Agenda, decisions and minutes

None were received.

To confirm the minutes of the meeting held on 1 August 2018 as a correct record.

RESOLVED:

That the minutes of the meeting held on 1 August 2018 be signed by the Chairman as a correct record.

To note any declarations of interest made by members in connection with an agenda item.  The nature of the interest must also be specified.

Members are asked to discuss any possible interests with Democratic Services prior to the meeting.

There were no declarations of interest made by any member in connection with an agenda item.

To note any issues raised during the public participation period.

No issues were raised in the public participation period.

To receive an update on the 2018/19 General Fund, Capital and Housing Revenue Account budgets, adjusting for any initial budget changes required, including the addition of the rephased budgets from 2017/18.

RESOLVED:

(a)  That the latest budget forecasts for the General Fund, Capital and Housing Revenue Accounts, as set out in paragraphs 3.2, 4.1 and 5.1 of Report item 1 to the Cabinet, be noted; and

(b)  That the new budget requirement of £80,000 for car park maintenance and equipment be approved.

The Cabinet was advised of the current position with respect to the General Fund, Capital and Housing Revenue Account budgets, based on performance to July 2018.

As a result of additional savings and income of £577,000, which had been partially offset by new requirements of £102,000 and the rephasing of £606,000 of expenditure from 2017/18 into 2018/19, the General Fund budget had reduced from £17.243 million to £16.768 million.  Further details on each of the key variations were set out in Section 3 of the report. 

The Cabinet supported additional expenditure of £80,000 for car park maintenance and equipment.  It was however expected that, as car park income was currently ahead of the year to date profile, over the full year there would be no net increase in this budget.

It was noted that the Capital Programme had increased from £26.225 million to £27.985 million to reflect the rephasing of expenditure from 2017/18.  Further details were set out in paragraph 4.2 of the report.

The Housing Revenue Account was now expected to benefit from savings of £250,000 against the maintenance budget as a result of efficiencies in the delivery of cyclical maintenance and rephasing the decoration of properties that were still in good condition.

RESOLVED:

(a)       That the latest budget forecasts for the General Fund, Capital and Housing Revenue Accounts, as set out in paragraphs 3.2, 4.1 and 5.1 of Report item 1 to the Cabinet, be noted; and

(b)       That the new budget requirement of £80,000 for car park maintenance and equipment be approved.

To consider the appointment of a Chief Planning Officer.

RESOLVED:

That a Chief Planning Officer be recruited to lead the Council’s Planning Service, as set out in Report Item 5 to the Cabinet.

The Cabinet considered the future management arrangements for the Planning Service, following the National Park Authority’s decision not to explore joint arrangements with this Council.

The Cabinet was satisfied that the Planning Service was integral to the delivery of many of the Council’s functions and that the developing Local Plan would see increasing levels of development that must take place in a manner that delivered high quality, sustainable and vibrant communities.  Affordable housing was a particular priority in this area.  This required a clear “plan led” approach and the Service needed to be sufficiently robust to deliver the Council’s aspirations.  In accordance with the recommendations of the Royal Town Planning Institute it was therefore proposed to recruit a Chief Planning Officer at a senior level, comparable to an Executive Head.  It was proposed to use an external recruitment agency to undertake the recruitment process, in consultation with the Council’s Human Resources team.

RESOLVED:

That a Chief Planning Officer be recruited to lead the Council’s Planning Service, as set out in Report Item 5 to the Cabinet.

To appoint Cllr Sevier as one of this Council’s representatives on the New Forest National Park Authority, in the place of former Cllr Jackman.

RESOLVED:

That Cllr Sevier be appointed as one of this Council’s representatives on the New Forest National Park Authority, in the place of former Cllr Jackman.

RESOLVED:

That Cllr Sevier be appointed as one of this Council’s representatives on the New Forest National Park Authority, in the place of former Cllr Jackman.