This meeting was about a range of topics including approving a revised strategy and financial model for the Bird Aware Partnership, applying to the Secretary of State for rural designation of certain areas of the District and considering the Council Tax Support Scheme for 2025/26. It also included an item on the proposed disposal of the Northern Gateway site in Whitehill & Bordon.

Council Tax Support Scheme 2025/26

The Cabinet considered the Council Tax Support Scheme (CTS) for 2025/26. The Council Tax Support Scheme allows the Council to provide discounts on Council Tax to low-income households. There are separate schemes for those in receipt of their state pension and those of working age. The scheme for those of pension age is prescribed by the government and the Council can only make changes to the working-age scheme.

The Council Tax Support scheme for pensioners was prescribed in the Council Tax Reduction Schemes (Prescribed Requirements) (England) Regulations 2012. These regulations detail how local authorities should calculate the level of support available to pensioners.

The legislation imposes a duty on each Council to adopt a scheme by 11 March each year to apply for the forthcoming financial year.

The report recommended maintaining the same maximum level of support of 100% for working-age households and that the allowances and premiums used in the calculations for working-age CTS be changed to match the allowances and premiums that are used for Housing Benefit for working-age claimants, as determined by the Department for Work and Pensions.

The report pack also included an estimate of the cost of the scheme in 2025/26 and recommended continuing to operate a hardship fund for those of working age.

Application to the Secretary of State for Rural Designation.

The Cabinet considered whether to make an application to the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs to designate as ‘rural’ a number of parishes in East Hampshire under the terms of Section 157 of the Housing Act 1985.

This designation would allow the Council more flexibility to require affordable housing on sites with less than 10 units. The report described the criteria for such a designation and listed each of the parishes that meet the criteria.

It is for the Council to implement such a designation.

The report pack included a map of the parishes being considered for designation, and a table showing the population of each parish in the district and their population density.

Inter Authority Agreement to Approve a Revised Strategy and Financial Model for Bird Aware Partnership.

The Cabinet considered approving a revised strategy and financial model for the Bird Aware Partnership.

The Bird Aware Partnership is a strategic approach to mitigating the impact of new housing on coastal birds.

New housing schemes which included a net gain in overnight accommodation in certain parts of East Hampshire needed to prevent any increase in nutrients into the Solent, in order for them to be ‘nutrient neutral’.

Parts of East Hampshire are within 5.6km of the Solent's Special Protection Areas (SPAs), and therefore new housing developments in those areas need to prevent any increase in nutrients into the Solent.

It has long been identified that certain new developments within 5.6km of the Solent SPA designations have a likely significant effect on habitats and species when considered in combination.

The report included the revised strategy and a letter from Natural England, in which they expressed their support for the work of the partnership.

Whitehill and Bordon Northern Gateway

The Cabinet considered the proposed disposal of the Northern Gateway site in Whitehill & Bordon.

The report recommended entering into negotiations with the preferred bidder to dispose of the site to them.

The Council’s objective during this process was to dispose of the whole site, to one party or a consortium of parties working together to acquire the whole site.

It noted that part of the site may be considered public open space under the Local Government Act 1972 and may therefore need to be publicly advertised before it can be disposed of.

The Council indicated it would consider a freehold or leasehold disposal on a full repairing and insuring (FRI) lease to cover the Council’s liabilities, its preference being for a minimum 10-year lease term.

The report pack included a plan of the site.