Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Cllrs O’Sullivan, Alvey, Brand, Brunsdon, J Davies, England, Harrison, J Heron, Hoare, Hopkins, Lane, Levitt, Reid and A Wade.

To confirm the minutes of the Ordinary Council meeting held on 21 February 2022 and the Extraordinay Council meeting held on 21 March 2022.

RESOLVED:

That the minutes of the Ordinary Council meeting held on 21 February 2022 and the Extraordinary Council meeting held on 21 March 2022, be confirmed.

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

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

There were no declarations of any disclosable pecuniary interests by Members.

Engagements

The Chairman reported on the following recent engagements:-

Friday 25 March 2022

Attended the opening of the Council’s refurbished temporary accommodation, Jubilee House in Ashley, New Milton, alongside the Deputy Leader and Portfolio Holder for Housing and Homelessness Services, Cllr Jill Cleary. 

The Chairman added that the Council would be commemorating the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee with a series of activities in the Summer, including a red, white and blue theme of tree planting centred around the Queen’s Green Canopy Tree Planting initiative.  Councillors and residents were informed that information about funding for Jubilee events, how to organise street closures and the Queen’s Green Canopy project was available on the Council’s website.

Tuesday 29 March 2022

Attended the Mayor of Basingstoke’s Civic Afternoon at the Milestones Museum, Basingstoke.

Wednesday 30 March 2022

Attended the opening of the New Milton Office of Citizen Advice New Forest, in the presence of Her Royal Highness the Princess Royal.

Tuesday 5 April 2022

Attended a service to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the day a military task force left Hampshire to liberate the Falklands Islands.  The service was held at Marchwood Military Barracks.

Thursday 7 April 2022

Hosted the Chairman’s Civic Day at Beaulieu Motor Museum and Buckler’s Hard. The Chairman wished to record his thanks to Council officers Donna Langfield and Sue Jennings for organising the event which was very successful.

Community Heroes Award Finalist – Cllr Penman

The Chairman was pleased to inform Members that Cllr Neville Penman had been selected as a finalist in the MJ Achievement Awards 2022, in recognition of his work in the community throughout the Covid-19 Pandemic.  On behalf of the Council, the Chairman wished Cllr Penman all the very best of luck for the final.

Freeport

The Leader confirmed that a letter of support had been sent to accompany the Full Business Case submission to Government, following the Council’s decision in March 2022.  It remained vital to harness the opportunity of the Freeport for the young people of the New Forest and the Leader would be meeting with Brockenhurst and Totton colleges over the coming weeks.

Youth Employment Hub

The Leader drew attention to the Youth Employment Hub, being run by the Council in partnership with other local Councils, for young people to find out about careers and jobs in the local area.  The Government funded initiative provided local face to face support in Totton and Brockenhurst alongside online support.

New Changing Places

The Leader was pleased to announce that grant funding of £205,000 had been secured for additional changing places in Brockenhurst, Ringwood and Hythe.  This was in addition to the existing three changing places in New Milton, Lymington and Milford-On-Sea.

To consider the report of the Audit Committee dated 25 March 2022.

Cllr Sevier presented the report of the Audit Committee meeting held on 25 March 2022, and moved the adoption of the recommendations.  Cllr J Ward seconded the motion.

RESOLVED:

That the report be received and the recommendations be adopted.

To consider the report of the Cabinet dated 6 April 2022.

The Leader of the Council presented the report of the Cabinet meeting held on 6 April 2022 and moved that it be received.  Cllr Cleary seconded the motion.

Paragraph 2 – Adoption of the Parking Standards Supplementary Planning Document

Some Members highlighted their concerns in relation to the emphasis on public transport in light of current infrastructure.  The Leader of the Council supported progress with sustainable transport but acknowledged this would not happen overnight and within the context of budget constraints.

RESOLVED:

That the report be received.

Under Standing Order 22.

There were none.

To ask questions of Portfolio Holders. Questions received will be tabled at the meeting. (Members are reminded that questions must be submitted to the Chief Executive or to the Executive Head of Governance and Housing by not later than 12.00 noon on Friday 8 April 2022.)

Questions were put and answered under Standing Order 22A as follows:-

·         Cllr Gossage to the Leader of the Council, Cllr E Heron, on financial arrangements with Russian or Belarusian companies.

·         Cllr Brand to the Portfolio Holder for Housing and Homelessness Services, Cllr Cleary, on the Electric Vehicle Homecharge Scheme (EVHS).

·         Cllr Osborne to the Portfolio Holder for Housing and Homelessness Services, Cllr Cleary, on complaints in Housing.

·         Cllr Rackham to the Portfolio Holder for People and Places, Cllr Russell, on support to community and voluntary organisations.

·         Cllr Clark to the Portfolio Holder for Planning, Regeneration and Infrastructure, Cllr Andrews, on Fawley Waterside.

·         Cllr J Davies to the Portfolio Holder for Planning, Regeneration and Infrastructure, Cllr Andrews, on planning functions.

·         Cllr Kangarani to the Portfolio Holder for People and Places, Cllr Russell, on the Council’s Litter Strategy.

·         Cllr M wade to the Portfolio Holder for Business, Tourism and High Streets, Cllr Harris, on support to businesses.

·         Cllr Osborne to the Portfolio Holder for Housing and Homelessness Services, Cllr Cleary, on affordable homes.

Note:-

A copy of the full questions and replies are attached to these minutes.

To consider and make recommendations to the Council on 16 May 2022 for election to the offices of Chairman and Vice-Chairman of the Council for the following municipal year.

The Conservative Group has nominated Cllr O’Sullivan for election to the office of Chairman and Cllr Penman to the office of Vice-Chairman.

The Liberal Democrat Group has nominated Cllr Harrison for election to the office of Chairman and Cllr J Davies to the office of Vice-Chairman.

The Chairman invited Members to propose and second the nominations for the offices of Chairman and Vice-Chairman of the Council received in accordance with the Council’s Constitution.

Cllr Tipp moved that Cllr O’Sullivan be the Council’s nomination for the office of Chairman of the Council for 2022/23.  Cllr Clarke seconded the motion.

Cllr M Wade moved that Cllr Harrison be the Council’s nomination for the office of Chairman of the Council for 2022/23.  Cllr Rackham seconded the motion.

Put to a secret ballot, Cllr O’Sullivan received the majority of votes.

Cllr Russell moved that Cllr Penman be the Council’s nomination for the office of Chairman of the Council for 2022/23.  Cllr S Davies seconded the motion.

Cllr Clark moved that Cllr J Davies be the Council’s nomination for the office of Vice-Chairman of the Council for 2022/23.  Cllr Dowd seconded the motion.

Put to a secret ballot, Cllr Penman received the majority of votes.

RESOLVED:

That Cllr O’Sullivan be nominated as Chairman and Cllr Penman as Vice-Chairman of the Council for the municipal year 2022/23.

The Leader of the Council moved the adoption of the recommendations contained within the report, which asked the Council to make appointments to committees and panels in accordance with the principles as set out in Section 15 of the Local Government and Housing Act 1989.  Cllr Cleary seconded the motion.

The Council, having received both the wishes of the political groups and the preferences of the non-aligned Members, considered the option to allocate seats to the non-aligned Members as nearly as possible in proportion to the number of those members on the Council.

RESOLVED:

1.    That the allocation of seats to committees and panels in accordance with the principles set out in the report, be agreed as at paragraph 4.6 of the report; and

2.    That the Council gives effect to the wishes of the political groups in making appointments to these Committees and Panels, for the remainder of the four year period ending May 2023.