Agenda, decisions and minutes

Cllrs Mrs Hoare (Chairman of the Council), Russell, Steele and Wise.

RESOLVED:

That the minutes of the meeting held on 18 May 2015 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.

Cllr Kendal disclosed an interest in Minute 16 (Report of Audit Committee dated 26 June 2015).

The Chief Executive reported that all members of the Council who were members of Hampshire County Council had been granted dispensations to speak and to vote on Item 2 of the Report of the General Purposes & Licensing Committee dated 26 June 2015.

The Chairman’s engagements undertaken since the last meeting of the Council were reported in the monthly Information Bulletin. The following were highlighted:

Death of former Councillor Derek Burdle

Members were informed that former Cllr Derek Burdle who had represented what was then the Netley Marsh ward on the District Council from 1974 – 2003 had passed away in June. Cllr Burdle had been Chairman of the District Council from 1989 – 1991 and Chairman of the then Development (now Planning Development Control) Committee from 1983 – 1989.   He had served on numerous other Committees of the District Council, including Policy & Resources, Leisure Services, Environment Services and Strategic Growth in Totton.

Armed Forces Day

On Monday 22 June, the Chairman of the Council had raised the Armed Forces Day flag at Appletree Court, Lyndhurst. The Vice-Chairman and the Chief Executive had also been present.

New Forest Show

Members were reminded that the New Forest Show would take place on 28 - 30 July.  This was a significant event for the District. The District Council’s stand would be themed ‘Join the Adventure, Alice in Leisureland’.  The stand would showcase the Council’s five health and leisure centres. Members were encouraged to attend.

The Leader referred to his recent email to councillors and staff regarding the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Local Government Association (HIOWLGA) proposal for Hampshire-wide devolution.  Once further details of the Hampshire-wide proposal were known, the Cabinet would discuss the matter further. The Leader would welcome members’ views then.  

Devolution for Hampshire

The Leader referred to his recent email to councillors and staff regarding the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Local Government Association (HIOWLGA) proposal for Hampshire-wide devolution.

The email explained that the Councilwas joining 14 other Councils across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight to propose a Hampshire-wide devolution deal to the Government.

HIOWLGA at its meeting on 19 June had unanimously agreed to support a proposal covering Hampshire County Council, the 11 district councils and the unitary councils of Portsmouth, Southampton and the Isle of Wight Council, as the basis for developing devolution for the area.

The Leader of the County Council, Cllr Roy Perry, had written to Greg Clark MP, Secretary of State for Communities & Local Government, saying the Councils would prepare a devolution submission that would build on the strong partnership working that already existed across the area. The Leader of the Council had joined other local authority Leaders in supporting this proposal.

If successful, a “Combined Authority” would be established. This was not a new layer of Government, but would mean that the Government would devolve powers and funding, to allow greater local control over matters such as skills, transport, economic prosperity, infrastructure, and health and social care. Proposals would be built on the existing partnerships, powers and responsibilities of the local authorities and would be submitted to the Government by the end of July 2015. The proposals would not involve any change to local boundaries, but the changes would allow councils to make savings through administrative efficiencies and economies across the public sector. Once further details of the Hampshire-wide proposal were known, the Cabinet would discuss these at future meetings, where members’ views would be welcomed.

Promotion of the New Forest as a Toursim Destination

Members were shown the New Forest – Timeless Peace and Love SkyAd campaign which was running from 23 June to 20 July.  The campaign, developed by the Council in partnership with New Forest Tourism Association and the National Park Authority, aimed to target 141,000 couples in Greater London. These potential visitors all owned a Sky box and met the Experian socio-economic profile of using public transport and enjoying rural adventures.

Promotion of the New Forest Show

The television advert for this year’s New Forest Show which had recently been shown on Meridian T.V was played to members. The advert was also available online via the Show’s official website. Statistics had indicated that online tickets sales for the show increased dramatically following the airing of the advert. The Leader encouraged members to attend this year’s show. 

The recommendations arising from the meetings of: -

·        Audit Committee – 26 June 2015

·        General Purposes & Licensing Committee  - 12 & 26 June 2015

·        Cabinet – 3 June 2015

were agreed.

Report of Audit Committee

Cllr Kendal disclosed an interest in this item as an Executive Member for Hampshire County Council.  He concluded that there were no grounds under common law to prevent him from remaining in the meeting to speak and to vote.

Cllr O’Sullivan, Chairman of the Audit Committee, presented the report of the meeting held on 26 June 2015.

On the motion that the report be received, it was:

RESOLVED:

That the report be received and noted.

Report of General Purposes and Licensing Committee

It was noted that members of the Council who where members of Hampshire County Council had been granted dispensations to speak and to vote on the matter of the review of electoral boundaries in Hampshire County Council.

Cllr Clarke, Chairman of the General Purposes & Licensing Committee, presented the report of the meetings held on 12 & 26 June 2015. 

On the motion that the report be received and the recommendations be adopted, it was

RESOLVED:

That the report be received and the recommendations adopted.

Report of Cabinet

The Leader of the Council, as Chairman of the Cabinet, presented the report of the meeting held on 3 June 2015.

On the motion that the report be received it was:

RESOLVED:

That the report be received and noted.

The recommendation was agreed; subject to the amendment of recommendation 5.1 (c) to read: -

“That an Appointment Panel consisting of the Cabinet (the Leader and the Deputy Leader of the Council, together with the Portfolio Holders for Finance & Efficiency; Housing & Communities; Environment and Health & Leisure) and the Opposition Group Leader, together with two non-executive members appointed by the Leader, and supported by the Head of Human Resources, be appointed to make a recommendation to the Council”.

The Council considered the appointment process for the post of Chief Executive owing to the retirement of the current Chief Executive in October 2015.

The Leader of the Council moved the following amendment: -

That recommendation 5.1(c) be amended to read as follows:

“That an Appointment Panel consisting of the Cabinet (the Leader and the Deputy Leader of the Council, together with the Portfolio Holders for Finance & Efficiency; Housing & Communities; Environment; and Health & Leisure) and the Opposition Group Leader, together with two non-executive members appointed by the Leader, and supported by the Head of Human Resources, be appointed to make a recommendation to the Council”.

The motion was seconded.

Upon a vote it was:

RESOLVED:

That, subject to the above amendment, the recommendation be agreed.

There were none.

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 Head of Legal and Democratic Services by not later than noon on Friday 10 July 2015.)

Cllr Harrison asked the Leader of the Council whether, in developing the devolution proposal, the Waterside Railway and the ambition to return it to a passenger service should be included. The Leader welcomed Cllr Harrison’s support for a combined local authority being given greater freedoms over transport spending, but did not wish to make any reference to specific schemes at this stage. In the event that the powers were granted, a range of proposals for transport funding were likely to come forward which could be comprehensively appraised by people with detailed local knowledge in due course.

Question 1: from Cllr Harrison to Cllr Rickman, Leader of the Council

“Would the Leader agree that in developing the case for devolution of powers, such as major transport infrastructure, from central government to a local combined authority, it would be a good idea to include the example of the Waterside Railway and the ambition to return it to a passenger service?”

Answer:

The Leader of the Council welcomed Cllr Harrison’s support for a combined local authority being given greater freedoms over transport spending but did not wish to make any reference to specific schemes at this stage. In the event that the powers were devolved, it was likely that a range of proposals for transport funding would come forward which could be comprehensively appraised by people with detailed local knowledge in due course.

RECOMMENDED:

That meetings be held on the following Mondays at 6.30pm:-

16 May 2016 (Annual meeting, already agreed)

11 July 2016

5 September 2016

17 October 2016

5 December 2016

20 February 2017

10 April 2017

15 May 2017 (Annual Meeting)

The meeting dates for 2016/17 and the start time of 6.30pm were agreed.

RESOLVED:

That meetings be held on the following Mondays at 6.30 pm:-

16 May 2016 (Annual meeting, already agreed)

11 July 2016

5 September 2016

17 October 2016

5 December 2016

20 February 2017

10 April 2017

15 May 2017 (Annual Meeting)

To consider any changes to the membership of Committees or Panels that might be proposed by the political groups.

Cllr Olliff-Cooper was appointed to the Planning Development Control Committee in place of Cllr Thierry.  

RESOLVED:

That Cllr Olliff-Cooper be appointed to the Planning Development Control Committee in place of Cllr Thierry.