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 3 February 2025.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting of the Executive held on 3 February 2025 be confirmed and signed as a correct record.

There were no Executive Leader announcements.

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.

Deputations were received from local resident, Gareth Jones, in respect of item 8(1) - Fareham Town Centre Regeneration 2025-2035 and item 10(1) – Fareham Shopping Centre Asset Management Initiatives.

To receive any references from the committees or panels held.

Policy and Resources Scrutiny Panel – 12 February 2025

Minute 6 – Fareham Town Centre Regeneration Strategy

The Panel considered a report and received a presentation from the Regeneration Strategic Lead on the Fareham Town Centre Regeneration Strategy which will be considered by the Executive at its meeting on 13 February 2025 (a copy of the presentation is appended to these minutes).

A tabled item was presented to the Panel, providing an update to the recommendations to the Executive report (a copy of this tabled item has been appended to these minutes).

Members focused on a variety of topics following the presentation and these included: -

·         Transport Issues – Members raised concerns regarding the availability of public transport in the evenings, especially bus services and requested that officers work with the bus companies to try and improve on the availability of these services. A suggestion was also made for a dedicated bus route be provided for Fareham Live ‘show nights’ where there could be pick up points across the Borough to pick up and drop off members of the public who wish to use this service to visit the venue.

·         Aligning the Strategy with the Corporate Strategy – Panel Members recognised that the Town Centre Regeneration Strategy is aligned with the Council’s Corporate Strategy and incorporates the Council’s vision for the borough. Panel Members highlighted the link between the Regeneration Strategy and the Council’s continuing work to respond to climate change.

·         On-going Security Arrangements – Panel Members acknowledged that the one year trial and current security arrangements enabling the opening of the evening route through Fareham Shopping Centre to connect West Street and Fareham Live has wider economic benefits for the town and developing the nighttime economy. However, proposals for the evening route beyond the one year trial should look at all options available to reduce the direct cost to the Council and develop a more permanent solution for this which is more cost effective.

·         Parking Review – Panel Members expressed a desire for the parking review to be undertaken as a priority, given the importance of car parking to town centre businesses, visitors and residents and to the development of the Shopping Centre & Fareham Live Masterplan and other regeneration initiatives.

·         Public Consultation – The Panel Members acknowledged that there is a significant budget proposed for the first phase of the Shopping Centre & Fareham Live Masterplan. However it was recognised that this investment will put the Council in the best place to bid for future government or other external funding and to secure opportunities for third-party investment. It will also improve the prospects for realisation of the vision. Excellent communication and engagement with the wider public, residents and businesses is therefore essential during the development of the Masterplan. This helps to reassure residents that the financial investment for this project is being spent appropriately and is focused on deliverable proposals to improve and support the town centre.

RESOLVED that the Panel: -

(i)        notes the content of the report and presentation; and

(ii)       recommends that the Executive endorses all of the recommendations, including the additional tabled recommendation, at its meeting on 13 February 2025.

This was considered at item 8(1) on the agenda.

Minute 7 - Update Budgets & Council Tax 2025-26

The Panel considered a report by the Assistant Director (Finance and ICT) on the revised budget and Council Tax for 2025-26.

RESOLVED that the Panel: -

(i)        notes the content of the report; and

(ii)       recommends that the Executive endorses the recommendations set out in the report at its meeting on 13 February 2025.

This was considered at item 8(2) on the agenda.

A report by the Director of Planning and Regeneration.

A revised recommendation was tabled at the meeting to include delegation of authority to the Director of Planning and Regeneration to agree any minor amendments necessary to the Regeneration Strategy to address minor drafting, grammatical or editing errors prior to formal publication.

At the invitation of the Executive Leader, Councillor D J Hamilton addressed the Executive on this item.

A deputation was received in respect of this item from local resident, Gareth Jones.

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

RESOLVED that the Executive:

(a)  approves the Fareham Town Centre Regeneration Strategy at Appendix B to the report;

(b)  subject to the approval of recommendation (a) above, approves an annual increase to the base revenue budget of £177,000 for 2025/2026 (and ongoing) for the continued delivery of regeneration workstreams;

(c)  subject to the approval of recommendation (a) above, approves a maximum one off revenue expenditure of

·         £61,000 for the work relating to Movement, Access, Safety and Parking.

·         £48,000 for the cost of Security as part of the Fareham Shopping Centre evening route operation.

·         £25,000 for the work relating to Fareham Brand Creation.

and delegates authority to the Director of Planning and Regeneration to enter into or vary contracts to secure the delivery of this, within the agreed budget;

(d)  subject to the approval of recommendation (a) above, approves a maximum capital expenditure of £1,050,000 for the next stage of development of the Fareham Shopping Centre and Fareham Live Masterplan and delegates authority to the Director of Planning and Regeneration, following consultation with the Section 151 Officer and the Executive Member for Policy and Resources, to agree the final scope and brief and to enter into contracts to secure this, within the agreed budget; and

(e)  subject to the approval of recommendation (a) above, delegates authority to the Director of Planning and Regeneration to agree any minor amendments necessary to the Regeneration Strategy to address minor drafting, grammatical or editing errors prior to formal publication.

A report by the Assistant Director (Finance & ICT).

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

RESOLVED that the Executive approves and recommends to the meeting of the Council to be held on 14 February 2025:

(a)  the capital programme and financing of £37,004,800;

(b)  an overall revised net revenue budget for 2024/25 of £14,369,200;

(c)  a net revenue budget for 2025/26 of £15,050,100;

(d)  a council tax for Fareham Borough Council for 2025/26 of £191.42 per band D property, which represents a £5.56 increase when compared to the current year and is within referendum limits;

(e)  an unchanged Council Tax Support scheme for 2025/26; and

(f)   that the Council continues to disregard the whole of any incomes prescribed in the Housing Benefit (War Pensions Disregards) Regulations 2007 and the Council Tax Reduction Schemes (Prescribed Requirements) (England) Regulations 2012.

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 the public and representatives of the press be excluded from the remainder of the meeting in accordance with Section 100(A) of the Local Government Act 1972, on the grounds that the matters to be dealt with involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraphs 1, 2 and 3 of Schedule 12A of the Act.

A report by the Director of Planning and Regeneration.

A deputation was received in respect of this item from local resident, Gareth Jones.

RESOLVED that the Executive approves the recommendation as detailed in the confidential report.