Decisions

This report seeks Executive approval for the revised budget for the Housing Revenue Account for 2017/18, the base budgets and rent increases for 2018/19 and the capital programme with its financing for the years 2017/18 to 2021/22.

The Executive recommended and the Council approved, in February 2017, the base budget and rent increase for 2017/18 for Housing Revenue Account (HRA) services.

This report sets out the Housing Revenue Account revised budget for 2017/18 and base budget for 2018/19 along with the capital programme and financing for the years 2017/18 to 2021/22.  The report examines the issues affecting the Housing Revenue Account including rent charges with effect from 02 April 2018.

The Council’s Housing Strategy, which includes the strategy for the new Fareham Housing department, is currently being prepared therefore the budget for 2018/19 will be reviewed again later in the year.

Council budgets are susceptible to change in the level of expenditure and income caused by factors inside and outside the Council’s control.  A risk assessment has been carried out to indicate the effect on housing balances of changes in the level of expenditure and income.  This can be used to estimate the account balances needed to provide a prudent level of reserves and a working balance.  

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.

To review the existing Service Level Agreement (SLA) between Fareham Borough Council and Citizen’s Advice Fareham and to propose a new two year SLA commencing on 01 April 2018 to 31 March 2020.

Fareham Borough Council provides funding to Citizen Advice Fareham who help to provide a free, impartial and independent service of generalist advice, information, support and representation in a confidential manner to vulnerable people in need of help and support who reside in the Borough of Fareham, including business concerns.

This report reviews the work done by Citizen Advice Fareham throughout the duration of their three-year Service Level Agreement (SLA) and proposes the Council enters into a new two-year funding agreement with Citizen Advice Fareham, with a review of the existing arrangements for providing  the service from their main office above Fareham Library being undertaken by Citizen Advice Fareham and concluded by December 2019.

The purpose of that review will be to evaluate the current service delivery model and the outcome will help to inform the arrangements for a new SLA (Appendix A), which, subject to approval, would be scheduled to commence from 01 April 2020.

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.

This report considers the draft Treasury Management Strategy Statement and Prudential Indicators for 2018/19, prior to its submission to the Council for approval.

Regulations require the Council to prepare and formally approve both an annual Treasury Management Strategy and Prudential Indicators.  The document for 2018/19 is attached as Appendix A to this report for consideration by the Executive before being submitted to Council for approval.

CIPFA published new versions of its Treasury Management Code of Practice and the Prudential Code in late December 2017.  Due to the late publications, CIPFA recognises that changes may not be fully implemented until 2019/20 due to the lead-in time to produce the strategy.  Necause of this and because there are no changes to the format or content of the strategy, this strategy is based on the 2011 version of both Codes.

Main highlights in the Strategy are:

Capital Issues

i)    The level of capital expenditure estimated for 2017/18 is £24.7 million.  We currently estimate that £13.4million of this will be met by new borrowing.

ii)   There will be an increase in the amount of council tax contributing to the cost of capital expenditure, due to new borrowing in 2017/18 and 2018/19.

Treasury Management Issues

iii) The strategy includes a new section on operational exposures to UK banks with low credit ratings and assets, such as through current accounts, collection accounts and merchant acquiring services.  These are not classed as investments, but are still subject to the risk of a bank bail-in and balances will therefore be kept below £4m per bank

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.

This report updates the Executive on external funding secured from Homes England for Welborne Garden Village and seeks approval for the use of these funds to commission strategies and studies to help progress and deliver Welborne, in line with the Government’s Garden Village principles.

Welborne was awarded Garden Village status in January 2017 and the Council applied for Homes England round two Capacity Funding in August 2017.

On 05 December 2017, the Council received notification that Welborne Garden Village had been awarded £275,000 of Capacity Funding for 2017/18.  This funding is in addition to the £228,000 secured in round one.

A condition of the Homes England funding is that it is spent on specific activity set out in the bid submission and that project activity must have commenced before 31 March 2018.  Therefore, these external funds will be used to commission two strategies and seven studies that will help accelerate the delivery of Welborne and provide additional project management capacity in the Welborne team.

There are two focussed strategy commissions for Welborne Garden Village, namely for Placemaking and Community Development.  In addition, seven important housing studies will be commissioned that will investigate and develop solutions on housing needs; private rental market; intermediate housing; specialist accommodation for older people; Council house building; self and custom build; and house building to Passivhaus standards.

The commissions will be awarded in line with the Council’s contract procedure and procurement processes.  It is anticipated to award contracts for the commissions in mid-February and early March 2018.

Each commission includes external partner and internal officer and Portfolio Holder consultation and engagement.

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.

To agree an extension to the current contract with One Community to provide help and support to voluntary and community groups in the Borough of Fareham. 

Fareham Borough Council provides funding to support and maintain a vibrant community and voluntary sector in the Borough.  The Council recognises the importance of well-supported, effective community and voluntary activities.  It is well documented how these informal opportunities meet local need and encourage residents to have full, active lives, as well as establishing a stronger connection to their local area.

Following a report to the Executive in March 2015, the Executive approved the option to tender the service to provide support for community and voluntary sector organisations.  At the meeting on 07 September 2015 One Community was awarded a two-year contract to deliver this service which expires on 31 March 2018.

The reduction of funding available from Hampshire County Council has impacted on the organisations and the models for providing support are changing.  Given the changes that are occurring in this sector it is considered that re-tendering the service should be deferred until the sector has stabilised.

Extending the existing contract with One Community will allow this to happen and will give the opportunity for a re-appraisal of the different organisations and service models over the coming months.  A more informed decision can then be taken on what is the best service delivery model to support the community and voluntary groups in the Borough of Fareham.

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.

This report seeks final confirmation of the recommendations to be made to Council, on 23 February 2018, in respect of the revenue budget, capital programme and council tax 2018/19.

On 08 January 2018, the Executive reviewed the Council’s overall finance strategy and considered proposals relating to the capital programme, revenue budgets and the council tax for 2018/19.  This report updates the Council’s budgets to reflect the decisions taken on 08 January 2018.

The capital programme for the years 2017/18 to 2021/22 will be £55,081,000.

The revenue budget for 2018/19 will be £8,440,500.  With Central Government support, transitional grant and retained business rates estimated to be £1,852,843 and a deficit to be paid to the collection fund of £25,538, the total amount due from the council tax payers will be £6,613,195.

Taking these changes into consideration, the council tax for 2018/19 will be £155.22 per Band D property.  This represents an increase from the council tax set for 2017/18 but would be within the referendum limit set by the Government.

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)  that 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.

This report seeks to award the contract following tenders received for the design, supply and installation of play and recreational equipment at Funtley Recreation Ground and Warsash Recreation Ground.

In March 2015, the Executive approved a three-year play area improvement programme utilising section 106 developer contributions.

Identified in year 3 of the programme was the provision to refurbish the children’s play areas at both Funtley Recreation Ground and Warsash Recreation Ground.

Tenders have been received and it is recommended that a contract be awarded to the contractor with the most advantageous tender as detailed in the evaluation matrix (Appendix A)

To agree to award a contract to the tenderer who submitted the most advantageous   tender for the provision of new play and recreational equipment at Funtley Recreation Ground and Warsash Recreation Ground

This report seeks approval for Relate Solent Counselling Service to be awarded funding for a further one year, commencing 01 April 2018.

Relate Solent provides couple and family counselling, individual relationship support, sex therapy and life skills training courses. They currently provide support to residents of the Borough from their offices in Southampton, Portsmouth and at other outlets in Fareham and Whiteley.

Approval is being sought for a further one year agreement with funding of £4000 to provide this much-needed service in the Borough of Fareham.

The provision of funding for a further one year helps to ensures that the service remains accessible for those who cannot afford to pay the full cost of a session.

That approval is given for the Council to enter into a one-year agreement with Relate Solent for the provision of counselling services, with a grant of £4000.

To enable the Executive to consider the recommendations made by the Independent Remuneration Panel in respect of the Members’ Allowances Scheme and the recommendations made by the Scrutiny Board held on 11 January 2018 and to refer this matter to Council for decision.  Any recommendations will be effective from 01 April 2018.

In 2003, the Government made Regulations which give local authorities discretion in preparing a Members’ Allowance Scheme that reflects local circumstances, whilst at the same time providing clear and transparent accountability.   In support of this process, local authorities are required to take into account the recommendations of a locally appointed Independent Remuneration Panel.

The Panel first met and made their initial recommendations in 2003 and it has since advised the Council periodically in respect of the allowances payable to Members.  The Panel, which met on the 09 November 2017,  consisted of the same Panel members  as previously which provided consistency for this review.

The current scheme of Members’ Allowances expires in the 2017/18 municipal year and the Council needs to adopt a new scheme for 01 April 2018 onwards.  The Independent Remuneration has made recommendations in respect of the scheme for next year and Council will be invited to consider their proposals.  These recommendations have been considered by the Scrutiny Board who have made their recommendations.   The Executive are asked to consider both the recommendations of the Independent Remuneration Panel and the Scrutiny Board and put forward their recommendation for consideration by Council at its meeting in February 2018.

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.

This report presents an application for funding under the Council’s Community Fund Programme.

An application for community funding has been received from Mr Andrew Smith, a local resident, for the sum of £3000.00 to enable a Parkrun to be set up in the Fareham Borough.

Parkrun UK operates as an independent non-for-profit organisation, organising series of free, weekly, 5km timed runs in areas of open space around the UK. Parkruns are open to all and are safe and easy to take part in and there are currently over 340 in operation in the UK. Runners of all abilities are welcome and the focus is on recreational running, whilst bringing people together and helping achieve a healthy lifestyle. All Parkrun events take place every Saturday morning, at or around 09.00am.

All of the events are free to attend and are run by teams of volunteers from the local community.

The route of the proposed Fareham Parkrun is the coastal path surrounding Cams Hall Estate and Golf Club, utilising the easy access trail, with the run starting and finishing at the Cams Mill Public House. Appendix A shows the proposed route for the run. All relevant permissions for use of the land have been obtained and runners will be parking at the Lysses long stay car park.

The cost for setting up a Parkrun is a one-off payment of £6400.00 with Parkrun contributing 50% of these costs. Mr Smith is therefore requesting the remaining £3000.00 from the Community fund. The funding requested will allow for the purchase of equipment including: a computer to record the runner’s times, bar code tokens for participants, signage, cones and stakes. Once the funding is approved, Parkrun UK will match the funding and also commit to supporting the event indefinitely.

Councillor Walker is in support of this application.

That the application for £3000.00 from Fareham Borough Council’s Community Funding Programme, submitted by Mr Andrew Smith, be approved.