Agenda and draft minutes

An apology of absence was received from Councillor Miss T Harper.

To confirm as a correct record the minutes of the meeting of the Policy and Resources Scrutiny Panel meeting held on 18 November 2024.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the Policy and Resources Scrutiny Panel meeting held on 18 November 2024 be confirmed and signed as a correct record.

The Chairman made the following announcement:

I would like to thank Members of the Panel for agreeing to convene on a Friday afternoon which is unusual. We were originally going to be pre-scrutinising the Fareham Town Centre Regeneration report but that will now come to our next meeting. I would like to highlight to Members that there is an all-Member informal briefing on that topic scheduled for Wednesday 29^th January at 5pm and I would encourage you all to attend if you can.

To receive any declarations of interest from members in accordance with Standing Orders and the Council’s Code of Conduct and disclosures of advice or directions received from Group Leaders or Political Groups, in accordance with the Council’s Constitution.

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.

The Panel considered a report by the Assistant Director (Finance & ICT) which was delivered by the Technical Finance and Development Manager, who also tabled a confidential Appendix B at the meeting.

The Chairman thanked Officers for the inclusion of the CIL information in the report which had been requested previously by herself and Councillor P Whittle.

During a debate on the item, Councillor Burgess expressed her concern that members were being asked to confirm the Capital Strategy and Capital Programme for the next 2 years without capital funding for the Town Centre Regeneration being included within this, and the funding not yet secured. The Assistant Director (Finance & ICT) explained that the project is so vast in scale that it warrants its own report to deal with a wide range of issues including the funding and spend on the project. The Assistant Director (Democracy) also explained that the Strategy for the Town Centre Regeneration has not yet been approved and therefore it is unable to form part of the capital programme at the present. Councillor Burgess thanked Officers for their detailed explanations but remained concerned that this project was not being considered at this time and requested that her concerns be noted.

RESOLVED that the Panel: -

(a)  notes the content of the report;

(b)  recommends that the Executive endorses the Capital Programme and Capital Strategy at its meeting on 13 January 2025.

The Panel considered a report by the Assistant Director (Finance and ICT) on the general fund fees & charges for 2025-26. The report was presented to the Panel by the Financial Planning and Audit Manager.

RESOLVED that the Panel: -

(a)  notes the content of the report;

(b)  recommends that the Executive endorses the proposed fees & charges for 2025-26 at its meeting on 13 January 2025.

The Panel considered a report by the Assistant Director (Finance and ICT) on the general fund revenue budgets & finance strategy 2025-26. The report was presented to the Panel by the Financial Planning and Audit Manager.

RESOLVED that the Panel: -

(a)  notes the content of the report;

(b)  recommends that the Executive endorses the General Fund Revenue Budget & Finance Strategy 2025-26 at its meeting on 13 January 2025.

The Panel considered a report by the Assistant Director on the Housing Revenue Account Budgets, Fees & Charges 2025-26. The report was presented to the Panel by the Finance Business Partner for Housing.

RESOLVED that the Panel: -

(a)  notes the content of the report;

(b)  recommends that the Executive endorses the Housing Revenue Account Budgets, Fees & Charges 2025-26 at its meeting on 3 February 2025.

The Panel considered a report by the Assistant Director (Finance & ICT) on an Update to the Opportunities Plan, which was presented to the Panel by the Policy, Research and Engagement Manager.

RESOLVED that the Panel noted the content of the report.

To consider any items of business dealt with by the Executive since the last meeting of the Panel, that falls under the remit of the Policy and Resources Portfolio. This will include any decisions taken by individual members during the same time period.

The Panel considered the Executive items of business which falls under the remit of the Policy and Resources Portfolio, including Executive Member decisions and Officer delegated decisions, that have taken place since the last meeting of the Panel on 18 November 2024.

There were no comments received.

To provide an opportunity for Members to consider the scrutiny priorities for the Policy and Resources Panel.

The Assistant Director (Democracy) addressed the Panel on this item and outlined items that were coming up for the meetings for the rest of municipal year. She offered Members the opportunity to put forward any suggestions of items that they would like included, no further items were suggested.