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 12 October 2020.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting of the Executive held on 12 October 2020 be confirmed and signed as a correct record.

The Executive Leader announced that the implications of the Prime Minister’s recent announcement regarding a national lockdown have been considered and that the following arrangements are being put in place to take effect from Thursday 5^th November:

The Civic Offices will be closed to customers as they should only be leaving their homes for essential purpose, but we will revert to a telephone appointment system.

We will need to work with our partners to close our leisure centres and, community centres. Where child-care provision is being provided within a community centre, that element will be able to remain open. Westbury Manor Museum and sports pavilions will be closed, and sports pitches will not be available for hire.  Public conveniences, parks and play areas will remain open.  Our enforcement officers will be undertaking the role of ‘Covid Marshals’ providing advice and guidance to the local community.

Unfortunately, the Christmas markets planned for Fareham Town Centre in early December will need to be cancelled.  The Christmas lights will still be switched on but with no ceremony.  The special church service for Remembrance Sunday will also be cancelled but we will ensure that there is a small ceremony, at the appropriate time, to allow the laying of wreaths at the memorial. This will not be a public event, but it will be live-streamed.

Our Finance Team will start preparing to pay a further round of grants to those businesses forced to close over the next four weeks.  Meanwhile, Leisure and Community officers will continue to liaise with the voluntary agencies to ensure that we can provide support to vulnerable people during lockdown.

Fortunately, we are in a position where we can continue with our schedule of committee meetings as they are all currently being held virtually using Microsoft Teams.  Councillors are however requested to work from home and not visit the Civic Offices over the next four weeks.

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.

There were no petitions submitted at this meeting.

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

The Executive received a deputation from Mr Derek Haggard in respect of item 8(2) Sea Lane Housing Site, PO14 2NB.

To receive any references from the committees or panels held.

Health & Public Protection Scrutiny Panel - 27 October 2020

Minute 8 – Community Safety & CCTV Review

The Panel considered a report and received a supporting presentation on the Community Safety and CCTV review that will be considered by the Executive at its meeting on 02 November 2020. 

At the invitation of the Chairman, Councillors J Forrest and Mrs K K Trott addressed the Panel on this item.

At the invitation of the Chairman, Councillor T M Cartwright, MBE Executive Member for Health and Public Protection addressed the Panel on this item to provide answers and clarity to some of the questions and comments raised by Members.

Members raised the following points during the discussion on this item:

The new service provided by the security officers patrolling the town centre is excellent and extremely worthwhile. They provide a very valuable support service to the police.

The proposed increase in enforcement officers is very welcome – particularly if they will be trained by the security guards who currently patrol the Town Centre.  However, there needs to be a wider presence to cover outer parts of the Borough that have seen an upswing in anti-social behaviour as a result of the successes achieved in the Town Centre.

It is concerning that there are no proposals to retain any cameras in the Highlands Road area as they act as a deterrent against anti-social behaviour.

The monitoring period of the cameras did not cover the times when the greatest level of anti-social behaviour takes place at Highlands Road, the summer, and may not therefore provide a true representation of the need to retain them.

The decision to make a small charge for ‘Access All Areas’ makes sense as it provides fantastic value for money, particularly when compared with other provision that is available. However, some families on low incomes may struggle to be able to afford it.  Can some sort of concession be made for these families? 

With the loss of the control room, how will the Out of Hours service continue to operate effectively and provide the same level of service that it currently provides?

It is concerning that there will no longer be any cameras at Portchester precinct. McColl’s Convenience store has been broken into several times this year and the cameras covering the car park make residents feel safe in using the car park.  Could there be at least one camera that faces straight down the length of the precinct?

How will the Highways ROMANSE scheme work with the new technology?  Will it be compatible?

It will be great to have a more re-active service available with the deployable cameras but how will we be able to apply for the use of the cameras in an area and how quickly can the cameras be deployed?

Residents have complained in the past that the cameras at Broadlaw are not positioned in the correct place to be able to capture footage of anti-social behaviour and therefore may not accurately reflect the level of need for retaining a camera there.

How long will it take to be able access footage from the cameras when it is needed?

The improved specification of the cameras is fantastic and much clearer.  Hopefully this will bring some of the issues that face the Town Centre into sharper focus.

RESOLVED that the Health and Public Protection Scrutiny Panel notes the content of the presentation, the draft Executive report and the detailed results outlined in the confidential Appendix to be presented to the 02 November meeting of the Executive for consideration.

This item is listed for consideration at item 10(1) of the Executive agenda

Policy & Resources Scrutiny Panel – 08 October 2020

Minute 8 – Annual Review of Corporate Strategy

The Panel considered a report by the Deputy Chief Executive Officer.

It was suggested that the wording to priority three of the Corporate Strategy in respect of the graves at holly hill be re-worded to “Create 400 new graves as an extension to Holly Hill cemetery to increase the number of burial plots available to residents of the west of the Borough.”

RESOLVED that the Panel recommends the Executive at its meeting on 2 November 2020 that:

(a)   the revised wording to Priority Three as outlined above be approved; and that the recommended changes as set out in the Executive report be approved.

This item is listed for consideration at item 11(2) of the agenda

A report by the Deputy Chief Executive Officer.

At the invitation of the Executive Leader, Councillors R H Price,JP and L Keeble addressed the Executive on this item.

RESOLVED that the Executive agrees:

(a)  the funding mechanisms, as outlined in the confidential Appendix B, for the delivery of an affordable home ownership scheme at the former Coldeast Scout Hut site; and

(b)  that the award of contract and the appointment of building contractor(s) for the former Coldeast Scout Hut site be delegated to the Deputy Chief Executive Officer, following consultation with the Executive Member for Housing.

A report by the Deputy Chief Executive Officer.

The Executive received a deputation from Mr Derek Haggard in respect of this item.

RESOLVED that the Executive agrees:

(a)  the principle of delivering 4 self/custom build plots at the Sea Lane site as a new Housing Enabling Capital Programme scheme;

(b)  the scheme funding mechanisms, as outlined in confidential Appendix B, for the delivery of serviced plots ready for market sale;

(c)  that the appointment of any relevant contractors (to provide demarcated and serviced plots) be delegated to the Deputy Chief Executive Officer;

(d)  that officers may, subject to appropriate value as determine by the Council’s Head of Property, sell a small strip on the western side of the site to an immediate neighbour;

(e)  that officers, subject to the satisfaction of the Council’s Head of Property, ensure the plots are marketed at an appropriate value and have delegated authority to agree/accept an appropriate offer for each individual plot; and

(f)   that those net sale capital receipts available to the Council will be held in the general fund and be used toward the provision of affordable housing in the Borough.

A report by the Director of Leisure and Community.

RESOLVED that the Executive approves:

(a)  the pausing of the Arts and Entertainment venue project for an initial period of 6 months, then review the implications for the Council; and

(b)  that officers commence discussions with BH Live to reach a suitable operating arrangement.

A report by the Director of Leisure and Community.

The comments of the Health and Public Protection Scrutiny Panel were taken into account in considering this item.

At the invitation of the Executive Leader, Councillors R H Price,JP and L Keeble addressed the Executive on this item.

RESOLVED that the Executive agrees that:

(a)  30 of the lower performing, and out of date, public facing CCTV cameras are decommissioned;

(b)  13 high quality CCTV cameras be positioned in the most effective areas within Fareham town centre, and procured at a cost of £40,000;

(c)  a £10,000 annual budget be established to fund re-deployable CCTV camera hire;

(d)  live monitoring of CCTV be replaced by a system based on accessible but securely stored recorded footage;

(e)  Gosport Borough Council be given notice of the Council’s intention to dissolve the CCTV Monitoring Partnership;

(f)   “Access All Areas” be treated as a leisure initiative and that a charge of £10 per person be introduced for those wishing to attend; and

(g)  two additional Enforcement Officers be employed at an annual cost of £53,264.

A report by the Director of Planning and Regeneration.

RESOLVED that the Executive approves:

(a)  an extension to the existing contract with Regional and City Airports Limited for the management and operation of Solent Airport of 12 months from 01 April 2021; and

(b)  the procurement of independent expert advice to inform the future strategic direction of the Solent Airport, its management and operations.

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.

At the invitation of the Executive Leader, Councillors R H Price, JP and L Keeble addressed the Executive on this item.

In considering this item, the Executive discussed the following amendments to the Corporate Strategy:

(i)       the front page of the Strategy be amended to show that the latest update is December 2020;

(ii)      page 105 to be amended to reflect that the Borough’s Local Plan will run until 2037;

(iii)     page 111 pf the strategy to be amended to replace the wording ‘entertainment at Ferneham Hall’ with ‘entertainment at Fareham Live’; and

(iv)    proposed amendments to the Strategy be clearly identifiable throughout the document when it is presented to Council for approval

RESOLVED that the Executive agrees that:

(a)  the amendments outlined at paragraph 14 of the report be incorporated into the Strategy document;

(b)  the recommendation of the Policy and Resources Scrutiny Panel that the  revised wording of priority three of the Corporate Strategy to “Create 400 new graves as an extension to Holly Hill cemetery to increase the number of burial plots available to residents of the west of the Borough” be incorporated into the Strategy document;

(c)  the following additional changes be incorporated into the Strategy document:

(i)       the front page of the Strategy be amended to show that the latest update is December 2020;

(ii)      page 105 to be amended to reflect that the Borough’s Local Plan will run until 2037;

(iii)     page 111 of the strategy to be amended to replace the wording ‘entertainment at Ferneham Hall’ with ‘entertainment at Fareham Live’;

(iv)     proposed amendments to the Strategy be clearly identifiable throughout the document when it is presented to Council for approval; and

(d)  the updated Corporate Strategy document, incorporating the amendments as listed in (a), (b) and (c) above, be recommended to Council for approval. 

A report by the Director of Planning and Regeneration.

This item was brought forward on the agenda and heard directly after item 11(1).

A revised copy of Appendix A - SACC Terms of Reference was tabled at the meeting in order to provide information regarding which organisations and local authorities other than Fareham Borough Council that will be represented on the Committee.

RESOLVED that the Executive:

(a)  approves the establishment of a Consultative Committee for Solent Airport, as outlined in the report and in the revised Appendix A;

(b)  appoints the Executive Leader, Councillor S D T Woodward, as the Chairman of the Committee;

(c)  appoints the Deputy Executive Leader, Councillor T M Cartwright, MBE as the Vice-Chairman of the Committee; and

(d)  appoints the following Councillors from the Titchfield, Hill Head and Stubbington Wards as Members of the Committee:

(i)      Councillor Miss T Harper;

(ii)    Councillor S Dugan; and

(iii)   Councillor J Forrest