21 01 2004

AN EXTRAORDINARY MEETING of the COUNCIL OF THE BOROUGH OF GOSPORT was held in the Council Chamber at the TOWN HALL, GOSPORT on WEDNESDAY, the TWENTY FIRST day of JANUARY 2004 at 5.30PM.

The Mayor (Councillor Mrs Binfield) (P) (in the Chair);

The Deputy Mayor (Councillor Edwards) (P);

Councillors Allen (P), Mrs Angus (P), Mrs Batterbury (P), Bone (P), Burgess (P),

Carr (P), Carter (P), Chegwyn (P), Clinton (P), Mrs Cully (P), Cully (P), Edgar (P), Mrs Elshaw (P), Farr (P), Gill (P), Mrs Gravell, Hayward (P), Hook (P), Jacobs (P), Kimber (P), Langdon (P), Redrup, Russell M (P), Russell P (P), Mrs Salter (P), Searle (P), Smith (P), Taylor (P), Train (P), Mrs Wright (P) and Wright (P).

Also in attendance: Honorary Alderman Mrs Bailey.

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APOLOGIES

Apologies for inability to attend the meeting were submitted on behalf of Councillors Mrs Gravell and Redrup and Honorary Aldermen Flory, Foster, O'Neill and Rushton.

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MAYOR'S COMMUNICATIONS

LETTER FROM SURGEON CAPTAIN LIONEL JARVIS

The Mayor reported that she had received a letter of thanks from Surgeon Captain Lionel Jarvis regarding the presentation made to him at the last Council meeting in December 2003. Councillor Edgar had also received a similar letter of thanks.

AN EVENING WITH DAVID BATTIE

The Mayor reported that tickets were still available for "An Evening with David Battie" on Friday, 13 February 2004 at 7.30pm in the Grand Magazine at Explosion! Museum. The tickets were priced at £25 each and included a quiz, raffle and three-course dinner. The proceeds from the evening would go towards the Mayor's charity.

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QUESTIONS PURSUANT TO STANDING ORDER 3.4

(A) Question No 1 standing in the name of Councillor Wright on the subjects of membership of Freemasons and the Councillor's Code of Conduct was answered by the Leader of the Council.

(B) Question No 2 standing in the name of Councillor Gill on the subject of anti-vandalism measures in Privett Park was answered by the Chairman of the Community and Environment Board.

(C) Question No 3 standing in the name of Councillor Gill on the subject of Housing Performance Information April – September 2003 was answered by the Chairman of the Housing Board.

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STANDING ORDER 4.6.3

The Chairman of the Policy and Organisation Board moved under Standing Order 4.6.3 that the three Notices of Motion received under Standing Order 3.3 and now before the Council for consideration should be debated tonight in the interests of the Borough.

RESOLVED: That the three Notices of Motion received under Standing Order 3.3 be debated tonight in the interests of the Borough.

NOTICES OF MOTION

(A) It was reported that Councillor Hook had given notice of the following Motion in accordance with Standing Order 3.3:

"This Council make a formal written submission to the Prime Minster supporting calls for a national referendum on the proposed European Constitution".

The Motion was accordingly seconded by Councillor Langdon.

The Motion was put to the meeting and duly RESOLVED.

(B) It was reported that Councillor Mrs Wright had given notice of the following Motion in accordance with Standing Order 3.3:

"Background

Hampshire and Isle of Wight Strategic Health authority seek views by the 12 of March 2004 on the Strategic Framework for future Health Services for Hampshire and the Isle of Wight to 2008.

In their framework document on page 42 they state:- 'By mid – 2004, following the review of all health facilities in Gosport, a decision will be made regarding the future NHS use of the Royal Military Hospital Haslar.'

Proposal

I propose that Gosport Borough Council replies to the framework document as follows:

· In view of increased housing within South Hampshire

· As demonstrated by 22,000 people marching

· By the torchlight vigil

· Petitions handed to Downing Street

· The constant use of Haslar when QA cannot cope

· Haslar hospital's modern equipment and facilities

Due to the indubitable fact that the Royal Hospital Haslar is an integral part of health provision in Portsmouth & South East Hampshire, the people of Gosport wish to see the Royal Hospital Haslar retained for NHS use and wish to continue to be treated there following the withdrawal of the Military."

The Motion was accordingly seconded by Councillor Wright.

AMENDMENT: That the wording contained in the Motion be approved and adopted subject to the following words being added to the first bullet point:

"… and the un-envisaged massively escalating demand for acute care and elective surgery in our area."

The Amendment was put to the vote and declared CARRIED.

SECOND AMENDMENT: That the wording contained in the Motion be approved and adopted subject to the words "…and also the Fareham and Gosport Primary Care Trust" being added after the words "framework document" on the first line of the text under the heading 'Proposal'.

The Second Amendment was put to the vote and declared CARRIED.

The Substantive Motion was accordingly put to the meeting and duly RESOLVED.

(C) It was reported that Councillor Cully had given notice of the following Motion in accordance with Standing Order 3.3:

"This Council supports the Arctic Convoy Veterans in their campaign for a new Arctic campaign medal.

That we write to the Prime Minster and ask that he overturn the decision of the MOD and recommend to the Honours and Decorations Committee that they make a request to the Queen to create a new medal specifically for these brave men.

We also write to the Local Government Association and ask that they give their support to this campaign."

The Motion was accordingly seconded by Councillor Searle.

The Motion was put to the meeting and duly RESOLVED.

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CALCULATION OF COUNCIL TAX BASE

The Council considered a report prepared by the Borough Treasurer which reported that the Local Authorities (Calculation of Tax Base) Regulations 1992 (as amended), required the Council, as billing authority, to notify its major precepting bodies between 1 December and 31 January, of its base rate for the following financial year.

The report outlined the method by which the calculations had been arrived at in accordance with the 1992 Act and Regulations:

(i) In November 2003 the Borough Treasurer was required to submit to the Department of Transport and Regions a Form CTB1 which analysed the valuation list into the various bands and the charges applicable to those properties. Members had before them a summary of that return which converted the equivalent total number of properties in each band to a band D equivalent figure which formed the initial base for the calculation of the tax base. This summary incorporated the contributions in lieu that the Council was likely to receive from exempt Ministry of Defence dwellings.

(ii) It was necessary to further adjust the tax base for non-collection of the tax and changes in the Valuation List which may arise for a variety of reasons such as appeals, new or demolished properties.

(iii) The proposed tax base was 25766.3 which was 303.6 higher than the current year.

MOTION: That, in accordance with the Local Authorities (Calculation of Tax Base) Regulations 1992 (as amended), the amount calculated by Gosport Borough Council as its tax base for the whole of the area for the year 2004/2005 should be 25766.3.

The Motion was put to the meeting and duly RESOLVED.

The Council rose at 7.17pm.