Agenda, decisions and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors I J Bastable and F W Birkett.

To confirm as a correct record the minutes of the meeting of the Executive held on 01 July 2024.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting held on 01 July 2024 be confirmed and signed as a correct record.

The Executive Leader announced that following the declaration of results for the recent Parliamentary elections, he had written to the Chief Executive Officer ro congratulate him in carrying out his role as Returning Officer and his team for delivering such a smooth and efficent process at the count and throughout polling day. The Executive Leader placed on record his thanks to all officers involved in the elections.

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 references from the committees or panels held.

The following references from other committees were received:

Housing Scrutiny Panel – 27 June 2024

Minute 9 – Fareham Housing Mutual Exchange Policy

The Panel considered a report by the Director of Housing which informed members of the new Mutual Exchange Policy and Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) for Council Housing Tenants.

The Panel was supportive of the policy and had no comments or suggested changes to put forward for consideration by the Executive.

RESOLVED that the Housing Scrutiny Panel notes the content of the report and has no comments to put forward to the Executive for consideration.

This was considered at item 8(1) on the agenda.

Housing Scrutiny Panel – 11 July 2024

Minute 8 – Housing Consumer Standards: Information and Action Plan

The Panel received a report by the Director of Housing which provided Members with an update on the new Housing Consumer standards which came into force in April 2024. The report also presented the draft Fareham Housing Action Plan which has been developed to ensure that confident compliance with the new Standards is achieved.

Members asked if there were any areas of the new housing consumer standards that Officers were concerned there may be a risk of not being compliant. The Director of Housing explained that some areas such as stock surveys, may take a little longer to reach compliance. Officers also explained that the initial focus has been on those more pressing actions such as developing an Anti-Social Behaviour Policy, and a Tenant Engagement Strategy, and that the outcomes from Inspections at other providers will also help to inform any further actions needed.

RESOLVED that the Housing Scrutiny Panel:

(a)  agrees the content of the draft Action Plan as attached at Appendix A to the report;

(b)  notes that the Action Plan will be iterative document, to be kept up to date and relevant by the Director of Housing in consultation with the Executive Member for Housing; and

(c)  provides the comments and observations as detailed above for referral to the Executive for consideration at its meeting on 15 July 2024.

This was considered at item 8(3) on the agenda.

A report by the Director of Housing.

The comments of the Housing Scrutiny Panel were taken into account in considering this item.

RESOLVED that the Executive:

(a)  approves the draft Fareham Housing Mutual Exchange Policy for a period of  public consultation; and

(b)  agrees that authority is delegated to the Director of Housing, following consultation with the Executive Member for Housing, to make any minor changes to the Policy prior to public consultation.

A report by the Director of Housing.

RESOLVED that the Executive agrees:

(a)  the funding mechanisms, as outlined in confidential Appendix A to this report, to enable the continued investment in the repairs, maintenance, and improvement of the Council owned housing stock; and

(b)  that the award of contract for void property repairs, responsive repairs, and refurbishment works to Council homes be delegated to the Chief Executive Officer, following consultation with the Executive Member for Housing.

A report by the Director of Housing.

The comments of the Housing Scrutiny Panel were taken into account in considering this item.

RESOLVED that the Executive:

(a)  agrees the content of the Action Plan at Appendix A to this report, noting that this will be an iterative document to be kept up to date by the Director of Housing following consultation with the Executive Member for Housing; and

(b)  notes the governance and assurance measures outlined in Appendix A, which will collectively provide on-going scrutiny and regular review of Fareham Housing in the context of the new Consumer Standards.

A report by the Director of Housing.

The comments of the Housing Scrutiny Panel were taken into account in considering this item.

RESOLVED that the Executive agrees that the required revisions, addendums or future amendments to the Council’s Shared Ownership Policy and Processes needed to comply with updated government guidance be delegated to the Director of Housing, following consultation with the Executive Member for Housing.

A report by the Director of Planning and Regeneration.

At the invitation of the Executive Leader, Councillor P W Whittle addressed the Executive on this item.

RESOLVED that the Executive:

(a)  approves the principal of providing an evening route between Fareham Live, through FSC to West Street and Market Quay Car Park;

(b)  subject to the approval of recommendation (a) above, approves a budget of £10,000 to provide improvements, including wayfinding and lighting (subject to Hampshire County Council), to the existing identified routes and delegates authority to the Director of Planning and Regeneration, following consultation with the Executive Member for Policy and Resources, to agree the final scheme design and delivery timeline and to enter into contracts to secure this, within the agreed budget;

(c)  subject to the approval of recommendation (a) above, approves a maximum budget of £51,000 to provide security officers at FSC and delegates authority to the Director of Planning and Regeneration to enter into or vary contracts to secure the delivery of this, within agreed budgets;

(d)  subject to the approval of recommendation (a) above, approves a budget of £76,800 for the provision of interventions, public realm improvements and wayfinding, and delegates authority to the Director of Planning and Regeneration, following consultation with the Executive Member for Policy and Resources, to agree the final scheme design and delivery timeline and to enter into contracts to secure this, within the agreed budget; and

(e)  subject to the approval of recommendation (a) above, delegates authority to the Director of Planning and Regeneration to draw on the remaining regeneration budget, if necessary, to achieve the delivery of the above.

To consider whether it is in the public interest to exclude the public and representatives of the Press from the remainder of the meeting on the grounds that the matters to be dealt with involve the likely disclosure of exempt information, as defined in Paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972.

RESOLVED that it is in the public interest to exclude the public and representatives of the Press from the remainder of the meeting on the grounds that the matters to be dealt with involve the likely disclosure of exempt information, as defined in Paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972.

A report by the Director of Planning and Regeneration.

At the invitation of the Executive Leader, Councillor P W Whittle addressed the Executive on this item.

RESOLVED that the Executive agrees recommendations (a) and (b) as detailed in the confidential report.