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 1^st September 2014.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting of the Executive held on 1September 2014 be confirmed and signed as a correct record.

There were no Leader’s Announcements made at this meeting.

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

The Executive Leader, Councillor S D T Woodward declared a Non-Pecuniary Interest for item 10(2) – Future Arrangements for Land Ownership at Daedalus as he is a Director of the Solent Local Enterprise Partnership.

He remained present throughout the meeting and took part in the discussion and decision.

The Executive Member for Public Protection, Councillor T M Cartwright declared a Non-Pecuniary Interest for item 10(2) – Future Arrangements for Land Ownership at Daedalus as he is the Council’s appointed representative to the Solent Local Enterprise Partnership Employment and Skills Board.

He remained present throughout the meeting and took part in the discussion and decision.

There were no petitions submitted at this meeting.

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

There were no deputations received at this meeting.

To receive any reference from the committees or panels held.

7(1) Planning and Development PDR Panel – 2 September 2014:

Minute 6 – Parking Strategy and Charges – Annual Review

It was AGREED that:-

b)    the Executive be advised that the Panel supports the proposal to remove the parking charges from 5pm on a  Thursday in the Osborn Road, Fareham Shopping Centre and Market Quay car parks.

RESOLVED that the Executive notes the Panel’s comments.

7(2) Leisure and Community PDR Panel – 3 September 2014:

Minute 9 – Leisure Strategy

Councillor Knight addressed the Panel on this item and requested that greater promotion be given to Bursledon Brickworks, which although does not fall under the remit of Fareham Borough Council does provide local history for the Borough. He also requested that Fareham push for more cycle routes within the Borough. He informed Officers that a cycle route for Hill Head has already been put together. Lastly he addressed the Panel on the issue of Beach Huts, which is under the responsibility of the Policy & Resources Executive portfolio. He put forward a recommendation that the Panel request that the responsibility be passed to the Leisure and Community portfolio as he felt that the Policy & Resources portfolio only looked at the issue of Beach Huts from a financial view point and the Leisure and Community portfolio would address the wider issues concerning beach huts.

It was AGREED that the Panel recommended to the Executive that:-

a)    the responsibility for Beach Huts be moved from the Policy & Resources Executive portfolio to the Leisure and Community portfolio;

b)    notes the comments made by Councillor Knight in relation to Burlsedon Brickworks and cycle routes; and

c)    the revised Leisure Strategy for 2014 to 2019, subject to the amended wording suggested by Members, attached as Appendix A to the report, be approved for implementation.

RESOLVED that the Executive notes the Panel’s comments and that it is the Executive Leader who has authority to change portfolio responsibilities.  

Minute 10 – Ferneham Hall Members Working Group

It was AGREED that the Panel recommends to the Executive:-

a)    the key measures highlighted within the report be implemented as part of a coordinated effort to increase income with the aim of reducing the Ferneham Hall budget deficit; and

b)    The priority areas for investment as set out in the table on page 60 of the report, subject to the raising of the priority of the toilet refurbishment.

RESOLVED that the Executive notes the Panel’s comments.

7(3) Health and Housing PDR Panel – 11 September 2014:

Minute 8 – Disabled Facilities Grant

It was AGREED that:

b)    the Executive is asked to note the Panel’s concerns regarding the future  funding of disabled facilities grants which will leave the Council with the mandatory duty for these grants but no guarantee of securing the necessary funding from Hampshire County Council.

RESOLVED that the Executive notes the Panel’s comments

7(4) Licensing and Regulatory Affairs Committee – 16 September 2014:

Minute 9 (d) & (e) – Work Programme

RESOLVED that:-

d)    it be noted that an application had been received from the taxi trade for a tariff increase and, although the decision on this was now an Executive function, the Committee would be invited to consider the request and make a recommendation to the Executive; and

e)      with reference to (d) above, an item be added to the work programme for 18 November 2014; and

 RESOLVED that the Executive notes the Committee’s comments.

7(5) Scrutiny Board – 25 September 2014:

Minute 6 – Review of Draft Medium Term Finance Strategy

 It was AGREED that:-

a)    the Executive be advised that the Board had requested that the papers for consideration at the December Executive meeting should include information to illustrate the implications of a possible rise in Council Tax set against the current level of freeze grant available and whether or not it continued

RESOLVED that the Executive notes the Board’s comments

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 revised budget of £1,950,000;

(b)  notes the level of grant funding secured from the Homes & Communities Agency (HCA) to support delivery of the project;

(c)  delegates authority to the Director of Community, in consultation with the Executive Member for Health and Housing,  to accept the grant conditions and enter into contract with HCA; and

(d)  delegates authority to the Director of Community, in consultation with the Executive Member for Health and Housing,  to enter into contract with Brymor Contractors Ltd to construct the proposed development.

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 update on the financial costs of producing the Welborne Plan.

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)       the Council’s finance strategy and the budget guidelines for 2015/16, as set out in the finance strategy document attached to the report; and

(b)     to submit the updated Pay Policy, annexed to the Medium Term Finance Strategy, to Council for approval.

A report by the Director of Finance and Resources.

The Executive Leader, Councillor S D T Woodward declared a Non-Pecuniary Interest for this item as he is a Director of the Solent Local Enterprise Partnership.

He remained present throughout the meeting and took part in the discussion and decision.

The Executive Member for Public Protection, Councillor T M Cartwright declared a Non-Pecuniary Interest for this item as he is the Council’s appointed representative to the Solent Local Enterprise Partnership Employment and Skills Board.

He remained present throughout the meeting and took part in the discussion and decision.

At the invitation of the Executive Leader, Councillors T G Knight, A Mandry and P W Whittle, JP addressed the Executive on this item.

Councillors T G Knight and A Mandry both declared a Non-Pecuniary Interest for this item as they are the Council’s appointed representatives to the Daedalus Strategy Group.

RESOLVED that the Executive agrees:

(a)       in principle to pursuing the option outlined in the paper for the long term ownership and development of land at Daedalus;

(b)       the draft heads of terms, as set out in Appendix B to the report, as the basis of negotiation with the Homes and communities Agency;

(c)       to delegate authority to the Director of Finance and Resources, in consultation with the Executive Leader, to

                 i.          finalise Heads of Terms and proceed to contract;

               ii.          agree terms for the transfer of ownership and any associated grant funding; and

              iii.          agree terms with other parties for other funding sources associated with the proposal; and

(d)       to extend the terms of reference for the Daedalus Investment Member Working Group, to incorporate the potential land transfer project.

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)  that progress on the implementation of the Vanguard method be noted; and

(b)  that £30,000 of the savings already achieved through this initiative be recirculated (through the Housing Revenue Account) to fund a further intervention into Tenancy Services.

A report by the Director of Finance and Resources.

RESOLVED that the Executive agrees:

(a)       that matched funding of up to £7,560 be awarded for Catisfield Memorial Hall; and

(b)       that matched funding of £30,000 be awarded (in principle) for the Fareham School of Gymnastics subject to the club securing the remaining £970,000 required for the project within 3 years from the date of this decision.