Agenda and minutes

It was acknowledged that the Council was meeting on reduced numbers and as a result some Councillors were absent, but not required to attend. Apologies from The Mayor and Councillor Cully were noted as they were unable to attend.

Apologies were also received from Honorary Freeman Edgar, O’Neill and Honorary Alderman Dickson.  

Councillor Jessop advised that he had a pecuniary interest in the Part II minutes of the Policy and Organisation Board and would leave the room if this was discussed.

Councillor Philpott advised that he had a non pecuniary interest in the Part II minutes of the Economic Development Board and left the room at the point item was discussed.

RESOLVED: That the minutes of the meeting held on the 13 October 2021 be signed as a true and correct record.

There were none.

(NOTE: Standing Order No 3.5 requires that notice of a Deputation should be received by the Borough Solicitor NOT LATER THAN 12 O’CLOCK NOON ON MONDAY, 31 JANUARY 2022 and likewise Standing Order No 3.6 requires that notice of a Public Question should be received by the Borough Solicitor NOT LATER THAN 12 O’CLOCK NOON ON MONDAY, 31 JANUARY 2022).

There were none.

(NOTE: Members are reminded that Standing Order No 3.4 requires that Notice of Question pursuant to that Standing Order must be received by the Borough Solicitor NOT LATER THAN 12 O’CLOCK NOON ON TUESDAY, 1 FEBRUARY 2022).

There were none.

            BOARD            

Community Board                                               3 November 2021

Community Board                                               5 January 2022

Climate Change Board                                       9 November 2021

Climate Change Board                                       13 January 2022

Housing Board                                                   10 November 2021

Economic Development Board                           17 November 2021

Policy and Organisation Board                           24 November 2021

Policy and Organisation Board                           27 January 2022

COUNCIL RESOLVED That the following Part II Minutes be received:

Community Board                     3 November 2021

Community Board                     5 January 2022

Climate Change Board             9 November 2021

Climate Change Board             13 January 2022

Housing Board                          10 November 2021

Economic Development Board  17 November 2021

Policy and Organisation Board   24 November 2021

Policy and Organisation Board   27 January 2022

Report to follow

Consideration was given to a report of the Borough Treasurer.

 The Council is required to set a "Balanced Budget" and to maintain adequate levels of Reserves.  The primary purpose of this report is to set the Council's overall Budget for the forthcoming year 2022/23 (both Revenue & Capital) and the associated level of Council Tax necessary to help fund the Budget.

Voting was thereupon taken and the names of the Members voting for and against the Recommendation and those abstaining were read to the Council:

FOR THE RECOMMENDATION:  Councillors Beavis, Burgess, Carter, Casey, Mrs Furlong, Jessop, Murphy, Philpott, Raffaelli, The Deputy Mayor (10)

ABSTENTIONS: Councillors Ballard, Bradley, Chegwyn, Earle, Hylands, Miss Kelly, Mrs Westerby (7)

COUNCIL RESOLVED: That the recommendations be approved.

2.1         A Revised General Fund Budget for 2021/22 of £11,056,560 as set out in Appendix A;

2.2         A General Fund Budget for 2022/23 of £11,498,820 as set out in Appendix A and broken down in Appendix C;

2.3         Any variation arising from the final Local Government Finance Settlement be accommodated by a transfer to / from the Revenue Financing Reserve;

2.4         That the level of Council Tax be increased by £5 per annum for a Band D property for 2022/23;

2.5         It be noted that the Borough Treasurer has determined that the Council Tax Base for the financial year 2022/23 will be 27,154.20 [item T in the formula in Section 31 B(1) of the Local Government Finance Act 1992, as amended (the “Act”)];

2.6         That the following amounts be now calculated by the Council for the financial year 2022/23 in accordance with Section 31 and Sections 34 to 36 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992:

(e)       Valuation Bands (Gosport Borough Council)

Being the amounts given by multiplying the amount at 2.6 (d) above by the number which, in the proportion set out in Section 5(1) of the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 117.

The purpose of this report is to inform Members of the proposal to implement a revised Local Council Tax  Support scheme (LCTS) for working age applicants with effect from 1^st April 2022,  implementing  a modern, future proofed scheme and reducing the administrative burden placed on the Council by the introduction of Universal Credit.

Consideration was given to a report of the Head of Benefits, Procurement and Insurance, detailing the proposal to implement a revised Local Council Tax Support Scheme with effect from 1^st April 2022.

RESOLVED: That Council approves the new LCTS (summarised at 2.11 and attached as in full at appendix A) scheme based upon a new income banded / grid scheme for working age applicants with effect from 1^st April 2022 and notes the continuation of the unchanged statutory scheme for pension age customers.

In accordance with Standing Order No. 2.4 the Borough Solicitor and Monitoring Officer has written to Group Leaders and Members of the Council inviting them to submit Member nominations for the selection of Mayor-Elect and Deputy Mayor-Elect for the next Municipal Year. One nomination has been received by the Borough Solicitor and Monitoring Officer, Councillor Z Huggins for Mayor-Elect and one nomination received for Deputy Mayor-Elect, Councillor K Casey.

The Council was informed that in accordance with Standing Order 2.4 the Borough Solicitor and Monitoring Officer had written to Group Leaders and Members of the Council to invite Member nominations for the selection of Mayor-Elect and Deputy Mayor-Elect for the next Municipal Year.

It was reported that one nomination had been received Councillor Z Huggins for Mayor-Elect the 2022-2023 Municipal Year.

It was reported that one nomination had been received Councillor K Casey for Mayor-Elect the 2022-2023 Municipal Year.

RESOLVED: That Councillor Z Huggins be Mayor-Elect and Councillor K Casey Deputy-Mayor Elect for the 2022-2023 Municipal Year.

            BOARD                                                                     DATE

Climate Change                                                                13 January 2022

Housing                                                                             19 January 2022             

Policy and Organisation                                                     27 January 2022(to follow)                                                                                                                               

At its meeting on the 13 January 2022 the Climate Change Board considered a report of the Climate Change Officer and recommended that the Climate Change Strategy be reported to Full Council for approval.

An amendment was proposed as follows

To remove the superfluous wording from page 3 of 20 of the strategy document.

PLACE HOLDER: - ‘STATEMENT OF COMMITMENT’ if this can be agreed by group leaders.

Councillor Graham Burgess, Leader of the Council, Councillor Peter Chegwyn, Liberal Democrat Group Leader and Councillor June Cully, Labour Councillor.

As no agreement was reached by the opposition Leader, therefore the placement holder and the name are superfluous to the document.

If in future a Climate Change statement of intent can be agreed to acknowledge climate action, it is suggested this is taken outside of the strategy document and could be added to the website.

The amendment was put to the Council and agreed.

RESOLVED: That the Climate Change Strategy as amended be approved.

Consideration was given to a report of the Housing Board on the 19 January 2022 detailing the Borough Treasurer and Housing Services Manager detailing the Housing Revenue Account (HRA) Business Plan Financial Model including the revised 2021/22 budget and the 2022/23  budget including recommendations on rent levels for next year.

RESOLVED: That

§   The revised HRA Business Plan Financial Model  extract (Appendix A) and associated 2021/22 Revised Budget and 2022/23 Budget (Appendix B) is agreed.

§    That Council Dwelling rents increase  by CPI (3.1% @sept 2021) plus 1% .The Council is setting it’s rents according to the five year policy  programme as detailed in the new national rent policy introduced in February  2019.

 The rent for all  garages is increased in line with inflation, as agreed in the Garage    Renewal strategy.

Consideration was given to a report of the Policy and Organisation Board detailing the opportunity to opt into the National Scheme for Auditor Appointments Managed by Public Sector Audit Appointments (PSAA) as the Appointing Person.

RESOLVED: That the Council Opt into the National Scheme for Auditor Appointments Managed by Public Sector Audit Appointments (PSAA) as the Appointing Person