Issue - decisions

PART I – ITEMS RESOLVED BY CABINET

 

Item 1 – Waste Programme Update

 

One Member questioned the Council’s approach for waste collection under the new service arrangements if residents declined to use wheeled bins.  A further Member asked if the Council would be encouraging residents to take any excess waste to the local Household Recycling Centre, particularly in the context of any increase in side waste resulting from service changes.

 

The Portfolio Holder for Environment and Sustainability responded to the points raised.  He highlighted that the Council’s decision on the Waste Strategy and collection policy in respect of wheeled bins would be moving forward as agreed.  The communications strategy was highlighted which would seek to address queries and concerns ahead of the service change and roll out of wheeled bins.

 

 

PART II – RECOMMENDATIONS TO COUNCIL

 

Item 7 – Medium Term Financial Plan Scene Setting

 

Cllr Heron introduced the item and moved the recommendations from the Cabinet meeting.  Cllr S Davies seconded the motion.

 

Cllr M Wade moved an amendment to recommendation 4, to freeze car parking charges in line with their current levels.  Cllr Clark seconded the amendment.

 

Members speaking in support of the amendment highlighted the cost of living crisis being faced by residents, with local examples of towns and villages struggling to attract people into their centres.  A Member spoke of the nature of the district not having a single destination, instead having a collection of unique towns and villages spread across the New Forest.  Some Members spoke of the impact specifically on businesses and their viability on the high street.

 

Members speaking against the amendment suggested that it was unfair to ask residents who could not afford to run a car, to subsidise the cost of car parking charges across the district, through council tax.  The value of a district parking clock was recognised, which allowed users to park at multiple locations across the New Forest for the cost of the single clock.  Feedback suggested that this remained excellent value, inclusive of the proposed increase for 2025.

 

In responding to the debate on the amendment, Cllr Wade highlighted that the cost of running car parks did not dictate that prices would need to rise at the proposed rate.  He suggested that the lowest paid in the district included shop workers, including for local charities, many of whom relied on a car and local car parks to get to their place of work.  He encouraged Members to support the amendment.

 

In responding to the debate on the amendment, Cllr Heron cited the significant financial pressures faced by the Council.  He highlighted that many of the issues raised by Members through the debate were part of wider changes to shopping habits, including the rise of online shopping.  He pointed to the benchmarking undertaken and that the district’s fees and charges in this area remained very good value for money.

 

A request for a discretionary recorded vote was supported by the required additional 11 Members.  The amendment was therefore put to a recorded vote, the outcome of which was as follows:-

 

Voting for:- Cllrs Brand, Clark, Cullen, Dowd, England, Harrison, Haywood, Mballa, McCarthy, Millar, Parker, Rackham, Richards, A Wade, M Wade and Woods.

 

Voting against:- Cllrs Alvey, Armstrong, Blunden, Clarke, Cleary, Crisell, S Davies, Dunning, Glass, Hartmann, Hawkins, Heron, Linford, Murray, O’Sullivan, Penman, Penny, Poole, Reid, Reilly, Rickman, Rippon-Swaine, Sleep, Thierry, Tipp, Tungate, Ward and Young.

 

Abstaining:- None.

 

The amendment was lost, 16 in favour, 28 against, 0 abstaining.

 

Cllr Armstrong moved an amendment to recommendation 4, to increase car parking charges by inflation only, rounded to the nearest single digit.  Cllr Reilly seconded the amendment.

 

Members speaking in support of the amendment suggested that this would lessen the burden on local motorists.  Some Members who had spoken in support of Cllr M Wade’s amendment highlighted that although not to the extent of freezing car parking charges, this offered some support.

 

Members speaking against the amendment highlighted that the proposed increases were broadly in line with the Consumer Price Index (CPI), rounded up.  One Member highlighted that the change to the first hour charge had not been raised since 2018.

 

In responding to the amendment, Cllr Armstrong highlighted that he felt the impression had been given last year that the proposal for car parking charges from the administration would not exceed inflation.

 

In responding to the amendment, Cllr Heron reiterated that a balanced and sound budget was vital, and he remained comfortable with the Cabinet’s proposals.

 

A request for a discretionary recorded vote was supported by the required additional 11 Members.  The amendment was therefore put to a recorded vote, the outcome of which was as follows:-

 

Voting for:- Cllrs Armstrong, Brand, Clark, Cullen, England, Harrison, Haywood, Linford, Mballa, McCarthy, Millar, Parker, Rackham, Reilly, Richards, A Wade, M Wade and Woods.

 

Voting against:- Cllrs Alvey, Blunden, Clarke, Cleary, Crisell, S Davies, Dowd, Dunning, Glass, Hartmann, Hawkins, Heron, Murray, O’Sullivan, Penman, Penny, Poole, Reid, Rickman, Rippon-Swaine, Sleep, Thierry, Tipp, Tungate, Ward and Young.

 

Abstaining:- None.

 

The amendment was lost, 18 in favour, 26 against, 0 abstaining.

 

The Council then voted on the substantive motion of the Cabinet recommendations, which was carried.

 

RESOLVED:

 

1.     That the revised MTFP forecasts, as outlined within the report and appendices be adopted;

 

2.     That the options identified to close the budget gap for 2025/26 and through to 2028/29 are developed further;

 

3.     That the reporting timeline as set out in paragraph 74 be agreed;

 

4.     That the proposed car parking fees and charges from 1 January 2025 as referenced in paragraph 48 and detailed in appendix 5 be approved;

 

5.     That the proposed Keyhaven river fees and charges from 1 January 2025, as amended by Cabinet, and as detailed in a revised Appendix 6 for consideration by Full Council, are approved; and

 

6.     That the decision to enter into an agreement with other Hampshire authorities regarding the pooling of business rates is delegated to the S151 officer in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Finance & Corporate.

 

 

Item 8 – Updates to Contract Standing Orders

 

Cllr Heron introduced the item and moved the recommendations from the Cabinet meeting.  He endorsed the support for local businesses as part of the Council’s tendering process.  Cllr S Davies seconded the motion.

 

RESOLVED:

 

That Council approves the Contract Standing Orders as set out in Appendices 1 and 2.