Agenda, decisions and minutes

There were no apologies given for this meeting.

To confirm as a correct record the minutes of the meeting of Executive held on 10 June 2013.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting of the Executive held on 10 June 2013 be confirmed and signed as a correct record.

Spending Review

The Executive Leader referred to the recent Government statement on the Spending Review for 2013, and explained what this announcement might mean for Fareham Borough Council.

He confirmed that the Council’s approach in previous years has been to prepare well in advance for the financial challenges, so that it is able to respond without having to react in haste.  The Council’s current strategy already assumed that government support would reduce by £0.5m next year, and there are plans established which mitigate this impact in the short term. 

The Executive Leader stated that the Council’s projections have also assumed further reductions in grant over subsequent years, but following the Spending Review announcement, it is likely that these reductions could be greater than previously assumed.  Equally as important were the Government’s announcements regarding council tax increases and the transfer of a proportion of New Homes Bonus from Council funding to Local Enterprise Partnerships.

The Executive Leader stressed that these are potentially very significant developments that will affect council funding. Therefore Members and Officers will be working through the implications in preparation for the Finance Strategy later this autumn. He remains confident that the strategy to retain a spending reserve for a rainy day will allow the Council to manage those impacts in the most appropriate way.

The Executive Leader will also be writing to the Solent LEP to ensure that the previous commitment to recycle New Homes Bonus from homes in Welborne to fund supporting infrastructure, can be honoured, as it will inevitably form an important part of the funding strategy.

Daedalus

The Executive Leader took the opportunity to publicly explain the background to the decision that the Executive was being asked to take later in the meeting under private session regarding a potential investment opportunity at Daedalus.

He stated that the Council had set itself a high corporate priority to work with other agencies to deliver a thriving aviation-led employment area at Daedalus, supported by a viable airfield. Over recent months, there has been a significant amount if investment secured which supports this objective, including highways improvements to serve the site, and a new training facility provided by Fareham College.

The report that the Executive will consider at this meeting puts forward a proposal to build on the investment thus far secured, in a way that would achieve improvements to the airfield, new commercial premises for aviation-led businesses and incubator units for Small to Medium Enterprises.

The Executive Leader confirmed that at this stage, it is a conceptual proposal that the Council has been working on with the landowner (the Homes and Communities Agency) and the Solent Local Enterprise Partnership. If the principle can be supported by all parties, and importantly if funding can be secured, then it would result in a substantial additional investment being injected into the Solent Enterprise Zone at Daedalus, and would facilitate delivery of around 150 jobs into the medium term.

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 given at this meeting.

There were no petitions presented for this meeting.

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

There were no deputations made at this meeting.

There are no Minutes/References from Other Committees to be reported at this meeting.

There were no references made to this meeting.

To consider and reach a decision on the following matter:

a report by the Director of Streetscene

At the invitation of the Executive Leader, Councillor D L Steadman addressed the Executive on this item.

RESOLVED that the Executive agrees to:

(a)       grant approval for Charles Cole to operate a Community Fair at Cams Alders Recreation Ground between 5-12 September 2013 as a trial, subject to the following conditions:

(i)       all requirements of the Council's Safety Advisory Group being met;

(ii)      payment in advance of £300 per trading day to the Council;

(iii)     a returnable damage deposit of £1000 payable in advance;

(iv)    proof of £10 million public liability insurance; and

(v)     all relevant safety certificates being supplied;

(b)       make a donation of £600 (from the income received for the hire of the open space by the Community Fair) to Fareham Town Football Club to support local youth development opportunities.

To consider and reach a decision on the following matter:

a report by the Director of Community and Director of Finance and Resources

RESOLVED that the principle of progressing a Joint Venture Company for the delivery of housing is supported and officers be asked to develop a specific proposal, jointly with Eastleigh Borough Council and other Registered Providers for consideration by the Executive in September 2013.

To consider and reach a decision on the following matter:

a report by the Director of Finance and Resources

RESOLVED that the Executive:

(a)       approves completion of the expenditure programmes contained within the report; and

(b)       notes the contents of the report.

a report by the Director of Finance and Resources

At the invitation of the Executive Leader, Councillor P J Davies addressed the Executive on this item.

RESOLVED that the Executive approves:

(a)       that the balances on the Housing Revenue and Repairs Accounts as at 31 March 2013 be carried over to 2013/14; and

(b)       that the following budgets be carried forward:

(i)      £122,900 Asbestos Survey

(ii)     £98,500 Disabled Modifications

(iii)    £45,900 External Decorations

(iv)    £28,900 Gas Servicing.

a report by the Director of Finance and Resources

RESOLVED that the Executive agrees:

(a)       that the capital programme for 2012/13 be approved and financed as set out in Appendix B to the report;

(b)       that the individual expenditure incurred, amounting to £165,473 be financed retrospectively from the surplus capital resources; and

(c)       that the actual capital expenditure for 2012/13 be noted.

a report by the Director of Finance and Resources

RESOLVED that the Treasury Management Annual Report for 2012/13 be noted.

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.

To consider and reach a decision on the following matter:

a report by the Director of Finance and Resources

RESOLVED that the tender submitted by Servicetotal Ltd for this project, being the most technically and economically advantageous tender received, be accepted and a contract awarded in the sum of £228,594.65.

To consider and reach a decision on the following matter: 

a report by 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 agrees:

(a)       to support the proposal in principle, as set out in the report;

(b)       to delegate authority to the Director of Finance and Resources, following consultation with the Executive Leader to:

(i)            submit a bid to the Solent Growing Places fund by 31^st July to support the bid;

(ii)          conclude negotiations with the other parties to facilitate the construction, as set out in the report; and

(c)       to approve a budget of £50,000 for the project.