Agenda and minutes

The meeting will commence with a short service of prayers.

The meeting opened with prayers led by the Mayor’s Chaplains, the Reverend Mike Terry and Reverend Nicky-Sue Terry from St Mary’s Church, Hook-with-Warsash.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors N R Gregory, T J Howard, L Keeble and R H Price, JP.

To confirm as a correct record the minutes of the Council Meeting held on 18 June 2015.

RESOLVED that the Mayor be authorised to sign as a correct record the minutes of the meeting of the Council held on 18 June 2015.

The Mayor announced that the next charity events would be:

the Fashion Show by Rhian of Warsash on 28 September between 12 – 5pm; a concert on “Stage and Screen” featuring the Warsash Band on Saturday 3 October from 7:30pm at Victory Hall, Warsash (tickets £7);

the “Last night of the Proms” concert featuring Spinnaker Brass and Portsmouth Military Wives Choir on Saturday 17 October from 7:30pm at Ferneham Hall (tickets £10);

and the Tea Party on Thursday 3 September with a talk by Ian Brennan on “From Ashes to a Royal Commission” (tickets £4).

The Mayor thanked all who had been involved in the Sponsored Round-the-Isle of Wight-Bicycle ride which took place on Saturday 11 July. The Mayor showed a video clip summary of the bike ride which is also available on the Council’s Youtube channel.

There was no Executive Leader’s announcement made at this meeting.

Vanguard

The Executive Member for Public Protection provided Members with an update on recent interventions by the Vanguard System.

He referred to the work of the Building Services department and the Responsive Repairs team which is now managed directly by the Council instead of by an external contractor. The team of 16 officers deal with an average of 200 jobs a week, with the time taken to complete a repair being 7 days whereas it was previously 89 days.

A system for stocking the parts required for repairs on the fleet of 9 new vehicles and a materials delivery service has been introduced to enable efficiency in the delivery of repairs. This has been working successfully and data is being collected on materials used on repairs to continuously improve the intelligence and efficiency of the service.

Ongoing improvements to the service are continuing to be made as a better understanding of types of demand and needs of the customer are understood, now that the new responsive repairs system is operating across the borough. The early signs are that it is making a real difference to the Tenants who have been very positive about the new way of working.

The Vanguard Intervention in Environmental Health began in August last year, and by January of this year, all of the team were working in the new system.  A survey was conducted by one of the officers who telephoned 24 customers, selected at random, who had previously reported noise issues.  All 24 said that the problem had been resolved; when asked to rate the service on a scale of 1 to 10, the average score was 9.35 with no one rating it lower than 7. The average time to resolve an issue is now 9 days whereas prior to Vanguard it was upwards of 42 days. This all shows what a hugely positive impact Vanguard Systems Thinking is having.

Access All Areas

The Executive Member for Public Protection confirmed that the first two days had been a success of Access All Areas at Fareham Leisure Centre and Portchester Recreation Ground, with 800 children attending in the 11 – 17 year old category, which is extremely encouraging.  The activities will continue next week and the week after, on Monday and Tuesday of each week.

To receive any declarations of interest from members in accordance with Standing Orders and the Council’s Code of Conduct.

Councillor P W Whittle, JP declared a Non-Pecuniary Personal Interest for item 18 – Fareham Magistrates’ Court Proposals as he is a magistrate sitting on the Fareham and Portsmouth circuit. Councillor Whittle remained in the chamber and took part in the debate and vote on the item.

Councillor C J Wood declared a Non-Pecuniary Personal Interest for item 10(1) – Minutes of meeting Monday 13 July 2015 of Executive (minute 9(1) – Daedalus Vision and Outline Strategy) due to the close proximity of his parents’ property to the Daedalus site.

Councillor P W Whittle, JP declared a Non-Pecuniary Personal Interest for item 10(1) – Minutes of meeting Monday 13 July 2015 of Executive (minute 9(2) – Matched Funding as he is a warden at Holy Trinity Church.

Councillor S D T Woodward declared a Non-Pecuniary Personal Interest for item 11(1) – Minutes of meeting Thursday 25 June 2015 of Scrutiny Board (minute 8 – Proposed question and answer session with Solent Local Enterprise Partnership) as he is a Solent LEP Local Authority Director.

To receive any petitions presented by a member of the Council.

Note: any petition so presented will be dealt with in accordance with the Council’s petition scheme.

There were no petitions presented at this meeting.

To receive any deputations of which notice has been given.

There were no deputations given at this meeting.

To receive, consider and answer questions on reports and recommendations of the Executive.  Minutes of the meetings of the Executive and a schedule of individual Executive member decisions are appended.

Councillor C J Wood declared a Non-Pecuniary Personal Interest for this item in relation to a discussion on minute 9(1) – Daedalus Vision and Outline Strategy due to the close proximity of his parents’ property to the Daedalus site.

Councillor P W Whittle, JP declared a Non-Pecuniary Personal Interest for this item  in relation to a discussion on minute 9(2) – Matched Funding as he is a warden at Holy Trinity Church.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the Executive meeting held on 13 July 2015 be received.

RESOLVED that the Schedule of Individual Executive Member Decisions and Officer Delegated Decisions be received.

To receive, consider and answer questions on reports and recommendations of the meeting of the Scrutiny Board held on 25 June 2015.

Councillor S D T Woodward declared a Non-Pecuniary Personal Interest for this item in relation to a discussion on minute 8 – Proposed question and answer session with Solent Local Enterprise Partnership as he is a Solent LEP Local Authority Director.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the Scrutiny Board held on 25 June 2015 be received

To receive the minutes of the following Committees and to consider and answer questions on any reports and recommendations made.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the Planning Committee held on 27 May 2015 be received.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the Planning Committee held on 9 June 2015 be received.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the Planning Committee held on 24 June 2015 be received.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the Audit and Governance Committee held on 29 June 2015 be received.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the Licensing and Regulatory Affairs Committee held on 7 July 2015 be received.

To answer questions pursuant to Standing Order 17.2 for this meeting.

Question by Councillor P J Davies:

1.     Nashe Way  -  The Executive member will be aware that residents of Nashe Way signed a petition presented at the last Full Council meeting about the enormous parking problems they experience, can the Executive Member advise on the progress to resolving our Nashe Way residents’ problems?

Response by the Executive Member for Health and Housing:

1.     Councillor Davies will be aware that the matter is currently under investigation as a letter was sent to the residents and copied to Councillor Davies dated 13 July 2015. Officers are currently investigating the feasibility and cost of installing additional parking in Nashe Way and will discuss the options with the Executive Member, Ward Councillors and consult local residents over the coming months.

Question by Councillor P J Davies:

2.     Council garages

(a)    Can the Executive Member state how much FBC received in rent in 2014/5 from letting Council garages?

(b)    Can the Executive Member state how much FBC spent in maintenance of Council garages, garage turning areas and garage access roads in 2014/5?  

(c)    What plans does FBC have for the future of FBC garages and garage areas?

Response by the Executive member for Health and Housing:

2.

(a)    In 2014/15 the Council collected £241k from garage rental income. The income from the garages is paid into the Housing Revenue Account (HRA) and can be used for any purpose associated with the management and repair or maintenance of council housing (e.g. helping to keep social housing rents low and or investing in the council housing stock). It should be noted that garage income is not ring fenced for garage repairs.

(b)    We do not currently hold records identifying the expenditure on council garages, such expenditure forms part of the HRA housing capital programme along with all other repairs and maintenance costs.  

(c)    There are currently no specific plans for the future of FBC garages and garage areas. FBC garages and garage areas are reviewed periodically in response to service requests (for repairs and maintenance) and as part of our on-going search for sites for new affordable housing developments.

Question by Councillor P J Davies:

3.     Rents

Is the Executive Member aware that the Government has instructed social landlords to reduce rents by 1% pa and that this would result in the following effects on the Housing Revenue Account.

(a)    A reduction of  £111,200 in 2016/7 (or £333,600 if we were to assume that rents would have been increased by 2% and are now reduced by 1%).

(b)    That there would be a reduction therefore of HRA funds for improving the Council stock of social housing (the most valuable capital asset the Council has) and for undertaking much needed improvements on Council estates.

Is the Executive Member also aware that this measure increases the unfairness in the rented sector as private rents are increasing by 8% pa and social rents (which are only 60% of market rents) will decrease by 1% pa for four years?

Response by the Executive Member for Health and Housing:

3.     Rents

Yes, I am aware that the Government has announced plans to reduce social rents by 1% per annum over the next four years and this will reduce Fareham’s rental income by £111,200 in 2016/17. We must await the guidance before we can fully understand and consider the implications.

However, it does seem rather unfair that Local Authorities that retained their Housing Stock were encouraged to buy their way out of the Governments Housing Revenue Account Subsidy System in return for greater freedoms and flexibility, now find their rent levels and business plans are being regulated and controlled again by the Government.

I agree that this measure increases the unfairness between the social rented sector and the private rented sector. However, I would point out that the Government have taken steps to reduce the amount of Housing Benefit paid to those living in the private rented sector in the hope that this will help reduce private sector rents and the cost of the Welfare Bill.   

Question by Councillor C J Wood:

4.    Would the Executive Member for Leisure and Community please explain why there are no goal posts available for public use in Stubbington and Hill Head throughout the summer holidays again?

Verbal Response by the Executive Member for Leisure and Community:

4.    It is standard practice to remove goal posts each year at the end of the football season (i.e. the end of May) to allow for the pitches, particularly the goal mouths, to be reseeded and repaired in preparation for the following season. In addition, goal posts are removed from a number of sites to enable cricket wickets and outfields to be set out and used throughout the summer months. New football pitches are marked out and the goal posts positioned for the start of the new football season (usually by the beginning of September).

Officers are awaiting a reply from Councillor Wood, following his enquiry about goal posts at Stroud Green Lane.

The Leisure and Community Policy Development and Review Panel met last night to which all Members were invited to attend and take part in a consultation to identify any gaps in leisure provision. The autumn meeting of the Panel will focus on a review of outdoor play facilities for young people and Councillor Wood is urged to attend to put forward his views.

Question by Councillor C J Wood:

5.    Would the Chairman of Planning Committee please provide an update on the progress of the planning application process for the proposed Stubbington Bypass?

Verbal Response by the Chairman of Planning Committee.

5.    The Council has received consultations on two Hampshire County Council planning applications for Stubbington Bypass and Newgate Lane South.  Hampshire County Council is both the applicant and the determining planning authority for both schemes.

Hampshire County Council is wholly responsible for formally consulting local residents on the applications, and it is understood that they have requested that comments are returned to them by 11 September 2015.  A public exhibition is to be held on Thursday 3 September at Holy Rood Church, Stubbington between 1pm and 7pm which will be followed by a Community Action Team meeting between  7pm-8.30pm. Officers from Hampshire County Council will be at both events to answer questions on both applications.

Fareham Borough Council has been consulted by Hampshire County Council on the planning applications as a statutory consultee.  The matter will be reported to a meeting of the Council’s Planning Committee in early September for the Committee to agree Fareham Borough Council’s formal response to the consultation to be sent to Hampshire County Council.  

Members will be informed, prior to the meeting, of any motion duly notified in accordance with Standing Order 15 but received after print and dispatch of the agenda.

There were no motions submitted for this meeting.

To make any changes in appointments to the seats on committees in accordance with the wishes of political groups.  Such appointments will take effect from 31 July 2015.

There were no changes to the appointment to committees made at this meeting.

A report by the Head of Democratic Services.

RESOLVED that the Council approves:

(a)       that a Community Governance Review be undertaken;

(b)       that the Terms of Reference appended to the report be adopted; and

(c)       the timetable for the review as appended to the report be adopted.

A report by the Head of Democratic Services.

During the debate on this item and in accordance with Standing Order 24.4 a recorded vote was requested. On being put to the meeting, the recommendations contained within the report were declared CARRIED, 22 members voting in favour (Councillors B Bayford, Mrs S Bayford, Miss S Bell, J V Bryant, Mrs P M Bryant, T M Cartwright, P J Davies, Mrs M E Ellerton, K D Evans, G Fazackarley, Miss T Harper, Mrs C L A Hockley, T G Knight, A Mandry, Mrs K Mandry, Mrs S Pankhurst, D L Steadman, D C S Swanbrow, N J Walker, D M Whittingham, C J Wood and S D T Woodward), 2 members voting against (Councillors Mrs K K Trott and P W Whittle, JP) and 2 members abstaining (Councillors J M Englefield and D J Norris).

RESOLVED that the Council:

(a)       approves the report attached as Appendix A as the formal response from Fareham Borough Council to the Local Government Boundary Commission for England consultation on Hampshire County Council electoral boundaries; and

(b)       authorises the Chief Executive Officer to submit the response to the Local Government Boundary Commission for England within the consultation period.

A report by the Director of Community.

Councillor P W Whittle, JP declared a Non-Pecuniary Personal Interest for this item as he is a magistrate sitting on the Fareham and Portsmouth circuit. Councillor Whittle remained in the chamber and took part in the debate and voted on the item.

During the debate on this item, Councillor P W Whittle, JP proposed an amendment to add a recommendation that the proposed response be presented to the Executive for final approval in September before being submitted. Upon the amendment being seconded and debated, Councillor Whittle agreed to withdraw his amendment subject to Councillor S D T Woodward’s revision of the original amendment to ensure that the draft response be circulated amongst all Council Members for comment before being submitted.

RESOLVED that the Council agrees that the Deputy Leader, who is the Chairman of Fareham’s Community Safety Partnership, be authorised to prepare and submit a response on behalf of Fareham Borough Council taking into account any points raised at the meeting and subject to the draft response being circulated to Members for comment before being submitted.

A report by the Chief Executive Officer.

RESOLVED that the Council agrees:

(a)       to support pursuit of devolution through a combined authority based on the Wider Hampshire Model; and

(b)       that the Executive Leader and Chief Executive Officer are authorised to continue discussions with other local authorities and the Government in order to progress the possibility of devolution.