Agenda and minutes

There were no apologies for absence given for this meeting.

To confirm as a correct record the minutes of the Council Meeting held on 26 June 2024.

RESOLVED that the Mayor be authorised to sign as a correct record the minutes of the meeting of the Council held on 26 June 2024.

The Mayor made the following announcements:

As part of the Council’s celebrations to commemorate the 50^th year of Fareham having Borough status, The Mayor was pleased to open the giant sandpit which is installed in Fareham Shopping Centre.  The ‘Pop Up Beach’ will be in place for the whole summer, until 16 September, for families to enjoy for free.

It was a privilege to be invited to officially open the Community First Showcase event in Fareham Town Centre last weekend.  The exhibition of over 70 local community groups and volunteer organisations provided a great deal of information on the support available to the public.

The Mayor was delighted to be invited to present a civic award for pupils of Sarisbury Junior School and it was also a joy to host a visit of pupils from Locks Heath School for a visit to the parlour.

There were no Executive Leader announcements.

Executive Member for Leisure and Community

Community Showcase

The Executive Member reported that the Community Showcase took place last weekend in the Town Centre and was an excellent event. Children are enjoying the pop-up beach sand pit and that the number of children and families using it is excellent. Members were encouraged to visit the facility as it is really enjoyable.

Fareham Live

The Executive Member visited the site with the Chairman of the Leisure and Community Scrutiny Panel and reported that the progress is breathtaking. All Members are encouraged to book their tickets for the Gala opening event on 1 October which is a gala performance of the Rocky Horror Show. 

Other updates for the Fareham Live project include that the theatre specialist wiring is nearing completion; the fly tower mechanical systems are installed with rows and rows of wires and pulleys in place; the main auditorium stage is constructed; the toilet vanity units are installed; the professional kitchen installation has commenced and it’s looking brilliant.

To date, 16,276 tickets have been sold with many more shows coming up for sale in the future.

Executive Member for Planning and Development

Environment Strategy

The Executive Member announced that he was pleased to provide Members with an update on the progression of the Council’s Environment Strategy.

The Fareham’s Greener Future publication agreed by the Executive in March this year successfully captured the scale and breadth of the Council’s actions on the environment. It explained all the initiatives undertaken in recent years to reduce the carbon footprint of delivering Council services, whether through reduced energy use or the use of HVO in our vehicle fleet. It also showcased a raft of wildlife and tree planting projects, which alongside our excellent planning work on nutrient neutrality and bird mitigation, show that the Council is playing a leading role in nature recovery across the Borough.

The next challenge is to draw up an over-arching Environment Strategy. Building on the Council’s Climate Change Action Plan, this will seek to establish our ‘route map’ to achieving carbon neutrality in service delivery in 2030. It will also how we will meet the new responsibilities set out in the 2021 Environment Act whether in relation to biodiversity and nature recovery, or recycling changes.

As we progress through the municipal year, progress on the formulation of the Environment Strategy will be shared with the Climate Change Scrutiny Panel. However, the Strategy will affect many parts of Council service delivery and so there will be plenty of opportunities for wider Member engagement. A draft Environment Strategy will then be considered and agreed by the Executive for consultation and engagement with both our residents and businesses, as their views on these matters will also be vitally important.

The Executive Member undertook to continue to keep Members updated on progress.

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.

A deputation was received from Mr Andy Rolfe on behalf of Friends of the Earth in respect of agenda item 13(1) -  Climate and Nature Bill Motion – Update.

A Motion, Climate & Nature Bill (previously Climate & Ecology Bill) was received by Council on 14 December 2023. The Motion was referred to the Planning and Development Scrutiny Panel, who considered it at their meeting on 14 March 2024.

The Motion was then referred to the Climate Change Scrutiny Panel, who considered at their meeting on 9 June 2024.

A copy of the original motion wording is attached at Appendix A.

A copy of the presentation given to the Planning and Development Scrutiny Panel as well as the Climate Change Scrutiny Panel is attached as Appendix B.

The Climate Change Scrutiny Panel gave the following resolution to this motion:

Members discussed the proposed Climate and Nature (CAN) Bill at length. The key points that the Panel considered to pass to Council to assist with debate on the Motion were as set out below:

• the objectives of the CAN Bill to introduce further national legislation,  policy and targets in relation to both climate and nature matters were broadly welcomed by Panel members;
• it was noted that the future legislative programme of the new Government may include measures relating to both climate and nature matters;
• there is a need to consider the potential financial impacts (both positive and negative) of any future climate and nature legislative/policy changes and targets on the wider economy, local residents and local authorities at the Government policy-making stage;
• future climate and nature legislative/policy changes should be supported as appropriate at a local level, with local authorities playing an active role in delivery and engagement within the local community;
• the importance of clear and consistent measurement of climate and nature outcomes in framing future legislation, policy and targets, both nationally and internationally, was highlighted;
• the use of climate and nature expert scientific advisors in framing future legislation, policy and targets, and also associated delivery programmes was highlighted; 
• the Panel noted that the Motion referenced only one of the three MP’s that, following the recent general election, now represent parts of Fareham Borough. 

RESOLVED that the Planning and Development Scrutiny Panel pass the above comments on to Council to assist with their debate on the Motion.

This motion is now being brought back to Council for debate and decision.

The Mayor brought this item forward on the agenda and it was heard directly after item 8.

A deputation was received in respect of this item from Mr Andy Rolfe on behalf of Friends of the Earth.

The comments of the Climate Change Scrutiny Panel were noted in considering this item.

At the invitation of the Mayor, Councillor C A Bainbridge introduced the motion.

An amendment to the Motion was proposed by Councillor M Daniells, as detailed at Appendix A to these minutes and as tabled at the meeting.

An amendment to the proposed amended Motion was proposed by Councillor C A Bainbridge, as detailed at Appendix A to these minutes and tabled at the meeting.  Having been duly seconded by Councillor A J West and on being put to the meeting, the amendments to the amended motion were declared LOST with 10 voting in favour and 21 voting against.

The substantive motion, as proposed by Councillor M Daniells was then put to the meeting.  Having been duly seconded by Councillor T L Ellis, the substantive motion was declared CARRIED with 21 voting in favour and 10 voting against.

RESOLVED that the Council agrees to:

(a)  deliver our environmental strategy, which will be the Council’s response to address climate change and nature concerns;

(b)  where possible, reduce net greenhouse gas emissions to meet our obligations under the Paris 2015 agreement;

(c)  our biodiversity net gain delivery as part of the Environment strategy which is designed to halt the decline in nature and promote recovery. We advocate for the use of reliable and meaningful data about nature that is measurable and understandable to the general public to demonstrate our support;

(d)  encourage the Government to work towards the development of an internationally accepted accounting mechanism for costing emissions and ecology.

(e)  aim to reduce the use of fossil fuels and transition towards relying solely on affordable and renewable energy sources. In doing so we will continue to use a mix of energy sources, including fossil fuels, to ensure that we can continue to function effectively as an authority;

(f)   support retraining of those people wishing to move into the new eco-industries;

(g)  support these amendments to the Motion;

(h)  inform local residents and inform local press/media of this decision; and

(i)    write to all three MPs who represent the Borough to inform them that this motion has been passed.

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.

Councillor Mrs C L A Hockley left the meeting at the start of this item.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting of the Executive held on Monday 01 July 2024 be received.

A revised page 22 of the agenda pack was tabled at the meeting to correct the resolution at item 8(4) of the agenda for the meeting of the Executive held on 15 July 2024.  A copy is attached as Appendix B to these minutes.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting of the Executive held on 15 July 2024 be received.

RESOLVED that the Schedule of Individual Executive Member and Officer Delegated Decisions be received.

RESOLVED that the Schedule of Urgency Provisions be noted.

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 Wednesday 12 June 2024 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 Health and Public Protection Scrutiny Panel held on Thursday 27 June 2024 be received.

The minutes of the meeting of the Housing Scrutiny Panel held on Thursday 27 June 2024 were tabled at the meeting for consideration and are attached as Appendix C to these minutes.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting of the Housing Scrutiny Panels held on Thursday 27 June 2024 and Thursday 11 July 2024 be received.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting of the Leisure and Community Scrutiny Panel held on Tuesday 25 June 2024 be received.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting of the Policy and Resources Scrutiny Panel held on Monday 17 June 2024 be received.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting of the Climate Change Scrutiny Panel held on Tuesday 09 July 2024 be received.

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

There 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.

The motion submitted by Councillor G Furnivall in respect of the LGBTQ+ Community is as follows:

This Council notes that:

·         Fareham Borough is the proud home of a large, diverse and thriving LGBTQ+ community.

·         Results of the 2012 Census show that 8.14% of residents (16 and over) identify as LGB – ie approximately 1 I 12. Furthermore, 0.27% of residents state that their gender is different to that assigned at birth – ie. Approximately 1 in 370.

·         According to Home office statistics sexual orientation hate crime in Hampshire rose by 65% in 2022 from the year before. In fact, all hate crime rose by 64% making Hampshire the highest rise in the South East.

·         The Stonewall and YouGov 2018 ‘LGBT in Britan – health report’ stated that 1 in 8 LGBT people (18-24) had tried to take their own life in the previous year and almost half of trans people surveyed said the same.

Council therefore notes:

·         That harm has be done to the LGBTQ+ people in the past and that discrimination exists.

·         The Home Office has stated that increased discussions of “transgender issues” could be behind the rise in anti-LGBTQ+ hate crimes.

·         That more could be done to support and enable equity in Fareham society.

·         That all LGBTQ+ people deserve to be treated with dignity and respect.

Fareham Borough Council resolves:

·         To show support for the LGBTQ+ people by flying the Pride Flag during Pride month from 2025.

·         To explore how to ensure anyone dealing with the Council may be offered the opportunity to be addressed using pronouns of their choice if they wish.

A notice of Motion was presented by Councillor G Furnivall:

“That this Council notes that:

·         Fareham Borough is the proud home of a large, diverse and thriving LGBTQ+ community.

·         Results of the 2012 Census show that 8.14% of residents (16 and over) identify as LGB- i.e. approximately 1 in 12. Furthermore, 0.27% of residents state that their gender is different to that assigned at birth – i.e. approximately 1 in 370.

·         According to Home Office statistics sexual orientation hate crime in Hampshire rose by 65% in 2022 from the year before.  In fact, all hate crime rose by 64% making Hampshire the highest rise in the South East.

·         The Stonewall and YouGov 2018 ‘LGBT in Britain – health report’ stated that 1 in 8 LGBT people (18-24) had tried to take their own life in the previous year and almost half of trans people surveyed said the same.

Council therefore notes:

·         That harm has been done to the LGBTQ+ people in the past and that discrimination exists.

·         The Home Office has stated that increased discussions of “transgender issues” could be behind the rise in anti-LGBTQ+ hate crimes.

·         That more could be done to support and enable equity in Fareham society.

·         That all LGBTQ+ people deserve to be treated with dignity and respect.

Fareham Borough Council resolves:

·         To show support for the LGBTQ+ people by flying the Pride Flag during Pride month from 2025.

·         To explore how to ensure anyone dealing with the Council may be offered the opportunity to be addressed using pronouns of their choice if they wish. “

Having been duly proposed by Councillor G Furnivall and seconded by Councillor C A Bainbridge, the motion was referred to the Policy and Resources Scrutiny Panel for consideration.

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 26/27/24.

RESOLVED that there were no changes to appointments to Committees made at this meeting.