Agenda and decisions

To record the names of apologies given.

To give consideration to the approval of alternative arrangements for appointments to bodies set up by Cabinet or external bodies, or the making or terminating of such appointments.

To receive any disclosure of interests from Councillors or Officers in matters to be discussed.

Note: Councillors are reminded of their obligations to declare disclosable pecuniary interests (DPIs), other registerable interests (ORIs) and non-registerable interests (NRIs) in accordance with the Council’s Code of Conduct.

– to note the names of members of the public wishing to speak on general matters affecting the District or on agenda items (in the case of the latter, representations will normally be received at the time of the agenda item, after the Cabinet Member’s introduction and any questions from Cabinet Members).

NB members of the public are required to register with Democratic Services three clear working days before the meeting (contact: democracy@winchester.gov.uk or 01962 848 264). 

1.       That the concept masterplan process be noted, including the public engagement strategy undertaken by the applicants which has helped to inform the preparation of the concept masterplan for Sir John Moore Barracks and has been undertaken following the Council’s master planning framework process; and

2.       That the Sir John Moore Barracks Concept Masterplan Vision Document, that is attached as Appendix 1 to report CAB3473 be endorsed which will then become a material consideration to inform the development management assessment of the future planning application.

3.       That it be noted that Cabinet is not taking a decision on whether the candidate Site of Importance for Nature Conservation (SINC) will be agreed.  This decision will be taken following the assessment and consideration of the future outline planning application.

1.    That the updated interim Winchester District Local Development Scheme February 2025, as set out in Appendix 1 to report CAB3499, be approved and brought into immediate effect; and

2.    That authority is delegated to the Strategic Planning Manager, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Place and Local Plan, to undertake minor updating and drafting of any amendments required prior to publication.

That Cabinet recommend to Council*:

1.    That the level of General Fund Budget for 2025/26 be agreed and recommend the summary as shown in Appendix A of report CAB3494.

2.    That the Greener Faster and carbon investment proposals be approved, used as the basis of this budget and as set out in the CAB3483 including:

a.    £135,000 additional budget per annum for the ongoing costs of providing the food waste collection service.

b.    £460,000 one-off budget to fund the phased roll out of the food waste service from October 2025, without government funding.

3.    That in relation to the Healthy Communities priority of the new Council Plan:

a.    the revised income bands for the Council Tax Reduction scheme for working age applicants (set out in appendix E of the report) that ensure claimants continue to receive the appropriate level of support after the DWPs increase in Universal Credit rates be approved with effect from 1 April 2025.

b.    That the amendment of the Council Tax Reduction scheme for working age applicants to include all additional support and new disregards with effect from 1 April 2025 be approved, as set out in the report.

c.     That £15,000 from the Cost of Living Reserve be used to extend the Council Tax Exceptional Hardship Fund into 2025/26.

4.    That in relation to the Good Homes for All priority, additional investment of £300,000 per annum to fund increased demand for temporary accommodation to prevent homelessness be approved.

5.    That an additional £50,000 per annum be included to fund additional pressures on council contracts.

6.    That service income annual budgets be amended as follows, in response to revised estimates:

a.    Garden Waste income increased by £30,000 (to reflect increases subscriptions, although partly off-set by increased contract costs of delivering the service to more households).

b.    Planning fee income reduction of £200,000 (to reflect the current reduced levels of applications received)

7.    That following a review of earmarked reserves they be amended as follows:

a.    £200,000 of the Transitional Reserve be re-allocated to the Thriving Places Reserve to invest one-off resources into planning enforcement.

b.    £2m of the Transitional Reserve be re-allocated to the Property Reserve to fund maintenance requirements of corporate properties.

c.     £902,000 of the Exceptional Inflation Reserve be re-allocated to the Car Parks Property Reserve to fund maintenance of and investment in parking. 

d.    £425,000 from the Major Investment Reserve be re-allocated to the Local Development Framework Reserve to fund Local Plan requirements.

e.    An additional £250,000 per annum be set aside into the Property Reserve, for the maintenance of and investment in operational assets.

f.      An additional £100,000 per annum be set aside into the Car Parks Reserve to fund maintenance of and investment in parking.

8.    That the sum of £1,364,045 be treated as Special Expenses under Section 35 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992 in respect of the Winchester Town area as set out in section 16 and Appendix D of the report.

9.    That the Council Tax for  ...  view the full decision text for item 10.

That Cabinet recommend that Council*

1.    Note the HRA Financial Plan operating account, including annual working balances, as detailed in Appendix 6 of report CAB3490.

2.    Approve the 2025/26 Housing Revenue Account budget as detailed in Appendices 1 and 2 to the report. 

3.    Approve the proposed capital programme for maintenance, improvements and renewals totalling £167.868m.

4.    Approve capital expenditure and delegate to the Strategic Director with responsibility for housing authority to enter into necessary contracts for the 2025/26 capital programme of £21.134m, as detailed in Appendix 3 of the report in accordance with Financial Procedure Rule 7.4.

5.    To approve the award of a contract, by direct award, for technology-based retrofit works of £4.3m per year in 2025/26, 2026/27 and 2027/28 (totalling £12.8m), contingent on funding secured from the Department of Energy Security and NetZero Social Housing Fund Wave 3 Grant, equivalent to 190 properties over 3 years. (See Para 11.62 to 11.65 of the report).

6.    Approve the proposed 10 year capital programme for new homes totalling £237.7m, and expenditure of £5.255m in 2025/26, as detailed in appendix 4 of the report in accordance with Financial Procedure Rule 7.4, 

7.    Approve the financing of the HRA Capital Programme as detailed in Appendix 5 of the report, (noting the planned repayment of borrowing following the 1000 homes programme).

8.    Approve the revenue savings target of £2m outlined to Cabinet in the November options paper and subsequently consulted upon and summarised at appendix 7 of the report.

9.    Authorise the Section 151 Officer, in consultation with the Strategic Director with responsibility for Housing to approve the buy-back, during 2025/26, of individual former HRA properties sold under the Right to Buy, following positive financial appraisal, utilising the unallocated New Homes budget (see para 11.26 of the report).

10. Subject to the acceptance of the expression of interest to the Local Authority Housing Fund (LAHF) round 3:

a.    Authorise the Strategic Director with responsibility for Housing to enter into a revised Memorandum of Understanding with Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government to secure additional LAHF funding estimated at £2.841m

b.    Delegate authority to the Section 151 Officer to approve capital expenditure (subject to financial appraisal, in accordance with Financial Procedure Rule 7.4) of up to £6.0m to purchase up to 12 properties using the approved HRA unallocated new build budget, to be part-financed by LAHF grant with any balance via prudential borrowing.

c.     Authorise the Corporate Head – Asset Management and the Strategic Director with responsibility for Housing to purchase up to 12 properties. (Para 11.70-11.72 of the report) 

11. Approve the average rent increase for 2025/26 for all affordable, Shared Ownership and social housing of 2.7% based on the September 2024 CPI figure of 1.7% +1% (see para 11.6-11.7 of the report).
12. Approve amendments to HRA tenant service charges in 2025/26 to reflect cost recovery based on 2023/24 actual costs, subject to capping at 5% or £5, whichever is greater, and noting that capped charges will be subject to gradual increases in  ...  view the full decision text for item 11.

That Cabinet recommends to Council*

1.       That the Capital Investment Strategy be approved including:

a)      the Capital Programme and Capital Programme Financing (Appendices A and B to report CAB3495);

b)      the Minimum Revenue Provision (MRP) Policy Statement (Appendix E of the report);

c)       the Flexible Use of Capital Receipts Strategy (Appendix Gof the report); and

d)      the prudential indicators detailed in the report and Appendix F.

That Cabinet:

2.       That, subject to Council approval of the capital programme, the following capital expenditure in 2025/26 be approved:

a)    IMT equipment and software (£95,000) as detailed in paragraph 11.8.6 of the report.

3.       That the requirement to ensure Members have the right knowledge and skills to undertake their governance role be noted and that the ongoing support and training offered to members is continued and enhanced as required.

*NB recommendations to Council are not subject to call-in.

That Cabinet recommends to Council:

1.    That the Treasury Management Strategy Statement which includes the Annual Treasury Investment Strategy for 2025/26 (and the remainder of 2024/25) is approved;

2.    That authority is delegated to the Section 151 Officer to manage the council’s pooled property investment and long-term borrowing according to the Treasury Management Strategy Statement as appropriate; and

3.    That authority is delegated to the Section 151 Officer, who in turn discharges this function to Hampshire County Council’s Director of Corporate Operations, as agreed in the Service Level Agreement, to manage all council investments (other than the high yield portfolio) and short-term borrowing according to the Treasury Management Strategy Statement as appropriate.

*NB recommendations to Council are not subject to call-in.