Limited support for Basingstoke and Deane

We do not currently provide detailed weekly summaries for Basingstoke and Deane Council. Running the service is expensive, and we need to cover our costs.

You can still subscribe!

If you're a professional subscriber and need support for this council, get in touch with us at community@opencouncil.network and we can enable it for you.

If you're a resident, subscribe below and we'll start sending you updates when they're available. We're enabling councils rapidly across the UK in order of demand, so the more people who subscribe to your council, the sooner we'll be able to support it.

If you represent this council and would like to have it supported, please contact us at community@opencouncil.network.

Council - Thursday, 19th December, 2024 6.30 pm

December 19, 2024 View on council website  Watch video of meeting
AI Generated

Summary

The meeting of Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council scheduled for Thursday 19 December 2024 includes reports on the council’s capital programme, council tax discounts and council tax support schemes, as well as a motion on Inheritance Tax relief for family farms.

Inheritance Tax Relief

A motion submitted by Councillor Simon Minas-Bound and Councillor Jenny Vaux will ask the council to note the changes to Inheritance Tax relief announced in the 2024 Autumn Budget by the then Labour Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rachel Reeves.

The motion asserts that “the Labour Government have committed a shameful betrayal and let down farmers by breaking their promise to not introduce a Family Farm Tax” and claims that the changes will introduce a Family Farm Tax and will have a detrimental impact on Family Farms and farmers’ ability to pass on their farms to the next generation of farmers. The motion cites warnings by the National Farmers Union and the Country Land and Business Association, “[t]hat countless farms will be harmed, threatening food security and rural areas."

The motion calls on the council to write to the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Steve Reed, to outline the council’s opposition to the changes and to ask the council administration to: “engage with local farmers and community representatives on what support the Council can provide to them” and “publish a list of affected farms”.

Council’s Capital Programme

A report on the Council's Quarter 2 Capital Monitoring Report as at 30 September 2024, presented by Councillor Gavin James, requests that the council approves a number of proposed changes to the capital programme.

The report recommends a number of budget changes to the programme including a “budget virement1 of £5.365M from the Manydown Land and Infrastructure Funding Scheme to the Manydown Development scheme (2024/25 £2.365M and 2025/26 £3.000M).”

The report explains that “[a]s a result of the final Manydown land negotiations, the council will no longer be required to provide this funding as it will now be secured from Homes England”. The report goes on to state that “[i]t has also been agreed that this council and Hampshire County Council will provide MDV LLP with additional B-loan investment in 2024/25 and 2025/26 to fund working capital and infrastructure costs relating to the project”.

The report also proposes that “The Malls Upgrading/Updating scheme” be renamed “Town Centre Improvements” to include The Malls and the wider town centre area.

The report explains that “[o]fficers have been working with Cabinet members on an action plan to deliver town centre public realm improvements to support longer-term viability and vibrancy” and asks for £0.10M of capital funding to be allocated to progress “two proposed permanent lighting schemes in market square and in the area outside of the Anvil”.

Council Tax Discretionary Discounts and Council Tax Support Scheme 2025/26

A report on the Council Tax Discretionary Discounts and Council Tax Support Scheme 2025/2026 presented by Adam Swain, the Chief Finance and S151 Officer2, recommends a number of changes to the schemes for 2025/26.

The report recommends that discretionary discounts are kept at the 2024/25 level with the exception of the empty and unfurnished discount which is recommended to be reduced.

The report explains that “[t]he regulations stipulate that the level of discount can vary between 0% to 100% and the term can vary from 0 to 6 months.” For 2024/25 a 100% discount was awarded for the first three months, a 50% discount for 3 to 6 months and 0% discount thereafter. The report recommends removing the 50% discount for months 3 to 6 and reducing the 100% discount for the first 3 months to 100% for the first 2 months only.

The report recommends that an additional premium be charged for second homes in 2026/27. The report explains that “[i]t is now possible to charge more than a full Council Tax charge on properties of this kind” and proposes that a premium of 100% be charged.

The report recommends that the long-term empty property premium be kept at the 2024/25 level. The report explains that the current premium results in properties that have been empty for one year or more paying double council tax, properties that have been empty for 5 years or more paying three times council tax, and properties that have been empty for 10 years or more paying four times council tax.

The report also recommends that the current care leavers council tax discount be retained for 2025/26. The report explains that the current scheme provides 100% council tax discount for care leavers aged 18-21 who live alone. This discount is then reduced by 25% a year until the care leaver reaches the age of 25. If a care leaver is the second adult in a property, the council tax is reduced by 50% and by 25% if there are more than two adults in the property.


  1. A virement is the transfer of money from one part of an organisation’s budget to another.  

  2. The S151 Officer is the officer designated to take responsibility for the council’s finances. They have a statutory duty to report to the council if they believe the council is at risk of acting unlawfully or is not using its resources properly. 

Attendees

Profile image for Councillor Dan Putty
Councillor Dan Putty  Conservative •  Hatch Warren and Beggarwood
Profile image for Councillor Jo Perry
Councillor Jo Perry  Conservative •  Evingar
Profile image for Councillor Arun Mummalaneni
Councillor Arun Mummalaneni  Conservative •  Brookvale and Kings Furlong
Profile image for Councillor David McIntyre
Councillor David McIntyre  Conservative •  Sherborne St John & Rooksdown
Profile image for Councillor Andy Konieczko
Councillor Andy Konieczko  Cabinet Member for Strategic Planning and Infrastructure •  Liberal Democrats •  Brighton Hill
Profile image for Councillor Zander West
Councillor Zander West  Deputy Leader of the Labour Group and Chair of the Environment and Infrastructure Committee •  Labour and Co-Operative Party •  Winklebury & Manydown
Profile image for Councillor Gary Watts
Councillor Gary Watts  Labour •  South Ham
Profile image for Councillor Samir Kotecha
Councillor Samir Kotecha  Basingstoke & Deane Independent Group •  Hatch Warren and Beggarwood
Profile image for Councillor Andrew McCormick
Councillor Andrew McCormick  Labour and Co-Operative Party •  Brighton Hill
Profile image for Councillor Karen Watts
Councillor Karen Watts  Basingstoke & Deane Independent Group •  Whitchurch, Overton & Laverstoke
Profile image for Councillor Kate Tuck
Councillor Kate Tuck  Independent Member •  Basing & Upton Grey
Profile image for Councillor Chris Tomblin
Councillor Chris Tomblin  Cabinet Member for Climate and Ecological Emergency •  Basingstoke & Deane Independent Group •  Bramley
Profile image for Councillor Paul Miller
Councillor Paul Miller  Conservative •  Chineham
Profile image for Councillor Keith Oborn
Councillor Keith Oborn  Basingstoke & Deane Independent Group •  Bramley
Profile image for Councillor Tony Jones
Councillor Tony Jones  Chair of the Licensing Committee •  Labour •  South Ham
Profile image for Councillor Sajish Tom
Councillor Sajish Tom  Labour •  Popley
Profile image for Councillor Kerry Morrow
Councillor Kerry Morrow  Cabinet Member for Sports, Leisure and Culture •  Liberal Democrats •  Tadley North, Kingsclere & Baughurst
Profile image for Councillor Jacky Tustain
Councillor Jacky Tustain  Deputy Mayor and Chair of the Resident Services Committee •  Labour •  Popley
Profile image for Councillor Jo Slimin
Councillor Jo Slimin  Liberal Democrats •  Tadley & Pamber
Profile image for Councillor Colin Phillimore
Councillor Colin Phillimore  Mayor •  Basingstoke & Deane Independent Group •  Whitchurch, Overton & Laverstoke
Profile image for Councillor John McKay
Councillor John McKay  Cabinet Member for Communities, Partnerships and Inclusion •  Liberal Democrats •  Eastrop & Grove
Profile image for Councillor Simon Minas-Bound
Councillor Simon Minas-Bound  Leader of the Conservative Group •  Conservative •  Sherborne St John & Rooksdown
Profile image for Councillor Jenny Vaux
Councillor Jenny Vaux  Conservative •  Chineham
Profile image for Councillor Mike Bound
Councillor Mike Bound  Liberal Democrats •  Tadley North, Kingsclere & Baughurst
Profile image for Councillor Abdel Ibrahim
Councillor Abdel Ibrahim  Leader of the Labour Group •  Labour •  Brookvale and Kings Furlong
Profile image for Councillor Stacy Hart
Councillor Stacy Hart  Vice-Chair of the Licensing Committee •  The All In Party •  Hatch Warren and Beggarwood
Profile image for Councillor Tony Durrant
Councillor Tony Durrant  Chair of Development Control Committee •  Basingstoke & Deane Independent Group •  Bramley
Profile image for Councillor Androulla Johnstone
Councillor Androulla Johnstone  Liberal Democrats •  Tadley & Pamber
Profile image for Councillor Julie Harper
Councillor Julie Harper  Labour •  South Ham
Profile image for Councillor Sean Dillow
Councillor Sean Dillow  Conservative •  Kempshott & Buckskin
Profile image for Councillor Paul Gaskell
Councillor Paul Gaskell  Conservative •  Oakley & The Candovers
Profile image for Councillor David Conquest
Councillor David Conquest  Liberal Democrats •  Tadley North, Kingsclere & Baughurst
Profile image for Councillor Julian Jones
Councillor Julian Jones  Basingstoke & Deane Independent Group •  Oakley & The Candovers
Profile image for Councillor Kevin Chatburn
Councillor Kevin Chatburn  Vice Chair of the Environment and Infrastructure Committee •  Liberal Democrats •  Tadley & Pamber
Profile image for Councillor Hannah Golding
Councillor Hannah Golding  Conservative •  Oakley & The Candovers
Profile image for Councillor Jonathan Jenkin
Councillor Jonathan Jenkin  Green Party •  Chineham
Profile image for Councillor Marc Connor
Councillor Marc Connor  Basingstoke & Deane Independent Group •  Popley
Profile image for Councillor Hayley Eachus
Councillor Hayley Eachus  Conservative •  Kempshott & Buckskin
Profile image for Councillor Andrea Bowes
Councillor Andrea Bowes  Chair of the Human Resources Committee •  Liberal Democrats •  Brighton Hill
Profile image for Councillor Jay Ganesh
Councillor Jay Ganesh  Conservative •  Sherborne St John & Rooksdown
Profile image for Councillor Gavin James
Councillor Gavin James  Co-Leader and Cabinet Member for Finance and Property •  Liberal Democrats •  Eastrop & Grove
Profile image for Councillor Michael Howard-Sorrell
Councillor Michael Howard-Sorrell  Chair of the Investigating and Disciplinary and Standards Appeals Committee •  Green Party •  Brookvale and Kings Furlong
Profile image for Councillor Onnalee Cubitt
Councillor Onnalee Cubitt  Cabinet Member for Major Projects and Regeneration •  Independent Member •  Basing & Upton Grey
Profile image for Councillor John Izett
Councillor John Izett  Chair of the Resources Committee •  Conservative •  Evingar
Profile image for Councillor Richard Court
Councillor Richard Court  Conservative •  Kempshott & Buckskin
Profile image for Councillor Laura James
Councillor Laura James  Cabinet Member for Residents’ Services and Housing •  Basingstoke & Deane Independent Group •  Norden
Profile image for Councillor Chloe Ashfield
Councillor Chloe Ashfield  Basingstoke & Deane Independent Group •  Whitchurch, Overton & Laverstoke
Profile image for Councillor Samuel Carr
Councillor Samuel Carr  Conservative •  Evingar
Profile image for Councillor Sheena Grassi
Councillor Sheena Grassi  Independent Member •  Basing & Upton Grey
Profile image for Councillor Angie Freeman
Councillor Angie Freeman  Vice-Chair of Development Control Committee •  Labour •  Winklebury & Manydown
Profile image for Councillor Ronald Hussey
Councillor Ronald Hussey  Liberal Democrats •  Eastrop & Grove
Profile image for Councillor Paul Harvey
Councillor Paul Harvey  Leader •  Basingstoke & Deane Independent Group •  Norden
Profile image for Councillor Paul Basham
Councillor Paul Basham  Chair of the Audit and Accounts Committee •  Basingstoke & Deane Independent Group •  Norden
Profile image for Councillor Alex Lee
Councillor Alex Lee  Labour •  Winklebury & Manydown

Topics

No topics have been identified for this meeting yet.

× Meeting image