Agenda and minutes

An apology for absence was received from Councillor M J Ford, JP.

To confirm as a correct record the minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 25 July 2022.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting of the Licensing and Regulatory Affairs Committee held on 25 July 2022 be confirmed and signed as a correct record.

The Chairman announced that a new map of the proposed constituencies in England will be published on 08 November by the Boundary Commission for England, giving members of the public a final chance to have their say on proposals for new constituencies in their area.

From 08 November, members of the public will be able to view and comment on new suggested constituency boundaries.  This third and final consultation will last four weeks, ending on 05 December, and will be the last opportunity for the public to have a say on the new map of constituencies in England.

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.

To receive any deputations of which notice has been lodged.

There were no deputations made at this meeting.

To consider a report by the Head of Democratic Services which invites the Committee to consider the Boundary Commissions’ proposals for Fareham.

The Committee considered a report and received a presentation by the Head of Democratic Services which invited members to review the Boundary Commission’s draft recommendations for new ward boundaries across the Borough of Fareham and to provide wording to be incorporated within the Council’s response to the public consultation. A copy of the presentation is attached to these minutes as Appendix A.

Members discussed the changes that the Boundary Commission has made to the Council’s proposals and expressed concern that some of the changes, which appear to be so that ward boundaries are more linear, are at odds with the Commission’s expressed desire to ensure that community identities are protected.  Members were able to put forward several examples where residents have complained that established communities will be affected, and it was agreed that residents should be encouraged to register their concerns direct to the Commission as part of the consultation process.

Having agreed the need to ensure that the new ward boundaries protect community identities, members were encouraged to provide any wording that would strengthen this view to the Head of Democratic Service for inclusion in the Council’s final response to the consultation.

RESOLVED that having reviewed the Boundary Commission’s draft recommendations for new ward boundaries across the Borough of Fareham, the Licensing and Regulatory Affairs Committee:

(a)  agrees that, as detailed above, any wording provided by members be incorporated within the Council’s draft consultation response;

(b)  delegates authority to the Head of Democratic Services to create the draft consultation response reflecting the Committee’s views and those of the Member Working group; and

(c)  agrees that the working draft of the consultation response be presented to Council at its meeting on 27 October 2022, prior to it being submitted to the Local Government Boundary Commission for England on 15 November 2022.

To consider a report by the Head of Environmental Health on the Committee’s Work Programme for 2022/23.

The Committee considered a report by the Head of Environmental Health which provided an opportunity for members to review the Work Programme for 2022/23

RESOLVED that the Licensing and Regulatory Affairs Committee:

(a)  notes the progress on actions arising from the meeting of the Committee held on 25 July 2022, as shown in Appendix A to the report; and

(b)  agrees the updated Work Programme for 2022/23, as attached at Appendix B to the report.