Agenda and minutes

There were no apologies for absence.

To confirm as a correct record the minutes of the meeting of the Health and Public Protection Scrutiny Panel held on 03 October 2023.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting of the Health and Public Protection Scrutiny Panel held on 03 October 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 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.

A deputation was received in respect of item 7 on the agenda from Claire Powell, the Lead Petitioner of the petition requesting that parking at Middle Road car park, Park Gate be extended to 3 hours.

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 Health and Public Protection Portfolio.  This will include any decisions taken by individual Members during the same time period.

There were no questions or comments for clarification in respect of this item.

There were no questions or comments for clarification in respect of this item.

To consider a report by the Head of Environmental Health in respect of a petition received requesting that the 2-hour maximum stay at Middle Road car park in Parkgate be extended.

The Panel considered a report by the Head of Environmental Health in respect of a petition received requesting that the 2-hour maximum stay at Middle Road car park, Park Gate be extended.

A deputation was received in respect of this item from the Lead Petitioner, Claire Powell.

At the invitation of the Chairman, Councillor I J Bastable, ward member for Parkgate, addressed the Panel on this item.

In considering this item the Panel felt that too big an increase in the length of the maximum stay in the car park would encourage parking by people working in the District Centre and people parking and travelling on elsewhere to work.  This would create over demand for parking spaces and have an impact on businesses that rely on a quick customer turnaround such as the convenience stores, bakery and card shop.

The Panel recognised however that some of the businesses in the District Centre such as the hairdressers, the estate agent and the funeral parlour deliver services that create a genuine need for their customers to park for longer than 2 hours. Members therefore felt that the increase in maximum stay to 3 hours would strike a balance between the different needs of the businesses and would not be long enough to create over occupancy in the car park.

RESOLVED that the Health and Public Protection Scrutiny Panel recommends to the Executive that the maximum stay in Middle Road car park be increased from 2 hours to 3 hours.

To receive a report by the Head of Environmental Health which updates Members on the provision of Community Safety & CCTV services following the dissolution of the Fareham and Gosport CCTV Partnership in 2021.

The Panel received a report by the Head of Environmental Health which provided an update for members on the provision of community safety and CCTV services following the dissolution of the Fareham & Gosport CCTV Partnership in 2021.

At the invitation of the Chairman, Councillor Miss J Burton, Executive Member for Health and Public Protection addressed the Panel on this item.

Members discussed how arrangements or requests to deploy a mobile camera in a particular area can be made. Officers explained that each case is assessed on its own merit but that all requests for deployment must be data led and evidence based in order to comply with GDPR rules. The importance of reporting incidents of anti-social behaviour and criminal activity to the police was highlighted and members were encouraged to communicate this message to residents wherever possible to help support requests for camera deployment.

RESOLVED that the Health and Public Protection Scrutiny Panel notes the content of the report.

To receive a report by the Head of Environmental Health which provides members with an air quality update and a review of Gosport Road and Portland Street Air Quality Management.  

The Panel received a report by the Head of Environmental Health which provided members with an air quality update and a review of Gosport Road and Portland Street Air Quality Management.

The Panel discussed how, with the Air Quality Management areas being revoked, the Council will be aware if air quality objectives for different pollutants are unlikely to be achieved.  Members were advised that there will still be monitoring tubes around the Borough which will measure levels of pollutants. Members of the public with concerns about excessive levels in a particular area can also request that monitoring take place.  Going forward, the Council will also be required to implement an Air Quality Strategy next year which will cover in detail how the Council will manage Air Quality across the Borough

RESOLVED that the Health and Public Protection Scrutiny Panel recommends to the Executive that the two AQMA’s be revoked by approving the Order as Scheduled at Appendix A to the draft report to be considered by the Executive at the meeting scheduled to take place on 04 March 2024.

To provide an opportunity for Members to consider the scrutiny priorities for the Health and Public Protection Panel.

Members discussed the scrutiny priorities for the Panel.

In discussing the priorities it was agreed that the invitation to the Police and Crime Commissioner to attend a future meeting of the panel to report on current issues would be followed up to ascertain whether she would attend the meeting of the Panel scheduled to take place on 27 March 2024.

RESOLVED that the scrutiny priorities for the Health and Public Protection Scrutiny Panel were reviewed.