Agenda, decisions and minutes

There were no apologies given for this meeting.

To confirm as a correct record the minutes of the meeting of Executive held on 08 January 2018.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the Executive meeting held on 08 January 2018 be confirmed and signed as a correct record.

The Executive Leader announced that recently he, together with other Councillors and Officers, met the Right to Build Task Force with Richard Bacon MP, Ambassador of the Task Force and Mario Wolf, Task Force Director.

The Executive Leader stated that since its launch last year, the Right to Build Task Force has been working with local authorities, landowners and others to bring forward custom, self-build and community-led housing opportunities with an emphasis on scale and housing affordability.  It offers subsidised support for local authorities and community groups, to enable them to meet the demand for custom and self-build space.  Once of the Task Force’s key objectives is to provide more affordable homes for those in housing need and to work with Councils to help deliver these.

The Executive Leader stated that the Council is working with the Task Force to deliver more affordable housing and offer home ownership options which will suit a variety of modern needs.  This includes offering space at Welborne Garden Village where people can design and build their own homes.  It also means bringing forward a policy, which is included within the draft Local Plan, stating that all housing sites of over 100 outside Welborne will see at least 5% plots for self-build homes. 

Residents who have lived or worked in the Borough for at least two years and are interested in building their own homes in the Fareham area, can sign up to the Council’s register at http://www.fareham.gov.uk/planning/local_plan/selfbuild.aspx.

The Executive Leader advised the meeting that a Press release had been made today which, it was hoped, would lead to interested residents coming forward.  At the recent meeting with the Task Force Ambassador there was an indication that the potential expected interest was in the region of 1,700 interested parties.

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

There were no declarations of interest made at this meeting.

There were no petitions submitted at this meeting.

To receive any deputations, of which notice has been lodged.

There were no deputations made at this meeting.

To receive any reference from the committees or panels held.

Scrutiny Board – 11 January 2018

Minute 7 – Medium Term Finance Strategy, Capital Programme, Revenue Budget and Council Tax 2018/19

The Board considered a report by the Director of Finance and Resources on the Medium-Term Finance Strategy, Capital Programme, Revenue Budget and Council Tax 2018/19.

RESOLVED that the Scrutiny Board recommend that the Executive notes the Board’s endorsement of the Medium-Term Finance Strategy, Capital Programme, Revenue Budget and Council Tax 2018/19 at its meeting on 05 February 2018.

A report on this item is at 10(1) of the agenda.

Minute 8 – Housing Revenue Account Budget and Capital Plans 2018/19

The Board considered a report by the Director of Finance and Resources on the Housing Revenue Account Budget and Capital Plans 2018/19.

Members were circulated a tabled item which provided some minor amendments to the draft Executive report, these changes will be reflected in the report to the Executive on 05 February 2018.

RESOLVED that the Board recommends that the Executive notes the Board’s endorsement of the Housing Revenue Account Budget and Capital Plans 2018/19 at its meeting on 05 February 2018.

A report on this item is at 10(2) of the agenda.

Minute 9 - Members’ Allowances Scheme Review

The Board considered a report by the Head of Democratic Services on a review of the Members’ Allowances Scheme following the Independent Remuneration Panel on 09 November 2017.

The Board received a tabled item giving examples of the financial implications to the Scheme of Members’ Allowances if the recommendations from the Independent Remuneration Panel were to be endorsed.

RESOLVED that the Board recommends to the Executive that the following points of recommendation from the Independent Remuneration Panel be considered:

(a)  point 6.3 – not to index link the scheme for Members’ Allowances to that applicable to staff, with the exception of the Designated Independent Person whom Members feel should be considered as a member of staff;

(b)  point 6.3 – not to accept the proposed 2% increase in the Basic Allowance and the Special Responsibility Allowance;

(c)  point 6.4 - to consider a bigger point increase for the Mayor’s allowance; and

(d)  point 6.6 – to consider whether the change to the Opposition Leader’s Allowance is appropriate.

A report on this item is at 10(4) of the agenda.

A report by the Head of Leisure and Corporate Services.

At the invitation of the Executive Leader, Councillor L Keeble addressed the Executive on this item.

Members were provided with a tabled item correction in respect of Appendix A – Service Level Agreement which made a correction at paragraph 4.1 showing that CAF will continue to deliver an outreach service at Lockswood Community Centre on a Wednesday, rather than a Tuesday.

RESOLVED that the Executive approves a new two-year Service Level Agreement with Citizen Advice Fareham commencing on 01 April 2018 until 31 March 2020, as set out at Appendix A to the report.

A report by the Head of Leisure and Corporate Services.

RESOLVED that the Executive:

(a)  approves a one year extension to the existing contract with One Community which expires on 31 March 2018, with the option to extend for a further year beyond 31 March 2019; and

(b)  agrees that delegated authority be given to the Executive Member for Leisure and Community to extend the contract for a further year.

A report by the Director of Planning and Regulation.

At the invitation of the Executive Leader, Councillor Mrs K K Trott addressed the Executive on this item.

RESOLVED that the Executive:

(a)  delegates authority to the Director of Planning and Regulation, following consultation with the Executive Member for Planning and Development as appropriate, to procure the strategies and studies required to progress Welborne in line with the Government’s Garden Village principles; and

(b)  approves the expenditure in relation to (a) above from grant funding provided by Homes England, together with any subsequent unforeseen capacity requirements agreed and funded by them as necessary.

A report by the Director of Finance and Resources.

RESOLVED that the Executive approves and recommends to the meeting of the Council to be held on 23 February 2018:

(a)  the capital programme and financing of £55,081,000;

(b)  an overall revised revenue budget for 2017/18 of £8,616,700;

(c)  a revenue budget for 2018/19 of £8,440,500;

(d)  the surplus in the spending reserve remains in the reserve to cover the anticipated future funding shortfalls as set out in paragraphs 18-21; and

(e)  a council tax for Fareham Borough Council for 2018/19 of £155.22 per band D property, which represents a £5.00 increase when compared to the current year and is within referendum limits.

A report by the Director of Finance and Resources.

RESOLVED that the Executive agrees:

(a)  that rents be approved for Council Dwellings, as set out in paragraph 13 of the Report, with effect from 02 April 2018;

(b)  an increase of 4.3% in rents for Council garages with effect from 02 April 2018;

(c)  the revised budget for 2017/18;

(d)  the base budget for 2018/19;

(e)  the capital programme and financing for 2017/18 to 2021/22 and;

(f)   that the Housing Revenue Account Budget and Capital Plans 2018/19 be submitted to Council for approval.

A report by the Director of the Finance and Resources.

RESOLVED that the Executive:

(a)  endorses the draft Treasury Management Strategy and Prudential indicators for 2018/19, attached as Appendix A to the report; and

(b)  agrees to submit the report to Council for approval.

A report by the Head of Democratic Services.

At the invitation of the Executive Leader, Councillor J Forrest addressed the Executive on this item.

Having debated this item and considered  the Independent Remuneration Panel recommendations, as set out at paragraphs 7 -14 in the Executive briefing paper, along with the comments and recommendations made by the Scrutiny Board at paragraphs 16(a) - (d), it was RESOLVED that the Executive recommend to Council:

(a)  that consideration is given to the recommendations made by the Independent Remuneration Panel, in conjunction with the recommendations made by the Scrutiny Board;

(b)  that specific consideration is given to the annual increase, index linked, to the remuneration made to the Designated Independent Person; and

(c)  agree those recommendations with a view to the adoption of a revised Members’ Allowances Scheme commencing 01 April 2018.