Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Mrs S M Bayford and D J Hamilton.

To confirm as a correct record the minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 31 January 2023.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting of the Licensing and Regulatory Affairs Committee held on 31 January 2023 be confirmed and signed as a correct record.

There were no Chairman’s 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.

To receive any deputations of which notice has been lodged.

There were no deputations made at this meeting.

To receive a presentation by the Head of Environmental Health which provides an update on the Fareham & Gosport Environmental Health Partnership.

The Committee received a presentation by the Head of Environmental Health which provided an update on the Fareham and Gosport Environmental Health Partnership. A copy of the presentation is attached to these minutes.

Members enquired as to whether there was any scope to further increase the partnership with other Local Authorities, especially in light of the initial savings made when Fareham and Gosport first entered into the Partnership. The Head of Environmental Health explained that this would be harder to achieve with other local authorities due to a number of factors including distances required for staff to travel between Local Authority Areas and different working arrangements within other authorities.

Members noted that there has been an increase in customer expectations and a decrease in tolerance since the pandemic which has put an additional strain on employees. They enquired as to the support available to employees who may be experiencing more stressful work situations. The Head of Environmental Health confirmed that the Council offers a range of support services to its employees including a counselling service.

The Committee raised the issue of sub-standard rented properties, particularly in light of the recent national press coverage, and requested information on what powers the Council has to act against landlords who are not providing habitable accommodation for its tenants. The Head of Environmental Health confirmed that under the Housing Act 2004, the Council has some powers to force a landlord to bring properties up to a better standard, however the Council’s powers are limited and unfortunately, they do not always meet with customer expectations.

RESOLVED that the Licensing and Regulatory Affairs Committee notes the content of the presentation.

To consider a report by the Head of Environmental Health which provides a final review of the Committee’s Work Programme for 2022/23 and the draft Work Programme for 2023/24.

The Committee considered a report by the Head of Environmental Health which provided a final review of the Committee’s Work Programme for 2022/23 and the draft Work Programme for 2023/24.

The Committee was asked to note that an item concerning “Briefing on Elections Act” will be added to the work programme for the November 2023 meeting.

RESOLVED that the Licensing and Regulatory Affairs Committee:

(a)  notes the progress on actions arising from the meeting of the Committee held on 31 January 2023, attached as Appendix A to the report;

(b)  reviewed the Work Programme for the 2022/23 Municipal year, attached as Appendix B to the report;

(c)  subject to the addition of an item entitled ‘Briefing on Elections Act’ being added to the November 2023 meeting, approves the proposed draft Work Programme for 2023/24, attached as Appendix C to the report; and

(d)  agrees to submit the proposed draft Work Programme for 2023/24 to Council for approval.