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 7 July 2014.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting of the Executive held on 7 July 2014 be confirmed and signed as a correct record.

Recording Meetings

The Executive Leader advised that in accordance with recently set legislation, members of the public and press would be able to audio and video record all public meetings held by Fareham Borough Council.

He confirmed that there had been a request to film parts of this meeting of the Executive and reminded members of the public to respect the wishes of other members of the public present who did not wish to be filmed.

Progress on Solent Enterprise Zone

The Executive Leader gave an update on the work taking place on the Solent Enterprise Zone at Daedalus, where major investment has been made to create new employment and training opportunities and attract new businesses to the site.

Fareham Borough Council is working with Gosport Borough Council, Hampshire County Council, the Solent Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) and the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) on long-term plans to transform the former airbase into a business destination with the potential to create 3,500 new jobs.

Progress being made on key developments includes:

·         The completion of Fareham College’s £12m Centre for Engineering and Manufacturing Advanced Skills Training (CEMAST), which opens its doors to nearly 900 students in early September.

·         The development of a new £5.3m innovation centre near the college site. When complete in April next year, it will contain office space and workshop facilities for new businesses, with a focus on advanced engineering. The project aims to create around 150 new jobs.

·         £1.5m runway resurfacing works, funded by Fareham Borough Council, are due to take place in October and November.

·         £1.5m allocated to the development of new hangar space.

·         Delivering more than £7m in government investment to enable a comprehensive redevelopment of the Waterfront area of the enterprise zone to create a vibrant new complex of commercial and leisure businesses and new homes. The HCA will shortly be marketing a 55 acre plot on the Waterfront for an employment led, mixed use development.

The Executive Leader stated that the future of the Solent Enterprise Zone is a high priority for the Council, especially as the Homes and Communities Agency are now at a stage where they are starting to consider what the longer term arrangements for the site should be.  A range of options are being considered and one of these is for a major part of the site to transfer from the HCA to Fareham Borough Council. Although there is some way to go with discussions around these options a transfer would represent a very exciting opportunity should it come to fruition. The details are still being worked on for these options and more information will be made available in due course.

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

There were no interests declared 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 Mrs C Worwood in relation to item 9(5) - Land Adjoining 268 Brook Lane and she was thanked accordingly.

The Executive received a deputation from Mr S Whitewood in relation to item 9(5) - Land Adjoining 268 Brook Lane and he was thanked accordingly.

The Executive received a deputation from Mr P O’Dell and Mr A Slee on behalf of Fareham Beach Hut Association in relation to item 9(1) - Proposed Beach Hut Site Rent Increase and they were thanked accordingly.

The Executive Leader agreed to bring these items for consideration forward on the agenda.

To receive any reference from the committees or panels held.

RESOLVED that the Executive received the minutes of the Housing Tenancy Board held on 28 July 2014 and noted the work programme.

A report by the Director of Planning and Development.

RESOLVED that the Executive approves:

(a)    the revised Local Development Scheme, as set out in Appendix A to the report;

(b)    that the Director of Planning and Development, in consultation with the Executive Member for Planning and Development, be authorised to make any necessary minor amendments to the document;

(c)    that the revised Local Development Scheme shall take effect from 19September 2014; and

(d)    the indicative timetable for the review of the Local Plan following a review of the South Hampshire Strategy.

A report by the Director of Planning and Development.

At the invitation of the Executive Leader, Councillors A Mandry and Mrs K K Trott addressed the Executive on this item.

RESOLVED that the Executive:

(a)       notes the contents of the report describing the potential benefits and costs associated with the removal of parking charges after 5pm on Thursdays in Osborn Road and Fareham Shopping Centre multi storey car parks and Market Quay car park;

(b)       approves the recommendation to reduce parking charges for Thursday evening shoppers between 5pm and 6pm at Market Quay Car Park, Osborn Road and Fareham Shopping Centre Multi Storey Car Parks, subject to there being no adverse comments received from the Planning and Development Policy Development and Review Panel; and

(c)       delegates authority to the Director of Planning and Development, in consultation with the Executive Member for Planning and Development, to finalise the response to Fareham Shopping Centre in respect of this proposal and proceed with implementation.

A report by the Director of Finance and Resources.

The comments of the deputees were taken into account in determining this item.

At the invitation of the Executive Leader, Councillors T G Knight, C J Wood and Mrs K K Trott addressed the Executive on this item.

RESOLVED that the Executive agrees:

(a)       to implement the recommended increase, as set out in paragraph 7 of the report, to be phased in over a three year period, commencing from 1 April 2015; and

(b)          that a review of beach hut site agreements be carried out by officers in consultation with beach hut owners.

A report by the Director of Finance and Resources.

RESOLVED that the Executive approves

(a)       the heads of terms, as provisionally agreed with Public Health England and shown at Confidential Appendix A; and

(b)       that delegated authority be given to the Director of Finance & Resources, in consultation with the Executive Leader to agree the final terms.

A report by the Director of Finance and Resources.

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

RESOLVED that the Executive recommends to Council the amendments to the strategy document, as set out in paragraph 12 of the report, along with the amendment of the wording in the first paragraph on page 3 of the strategy document to show as “Development at Welborne, a new community to the north of Fareham, is planned to start in 2016”.

A report by the Director of Finance and Resources.

RESOLVED that the Council’s performance be noted by the Executive.

A report by the Director of Finance and Resources. 

The comments of the deputees were taken into account in determining this item.

RESOLVED that the Executive approves that:

(a)    the decision made by the Executive on 4 November 2013, to approve the compromise agreement, is reconfirmed and progressed, subject to: 

                           i.        the parties are given until 30 September 2014 to confirm in writing their acceptance of the main terms of sale as set out in the confidential Appendix E; or

                          ii.        by 29 September 2014 both parties can confirm an alternative compromise agreement which sees the entire land disposed of with no adverse financial impact on the Council;

(b)    if either party is not prepared to agree to the terms of sale without further negotiation or condition the Council will withdraw its offer and will reserve the right to dispose of the land to the other party on the terms set out in the confidential Appendix E or as it sees fit; and

(c)    the Solicitor to the Council be given delegated authority to take all ancillary actions to give effect to this resolution.

A report by the Director of Finance and Resources.

RESOLVED that the report on revenue and capital budget monitoring be noted.

A report by the Director of Finance and Resources.

At the invitation of the Executive Leader, Councillor C J Wood addressed the Executive on this item.

RESOLVED that the treasury management monitoring report be noted and that the minimum credit ratings for counterparties in the Treasury Management Strategy 2014/15 are updated in light of anticipated regulatory changes in the bank sector.

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 Environmental Services.

RESOLVED that the Executive agrees:

(a)          to approve option 2, as set out in paragraphs 22 – 26 of the confidential report;

(b)          subject to the approval of (a), that the Chief Executive Officer is authorised to undertake all ancillary acts including those that may be needed under the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations (TUPE) to give effect to this decision;

(c)          to establish a procedure for undertaking electrical testing every 10 years, unless there is a recommendation for less than this, using the criteria set out in paragraphs 57 and 58 of this report; and

(d)          that the frequency of testing for emergency lighting be changed to quarterly.