Agenda and Minutes

The Mayor was delighted to announce that the Rose Bowl had been selected as a training ground for the 2012 Olympics.

 

He also congratulated the Cabinet Member for Environment and the Sustainability Team for all their hard work and efforts which had resulted in the Council being awarded Beacon Council status for Tackling Climate Change.

To approve as a correct record the Minutes of the Council meeting held on 25 February 2008.

RESOLVED -

 

That the Minutes of the meeting held on 25 February 2008 be confirmed as a correct record.

Members were invited to declare interests in relation to items of business on the agenda.  Any interests declared are recorded in the relevant minute below.

(i)         Cabinet - 6 March 2008

 

Land Charges Fees and Charges 2008/09 (Minute 694)

 

CIP Schemes Approval (Minute 695)

 

(ii)               Cabinet - 3 April 2008

 

Minimum Revenue Provision - Annual MRP Statement (Minute 713)

 

CIP Schemes Approval (Minute 714)

 

Consideration was given to the following Minutes:

 

(a)               Cabinet – 6 March 2008

 

            Land Charges Fees and Charges (Minute 694)

            CIP - Schemes Approval (Minute 695)

 

(b)              Cabinet – 3 April 2008

 

            Minimum Revenue Provision – Annual MRP Statement (Minute 713)

            CIP - Schemes Approval (Minute 714)

 

RESOLVED -

 

That the recommendations contained in Minutes 694, 695, 713 and 714 be agreed.

Consideration was given to a report of the Head of Legal and Democratic Services which asked the Council to approve the appointment of two additional independent members onto the new, larger Standards Committee, in readiness for the new ‘local filter’ and hearing responsibilities in respect of Member conduct.  These responsibilities were being transferred from the Standards Board for England to local authorities on 8 May 2008.  There had been a good response to the advertisement placed in the local press and interviews for the additional independent members had been held in March.  Council was also asked to note progress made on appointing additional parish council representatives onto the Committee.

 

RESOLVED -

 

(1)               That Vickie Brickley and Keren Cordwell be appointed as two additional independent members of the Standards Committee;

 

(2)               That their terms of office be for four years each, with an option to renew for a further four years each;

 

(3)               That all independent members serve a maximum term of eight years each, reviewed after four years;

 

(4)               That the current Independent Members, Michael Knott and David Bell, be thanked for their work to date, and asked to continue on the Committee until 2010; and

 

(5)               That the Head of Legal and Democratic Services continues to seek nominations for 4 Parish Council representatives to serve on the Committee.

Consideration was given to a report of the Head of Legal and Democratic Services which recommended a number of changes to the Council’s Constitution that took into account recent staffing changes and changes made as part of the scrutiny review.

 

RESOLVED -

 

(1)               That the Constitution be updated to include the amendments contained in Appendix A to the report; and

 

(2)               That the Constitution be amended to reflect the changes to the Scrutiny process and the establishment of a new Audit and Risk Management Committee as set out in Appendix B to the report.

Consideration was given to the following Motion from Councillor Head:

 

“That this Council urges Hampshire County Council, without delay, to consult on and implement a 20mph zone for Nightingale Avenue and the Aviary estate”.

 

RESOLVED -

 

That the Motion be adopted.

Consideration was given to the following Motion from Councillor McNulty:

 

“That this Council notes that the Government is currently attempting to push an ID Cards Bill through Parliament.  This Bill will have an effect on all of the people of Eastleigh.

 

Council believes that:

 

(a)               the disadvantages of such a scheme will outweigh any likely benefits to the people of Eastleigh;

 

(b)               the scheme will do little, if anything, to prevent terrorism, crime or fraud;

 

(c)               the cost of the implementation of the ID card could be better spent on additional police resources to tackle crime and terrorism than on a piece of plastic that has intangible benefits;

 

(d)               the national database that underpins the identity card may facilitate criminal fraud, terrorism and loss of potential human rights, and

 

(e)               the ID card and database proposals are likely to fundamentally alter the relationship between the state and the individual.

 

Council notes that according to Government estimates the cost of the scheme could reach a figure of between £5 to £6 billion, with independent commentators predicting substantially higher costs. This could fund 10,000 extra police officers.  Eastleigh residents will be required to pay an estimated £40 for a stand-alone card or £90 for a passport and ID card together.

 

Council therefore resolves to:

 

(a)               where necessary offer support to the No2ID campaign, which includes MPs across political parties;

 

(b)               call on our local MPs Chris Huhne and Sandra Gidley to continue to oppose the introduction of the ID cards;

 

(c)               make representations at every possible stage reiterating this Council’s opposition to ID cards;

 

(d)               take no part in any scheme or feasibility work in relation to the introduction of the national identity cards;

 

(e)               ensure that national identity cards would not be required to access council services or benefits unless specifically required by law;

 

(f)                 only co-operate with the national identity card scheme where to do otherwise would be unlawful; and

 

(g)               write to the Home Secretary expressing these views and asking her to reconsider the decision to push forward this legislation.”

 

RESOLVED -

 

That the Motion be adopted.

 

(NOTE - The Motion was amended at the meeting to correct a typographical error.  The correct version is shown above.)

Consideration was given to the following Motion from Councillor Mrs Holden-Brown:

 

“That this Council notes that the Chandler’s Ford and Hiltingbury Local Area Committee agreed, in February 2006, that road safety measures for North Millers Dale be agreed following successful consultation with local residents.

 

Council further notes that Hampshire County Council were requested to proceed with the works but that, more than two years later, no progress has been made.

 

Council resolves that:

 

(a)               the Local Area Committee should reconsult residents this May on the preferred option;

 

(b)               Cabinet identifies funds for the work, given Hampshire’s failure, so that commitments made to the community can be honoured; and

 

(c)               work should then take place without further delay.”

 

RESOLVED -

 

That the Motion be adopted.

 

(NOTE: Councillor Mrs Holden-Brown declared an interest in this item as a resident of the area and now a Member of the Community Association (but not at the time of the original consultation).)

Consideration was given to the following Motion from Councillor Holes:

 

“That this Council notes that the County Council’s policy of restricting access of vehicles to Household Waste Recycling Centres for the disposal of domestic and garden waste is resulting in additional unnecessary travel, a reduction in recycling and potentially an increase in fly-tipping.

 

Council resolves to request the County Council to change this policy and allow all domestic and garden waste to be processed regardless of the vehicle used to take it to Recycling Centres.”

 

RESOLVED -

 

That the Motion be adopted.

Consideration was given to the following Motion from Councillor Cross:

 

“That this Council notes its previous support for local Post Offices and decries the Government’s continued policy of closing post offices in the heart of local communities.

 

Council notes that Essex County Council is seeking to keep post offices in Essex open and that Hampshire County Council has supported some post offices, but none in Eastleigh Borough.

 

Council also notes that the Borough Council has pledged to help develop a library for Hamble.  Council identifies the potential to combine a local library and Post Office in the former High Street, Hamble Post Office facility that was closed as part of the Post Office’s recent closure programme. 

 

Council resolves to:

 

(a)               urge Hampshire County Council to support Post Offices in Eastleigh Borough including the potential re-opening of recently closed Post Offices; and

 

(b)               meet with Hampshire County Council and the Post Office to consider a combined library/post office to meet the needs of the community of Hamble village.”

 

RESOLVED -

 

That the Motion be adopted.

Consideration was given to the following Motion from Councillor House:

 

“That this Council re-iterates its opposition to proposals from Hampshire County Council that continue to show sites on the Hamble peninsula as preferred sites for gravel extraction on the basis that,

 

(a)               evidence that other sites in southern Hampshire may offer better potential for gravel extraction in a managed way, enhancing the coastal environment and without disruption to residential communities and schools appears not to have been properly considered by the County Council;

 

(b)               the Regional Assembly is very likely to conclude that there is a reduced need for mineral extraction from the South East; and

 

(c)               this Council has expressly concluded that no new greenfield site allocations for housing on the Hamble peninsula are appropriate given poor transport access and the aim of preserving distinct and separate communities of Hamble, Bursledon and Netley Abbey.

 

Council calls on the County Council to delete these sites as preferred options and to respect this Council’s planning objectives as set out above.”

 

RESOLVED -

 

That the Motion be adopted.

 

(NOTE: Councillors Airey and Wall declared interests in this item, and both left the room during discussion and voting thereon.)

To receive statements, if any, by the Leader/Cabinet Councillors on Cabinet matters and to deal with any related questions.

Councillor Winstanley, Cabinet Member for Social Policy, updated Council on mortgage rescue schemes.  In February, Council officers met with representatives from housing associations and the Citizens’ Advice Bureau (CAB) to find ways of assisting residents who got into difficulties with paying their mortgage.  This had led to Swaythling Housing Society piloting a scheme offering pay plans, debt reduction packages and a referral process of cases to the CAB.  It was understood that, following what had been a successful trial so far, Atlantic Housing Group would be looking at the Swaythling model.

 

The CAB gave debt advice linked to referrals to Payplan who arranged debt rescheduling whilst Housing Services advisers gave basic debt reduction/income maximization advice and referred cases to the CAB.

 

Private mortgage rescue schemes were not recommended by either Housing Services or the CAB.  Housing Associations were looking into mortgage rescue for private homeowners but this would depend on finance, either from grants or from the finance market.

 

Councillor House, Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Resources, gave a statement on the Capital Receipt received from the disposal of allotments at South Street and Monks Way, and how proceeds from the sale have been used following recent comments and misleading statements made.  The Capital Receipt in October 2007 was £10.1 million.  While the Council did not “jam jar” accounts by ring-fencing individual receipts, he confirmed that the following expenditure was made in anticipation of the receipt and since then in and around Eastleigh town:

 

                                                                                                £M actual

 

Fleming Park Leisure Centre:                                             1.4

 

Ground Floor Reception

Tennis/Paddling and Play

Bowls Pavilion

Car Park 

 

Reprovision of Allotments:

                                                                                                1.6

Bishopstoke Road Pavilion (Ph 1 & 2)                   2.0

University Playing Fields                                          1.0

Hiltingbury Pavilion                                                   0.2

                       

This totalled £6.2 Million. 

 

The Council had also committed to funding a rolling programme of works, at £3m, for regeneration and shopping in the town centre, together with another £1.1m for works to improve changing facilities at Fleming Park, the new Hiltingbury Community Building and new cycleways.

 

In addition to the capital receipt the following investment was obtained from planning obligations:

 

Affordable housing                                                                £4.23m land value

Cherbourg school improvements                                        £0.15m

New allotment                                                                        £0.3m land value

Lakeside and park improvements                                      £0.8m

Community, economic development and art                     £0.5m

Highway improvements                                                        £0.43m

 

Including land value this package totalled £6.7m.

 

The total value obtained from the disposal of land was therefore nearly £17m - and not forgetting many new homes for Eastleigh people.  As a package of improvements, together with the Swan Centre Leisure Scheme now well underway, it showed that Eastleigh was really going places.

To deal with questions from Members to the Leader and Cabinet Councillors on Cabinet decisions, performance and strategy.  (Written notice of questions to be given to Democratic Services or Assistant Head of Legal and Democratic Services by noon on 22 April 2008.)

There were no Members’ Questions on this occasion.

RESOLVED -

 

That the minutes of the following meetings be received: 

 

Cabinet - Thursday 6 March and Thursday 3 April 2008

 

Administration Committee - Tuesday 19 February 2008

 

Standards Committee - Monday 28 January 2008

 

Resources Scrutiny Panel - Tuesday 18 March 2008

 

Environment & Transport Scrutiny Panel - Thursday 31 January and Thursday 27 March 2008

 

Social Policy Scrutiny Panel - Wednesday 16 January and Wednesday 19 March 2008 

 

Performance Review Scrutiny Panel - Wednesday 23 January 2008

 

Chandler's Ford and Hiltingbury Local Area Committee - Wednesday 20 February and Wednesday 2 April 2008

 

Hedge End, West End and Botley Local Area Committee - Monday 3 March, Monday 31 March and Monday 14 April 2008

 

Eastleigh Local Area Committee - Tuesday 22 January, Monday 18 February, Tuesday 4 March and Tuesday 8 April 2008

 

Bursledon, Hamble-le-Rice and Hound Local Area Committee - Thursday 21 February and Thursday 10 April 2008

 

Bishopstoke, Fair Oak and Horton Heath Local Area Committee - Wednesday 12 March 2008

The Mayor advised that this would be the last Council meeting for Councillors Head, Wray and Mrs Wellfare who had decided not to stand for re-election on 1 May 2008.  He thanked them for their years of service and invaluable contributions to the work of the Council, in particular to Councillor Mrs Wellfare, who had served on the Council for 38 years and was the longest serving female Councillor in the Borough’s history.

 

The Mayor also wished those Members standing for re-election well in the forthcoming Borough and Parish Council elections.