Agenda item

 

PART I – ITEMS RESOLVED BY CABINET

 

Item 1 – Draft Air Quality Strategy

 

One Member welcomed the strategy, but expressed his wish to see more statistics for infant and young people in the district.  He hoped that these statistics would be included in future versions to support the strategy’s development.

 

Item 2 – Housing Landlord Anti-Social Behaviour (ASB) Strategy

 

One Member welcomed the detail of the strategy and hoped that liaison with town and parish councils would be built into its implementation.

 

 

PART II – RECOMMENDATIONS TO COUNCIL

 

Item 5 – Financial Monitoring Report

 

In the absence of the Portfolio Holder for Finance and Corporate, the Leader introduced the item and moved the adoption of the recommendations, to approve the reallocation of net residual pay award in support of preparations for Devolution and Local Government Reorganisation.  Cllr S Davies seconded the motion.

 

RESOLVED:

 

That Council approve the reallocation of the net residual 2024/25 Pay award contingency (£496,000) to create a new £150,000 Devolution and Local Government Reorganisation (LGR) reserve, with the remaining £346,000 being applied to the Council’s existing Corporate Priority Reserve.

 

Item 6 – Adoption of the revised Statement of Community Involvement

 

The Portfolio Holder for Planning and Economy introduced the report and moved the adoption of the recommendations.  Cllr S Davies seconded the motion.

 

RESOLVED:

 

That the Council:-

 

1.     notes the outcomes of the public consultation that took place for 6 weeks on the proposed amendments to the SCI and agrees the draft responses to the representations received (set out in Appendix 2);

 

2.     agrees the changes to the SCI set out in Appendix 1 and formally adopts the amended SCI document; and

 

3.     that any final editorial changes to the document prior to publication be agreed by the Strategic Director of Place, Operations and Sustainability in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Planning and Economy.

 

Item 7 – Asset Maintenance and Replacement Programme and General Fund Capital Programme 2025/2026

 

In the absence of the Portfolio Holder for Finance and Corporate, the Leader introduced the item and moved the adoption of the recommendations.  Cllr S Davies seconded the motion.

 

Cllr M Wade moved an amendment, to include a modest capital contribution of £60,000, as a contribution to the Hythe Ferry company, towards the repair costs of the pontoon.  In support of the amendment, Cllr M Wade spoke of the Hythe Ferry as a heritage asset, its history and role as a key sustainable travel option in the district.  Cllr Osborne seconded the amendment.

 

The Council’s Section 151 Officer clarified that the amendment, if carried, would require external borrowing as part of the Council’s Capital Strategy.

 

Members speaking for the amendment highlighted the vital travel service with strong links to key considerations in the Council’s local plan preparations.  The heritage of the site was reiterated.  It was suggested that the Council’s contribution could positively lead to matched funding from others.

 

Members speaking against the amendment, whilst supporting the ferry as a concept, including its heritage, raised concerns about funding the enterprise from the Council’s own Capital Programme.  It was suggested that grant funding, or community infrastructure levy might be more appropriate funding streams.  Concerns about the sustainability of the ferry service and the cost of effectively maintaining the pontoon and promenade were cited.

 

Some Members raised concerns of the lateness of the proposed amendment and potential spend of £60,000, welcoming further information from officers at a future date, outlining the implications in full, before considering such a proposal.

 

In responding to the debate on the amendment, Cllr M Wade highlighted the multimodal transport objectives of the Council that would be enhanced by supporting the ferry.  He highlighted that the Hythe Ferry company was sensitive to the need to ensure future sustainability.  The positive impact on tourism and businesses were reiterated.

 

In responding to the debate on the amendment, the Leader was concerned about the future viability of the ferry, and as a non statutory function, she was not supportive of using external borrowing to finance the ferry company through the Council’s Capital Programme.

 

Put to the vote, the amendment was lost.

 

Members went on to debate the substantive motion further.

 

RESOLVED:

 

1.     That the schedule of projects, as included in Appendix 1 and Appendix 2 be approved within the 2025/26 budget, noting that this commits the Council to expenditure beyond 2025/26 whereby a project commences in 2025/26 and extends into future years;

 

2.     That the Vehicle and Plant replacement programme be approved for a 2-year period, covering purchases due in 2025/26 and 2026/27;

 

3.     That the Appletree Court scheme previously approved in August 2024 be removed from the Capital Programme, updating the Council’s  MTFP accordingly and note the new £200,000 allocation for a reduced  scope of work in the revised Capital Programme under recommendation 1; and

 

4.     That the intention to create an Asset Management Strategy, be noted.

 

Item 8 – Capital Strategy 2025/2026

 

In the absence of the Portfolio Holder for Finance and Corporate, the Leader introduced the item and moved the recommendations from Cabinet.  Cllr S Davies seconded the motion.

 

One Member welcomed the revised position in respect of Lymington Town Hall.

 

RESOLVED:

 

That the Capital Strategy 2025/26 be approved, including the adoption of the Minimum Revenue Payment (MRP) statement.

 

Item 9 – Scheme of Members’ Allowances – Report of the Independent Remuneration Panel (IRP) and Scheme to apply from 1 April 2025

 

The Leader introduced the item and moved the adoption of the recommendations.  Cllr S Davies seconded the motion.

 

RESOLVED:

 

That the full recommendations of the Independent Renumeration Panel and the scheme of Members’ Allowances to apply from 1 April 2025, be approved.