Agenda and minutes

An apology for absence was received from Councillor Mrs J Needham.

To confirm as a correct record the minutes of the Council Meeting held on 28 July 2022.

RESOLVED that the Mayor be authorised to sign, as a correct record, the minutes of the meeting held on 28 July 2022.

The Mayor announced that it had been an honour and absolute pleasure to make the proclamation for the accession of King Charles III on Sunday 11 September in Fareham Town Centre. He was joined by the Deputy Lieutenant of Hampshire Mrs Joan Ferrer and the Executive Leader of the Council, and the proclamation was observed by hundreds of people who gathered to celebrate the historic occasion.

The Mayor stated that a record of the text of the proclamation will be created and mounted with the Borough seal to create a formal record of the event here in Fareham.

The Mayor further stated that it is also possible to view the video recording of the event on the Council’s YouTube channel.

The Executive Leader and the Mayor welcomed Councillor Harry Davis to his first meeting of the Council following his election to the Portchester East ward at last Thursday’s by-election.

Leisure and Community

Fareham Live

The Executive Member for Leisure and Community announced that unfortunately, as a result of the impact of the Covid 19 pandemic, BH Live has suffered significant financial losses and despite discussions between both parties, it has not been possible for the Council to agree contract terms with BH Live to enable the organisation to continue as the operator of Fareham Live. BH Live now finds itself needing to focus on existing and Bournemouth based venues, rather than expanding into new ones.

The Executive Member reassured Members that this will in no way affect the remodelling work already underway at Fareham Live, which is a milestone project that will kickstart new investment in Fareham town centre.   

A new tender opportunity will be launched as soon as possible, which will enable the Council to seek bids from alternative operators.

The Executive Member stated that whilst this news is disappointing, there is clear evidence that people are very happy to return to theatre venues and that she felt certain that this exciting opportunity to become the operator of the Council’s new Fareham Live venue will be hotly contested.

Christmas Lights Switch On

The Executive Member for Leisure and Community announced that the Council has managed to secure some external sponsorship to help pay for the costs of the Christmas Lights Switch On event this year, which will be taking place on Saturday 19^th of November following the theme of the Nutcracker.

National Estate Agents, The Agency UK, has funded the attendance of street entertainers on the day. M Coghlan funeral directors has sponsored an impressive Christmas tree outside Westbury Manor Museum, and Fareham Shopping Centre has sponsored the Nutcracker Trail around Fareham town centre for children to take part in in the lead up to Christmas.

The Executive Member stated that she was sure that members would appreciate the support of our local sponsors in helping to ensure that this well attended, free event, hosted here in Fareham is as successful as ever.

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 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.

The recommendation contained at item 8(1) of the minutes was noted and taken into account at item 15 on this agenda.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting of the Executive held on Monday 05 September 2022 be received.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting of the Executive held on Monday 10 October 2022 be received.

RESOLVED that the Schedule of Individual Executive Member and Officer decisions 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 meeting of the Licensing and Regulatory Affairs Committee held on Monday 25 July 2022 be received.

The recommendation contained in item 6 of the minutes was noted and taken into account at item 15 on this agenda.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting of the Licensing and Regulatory Affairs Committee held on Tuesday 11 October 2022 be received.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting of the Planning Committee held on Wednesday 10 August 2022 be received.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting of the Planning Committee held on Wednesday 21 September 2022 be received.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting of the Planning Committee held on Wednesday 05 October 2022 be received.

RESOLVED that:

(a)  the Council endorses the updates to the Constitution as set out in Part Two of the report presented to the Audit & Governance Committee; and

(b)  the minutes of the meeting of the Audit & Governance Committee held on Monday 26 September 2022 be received.

To receive, consider and answer questions on reports and recommendations of the meetings of the Scrutiny Panels.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting of the Housing Scrutiny Panel held on Thursday 14 July 2022 be received. 

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting of the Housing Scrutiny Panel held on Thursday 29 September 2022 be received.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting of the Planning and Development Scrutiny Panel held on Wednesday 27 July 2022 be received.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting of the Daedalus Scrutiny Panel held on Thursday 01 September 2022 be received.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting of the Policy and Resources Scrutiny Panel held on Thursday 22 September 2022 be received.

To answer questions pursuant to Standing Order 2.12 for this meeting.

There were no questions submitted for this meeting.

Members will be informed, prior to the meeting, of any motion duly notified in accordance with Standing Order 2.6 but received after print and dispatch of the agenda.

There were no motions submitted for this meeting.

A report by the Head of Democratic Services.

A proposed amendment of an additional  Appendix to the Council’s Consultation Response to the Local Government Boundary Commission was tabled at this meeting for consideration and is appended to these minutes.

The recommendations of the Licensing and Regulatory Affairs Committee were taken into account in considering this item.

RESOLVED that, having reviewed the working draft of the consultation response on the draft recommendations for new electoral arrangements for Fareham Borough Council, as set out in Appendix C to the report, the Council agrees:

(a)  that the suggested additional wording as detailed in the proposed amendment as tabled be added to the draft consultation response to strengthen the narrative;

(b)  to delegate authority to the Head of Democratic Services to make further alterations to the consultation response following consultation with the Executive Leader and the Member Working Group; and

(c)  to the final consultation response being submitted to the Local Government Boundary Commission for England on 15 November 2022.

A report by the Director of Planning and Regeneration.

It was proposed by Councillor S D T Woodward that the provisions of Standing Order 2.15.1 be suspended to allow the Executive Member for Planning and Development to present the report and to speak for longer than five minutes; and further that Standing Order 2.16.1 be suspended to allow all Members to speak more than once on the debate.

Having been duly seconded and carried unanimously, it was RESOLVED that the provisions of Standing Order 2.15.1 be suspended to allow the Executive Member for Planning and Development to present the report and to speak for longer than five minutes; and further that Standing Order 2.16.1 be suspended to allow all Members to speak more than once on the debate.

Councillor R Bird left the meeting at 19.12 and took no part in the discussion or decision on this or subsequent items.

The recommendations of the Executive were taken into account in considering this item.

It was proposed by Councillor S D T Woodward and seconded by Councillor S D Martin that the recommendation contained in the report be approved.

Having been duly proposed and seconded, and upon being put to the vote, the recommendations (a) to (e) of the Fareham Local Plan 2037 Main Modifications report were CARRIED unanimously.

RESOLVED that the Council approves:

(a)  the Inspector’s proposed Main Modifications to the Local Plan and the supporting Sustainability Appraisal report and Habitats Regulations Assessment Report for public consultation, subject to corrections of minor typographical and formatting errors;

(b)  the proposed changes to the Policies Map for public consultation;

(c)  the proposed Additional Modifications to the Local Plan for public consultation;

(d)  that the Director of Planning and Regeneration, following consultation with the Executive Member for Planning and Development, be authorised to submit the responses to the consultation to the Planning Inspector in order for her to conclude the Local Plan examination process; and

(e)  that the Schedule of Main Modification be a material consideration to be afforded due weight in the determination of planning applications.

In accordance with its Standing Orders, the Council is invited to consider a report on the appointment of committees and the allocation of seats following the by-election in Portchester East held on 20 October 2022.

The Council received a report by the Head of Democratic Services which provided details of the calculations for political balance relating to the allocation of seats on committees, following the by-election for the Portchester East ward on 20 October 2022.  The report also asked the Council to appoint the nominations of the political groups to committees and also to confirm the role of Chairman and Vice-Chairman for each committee.

Appendix A Allocation of Seats to Committees and Appendix B Committee Nomination Schedule were tabled at the meeting for consideration and are appended to these minutes.

RESOLVED that the Council approves:

(a)  the allocation of seats, as set out in the tabled Appendix A to the report, for the remainder of the municipal year 2022/23; and

(b)  the nominations of the political groups to seats on committees, along with the nominations of deputies and the appointment of a Chairman and Vice Chairman for each committee for the remainder of the municipal year 2022/23, as set out in the tabled Appendix B to the report.

To appoint a representative to the Portchester Parish Hall Board of Trustees.

Portchester Parish Hall provides facilities for user groups of all ages and a wide variety of other functions.

Meets: Quarterly

Status: 2 Trustees

In considering the appointment of a representative to the Portchester Parish Hall Board of Trustees, it was AGREED that Councillor H P Davis be appointed as Trustee for the remainder of the 2022/23 municipal year.