Decisions

The Mayor explained that there were two motions to deal with which were carried over from the Council meeting held on 30 July 2020.

The first Motion was proposed at the meeting held on 30 July 2020 by Councillor R.A. Smith-Ainsley and seconded by Councillor D. Saliagopoulos and in accordance with Standing Order 28.2, was adjourned without discussion, to this meeting.

The Council considered the report from the Monitoring Officer in relation to this Motion.

Councillor R.A. Smith-Ainsley proposed and Councillor D. Saliagopoulos seconded the following amended Motion, to reflect the comments of the Monitoring Officer in her report:

“That Standing Order 8.3 little ‘f’ be amended to read: ‘Appoint to outside bodies except where appointment to those bodies has been delegated by the Council or is exercisable only by the Leader (the Leader’s appointment to be on a non-political basis and based upon individual Councillors’ skills)’.”

In accordance with Standing Order 20.13, the Council gave its consent to the alteration of the Motion.

The Motion was debated, put to the vote and carried.

Resolved that:

Standing Order 8.3 little ‘f’ be amended to read: ‘Appoint to outside bodies except where appointment to those bodies has been delegated by the Council or is exercisable only by the Leader (the Leader’s appointment to be on a non-political basis and based upon individual Councillors’ skills)

Motion 2

Councillor L.E. Nichols proposed and Councillor B.B. Spoor seconded the following Motion:

“The House of Commons Public Accounts Committee published its report on Local authority investment in commercial property on 13th July 2020.  The Council notes the following conclusions arising from the report:

• That in the view of the PAC, Spelthorne Borough Council borrowing from the Public Works Loans Board since 2016 has been excessive and undertaken against DHCLG and CIPFA guidance.
• That in some authorities there have been failings in transparency, with decision making by small groups and inadequate scrutiny.

The Council resolves to take the following actions in response to the PAC report:

• To require greater member involvement in all future investment related decisions above a defined transaction value.

• To make available to members full information on significant portfolio expenditures, lettings and contractual amendments within 14 days of the decision.
• To revise accounting structures to clearly separate the property investment portfolio from other Council activities and to make this segmentation transparent in future reporting to members.
• To establish portfolio performance measures and risk management parameters to be reported periodically to members.

The details of these actions are to be agreed by the Leader's Property Investment Task Group and submitted to the Council for ratification.”

The Motion was debated and Councillor R.A. Smith-Ainsley called for a recorded vote.

The voting was as follows:

The Council considered the recommendation of the Cabinet on the replacement of Spelthorne Leisure Centre.

It was moved and seconded that Council approvesa supplementary capital estimate outlined in the confidential Appendix 5 to the report (attached as an exempt item) to cover the projected costs of developing the new centre.

Councillor Nichols indicated that he had a question in relation to the exempt information in Appendix 5 to the report to Cabinet. The Mayor advised that the question would be taken in a Part 2 session at the conclusion of this meeting.

(Paragraph 3 – Information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information)

The Property and Investment Committee considered an exempt report on property letting ‘K’.

Councillor J. McIlroy, portfolio holder for asset management outlined the proposed terms of the lease and responded to questions on the risks and benefits associated with it.

Alternative options considered and rejected by the Committee:

·         Not to agree the new letting

Resolved to approve the lease on the terms set out in the exempt report in relation to property letting ‘K’.

Reason for Decision:

The property is currently vacant and incurring void costs.  The proposed letting is to a good quality tenant for a minimum of term of seven years.  The terms of the letting are in line with the current valuation and prevailing market conditions.

(Paragraph 3 – Information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information)

The Property and Investment Committee considered an exempt report on property letting ‘J’.

Councillor J. McIlroy, portfolio holder for asset management outlined the proposed terms of the lease and responded to questions on the risks and the benefits associated with it.

Alternative options considered and rejected by the Committee:

·         Not to agree the new letting

The Committee was advised that it had the authority to make a decision on this matter and did not need to recommend it to Cabinet as stated in the report.

Resolved to approve the lease on the terms set out in the exempt report in relation to property letting ‘J’,

Reason for Decision:

To secure a stable retail occupier in this key location, a retailer that will contribute to footfall and therefore to income for the Elmsleigh Centre and the High Street,  through this anticipated period of post-pandemic recovery and beyond.