Members of the public can participate during relevant items on the agenda in the following ways:

·  If you are able to participate live (meet the technical requirements) and wish to be present and speak, you will need to notify Democratic Services 4 working days (Midday Friday 17 July 2020) before the meeting. Technical and etiquette guides will be provided.

·  Alternatively, the public can email a statement to be read out by ‘the spokesperson’.  Emailed statements will need to be received 2 working days (Midday Tuesday 21 July 2020) before the date of the meeting. Democratic Services will confirm receipt of the email and confirm it can be read out.

·  The statement (including questions) will be the equivalent of a maximum of three minutes if read out.  Please therefore restrict your statement to one side of A4 (12 font).  This applies audio/ video recordings also.

·  Alternatively a MP4 file will be sent to Democratic Services 4 working days (Midday Friday 17 July 2020) before the meeting.  This must be accompanied by a written transcript (emailed). In the event that the file does not meet technical requirements the transcript will be read by the spokesperson and shown on the screen.

 Please contact us via democratic.services@eastleigh.gov.uk

PLEASE NOTE: All submissions must be related to items on the agenda

There was public participation during items 10 and 11.

The Mayor welcomed everyone to the first virtual Full Council meeting and gave an overview of recent activity:

·  The Mayor’s engagements had been very low-key over the past three months, so there was little to report on in terms of mayoral activities.

·  Tribute was payed to the many residents across the Borough, friends in local charities and other organisations, Council staff, who had risen so brilliantly to the challenges presented by the Coronavirus crisis and businesses.

·  On the 75^th anniversary of VE Day, the Mayor had been privileged to offer a virtual toast on behalf of the people of the Borough to the heroes of the Second World War.

·  The Mayor looked forward to an unexpected second year as Mayor and hoped that residents would continue to support his Mayoral charities that played a vital role in combatting social isolation – One Community Visiting Service, Eastleigh Lions Minibus Appeal and Eastleigh Borough and Romsey Mencap.

·  The Mayor restated the Council’s commitment to promoting equality and celebrating diversity across the Borough. The Council maintained strong links and positive working relationships with all communities and would continue to work hard to support them.

To approve as a correct record the Minutes of the Council meeting held on 20 February 2020.

RESOLVED -

That the Minutes of the meeting held on 20 February 2020 be agreed as a correct record.

There were no declarations of interest in relation to items of business on the agenda.

The Leader reported on a number of recent events:

·  Thanked those in the community who had gone the extra mile over the last four difficult months, frontline staff in both the NHS and public duties, staff and volunteers across the Borough.

·  The Government Inspector’s letter had been received following the Local Plan examination hearings. The Inspector had agreed that the Council was in a strong position to provide sufficient housing, including affordable housing, for local people. A five-acre tree nursey at Horton Heath was announced as part of the commitment to 160,000 extra trees in the Borough over the coming years.

·  Thanked Council staff that had to work with the challenging finances of new costs and lost income to keep the Council’s finances and services together. The medium term financial strategy, which was updated at each Cabinet meeting since April for transparency, showed that services would not be cut and focus could be retrained on public health, climate and environment action, support for local business and growth and for housing delivery to meet local need.

·  Hampshire County Council proposed to withdraw funding from two libraries in the Borough and reduce the library hours by 32%.

Suspension of Standing Orders 7.1 and 7.2.

Councillor Couldrey moved the following motion:

This Council notes Hampshire County Council’s proposals to be considered on Tuesday 28 July by one Cabinet Member to withdraw funding from 12 of the County’s libraries, and to reduce the opening hours of existing funded libraries in Eastleigh Borough by 32% from January 2021, with Fair Oak library to close and Lowford losing its funding as a community managed library.

Council further notes the investment that Eastleigh Borough has put into the library network over many years, including funding to build Hedge End and Lowford libraries, and support for self-service kiosks and the expansion of hours in others including West End.  It also notes that the independent library at Hamble was launched between the Borough and Parish Councils after an earlier pledge, not met, of County funding support.

Council expresses its grave concern at the County Council’s proposals that, departing from its consultation that offered the choice of library closures or illustrative hours’ reduction of up to 25%, are now proposing to both close libraries and reduce the hours of most, with Chandler’s Ford seeing a 19% hours’ reduction, Eastleigh a 23% reduction, Hedge End a 39% reduction and West End a 30% reduction.

The Council resolves to:

(1)  continue to object to the closures and substantial reduction of hours;

(2)  call on the County Council to subject any recommendations to change to a full and open County Council debate; and

(3)  urge Eastleigh’s MPs to support the better funding of local government to avoid these and further service reductions from the County Council.

Councillor Tidridge requested the following amendment be made to the motion:

(4)  the Council request dialog between Hampshire County Council and Fair Oak and Horton Heath Parish Council to explore whether the Parish Council is able to take over the operation for Fair Oak Library.

The Leader urged Members not to back the amendment as it was premature.

Councillor Dean left the meeting at 20:10.

A Recorded Vote was requested by Councillor Groves and duly supported, the result of which was as follows:

FOR: Councillors: Airey; Allingham; Asman; Atkinson; Bearder; Bicknell; Bourne; Broadhurst; Campbell; Clarke; Corben; Couldrey; Craig; Doguie; Duguid; Garton; Gomer; Groves; Holes; House; Irish; Jurd; Kyrle; Mann; Manning; Marsh; Parker-Jones; Pragnell; Pretty; Rich; Rushton; Tennent; Tidridge; Trace; and Tyson-Payne.

ABSTAIN: Councillor Grajewski

(FOR: 35; ABSTAIN: 1)

Councillors are asked to note Cllr Rosemary Reynolds has resigned from Eastleigh Borough Council with effect from 30 June 2020. As a result of the COVID 19 regulations an election for a new councillor cannot take place until May 2021. No changes to committee membership is required under the proportionality rules.

RESOLVED –

That the following be noted:

Councillor Rosemary Reynolds had resigned from Eastleigh Borough Council with effect from 30 June 2020. As a result of the COVID 19 regulations an election for a new Councillor could not take place until May 2021. No changes to Committee membership was required under the proportionality rules.

Consideration was given to the appointment of Chair and Vice-Chair for Eastleigh Local Area Committee (ELAC).

RESOLVED –

(1)   that Councillor Tina Campbell be appointed Chair of ELAC; and

(2)    that Councillor Alex Bourne be appointed Vice-Chair of ELAC.

To consider the following Motion, to be moved by Councillor Tidridge, and seconded by Councillor Parker-Jones:

The Campaign to Protect Rural England has presented a proposal for a South Hampshire Green Belt to the Partnership for South Hampshire this month.

In the light of the declaration by Eastleigh Borough Council of a Climate Change and Environmental Emergency I move that Council:-

(1)  Adds the South Hampshire Green Belt project to the Climate Change and  Environmental Emergency Action Plan; and

(2)  Works with relevant external stakeholders to promote and support the development of the Green Belt.

Councillor Tidridge moved the following motion:

The Campaign to Protect Rural England has presented a proposal for a South Hampshire Green Belt to the Partnership for South Hampshire this month.

In the light of the declaration by Eastleigh Borough Council of a Climate Change and Environmental Emergency Council resolves to: -

(1)  Add the South Hampshire Green Belt project to the Climate Change and Environmental Emergency Action Plan; and

(2)  Work with relevant external stakeholders to promote and support the development of the Green Belt.

[NOTE: A local resident spoke and a written statement was received in support of the motion and requested to include the South Hampshire Green Belt project in the Climate Change and Environmental Emergency Action Plan and to lobby the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government to use the most up-to-date ONS projections (2018-based) in their current review of the Standard Method.]

The Leader proposed an amendment to Councillor Tidridge’s motion:

Reword to retain the first sentence, “The Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE) has presented a proposal for a South Hampshire Green Belt to the Partnership for South Hampshire this month” and then replace the remainder with,

“Council welcomes the CPRE’s endorsement of a South Hampshire Green Belt, that has been this Council’s policy since 2005.  It regrets that Government has not so far supported new Green Belt proposals that would protect South Hampshire’s villages, towns and cities from coalescence into a ‘Solent City’, unless they are brought forward by sub-regional Elected Mayors. 

“Council resolves to

(i) continue to encourage South Hampshire Councils to support a Green Belt in future planning proposals;

(ii) request that Government support Green Belt proposals to come forward without sub-regional Mayors as a prerequisite; and

(iii) requests the support of Eastleigh’s two Members of Parliament to vote for changes to planning legislation and guidance to achieve a South Hampshire Green Belt.”

RESOLVED –

That the motion, as amended by the Leader, be approved.

To consider the following Motion, to be moved by Councillor Dean, and seconded by Councillor Tidridge:

Again In the light of the declaration by Eastleigh Borough Council of a Climate Change and Environmental Emergency and in addition in order to achieve the Council’s air quality objectives to meet its Healthy Borough Objective I move that

(1)  Council adds the development of a new railway station at Allington Lane to its Climate Change and Environmental Emergency Action plan; and

(2)  Works with relevant external stakeholders to promote and support the development of the station.

Councillor Tidridge moved the following motion:

In the light of the declaration by Eastleigh Borough Council of a Climate Change and Environmental Emergency and in addition in order to achieve the Council’s air quality objectives to meet its Healthy Borough Objective; Council resolves to:

(1)  add the development of a new railway station at Allington Lane to its Climate Change and Environmental Emergency Action plan; and

(2)  work with relevant external stakeholders to promote and support the development of the station.

[NOTE: A local resident spoke in support of the motion and stated that a train station on Allington Lane would better connect the Borough, decrease traffic, be a benefit for struggling businesses, greater provision of good quality transport and would assist with the climate emergency to make Eastleigh greener.]

Councillor Airey proposed an amendment to Councillor Tidridge’s motion:

That this Council strongly supports sustainable public transport and encouraging greater use of rail and buses. Council notes that as part of the Local Plan process, when consulted, Network Rail made clear that there were no proposals for a new station at the Allington Lane, even when surrounded by several thousand new houses.

It should be noted that there are a number of additional factors which make the construction of such a station unachievable within any present determined timescale including:

a)  project cost;

b)  restricted track capacity between Fareham and Eastleigh;

c)  upgraded signalling requirements;

d)  timetable requirements that would impact on other key network locations such as London Waterloo, Woking and the Portsmouth terminal stations;

e)  lack of Network Rail plans to upgrade the Portsmouth – Fareham – Eastleigh corridor;

f)  an Allington Lane new station not being promoted by the Local Enterprise Partnership, South East Transport or Hampshire County Council; and

g)  a station in this remote location would have unsustainably low patronage and could encourage longer car journeys to reach this station rather than others.

Council agrees that promotion and support for sustainable public transport plus cycling and walking will remain central to the Council’s Climate Change and Environment Emergency Action Plan and Air Quality improvement plans and policies.

[NOTE: (a) Councillor Holes did not vote on this item as connection was lost. (b) Councillor Rushton left the meeting at 21:50]

RESOLVED –

That the motion, as amended by Councillor Airey, be approved.

To consider the following Motion, to be moved by Councillor Parker-Jones, and seconded by Councillor Tidridge:

In view of the fact that major infrastructure impact the whole of the Borough rather than just one local area I move that:-

(1)  Council determines major infrastructure projects at Full Council Meetings;

(2)  Cabinet will determine whether a project is deemed to be a major infrastructure project following recommendations from the Council’s planning team; and

(3)  That Council’s Monitoring Officer be asked to make the necessary amendments to the Councils Constitution.

Councillor Parker-Jones moved the following motion:

In view of the fact that major infrastructure impacts the whole of the Borough rather than just one local area; Council resolves that:

(1)  Major infrastructure projects will be determined at Full Council Meetings;

(2)  Cabinet will determine whether a project is deemed to be a major infrastructure project following recommendations from the Council’s Head of Housing and Development; and

(3)  Council’s Monitoring Officer to be asked to make the necessary amendments to the Councils Constitution.

The following Recorded Vote occurred.

FOR: Councillors: Parker-Jones and Tidridge

AGAINST: Councillors: Airey; Allingham; Asman; Atkinson; Bearder; Bicknell; Bourne; Broadhurst; Campbell; Clarke; Corben; Couldrey; Craig; Doguie; Duguid; Garton; Gomer; Grajewski; Groves; Holes; House; Irish; Jurd; Kyrle; Mann; Manning; Marsh; Pragnell; Pretty; Rich; Tennent; Trace; and Tyson-Payne.

(FOR: 2; AGAINST: 33)

Consideration was given to the report of the Monitoring Officer which outlined the Modern Slavery Statement.

RESOLVED –

That Council:

(1)   Agree the appended Modern Slavery Statement;

(2)  Approved that a signed copy is displayed on the Council’s website; and

(3)  Agreed that the wording be updated to state eradicate modern slavery and not reduce.

To receive the following written statements by Members of the Cabinet on relevant portfolio matters and to deal with any related questions:

a)  Cabinet Member for Economy – Councillor Pretty

b)  Cabinet Member for Environment – Councillor Kyrle

c)  Cabinet Member for Social Policy – Councillor Campbell

d)  Cabinet Member for Transport – Councillor Airey

RESOLVED –

That the Cabinet Statements, as set out in the agenda pack, and the short verbal updates given, be noted.

There were Members’ questions as set out in the Agenda, and supplementary questions were answered by the Leader and relevant Cabinet Members.

RESOLVED -

That the Minutes of the following meetings be received: 

CABINET

27 April 2020

21 May 2020

25 June 2020

22 July 2020

AUDIT AND RESOURCES COMMITTEE

10 March 2020

26 May 2020

23 June 2020

POLICY AND PERFORMANCE SCRUTINY PANEL

12 March 2020

18 June 2020

20 July 2020

LICENSING COMMITTEE

4 March 2020

BISHOPSTOKE, FAIR OAK AND HORTON HEATH LOCAL AREA

COMMITTEE

11 March 2020

24 June 2020

BURSLEDON, HAMBLE-LE-RICE AND HOUND LOCAL AREA COMMITTEE

11 June 2020

2 July 2020

CHANDLER’S FORD AND HILTINGBURY LOCAL AREA COMMITTEE

17 June 2020

EASTLEIGH LOCAL AREA COMMITTEE

9 June 2020

HEDGE END, WEST END AND BOTLEY LOCAL AREA COMMITTEE

2 March 2020

15 June 2020