Agenda, decisions and minutes

There were no apologies given for this meeting.

To confirm as a correct record the minutes of the meeting of the Executive held on 11 October 2021.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting held on Monday 11 October 2021 be confirmed and signed as a correct record.

There were no announcements made by the Executive Leader at this meeting.

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

Councillor S D T Woodward declared a non-pecuniary interest in respect of item 9(1) as he is a Council appointed Trustee of Whiteley Community Association.

There were no petitions submitted at this meeting.

To receive any deputations, of which notice has been lodged.

There were no deputations made at this meeting.

To receive any references from the committees or panels held.

Policy and Resources Scrutiny Panel – 06 October 2021

Minute 6 – Medium Term Finance Strategy

The Council considered a report by the Deputy Chief Executive Officer on the medium-term finance strategy.

The Finance Manager addressed the Panel to provide them with a verbal update to the published recommendation from “that any proposals or comments of the Panel be referred to the Executive at its meeting on 11 October 2021” to “that any proposals or comments of the Panel be referred to a future meeting of the Executive”.

Members enquired as to how the Council is approaching the possible loss of income from its property portfolio going forward. The Finance Manager explained that the Council is working closely with its tenants to understand individual pressures and needs and has made changes to payment arrangements to help better suit these businesses whilst they recover from the impact of the Pandemic.

Members also questioned what would happen to current posts that have been created from government funding as a result of the Pandemic when the funding runs out. The Deputy Chief Executive Officer explained that while the posts are fixed term, Officers do submit funding bids when Government funding is made available, in order to try to secure these posts in the future.

RESOLVED that the Panel recommends that the Executive approves the Medium-Term Finance Strategy when it is considered at a future meeting of the Executive.

This was considered at item 11(2) on the agenda

Minute 7 – Annual Review of Corporate Strategy

The Panel considered a report by the Deputy Chief Executive Officer on the annual review of the Corporate Strategy and Local Service Agreements 2020/21.

Councillor Mrs Hockley commented on how well presented this document and easy to read and understand. She also enquired as to whether the Greening Campaign for Titchfield should be in this document. The Policy, Research and Engagement Manager confirmed that this is scheduled to be in the 2021/22 update.

RESOLVED that the Panel recommends that the Executive endorses the Annual Review of the Corporate Strategy 2017-2023 and Local Service Agreements 2020/21 when it considers this report at its meeting on 1 November 2021.

This was considered at item 11(1) on the agenda

Leisure and Community Scrutiny Panel 18 October 2021

Minute 6 – Review of Community Buildings

The Panel received a report by the Director of Leisure and Community on a Review of Community Buildings. The report was presented by the Leisure and Community Officer, Claire Benfield and provided the Panel with an opportunity to pre-scrutinise the report prior to consideration by the Executive on the 01 November 2021.

The Leisure and Community Officer advised Members that an error had been identified within the confidential appendix A of the Executive report. Two figures had been input incorrectly meaning that the total cost allocation had been changed from £455,000 to £433,000. The Executive report itself would be amended prior to publication.

In order to discuss the content of the confidential appendix A of the Executive report the Chairman suggested that the Panel move into private session.

RESOLVED that the meeting move into private session to exclude members of the public and press as defined in Paragraph 3, Part 1 of schedule A of the Local Government Act 1972 in order to discuss the exempt information contained within Appendix A of the Executive report.

Members discussed the report at length and asked several questions regarding the work that has been prioritised as urgent, raising concerns over the high costs of this work. Officers reassured Members that many of the Community Associations have good reserves and funding raising capabilities which will contribute to some of the costs.

There were also concerns raised by Members of the Panel on the accuracy of the costs summarised, as the review had been carried out in 2020 prior to the covid-19 pandemic. The building sector has seen price rises over the past 12 months that could have an impact on the costs summarised within the report. Members asked that these concerns be highlighted to the Executive at their meeting on the 01 November 2021.

RESOLVED that the Leisure and Community Scrutiny Panel: -

a)    note the contents of the Executive report at Appendix 1; and

b)    asks that their concerns regarding the accuracy of the costs summarised due to the impact of the covid-19 pandemic on the increased cost of building work, be highlighted to the Executive at their meeting on the 01 November 2021.

This was considered at item 9(1) on the agenda

A report by the Deputy Chief Executive Officer.

A revised page 13 of the agenda pack was tabled at the meeting to clarify that the Fareham Borough Council Shared Ownership Policy, and not the Affordable Housing Policy, was being presented to the Executive for approval.  

RESOLVED that the Executive:

(a)  approves the Fareham Borough Council Shared Ownership Policy, as provided in Appendix A to the report, for publication; and

(b)  approves payment in accordance with the Council’s Incentive Scheme for any existing tenants agreeing to downsize.  This would only apply to Fareham Borough Council tenants who are moving into Fareham Borough Council shared ownership stock.

A report by the Director of Leisure and Community.

Councillor S D T Woodward declared a non-pecuniary interest for this item as he is a Council appointed Trustee of Whiteley Community Association.

The comments of the Leisure and Community Scrutiny Panel were taken into account in considering this item.

RESOLVED that the Executive:

(a)  approves the allocation of up to £433,000 from the General Fund Revenue Reserve to establish a capital budget for the urgent significant repair works to the Council’s community buildings, as identified by the Condition Surveys;

(b)  notes the potential works required to the X-perience building, which will be subject to a separate report; and

(c)  notes the smaller necessary repairs, totalling £117,000, identified that are the Council’s responsibility as detailed with the Leases held.

A report by the Head of Streetscene.

RESOLVED that the Executive agrees to adopt the Project Integra Joint Municipal Waste Strategy, as attached to the report as Appendix A.

A report by the Deputy Chief Executive Officer.  

The comments of the Policy and Resources Scrutiny Panel were taken into account in considering this item.

RESOLVED that the Executive:

(a)  agrees the amendments to the strategy document, as set out in paragraph 17 of the report;

(b)  recommends the Annual Review of the Corporate Strategy to Council for approval, subject to any further amendments; and

(c)  notes the Council’s performance for the 2020/21 financial year.

A report by the Deputy Chief Executive Officer

The comments of the Policy and Resources Scrutiny Panel were taken into account in considering this item.

RESOLVED that the Executive approves the Medium-Term Finance Strategy for the period 2021/22 to 2025/6, as set out at Appendix A to the report.