Agenda, decisions and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from the Executive Member for Leisure and Community, Councillor Mrs C L A Hockley.

To confirm as a correct record the minutes of the meeting of Executive held on 3 March 2014.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting of the Executive held on 3 March 2014 be confirmed and signed as a correct record.

There were no announcements from the Executive Leader given 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 a non-pecuniary interest for item 10(2) as he is appointed as a Hampshire County Council representative to the Project Integra Strategic Board. Councillor Woodward remained present at the meeting and took part in the discussion of the item.

Councillor L Keeble declared a non-pecuniary interest for item 10(2) as he is appointed as Fareham Borough Council’s representative to Project Integra and is the Chairman of the Strategic Board. Councillor Keeble remained present at the meeting and took part in the discussion of the item.

Councillor B Bayford declared a non-pecuniary interest for item 10(2) as he is appointed as Fareham Borough Council’s deputy representative to Project Integra. Councillor Bayford remained present at the meeting and took part in the discussion of the item.

There were no petitions presented at this meeting.

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

There were no deputations made at this meeting.

To receive any reference from the committees or panels held.

The Executive received comments from the Health and Housing Policy Development and Review Panel regarding the Homelessness Strategy for 2014-17 and Action Plan and took account of these comments in determining the matter at item 8(2) below.

A report by the Director of Community.

At the invitation of the Executive Leader, Councillor Mrs K K Trott addressed the Executive on this item.

RESOLVED that the Executive:

(a)       approves the new Tenancy Agreement, as appended to the report, and requests officers to issue this as soon as possible to all current tenants on a secure, introductory or flexible tenancy; and

(b)       delegates power to the Director of Community, in consultation with the Executive Member for Health and Housing, to approve minor changes to the Tenancy Agreement.

A report by the Director of Community.

The comments of the Health and Housing Policy Development and Review Panel were taken into account in consideration of this item (see minute 7 above).

At the invitation of the Executive Leader, Councillor P W Whittle, JP addressed the Executive on this item.

RESOLVED that the Executive approves the draft Homelessness and Housing Options Strategy for Fareham 2014 -2017 and Action Plan, attached as Appendix A to the report.

A report by the Director of Community.

At the invitation of the Executive Leader, Councillor P W Whittle, JP addressed the Executive on this item.

RESOLVED that the Executive:

(a)       approves a budget of £5.5 million to fund the development of a new 36 unit sheltered housing scheme at Coldeast, Park Gate;

(b)       approves a budget of £854,000 to fund the development of 6 energy efficient ‘Passivhaus’ homes at Coldeast Close, Sarisbury;

(c)       approves a revised budget of £1,850,000 to fund the development of 16 x 1 bedroom flats at Palmerston Avenue; and

(d)       authorises the Director of Community to submit a bid for grant funding to the HCA via the Wayfarer consortium to help fund the development of new affordable homes to be built between 2015 and 2018.

A report by the Director of Community.

At the invitation of the Executive Leader, Councillor P W Whittle, JP addressed the Executive on this item.

RESOLVED that the Executive agrees to:

a)    note the list of Council owned sites currently being considered for the delivery of new affordable housing, subject to the inclusion of Privett Road;

b)    authorise the Director of Community to serve notice preventing the sale via the Right to Buy of all existing dwellings situated within the potential development sites listed in this report for a period of up to 5 years; and

c)    grant permission for detailed feasibility work to be undertaken and for planning applications to be submitted as / when proposals have been finalised.

A report by the Director of Community and the Director of Finance and Resources.

At the invitation of the Executive Leader, Councillor P W Whittle, JP addressed the Executive on this item.

RESOLVED that the Executive:

a)    agrees that the new swimming pool and leisure facility be constructed at Coldeast on the land transferred to the Council from the Homes and Communities Agency;

b)    agrees the outline project specification for the swimming pool and leisure facility as detailed in Appendix B;

c)    approves a provisional budget of £7 million for the provision of the new swimming pool, to be funded from the Council’s capital reserves and prudential borrowing;

d)    requests officers to bring forward a report exploring the options for replenishing the Council’s capital reserves through the sale of existing assets within the Western Wards; and

e)    notes that additional financial resources will need to be identified and allocated at a future date for the access road, the setting out of the cemetery, allotments and construction of a new community building.

Following the changes to the management structure, as reported to the Executive on 3^rd March 2014, the Executive is asked to approve delegation of Community Funding applications under £100 to the Director of Finance and Resources (or in their absence the Director of Community).

RESOLVED that the Executive approves delegation of Community Funding applications under £100 to the Director of Finance and Resources (or in their absence the Director of Community).

A report by the Director of Environmental Services.

RESOLVED that the contract for hedge and sports grounds maintenance over a 5 year term commencing July 2014 is awarded to The Landscape Group Ltd.

A report by the Director of Environmental Services.

Councillor S D T Woodward a non-pecuniary interest for item 10(2) as he is appointed as a Hampshire County Council representative to the Project Integra Strategic Board. Councillor Woodward remained present at the meeting and took part in the discussion of the item.

Councillor L Keeble declared a non-pecuniary interest for item 10(2) as he is appointed as Fareham Borough Council’s representative to Project Integra and is the Chairman of the Strategic Board. Councillor Keeble remained present at the meeting and took part in the discussion of the item.

Councillor B Bayford declared a non-pecuniary interest for item 10(2) as he is appointed as Fareham Borough Council’s deputy representative to Project Integra. Councillor Bayford remained present at the meeting and took part in the discussion of the item.

RESOLVED that the Executive approves the 2014-17 Project Integra partnership action plan as detailed in the briefing paper and appendices.

A report by the Director of Planning and Development.

At the invitation of the Executive Leader, Councillor P W Whittle, JP addressed the Executive on this item.

RESOLVED that the Executive notes the quarterly update on the financial costs of producing the Welborne Plan.

A report by the Director of Finance and Resources.

RESOLVED that the Executive

a)    approves Option 3, detailed at paragraph 14 of the report as the most suitable for taking down and rebuilding the Council’s wall adjacent to the Depot; and

b)    notes the risk that the Council will also have to fund the cost to undertake civil engineering works required to install gabions if the ‘one off’ bid to the Treasury by Defra and the Environment Agency for additional funds is unsuccessful.

To consider whether it is in the public interest to exclude the public and representatives of the Press from the remainder of the meeting on the grounds that the matters to be dealt with involve the likely disclosure of exempt information, as defined in Paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972.

RESOLVED that in accordance with the Local Government Act 1972 the Public and Press be excluded from the remainder of the meeting, as the Executive considers that it is not in the public interest to consider the matters in public on the grounds that they will involve the disclosure of exempt information, as defined in Paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act.

A report by the Director of Community.

RESOLVED that the Executive approves:

(a)       the selection of four of the candidates nominated, to be formally recognised as Citizens of Honour 2014;

(b)       the selection of one of the candidates nominated, as Young Citizen of the Year (4-11 year olds); and

(c)       that the category for Young Citizen of the Year (12-18 year olds) be temporarily re-opened as the Executive were unable to differentiate between the candidates listed because the nomination reasons were the same for every nominee. Re-opening the category would allow the nominators to provide further details and for other nominations to come forward.

A report by the Director of Planning and Development.

RESOLVED that the Executive notes the variation of contracts for work being undertaken by Parsons Brinkerhoff/LDA Design and GVA.