Agenda and minutes

The meeting will commence with a short service of prayers.

The meeting opened with prayers led by the Mayor’s Chaplain, Reverend Peter Kelly

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors J M Englefield and P W Whittle, JP.

To confirm as a correct record the minutes of the Council Meeting held on 13 December 2012.

RESOLVED that the Mayor be authorised to sign as a correct record the minutes of the meeting of the Council held on 13 December 2012.

The Mayor announced that the next charity event would be the Mayor's quiz night on 2 February at Palmerston Bowls Club and the next Mayor's Tea Party on 7 February at 2:30pm with a talk by David Luckett on Pulheim Twinning.

The Mayor also confirmed the date for the annual Mayor’s Charity Ball as Friday 19^th April. He stated that tickets are on sale and are already selling well.

The Mayor was saddened to announce that the School Proms concert at Ferneham Hall did not go ahead on 18 January due to bad weather. He confirmed that refunds for tickets can be arranged by contacting Ferneham Hall.

The Executive Leader invited Members to join him in placing on record a tribute to all officers of Fareham Borough Council and Hampshire County Council in their excellent work to support the residents of Wallington and Titchfield during the recent incidents of significant flooding.

The Executive Member for Health and Housing referred to an enquiry he and other Councillors had received asking what the Council was doing to avoid homeless people having to sleep on the streets.  The Executive Member reminded Members of the Council’s Homelessness Strategy, approved by the Executive on 3 December 2012 and which provides details of the action plans in place.

A key component of the strategy is the provision of a direct access hostel at 101 Gosport Road. The facility is managed by Two Saints, a local housing association specialising in the provision of help and support to homeless people. The Council works very closely with Two Saints to ensure that the hostel is meeting local needs.

The Executive Member reported that a night time count of rough sleepers was undertaken on 28 November 2012 by Housing Option Officers and overseen by a specialist homelessness adviser from the Department of Local Communities & Local Government. One person was found to be sleeping rough and three people were accommodated on an emergency basis at 101 Gosport Road. The person found sleeping rough declined the invitation to be taken to the hostel but was provided with information and advice and encouraged to contact the Housing Options Service.

The Executive Member for Health and Housing concluded that the Council has a clear plan of action and the correct policies in place for helping those who find themselves homeless.

The Executive Member for Streetscene echoed the Executive Leader’s tribute to Council officers by extending his thanks to the Streetscene department for ensuring the safety, security and availability of the refuse and recycling vehicles by removing them from the depot yard before the flooding of Wallington stopped them from exiting the depot. This pro-active work enabled all Streetscene services to continue throughout the Borough, despite the flood

Members are reminded that they should declare any personal or prejudicial interests in accordance with the Council’s Code of Conduct and Standing Orders.

The Mayor confirmed that the Monitoring Officer had granted a dispensation to all Members to enable discussion and a decision to be taken at item 16 - Local Council Tax Support Scheme 2013/14.

Councillor Price declared a Disclosable Pecuniary Interest for item 10 - Executive minutes as he leases an allotment in Portchester. He confirmed that he would leave the chamber and not take part in any debate on allotments.

To receive any petitions presented by a member of the Council.

Note: any petition so presented will be dealt with in accordance with the Council’s petition scheme.

There were no petitions presented at this meeting.

To receive any deputations of which notice has been given.

There were no deputations given at this meeting.

(a)     the schedule of decisions made by individual Executive Members be received.

To receive any comments or questions following the meeting of the Scrutiny Board held on 23 January 2013.

The Chairman of the Scrutiny Board confirmed that following discussion at the meeting of the Scrutiny Board held on 23 January 2013, there had been no objections raised regarding the Local Council Tax Support Scheme.

The Council took these comments into account at item 16 below.

To receive the minutes of the following Committees and to consider and answer questions on any reports and recommendations made:

The minutes of the following Committee meetings were presented to Council:-

RESOLVED that:-

(a)  the minutes of the meeting of the Planning Committee held on 19 December 2012 be received; and

(b)  the minutes of the meeting of the Strategic Planning and Environment Policy Development and Review Panel held on 8 January 2013 be received.

To answer questions pursuant to Standing Order 17.2 for this meeting.

There were no questions under Standing Order 17.2 submitted for this meeting.

Members will be informed, prior to the meeting, of any motion duly notified in accordance with Standing Order 15 but received after print and dispatch of the agenda.

There were no motions under Standing Order 15 submitted for this meeting.

To make any changes in appointments to the seats on committees in accordance with the wishes of political groups.  Such appointments will take effect from 25 January 2013.

There were no changes to appointments to committees made at this meeting.

To consider a report by the Director of Finance and Resources on the proposed local Council Tax Support scheme for adoption by the Council. The scheme will operate from 1 April 2013 and is in accordance with the Local Government Finance Act 2012.   

Appendix A of the report TO FOLLOW.

The Council received a report by the Director of Finance and Resources inviting members to adopt the proposed local Council Tax Support scheme. The scheme will operate from 1 April 2013 and is in accordance with the Local Government Finance Act 2012.

RESOLVED that the Council:

(a)  adopt the final Council Tax Support scheme, as set out in Appendix A to the report;

(b)  approve the introduction of transitional protection arrangements for 2013/14 as set out in paragraph 19-22 of Appendix B to the report;

(c)  approve that the net shortfall of the transitional arrangements (estimated to be £18,000) be funded from the budget allocated to the Hardship Fund in 2013/14;

(d)  agree the local discounts, exemptions and premiums for second homes and empty properties within the borough as set out in paragraph 7-10  of Appendix B to the report; and

(e)  approve that delegated authority be given to the Director of Finance and Resources to make any necessary minor amendments and to publish the final scheme prior to 1 April 2013.