Agenda and minutes

An apology for absence was received from Councillor L Keeble.

To confirm as a correct record the minutes of the Council Meeting held on 20 May 2021.

RESOLVED that the Mayor be authorised to sign as a correct record the minutes of the meeting of the Council held on 20 May 2021.

The Mayor was pleased to inform members that her diary is getting busier by the day and that she was delighted that, along with the Mayoress, she has had the opportunity to meet with local people again in person. 

Amongst recent engagements, the Mayor and Mayoress were pleased to attend the launch of the Friday Night Charity New Generation Partnership with the 10^th Fareham Scouts and to hear of their successful fundraising bid from the National Lottery. The Mayor stated that it is a truly fantastic scheme and put forward her thanks to all the volunteers who help on a regular basis.

The Mayor went on to state that it has not been possible to raise any funds for her chosen charities during the pandemic and whilst the charity committee is still unable to organise fund raising events, she was very pleased to announce that Antonio, who has been very supportive prior to lockdown, is once again offering 3 charity nights in his restaurant, serving a three course meal.  The first event will be on Wednesday 21^st July at 7pm for 7.30pm. Sadly due to social distancing being observed, numbers will be limited but the Mayor was hopeful that Members would be able to support one of the events.

The Executive Leader announced that new Government funding has been announced to support the delivery of Welborne Garden Village, stating that the Government supports the Council’s ambitious plans to deliver Welborne as a Garden Village and is now making more funding available to cover the technical costs of the Junction 10 scheme, as well as a significant increase in their contribution to the capital cost of the Scheme itself. 

Further amendments to the previous proposals submitted by Buckland Development Ltd last year that potentially increase the developer’s contribution to Junction 10 to as much as £50M have just been received by the Council.  They will be the subject of a further three-week consultation before going forward for consideration by the Planning Committee, hopefully before the end of July, although the meeting date will not be confirmed until we are confident that all the appropriate statutory and technical requirements have been met.

The Executive Leader went on to announce that, more generally, the Government has recognised for some time that significant costs are carried around the delivery of a Garden Village at Welborne which go beyond the typical remit of local authorities.  They have therefore just announced a further £130,000 capacity funding in addition to the £1.1m already received so that the Council continues to have the resources to help deliver its sustainable new community.

The Executive Leader stated that it has taken months of negotiations to get to this position, with Fareham Borough Council, Hampshire County Council, Buckland Development Limited and Central Government all working tirelessly to find a way forward on the funding for and delivery of the Junction 10 Scheme so that the much needed housing can be delivered.  The Council is now really close to finalising an agreement that will unlock the millions of pounds of infrastructure funding for the M27 Junction 10 improvements that are critical to the success of Welborne Garden Village.  Everyone involved has worked very hard to get to this position and the Executive Leader was delighted that there now appears to be a way forward on Junction 10 so that Welborne Garden Village can finally become a reality.

Health and Public Protection

QA Hospital

The Executive Member announced that Members will recall that he has been trying to keep them updated in the progress of the development of the new Emergency Department.  He was therefore pleased to confirm that the hospital has submitted an Outline Planning Application which marks the next step in developing the new facility to replace the current 40year-old emergency department.

The new facility will provide the opportunity to implement best practice for patients needing urgent and emergency care, enhance patient safety and will mean that staff will be able to work in a more stream-lined way.  This will enable faster decision-making and more prompt care, meaning people visiting the department will receive the treatment required in a timely way.

The new department will be compliant with the latest standards and be significantly more energy efficient and will also include easy-to-understand signage, way finding for patients and visitors.  The Outline Planning Application should be going to the Planning Committee in Portsmouth in September.

Hampshire & Isle of Wight COVID-19 Vaccination programme

The Executive Member announced that he has been informed by the NHS that the successful roll-out of the COVID-19 vaccination programme continues, where 1.87 million vaccines have been delivered across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight to date.  95% of people aged 40 and over have received their first dose of the vaccine and they remain on track to meet the national target of offering all adults a first dose by the end of July.

People aged 25 and over are now being invited to make an appointment to receive a vaccine via the national booking service.  Also, it is their intention to bring forward the second doses for priority groups which have been brought forward from 12 to 8 weeks.  This means that people at greater risk of getting seriously ill due to COVID-19 can get maximum protection sooner.

Leisure and Community

The Executive Member stated that many Members would be aware of the Access All Areas programme, a scheme of activities for young people living or attending school in the Borough.  

In recent years, the attendance at these events has dwindled.  The initial decision not to charge has meant that young people feel that they don’t have to commit and as a result, registrations remain high but attendance is low.  As we emerge from the restrictions imposed by Covid-19, it is important not to encourage large gatherings where transmission of the virus could be facilitated.  For both these reasons a revised version of Access All Areas is being organised by the Council’s Leisure and Community Team.  Instead of large outdoor events, a schedule of smaller activities is being planned during the month of August, offering a range of experiences and opportunities for young people aged 11 to 16.  The charge for this year will be £10 and this will enable young people to participate in one activity per week over the 4-week scheme.  Whilst it is anticipated that for the vast majority of families, £10 is relatively affordable, Agencies and partnership organisations of the Council will be able to offer free registrations for individuals for whom this fee may make the scheme cost prohibitive.

Activities on offer this year will include sailing, rugby training, trampolining, football training, canoeing, driver training (for those aged 14+), inflatable pool party sessions, pamper and wellbeing sessions, yoga, motorbiking and climbing.

The Executive Member thanked the following organisations and groups for helping to deliver this year’s programme:

Fareham Heathens Rugby Club

AFC Portchester

Y-Services

Solent Stars Motorcycling Team

Everyone Active

Red Spider

Phoenix Driving School

Seafarers Sailing Club

3^rd Portchester Scouts

Finally, the Executive Member thanked members of the Leisure Team for putting the programme together.  Registration for Access All Areas will open in 2 weeks time and further details will be available on the Council’s website.

Planning and Development

The Executive Member announced that he wanted to make members aware of a relevant appeal decision relating to two planning applications in the Fareham/Stubbington Strategic gap on land between Peel Common and the Newgate Lane east bypass.   

The Executive Member stated that these two sites have not been included in the Revised Publication Local Plan, and that, in fact, they have not been proposed in any of the earlier Local Plan consultations, for the reason of poor fit within the Development Strategy put forward.   The Council’s site assessment at Fareham has concluded that development in this area would not be in keeping with the settlement pattern or character of Peel Common and would lead to unacceptable impacts on the Strategic Gap.  This view has been supported by the Planning Inspector who earlier this week dismissed the planning appeals.

The Executive Member announced that he would like to give particular praise to the Planning Officers who have taken a consistent line on these 2 sites and their decision was supported by the Planning Committee who followed the advice taken.  The Executive Member stated that the decision justifies the action that the Council has taken with regard to this matter and that he was delighted with the result which supports the Local Plan that has been put forward and which would be debated later in the meeting.

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

Councillor T M Cartwright, MBE declared a personal, non-pecuniary interest in respect of item 14 of the agenda - Revised Publication Local Plan Consultation as his son lives in part of the developments in Warsash.

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.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting of the Executive held on Monday 17 May 2021 be received.

The minutes of the meeting of the Executive held on Monday, 07 June 2021 will be tabled at the meeting.

The minutes of the meeting of the Executive held on Monday, 07 June 2021 were tabled for consideration.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting of the Executive held on Monday, 07 June 2021 be received.

RESOLVED that the Schedule of Individual Executive Member and Officer Delegated 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 Planning Committee held on Friday 09 April 2021 be received.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting of the Planning Committee held on Wednesday, 21 April 2021 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 Planning and Development Scrutiny Panel held on Tuesday 25 May 2021 be received.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting of the Climate Change Scrutiny Panel held on Thursday, 27 May 2021 be received.

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

There were no questions submitted at 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 at this meeting.

A report by the Director of Planning and Regeneration.

It was proposed by Councillor T M Cartwright, MBE that the provisions of Standing Order 2.15.1 be suspended to allow the Executive Leader and 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 proposed and seconded and carried unanimously, it was RESOLVED that the provisions of Standing Order 2.15.1 be suspended to allow the Executive Leader and 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 T M Cartwright, MBE declared a personal, non-pecuniary interest in respect of this item as his son lives in part of the developments in Warsash.

Councillor G Fazackarley left the meeting during the debate of this item.

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 T M Cartwright, MBE that the recommendations (a) to (d) of the report be approved.

Having been duly proposed and seconded, and upon being put to the vote, the recommendations (a) to (d) of the Revised Publication Local Plan Consultation report were CARRIED with Councillors I Bastable, Mrs S M Bayford, F Birkett, Miss J Bull, T M Cartwright, Mrs L E Clubley, M R Daniells, P J Davies, T Davies, S Dugan, Mrs T Ellis, J Englefield, M J Ford, N Gregory, Miss T Harper, Mrs P Hayre, Mrs C L A Hockley, Mrs K Mandry, S D Martin, Ms S Pankhurst, N J Walker, Mrs S Walker and S D T Woodward voting in favour and Councillors J Forrest, G Kelly, Mrs J Kelly, R H Price and Mrs K K Trott voting against.

RESOLVED that the Council approves that:

(a)  the Revised Publication Local Plan, as set out at Appendix A to the report, be published for a six-week period of public consultation, together with supporting documents included at Appendix B to G;

(b)  the Director of Planning and Regeneration, following consultation with the Executive Member for Planning and Development, be authorised to make any necessary minor amendments to the documents, prior to publication, provided these do not change the overall direction, shape or emphasis of the document and do not raise any significant new issues prior to the document being submitted to the Secretary of State;

(c)  the Director of Planning and Regeneration, following consultation with the Executive Member for Planning and Development, be authorised, following the completion of the consultation period, to submit the Revised Publication Local Plan to the Secretary of State (together with any necessary minor modifications or changes that are required to ensure legal compliance and/or ‘soundness’); and

(d)  the Revised Publication Local Plan be material consideration to be afforded due weight in the determination of planning applications.

A report by the Director of Planning and Regeneration.

RESOLVED that the Council approves the Community Infrastructure Levy Charging Schedule as set out in Annex 1 for implementation from 14 June 2021.

To make any changes in appointments to the seats on committees in accordance with the wishes of political groups.  Such appointments will take effect from 11 June 2021.

There were no changes to the appointments to Committees made at this meeting.