Agenda item

To consider the reports of the Cabinet dated:-

 

·        5 August 2020; and

·        2 September 2020 (to follow).

 

The Leader of the Council presented the reports of the Cabinet meetings held on 5 August and 2 September 2020 and moved the adoption of the recommendations. 

 

Cllr Cleary seconded the motion.

 

Item 2 (2 September 2020) – Emergency Budget 2020/21 and Updated Medium Term Financial Plan 2020/21 – 2023/24

 

Cllr Harrison, in highlighting his view on the use of Reserves at a time of crisis, moved the following amendment on this item:-

 

“To amend the budget to use £1 million from the General Reserve Fund, to be made available for any additional expenditure.”

 

Cllr J Davies seconded the amendment.

 

The Portfolio Holder for Finance, Investment and Corporate Services, Cllr J Heron, responded to the amendment.  He highlighted that the full use of £3 million reserves remained available for any future uncertainties the Council faced.  This was the primary purpose of holding such reserves.  Having fully funded this year’s budget, he did not consider the insertion of further reserves into the budget itself to be appropriate when these funds could serve the Council well in the future.

 

Cllrs J Davies and Rackham spoke in support of the amendment and hoped that some of the £1 million in reserves could be utilised in delivering some of the proposed outcomes from the COVID-19 Recovery work.

 

Some Members spoke in support of the original motion and the budget as presented to the Council, having participated in the work of the COVID-19 Recovery – Finance and Resources Task and Finish Group.

 

In responding to the debate on the amendment, Cllr Harrison suggested that it afforded the opportunity to respond more quickly to new budget requirements.

 

The Leader of the Council encouraged Members to support the original motion, highlighting the hard work of all Portfolio Holders, Task and Finish Group Members and officers to bring forward a balanced budget in significantly challenging circumstances.

 

The amendment was put to a recorded vote, the outcome of which was as follows:-

 

Voting for: Cllrs Brunsdon, M Clark, J Davies, Harrison, Osborne, Rackham, A Wade and M Wade.

 

Voting against: Cllrs Alvey, Andrews, Bellows, Bennison, Blunden, Carpenter, Clarke, Cleary, Corbridge, Craze, Crisell, S Davies, Davis, Duke, Dunning, England, Glass, Gossage, Harris, Hawkins, J Heron, Hoare, Holding, Kidd, Lane, McEvoy, O’Sullivan, Penman, Reilly, Rickman, Ring, Rippon-Swaine, Russell, Sevier, Steele, Thierry, Thorne, Tipp, Tungate, C Ward and J Ward.

 

Abstaining: Cllrs R Clark, Dowd and Kangarani.

 

The amendment was lost, 8 in favour, 41 against, 3 abstentions.

 

Item 5 (2 September 2020) – Vision for the Waterside

The Chairman highlighted his support in bringing forward a collective vision for the Waterside.  Members spoke in support of the work of the Special Environment Overview and Scrutiny Panel, which had influenced in a number of areas in the final vision document.

 

Some Members expressed their wish to see a more rounded vision, engaging directly with local communities.

 

The Chairman of the Environment Overview and Scrutiny Panel, Cllr Rippon-Swaine, reported briefly on the work at the Special Panel meeting on this matter.  He highlighted the engagement of local towns and parishes alongside ward councillors.  As an overarching document, more detailed reports on specific subject matters such as those raised by councillors would be brought forward in due course.

 

Item 6 (2 September 2020) – Electoral Review of New Forest District Council – Draft Recommendations – Consultation Response

 

Cllr Corbridge moved an amendment on this item, a copy of which was circulated to the Council in advance of the meeting.  The amendment concerned the ward boundaries in Lymington and Pennington as part of the Council’s consultation response to the Local Government Boundary Commission.  A copy is attached to these minutes. 

 

Cllr Dunning seconded the amendment.

 

Differing views were expressed on the area currently identified as the Buckland ward, as to whether it should be included in a warding pattern with Lymington, Pennington or other neighbouring areas.

 

Members speaking in support of the amendment highlighted the use of the majority of the linear geographical feature of the A337, as a clearly defined boundary between the proposed Pennington and Lymington wards.  It was noted that some local concerns relating to the Belmore Estate had been addressed as part of the amendment.

 

The Leader of the Council in responding to the amendment, confirmed that he would be happy to support it, in recognition of the work undertaken by local Members to find the best solution for Lymington and Pennington, in the context of the overall District wide scheme.

 

The amendment was put to the vote and carried.

 

Cllr M Wade moved an amendment on this item, a copy of which was circulated to the Council in advance of the meeting.  The amendment concerned the ward boundaries in Hythe and Dibden as part of the Council’s consultation response to the Local Government Boundary Commission.  A copy is attached to these minutes. 

 

Cllr Dowd seconded the amendment.

 

Members spoke in support of the amendment, and placed on record their thanks to officers for the technical support required to produce the amendment.

 

The Leader of the Council in responding to the amendment, again confirmed that he would be happy to support it for the same reasons as the Lymington and Pennington amendment.

 

The amendment was put to the vote and carried.

 

Cllr Rackham wished for her dissent to be recorded in respect of the inclusion of Eling in a ward with Marchwood rather than with Totton.

 

Cllr Duke placed on record her thanks to Boldre Parish Council, alongside officers, for their hard work to produce a solution that did not split Boldre Parish across District wards.

 

The substantive motion of the reports of the Cabinet meetings held on 5 August and 2 September 2020 was put to a recorded vote, the outcome of which was as follows:-

 

Voting for:  Cllrs Alvey, Andrews, Bellows, Bennison, Blunden, Brunsdon, Carpenter, M Clark, R Clark, Clarke, Cleary, Corbridge, Craze, Crisell, S Davies, Davis, Delemare, Dowd, Duke, Dunning, Glass, Gossage, Harris, Hawkins, J Heron, Hoare, Holding, Hopkins, Kidd, Lane, McEvoy, O’Sullivan, Penman, Reid, Reilly, Rickman, Ring, Rippon-Swaine, Russell, Sevier, Steele, Thierry, Thorne, Tipp, Tungate, A Wade, M Wade, C Ward and J Ward.

 

Voting against: None.

 

Abstaining:  Cllrs England, Harrison, Kangarani, Osborne and Rackham.

 

The motion, as amended, was carried.  49 in favour, none against, 5 abstentions.

 

RESOLVED:

 

That the reports be received and the recommendations as amended, be adopted.