The Overview and Scrutiny Committee reviewed updates on Hart’s Climate Change Action Plan, progress on the Hart Local Plan (Strategy & Sites) 2032 and the Authority Monitoring Report 2023/24. The committee also considered the report from the Multi-Agency Flood Forum Task and Finish Group. The Committee agreed to submit the Flood Forum recommendations to Cabinet.

Multi-Agency Flood Forum

A Task and Finish Group presented its review of the Multi-Agency Flood Forum (MAFF), which brings together key parties involved in flood risk management. The group sought feedback from District and County Councillors, parish councils, and flood officers. They also held discussions with external agencies including Hampshire County Council, Thames Water, and the Environment Agency.

The review found that the MAFF had not been as effective as it could be. >The main problem is the sheer numbers of different people covering different things. Each can blame the other when they should be working together. (Councillor).

Attendees reported that meetings were often poorly attended and lacked follow up, and that agencies failed to adequately coordinate solutions.

The review concluded that the forum should continue, but only if operated in a new way. A key recommendation is that meetings should be chaired by a Cabinet Member with support from Hart’s Flood Officer. They would then work with relevant parties to formulate a work programme of actions to be taken.

The committee agreed with the review's findings and agreed to submit the recommendations to Cabinet.

Climate Change Action Plan

The Committee discussed the six-month update on progress against the Climate Change Action Plan.

The report highlighted a number of projects designed to support the delivery of the action plan, including:

• Upgrades to LED lighting at the Civic Offices and leisure centres.
• A £1.6 million grant from the Public Sector Decarbonisation Fund to support the replacement of fossil fuel heating systems at the Civic Offices, Harlington and Frogmore Leisure Centre.
• A £24,000 grant from the Low Carbon Skills Fund to carry out building energy audits at Frogmore Day Centre and Royal Oak Close.
• The installation of solar panels at Hart Leisure Centre using funding from the Swimming Pool Support Fund.

The Committee questioned the total cost of achieving carbon neutrality for the Council and for the wider District. Councillor Richard Quarterman, Portfolio Holder for Climate Change and Corporate Services, explained that feasibility studies for the Council's buildings were improving the accuracy of those costs, but that costs for the wider District were difficult to determine. >Wider district costs are dependent on how much the district invests and will become clearer as we move forward (Councillor Quarterman).

The Committee also discussed the progress made in securing external funding for the action plan. Councillor Quarterman explained that two grant applications had already been successful, but that many of the projects relied on officer time rather than external funding.

Hart Local Plan (Strategy & Sites) 2032

The Committee received a report assessing whether the Hart Local Plan (Strategy & Sites) 2032 needs updating. The report concluded that work should commence on a new Local Plan.

Councillor Oliver, Portfolio Holder for Development Management and Planning Policy, explained that the report was an early stage in that process, and that a Project Initiation Document would be prepared next. He added that £1 million had been allocated to fund this early stage work.

The Committee welcomed the report and the allocation of funding, but discussed a number of concerns. In particular they questioned the risks associated with recruitment given nationwide staffing issues in planning.

The Committee asked to be kept updated on progress.

Authority Monitoring Report 2023/24

The Committee received the Authority Monitoring Report 2023/24.

The report monitors a range of planning matters in the District. Key findings included:

• 434 new homes were built in 2023/24. A total of 5,603 homes have been built since the plan period started in 2014. This is 1,373 more than required.
• 217 affordable homes were completed in 2023/24, which is 50% of all new homes built during that year.
• Permission was granted for a rural exception site¹ at Hares Lane in Hartley Wintney.
• A Winchfield Neighbourhood Plan was ‘made’ in January 2024. An update to the Odiham and North Warnborough Neighbourhood plan is currently at examination.

The Committee discussed a number of potential issues, including new government housing targets.

Freedom of Information

The Chair addressed a matter arising from the previous meeting, when a Councillor had asked for a review of the Council’s Freedom of Information performance to be added to the work programme. Following a review, the Chair determined that the request should not be pursued further, and explained that she believed the initial request was inappropriately raised. She said >The Chair addressed: a delay in provision of the data referred to the previous meeting; the inappropriate manner of raising a matter at Committee without warning or in an open and transparent manner; not following the Constitution and applicable law; the inappropriate use of a privileged platform that created a sense of unfairness. (Councillor Worlock). The Chief Executive thanked the Chair for allowing the officers time to reply to the allegations, saying that it had allowed them >to set the record straight (Daryl Phillips).