Borough Council/Test Valley Borough Council Liaison Group.

The Corporate Portfolio Holder advised that the Borough Council has had a joint arrangement with Eastleigh Borough Council for many years to consider matters of mutual interest. It was necessary to appoint members to the Liaison Group annually.

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

Resolved:

ThatCouncillors Bundy, A Dowden, Hatley and Swain be appointed to the Eastleigh Borough Council/Test Valley Borough Council Liaison Group.

Corporate

To appoint the Planning Portfolio Holder to the Partnership for South Hampshire Committee.

Resolved:

That the Planning Portfolio Holder be appointed to the Partnership for South Hampshire Committee.

The Corporate Portfolio Holder presented a report which advised that the Borough Council had a joint voluntary agreement with other local authorities in south Hampshire which aimed to improve the economic performance of the wider South Hampshire sub-region. It was necessary to appoint a member to the Joint Committee.

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

Resolved:

That the Planning Portfolio Holder be appointed to the Partnership for South Hampshire Committee.

Corporate

To approve the Council’s Scheme of Delegations to Officers.

Resolved:

That the Scheme of Delegations to Officers as set out in Annex 1 to the report to Annual Council, in so far as it applies to the powers and duties of the Cabinet, be approved.

The report of the Corporate Portfolio Holder sought approval of the Council’s Scheme of Delegations to Officers in so far as it applied to the powers and duties of Cabinet.

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

Resolved:

That the Scheme of Delegations to Officers as set out in Annex 1 to the report to Annual Council, in so far as it applies to the powers and duties of the Cabinet, be approved.

Corporate

To appoint the membership of the Scrap Metal Dealers Hearing Sub Committee.

Resolved:

That the membership of the Scrap Metal Dealers Hearing Sub-Committee consist of three members drawn by the Head of Legal and Democratic Services from the membership of the Cabinet.

The Corporate Portfolio Holder informed Cabinet that, in accordance with the Constitution, Cabinet was required to establish a Sub-Committee to deal with hearing representations regarding applications for Scrap Metal Dealers Licences.

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

Resolved:

That the membership of the Scrap Metal Dealers Hearing Sub-Committee consist of three members drawn by the Head of Legal and Democratic Services from the membership of the Cabinet.

Leader

To consider the work undertaken by Member Champions during 2020/21 and to appoint Member Champions for the coming year.

Resolved:

That the Councillors as set out below be appointed to the following Member Champions roles for 2021/22:-

·  Councillor Matthews  Armed Forces 

·  Councillor Gwynne    Climate Emergency

·  Councillor P Lashbrook  Community Safety and Resilience

·  Councillor Baverstock  Culture and Heritage

·  Councillor Hamilton    Equality and Diversity

·  Councillor Donnelly    Member Development/Community Councillor Role

·  Councillor Andersen    Voluntary and Third Sector

Consideration was given to the report of the Leader which set out proposals for the appointment of Member Champion roles for 2021/22.

Member Champions were introduced in 2017 to act in an advisory capacity to Cabinet and have been involved with a number of projects and initiatives that have provided valuable research and insight into policy development and working practices.

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

Resolved:

That the Councillors as set out below be appointed to the following Member Champions roles for 2021/22:-

·  Councillor Matthews  Armed Forces 

·  Councillor Gwynne  Climate Emergency

·  Councillor P Lashbrook  Community Safety and Resilience

·  Councillor Baverstock  Culture and Heritage

·  Councillor Hamilton  Equality and Diversity

·  Councillor Donnelly  Member Development/Community Councillor Role

·  Councillor Andersen  Voluntary and Third Sector

Leader

To consider the Corporate Action Plan - Year 3 Update.

Resolved:

That Cabinet approves the proposed updates to the Corporate Action Plan 2019-2023 (year three).

Cabinet considered a report of The Leader which presented proposals for updating the Corporate Action Plan (CAP) 2019-23 for year three.

Fifteen projects formed the amended CAP for 2019-2023, year three. Each of the projects had been updated to reflect their ongoing focus, demonstrating current and ongoing progress since their inclusion in year one.

The update for year three recommended the removal of one existing project, Town Mills Riverside Park. This first major piece of regeneration work for Andover town centre was expected to be completed early in the 2021-22 financial year.

A new project was recommended for inclusion on the CAP in year three. This is in respect of the Council’s response to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic and the delivery of the Recovery Plan.

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

Resolved:

That Cabinet approves the proposed updates to the Corporate Action Plan 2019-2023 (year three).