(i) the penalty points system for Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Drivers, Owners and Operators be adopted; and
(ii) the necessary changes to the Council's existing "Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Conditions" be adopted in order for the penalty points system to be effective.
RESOLVED: That the recommendations contained in Minute No 23 be approved and adopted.
A MEETING OF THE COMMUNITY AND ENVIRONMENT BOARD
WAS HELD ON 1 SEPTEMBER 2003
The Mayor (ex-officio) (P); Chairman of the Policy and Organisation Board (Councillor Cully) (ex-officio) (P); Councillors Mrs Angus (P), Bone (P), Mrs Cully (P), Edgar, Edwards (P), Mrs Elshaw (P), Hook, Kimber (P), Train (P) and Wright (P).
It was reported that, in accordance with Standing Orders, notice had been received that Councillors Burgess and Hayward would replace Councillors Edgar and Hook respectively for this meeting.
PART I
28. | NOMINATION TO PORTSMOUTH CITY COUNCIL HEALTH OVERVIEW AND SCRUTINY PANEL |
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The Regulatory Services Manager submitted a report seeking the Board's agreement that the Council should be represented on the Portsmouth City Council Health Overview and Scrutiny Panel. |
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Members were informed that scrutiny of the NHS was a function of County and Unitary Councils. Portsmouth City Council had responsibility for scrutiny of the Portsmouth Hospitals Trust but acknowledged that surrounding Districts would also have interests. It was reported that a letter had been received from Portsmouth City Council inviting Gosport Borough Council to nominate a Member to be co-opted on to their Overview and Scrutiny Panel. |
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RECOMMENDED: That a Member be appointed to serve as this Council's representative on the Portsmouth City Council Health Overview and Scrutiny Panel. |
RESOLVED: That Councillor Edgar be appointed to serve as the Council's representative on the Portsmouth City Council Health Overview and Scrutiny Panel.
A MEETING OF THE POLICY AND ORGANISATION BOARD
WAS HELD ON 17 SEPTEMBER 2003
The Mayor (ex-officio), Councillors Mrs Angus (P), Burgess (P), Chegwyn (P), Mrs Gravell (P), Hook (P), Langdon (P), M Russell (P), Searle (P), Wright (Chairman) (P) and Mrs Wright (P).
The Chairman welcomed Mr Andrew Fisher, CPA Inspector to the meeting. Mr Keiron Colgan the second Inspector had been delayed and would attend the meeting as soon as he could.
The Borough Solicitor advised the Board that Councillor Bone had been nominated to the Board in place of the late Councillor Friend. In accordance with Standing Orders it was reported that Councillors Mrs Angus and Mrs Gravell had been nominated to attend this meeting in place of Councillors Cully and Bone respectively.
20. MINUTES
RESOLVED: That the Minutes of the meeting of the Board held on 25 June 2003 be approved and signed by the Chairman as a true and correct record.
PART II
24. WRITE OFF
Consideration was given to a report of the Borough Treasurer concerning an NNDR write off. In accordance with Financial Regulations, debts of £10,000 for write-off must be submitted to the Board for approval.
RESOLVED: That approval be given to the NNDR write-off detailed below.
Name & Address Mr L Dawson 7 Portland Buildings Stoke Road Gosport | Date 01/12/94 – 31/03/99 (Balance) | Charge £ 10,106.40 | Reason Absconded - unable to trace. |
25. TREASURY MANAGEMENT ANNUAL REVIEW 2002/2003 AND PROGRESS REPORT 2003/2004
The Board considered a report of the Borough Treasurer on the Treasury Management Annual Review 2002/2003 and Progress Report 2003/2004. It was reported that Members were required to consider the Treasury Management Annual Review and Progress Report following the guidelines issued by the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy.
The Borough Treasurer's report showed that Treasury Management had complied with, and generally continued to comply with, the Policy & Strategy Statements previously approved by Council, and submitted in accordance with the Treasury Management Code of Practice. The Annual Review for the financial year 2002/2003 was set out in section 3 of the report and a progress report for 2003/2004 was set out in section 4 of the report.
In conclusion the Borough Treasurer reported that the Council had managed to clear its long-term debts before the 2006/7 deadline and significant revenue savings would result.
RESOLVED: That the Treasury Management Annual Review and Progress Report be approved.
26. MARINE PARADE AREA OF SPECIAL CHARACTER – PROPOSED ADOPTION OF INTERIM POLICY STATEMENT
The Board considered a report of the Director of Development and Environment on the Marine Parade Area of Special Character – Proposed Adoption of Interim Policy Statement.
It was reported that concern from Members and the community regarding a number of recent proposals for flats in this area had led to a review of the existing adopted Local Plan Policy BE7 and deposit Local Plan Review Policy R/DP10. A draft Interim Policy Statement and Supplementary Planning Guidance was subsequently prepared with the intention to provide clearer and more detailed guidance regarding the safeguarding of the Marine Parade Area of Special Character while controlling future development or redevelopment proposals.
The draft Interim Policy Statement and Supplementary Planning Guidance was approved by Members for consultation and a six week period of consultation was undertaken ending on 3 September 2003. A schedule of all responses, with a summary of comments made and a suggested response was included in Appendix 1 to the Director's Report. Most of the comments were supportive of the draft document and constructive comments had been made. An amended version of the Interim Policy Statement and Supplementary Planning Guidance for the Marine Parade Area of Special Character was attached to the report.
The two revised policies in question were detailed as follows:
Policy 1
Policy R2/DP10
Within the Marine Parade Area of Special Character (as shown on the map in the Appendix) development proposals will be permitted provided that all the following criteria are met:
(i) their height will not exceed 2 storeys, except within central section B and Far Western Section D where their height will not exceed 3 storeys;
(ii) for a 2 storey development the maximum permitted eaves/parapet height will not exceed 6 metres and the maximum ridge height will not exceed 9.5 metres. For a 3 storey development the maximum permitted eaves/parapet height will not exceed 8.25 metres and the maximum reach height will not exceed 11 metres.
(iii) they have regard to the Pier Street and Daedalus Conservation Areas
(iv) between Milvil Road and Pier Street, they form part of a comprehensive development brief
(v) vehicular access for residential development is from rear accessways
(vi) they are in accordance with the design criteria set out in the Marine Parade Supplementary Planning Guidance.
Policy 2
Policy R/S10
In the Marine Parade Area of Special Character proposals for the changes of use or redevelopment of properties from commercial uses (class A1, A2, A3 or C1) and leisure/recreational uses will only be permitted provided they are vacant and there have been reasonable attempts to let/sell the property for commercial use.
RESOLVED: That –
(i) the Marine Parade Area of Special Character Interim Policy Statement and Supplementary Planning Guidance, pending publication of the revised deposit Gosport Borough Local Plan Review, be adopted; and
(ii) the Marine Parade Area of Special Character Interim Policy Statement and Supplementary Planning Guidance be approved for Development Control purposes.
27. E-GOVERNMENT
The Board considered a report of the Corporate Services Manager on E-Government.
It was reported that following the Council's success in being awarded another £200,000 in 2003/4 towards it's e-Government initiatives from the UK Online Fund, a revised e-Government strategy had since been prepared which was enclosed with the Manager's report as Appendix A. This had been approved by the Information and Communications Technology Steering Group and Council Management Team.
In July 2003 the ODPM had announced that Local Authorities were to be required to prepare an IEG3 return, as part of a national monitoring process for assessing electronic local service delivery capability, against the target of 100% of services online by 2005. Unlike previous IEG statements, IEG3 was a proforma document which still required considerable effort to complete. Local Authorities should complete the IEG3 return on the basis that it would "inform" the distribution of £175M of capital funding for local e-Government in 2004/5 and £96.5M in 2005/6. Failure to complete the return or any element therein by a Local Authority may result in the withholding of any IEG3 funding for 2004/5. The deadline for the submission of the IEG3 Statement, which must be approved by the Board on behalf of the Council, was Monday 10 November 2003.
The Council's IEG3 Statement had been completed and was enclosed as Appendix "B" to the Manager's report. If the Council was successful in gaining IEG3 funding for 2004/5 it was proposed that the money would be used on three initiatives:
(i) enhancing the Council's web site and Citizen Portal by delivering digital maps, map overlays and associated data over the web,
(ii) enhancing the CRM system to include the new Academy "Knowledge Management" module,
(iii) the provision of additional Customer Service Kiosks at appropriate locations around the Borough.
Members considered a number of e-Government initiatives. The first area mentioned was the inclusion of a National Planning Portal for "on-line" information of planning applications. The Corporate Services Manager reported that because of limited funds and prioritisation of these funds, the Portal was planned to be introduced later in the year. Members requested that a progress report on the National Planning Portal be brought back to the Board. The second issue raised was the potential for more information to be sent to Members electronically. Discussion centred on Board agenda and reports and it was suggested that this issue should be raised at the Members On-line Working Group on 20 October 2003.
RESOLVED: That –
(i) the E-Government strategy be approved;
(ii) the IEG3 Return be approved for submission to ODPM; and
(iii) Contract Standing Orders 7.5/7.6 continue to be waived for the procurement of E-Government services and products, to enable suppliers/partners to be selected by the Corporate Services Manager, in consultation with the Councillor E-Government Champion and Chairman of the Policy and Organisation Board.
28. RIGHT TO BUY CHANGES
The Board considered a report of the Housing Services Manager concerning Right to Buy Changes.
It was reported that the Council operated a voluntary Right to Buy Scheme where the sole difference to the Statutory Scheme was that tenants were allowed to exercise their Right to Buy after a one year qualification period (the period of time the tenant had to have been a Council tenant) rather than the two years set down in statute. In an attempt to address concerns around abuse of the spirit of current legislation, the Government was proposing to introduce changes to the statutory Right to Buy Scheme. The Council's voluntary scheme was likewise prone to abuse.
The Government's proposals would further widen the disparity between the Council's Voluntary Scheme and the Statutory Scheme. As a result, this matter was discussed at the September 2003 meeting of the Housing Board with a recommendation that support be given to end the Council's Voluntary Right to Buy Scheme by changing from a one-year qualifying period to the Statutory two-year qualifying period.
RESOLVED: That –
(i) the proposed changes to existing Right to Buy legislation under the Housing Bill be noted; and
(ii) the abolition of the Council's voluntary Right to Buy scheme by changing from a one-year qualifying period to the Statutory two-year qualifying period be approved.
29. REQUEST TO VARY RESTRICTIVE COVENANT IMPOSED ON 23 FISHER ROAD, BRIDGEMARY, GOSPORT
The Board considered a joint report of the Housing Services Manager and Borough Solicitor concerning a request to vary the Restrictive Covenant imposed on 23 Fisher Road, Bridgemary, Gosport.
The Board was requested to consider a variation of the restrictive covenant imposed on the Portsmouth Roman Catholic Diocesan Trustees in a conveyance dated 3 February 1954 when the site of the Church and Presbytery was sold by the Council. This matter had been referred to the Board following consideration by the September 2003 meeting of the Housing Board.
It was reported that the Regulatory Board on 5 November 2002 had resolved to grant planning permission under application number K.5911/4 to change of use from Presbytery to Committee Room and two flats subject to the completion of a planning agreement related to the payment of a commuted sum towards the provision and/or improvement of outdoor playing space. It was understood that the Presbytery was currently not being used save for occasional meetings.
RESOLVED: That approval be given to varying the covenant imposed on 23 Fisher Road, Bridgemary, Gosport so as to allow development under Planning Application Ref K.5911/4 to proceed, subject to planning permission being issued.
30. EXCLUSION OF THE PUBLIC
RESOLVED: That under Section 100 (A) (4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the public be excluded from the meeting for the under-mentioned items of business on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraphs 7 and 9 of Part 1 of Schedule 12 A of the Act.
31. GOSPORT SURESTART
Consideration was given to an exempt report of the Director of Development & Environment, which sought the Board's approval of the revised Heads of Terms for the Gosport Surestart proposal and for the acceptance of the tenders for the Capital Building Project.
RESOLVED: That-
(i) the revised Heads of Terms outlined in the Director of Development & Environment's report be approved and the Borough Solicitor be instructed to conclude the necessary legal documentation; and
(ii) the two tenders outlined within paragraph 6.0 of the Director's report be accepted.
32. HARDSHIP RELIEF- NON–DOMESTIC RATES
Consideration was given to an exempt report of the Financial Services Manager concerning an application for hardship relief from non-domestic rates under Section 49 of the Local Government Finance Act.
RESOLVED: That –
(i) the application for hardship relief under Section 49 of the Local Government Finance Act 1988 be refused; and
(ii) the Council's Economic Regeneration section be requested to contact the applicant in order to offer her advice concerning her business.
33. GROUNDWORK SOLENT AND GOSPORT DEVELOPMENT TRUSTS
Consideration was given to an exempt report of the Borough Treasurer concerning an update for Members on the current situation with the Trusts and to confirm ongoing Town Hall administrative support for the payroll function of the Trusts.
RESOLVED: That -
(i) the current actions taken to minimise the Council's exposure to financial risks associated with the Trusts whilst maintaining support be noted; and
(ii) the ongoing provision of Payroll Preparation support to both Trusts and the cash flow implications be approved.
34. INFILL SITE DEVELOPMENT
Consideration was given to an exempt report of the Housing Services Manager on the above matter.
It was reported that the purpose of the report was to seek approval for the disposal of two pieces of land, namely St Vincent Road and Keyes Road, following consideration of this issue by the Council's Housing Board on 3 September 2003. Hermitage Housing Association had shown an interest in developing these sites and the report sought approval to sell the sites to Hermitage Housing Association for the purpose of providing affordable housing. The Housing Services Manager amended the open market value figure outlined in paragraph 4.3 of the report on the St Vincent Road site.
RESOLVED: That –
(i) the sale of the two sites at St Vincent Road and Keyes Road, Gosport be approved at open market value offering the land in the first instance to one of the Council's approved development partners, Hermitage Housing Association; and
(ii) the Borough Solicitor be authorised to enter such legal documentation as was necessary to transfer the land concerned (as outlined in Appendices 1 & 2 of the Director's report) to Hermitage Housing Association, on the terms recommended by the Council's Head of Property Services or other independent consultant valuer appointed for this purpose.
35. LEASE OF LAND AT PHOENIX WAY
Consideration was given to an exempt report of the Housing Services Manager on the above matter.
The Board was requested to authorise the Council entering into a 7 year lease of land at Phoenix Way to the Cerebal Palsy Association on the terms approved by the Housing Board on 13 March 2002, as set out in the Manager's report.
RESOLVED: That the Borough Solicitor be authorised to enter into such legal documentation as was necessary to effect the proposals contained in the Housing Services Manager's report and on such terms and conditions as recommended by the Council's Head of Property Services.
36. SALE OF LAND FOR LRT ROUTE
Consideration was given to an exempt report of the Corporate Services Manager on the above matter.
It was reported that following the meetings of the Community & Environment Board and Housing Board on 1 September and 3 September 2003 respectively the Board was requested to approve the sale of various parcels of land, as set out in the report, to Hampshire County Council together with the grant of licenses for the temporary occupation of 5 plots of land and to retain the money procured by selling the land, for repurchase in the event LRT did not subsequently proceed.
RESOLVED: That approval be given to the sale or licence to Hampshire County Council of the plots of land set out in the Corporate Services Manager's report and the money received from selling the land be ring fenced and retained for repurchasing the land in the event the LRT did not proceed.
37. WALPOLE PARK PAVILION – AUTHORISATION OF TEN YEAR LEASE AND CONFIRMATION OF PREFERRED OPERATOR
Consideration was given to an exempt report of the Leisure and Amenities Manager on the above matter.
It was reported that the Board was requested to approve the Community and Environment Board's resolution on 1 September 2003 which approved entering into a 10-year lease with the preferred operator for the Walpole Park Pavilion.
RESOLVED: That approval be given to the Council entering into an agreement for lease and a 10-year lease with the preferred operator outlined in the report on terms and conditions recommended by the Council's Head of Property Services.
38. PORTSMOUTH HARBOUR FERRY COMPANY – LEASE OF PONTOON AND OFFICES
Consideration was given to an exempt report of the Corporate Services Manager on the above matter.
It was reported that the Board's approval was sought in principle for the grant of a 4-year lease to the Portsmouth Harbour Ferry Company of the pontoon together with the grant of a new lease for 5-years, of office accommodation within the Bus Station premises.
RESOLVED: That approval in principle be given to the proposed new leases with Portsmouth Harbour Ferry Company and that authority be granted for the two leases
to be completed simultaneously.
RESOLVED: That Minute Nos 20 and 24-38 (inclusive) of the meeting of the Policy and Organisation Board held on 17 September 2003 be received.
A SPECIAL MEETING OF THE COMMUNITY AND ENVIRONMENT BOARD
WAS HELD ON 21 JULY 2003
The Mayor (ex-officio); Chairman of the Policy and Organisation Board (Councillor Cully) (ex-officio) (P); Councillors Mrs Angus (P), Bone, Mrs Cully (P), Edgar (P), Edwards (P), Mrs Elshaw (P), Hook (P), Kimber, Train (P) and Wright (P).
It was reported that, in accordance with Standing Orders, notice had been received that Councillors Gill and Taylor would replace Councillors Bone and Kimber respectively for this meeting.
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