Agenda and minutes

An apology of absence was received from Councillor M J Ford.

To confirm as a correct record the Minutes of the Daedalus Scrutiny Panel meeting held on 1 March 2022.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the Daedalus Scrutiny Panel meeting held on 1 March 2022 be confirmed and signed as a correct record.

The Chairman welcomed Councillor Mrs J Needham (Vice-Chairman) and Councillor P Nother to the meeting.

To receive any declarations of interest from Members in accordance with the 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.

To receive a presentation by the Director of Planning and Regeneration which gives an introduction to the Daedalus Scrutiny Panel including the purpose of the Panel and the role of Members.

The Panel received a presentation from the Director of Planning and Regeneration on an Introduction to the Daedalus Scrutiny Panel (a copy of this presentation has been appended to these minutes).

The presentation gave a brief outline of the functions of the Panel and the role that Members play within the Scrutiny process.

Mr Butts commented that in respect of pre-scrutiny he felt that sometimes there was not sufficient time between the agenda publication and the meeting for Members to have been able to fully scrutinise reports prior to attending the meeting.

A discussion took place as to how members of the Panel could be better informed of upcoming decisions to allow more time for pre-scrutiny. It was agreed that under the standard item of Scrutiny Priorities on the agenda, that members would be given an update as to any known reports/decisions that may be coming forward at some point.

RESOLVED that the Panel noted the presentation.

To receive a verbal update from the Head of Environmental Health on the neighbourhood impact of Solent Airport.

The Committee received a verbal update and a presentation from the Head of Environmental Health on the Neighbourhood Impact of the Airport. (A copy of this presentation has been appended to these minutes).

RESOLVED that the Head of Environmental Health be thanked for this presentation and verbal report.

To consider a report by Regional and City Airports Ltd on the Annual Report of the operation of Solent Airport.

The Panel received a presentation from Marshall Barrand, Project Director from Regional and City Airports Ltd (RCA) on the Annual Report of the Airport performance for 2021/22.

At the invitation of the Chairman, Councillor S D T Woodward (Executive Member for Policy and Resources) addressed the Committee on this item.

Members asked questions following the presentation, however many of the queries surrounded the continuing rise in fuel costs and how this may impact on the Airport. Mr Barrand addressed the Panel to confirm that at present there has been no noticeable drop in fuel purchases, but that they will continue to monitor this.

Mr Butts enquired as to whether there was a Safeguarding Plan in place that has been prepared by RCA (as Airport Operator) and submitted to and agreed with the Local Planning Authority.

It was agreed that the situation pertaining to a Safeguarding Plan would be investigated further with RCA (as Airport Operator) and the Local Planning Authority.

RESOLVED that Marshall Barrand be thanked for his informative presentation.

To consider a report by Oxford Innovation on the 2021/22 Annual Report of the operation of Fareham Innovation Centre.

The Panel received a presentation from Stephen Brownlie, Centre Director of Fareham Innovation Centre, on the performance of the Innovation Centre for 2021/22.

Members asked questions following the presentation on marketing of the apprenticeships and what work is being undertaken to ensure that businesses remain within the Borough once graduating from the Innovation Centre. Mr Brownlie addressed the Panel to confirm that the Innovation Centre works closely with the Council to try and identify sites within the Borough where these businesses can relocate to, as well as trying to utilise other office space within the Daedalus site.

RESOLVED that Stephen Brownlie be thanked for his informative presentation.

The Panel consider the Executive items of business which fall under the remit of the Policy and Resources Portfolio, specifically in relation to Daedalus, including Executive Member decisions and Officer delegated decisions, that have all taken place since the last meeting of the Panel on 1 March 2022.

The Panel considered the decisions at items 10(1) – 10(2) of the agenda.

RESOLVED that the Daedalus Scrutiny Panel considered the following items of Business.

The Executive Member for Policy and Resources was asked if there were any major changes to this decision following the Panel’s Pre-Scrutiny of this item at its meeting on 1 March 2022.

The Executive Member for Policy and Resources confirmed that there were no changes.

The Executive Member for Policy and Resources was asked if there were any major changes to this decision following the Panel’s Pre-Scrutiny of this item at its meeting on 1 March 2022.

The Executive Member for Policy and Resources confirmed that there were no changes.

To provide an opportunity for Members to consider the scrutiny priorities for the Daedalus Scrutiny Panel.

The Head of Strategic Sites addressed the Panel on this item and provided members with an update on some items that should be coming forward to the September and October meetings for this year.

She also invited the Panel to put forward suggestions for items that they would like to scrutinise at a future meeting.

Councillor Mrs Bayford requested a site visit to CTECH and CEMAST, as they found the previous visit to the Innovation Centre extremely useful.

Councillor Mrs Mandry requested an Update on the AGL Aeronautical Ground Lighting scheme, and also requested a further report on the performance of the Council’s Airport Operator.