Agenda and minutes

An apology for absence was received from Cllr Russell.

To confirm the minutes of the meeting held on 5 May 2021 as a correct record.

RESOLVED:

That the minutes of the meeting held on 5 May 2021, be confirmed and signed.

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.

Cllr S Davies, for transparency purposes, declared a non-pecuniary interest in item 5 – The Parish of New Milton Neighbourhood Plan 2016-36, considered at minute 5 below.  The interest concerned his membership of New Milton Town Council who had prepared the plan.  Cllr Davies concluded that there were no grounds under common law to prevent him from remaining in the meeting to speak and vote.

To note any issues raised during the public participation period.

There were no issues raised during the public participation period.

To receive a verbal report from the Leader of the Council and Portfolio Holders.

The Leader provided a verbal update on the latest information concerning the Council’s response to and recovery from COVID-19.  It was reported that this would be the last Cabinet with a standing COVID-19 item on the agenda, as restrictions eased, the vaccine rollout continued and the remaining businesses reopened over the coming weeks.  However, should the situation change, the Leader would update Cabinet and the Council.

Despite the success of the UK’s vaccination programme, the pandemic was not over.   Covid cases remained low but were creeping up, with approximately a 10% increase in infections in the UK from the previous week, representing one in every 1080 people.  The increase in cases was linked to the spread of a more transmissible variant first identified in India.

More than 39 million people had now received the first dose of a vaccine in the UK. The Janssen single dose Covid vaccine had recently been approved by the UK and would help support this programme. 

In the Council, Environmental Health had been asked to assist Public Health England with face to face contact tracing where people had a variant of concern or those not contactable who should be isolating.

Support to businesses re-opening had continued.  Since April, the Council had paid out £11.5m in one-off Restart Grants to over 1,500 businesses in the non-essential retail, hospitality, leisure, personal care, accommodation and sports/gym sectors.

RESOLVED:

1.    That the outcome of the Referendum of 6^th May 2021, be noted; and

2.    That the Cabinet recommend to Council that the New Milton Neighbourhood Plan be ‘made‘ (adopted) as part of the Development Plan for New Forest District (Outside the National Park).

REASONS FOR DECISION:

As set out in the report.

KEY DECISION:

Report to Cabinet and Full Council.

PORTFOLIO:

Planning, Regeneration and Infrastructure.

ALTERNATIVE OPTIONS CONSIDERED/REJECTED:

As set out in the report.

DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST(S):

Cllr S Davies, for transparency purposes, declared a non-pecuniary interest in this item.  The interest concerned his membership of New Milton Town Council who had prepared the plan.  Cllr Davies concluded that there were no grounds under common law to prevent him from remaining in the meeting to speak and vote.

DISCUSSION:

The Portfolio Holder introduced the report and thanked New Milton Town Council and in particular Cllr Clarke for their hard work in driving forward the neighbourhood plan.

The Leader of the Council thanked the people of New Milton for coming out to vote in the referendum on 6 May 2021.

In response to a question relating to the future of neighbourhood plans in the wider context of the Government’s planning reforms, the Council awaited the final details following the Government consultation on future changes to the planning system.  However, it was clear that neighbourhood planning would remain an important feature in a plan led system.

RESOLVED:

That the appointments to Outside Bodies as proposed in the revised Appendix 1 to the report, be agreed.

REASONS FOR DECISION:

As set out in the report.

KEY DECISION:

No.

PORTFOLIO:

Leader.

ALTERNATIVE OPTIONS CONSIDERED/REJECTED:

As set out in the report.

DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST(S):

None.

DISCUSSION:

The Leader introduced the report and confirmed that the changes dealt with those necessitated by the new Cabinet announced in April 2021, and following the Council’s Annual Meeting in May 2021.  Other Outside Body appointments made in June 2019 remained unchanged.