Agenda, decisions and minutes

There were no apologies given for this meeting.

To confirm as a correct record the minutes of the meeting of the Executive held on 12 April 2021.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting of the Executive held on 12 April 2021 be confirmed and signed as a correct record.

Welcome

The Executive Leader welcomed all Members and Officers to the first physical meeting the Council has held in over a year.  He also welcomed Councillor Ian Bastable to the meeting, as the newly appointed Executive Member for Streetscene.

Revised Publication Local Plan

The Executive Leader announced that Members will recall his earlier announcement in February this year relating to the need for the Council to revise our Publication Local Plan in light of the Government’s ‘about turn’ on a new methodology for calculating Fareham’s housing requirement. 

At the end of 2020 the Council consulted on its proposed Publication Plan which set out how the Council planned to meet the Government’s target for new houses required across Fareham, whilst protecting its green spaces and the character of the Borough’s communities.  Two days before the consultation ended, the Government announced that they were not changing the methodology to use more accurate and up-to-date household projections, so there was a need to revise the Local Plan to include more sites for housing. However, since the end of February, the required number of new houses has changed again, and our requirement now stands at 541 houses per year, as opposed to the 403 that we planned for late last year.

The Executive Leader stated that the Council has worked hard to try to find the best way to deliver these additional new houses without compromising the distinct characteristics of the Borough.  Part of the proposed approach within the Revised Publication Local Plan is for a significant number of new units in Fareham town centre, which, in turn, will help to support the high street.  And, as Welborne moves towards delivery, it will clearly play a critical role in meeting our housing requirements going forward. 

New housing sites are proposed as well as additional employment sites to meet an increased requirement. 

The Executive Leader stated that revisions have also been put forward in light of the responses the Council has received to the last consultation in order to address concerns raised that the plan might not be approved at examination by a Government inspector.

The Executive Leader announced that the proposed Revised Publication Local Plan is being published today, alongside a suite of technical evidence, to seek Member comment and approval for a consultation next month.  The first Committee to consider the proposed revisions is the Planning and Development Scrutiny Panel meeting next Tuesday, followed by the Executive early next month. The decision to proceed to consultation rests with the full Council at their meeting on 10 June, and subject to their approval, the Revised Publication Local Plan will be finalised for consultation. 

The Executive Leader stated that a minimum of a six-week consultation period is proposed followed by submission to Government for their independent examination.   The consultation will be heavily promoted by the Council’s communications team and will include an online exhibition, making it really easy for residents and business owners to access all information about the proposed Revised Publication Plan in one place, 24 hours a day, regardless of any fluctuation in Covid-19 restrictions.  There will also be CAT meetings and a special edition of Fareham Today available online and sent to homes across the Borough.  

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.

There were no petitions submitted at this meeting.

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

There were no deputations made at this meeting.

To receive any references from the committees or panels held.

Housing Scrutiny Panel – 25 March 2021

Minute 9 – Policy on Assistance with Home Adaptations, Repairs & Improvements

The Panel received a report by the Head of Environmental Health which presented the draft policy on Assistance with Home Adaptations, Repairs and Improvements for consideration.

RESOLVED that the Housing Scrutiny Panel recommends the draft Assistance with Home Adaptations, Repairs and Improvements Policy to the Executive for approval.

The Executive Leader is invited to confirm the appointment of Executive Members to the areas of Executive responsibility.

The Executive Leader confirmed that his decision to appoint Executive Members to the areas of Executive responsibility for the municipal year 2021/22 was as follows:

Planning and Development – Councillor S D Martin

Leisure and Community – Councillor Mrs S Walker

Housing – Councillor F W Birkett

Health and Public Protection – Councillor T M Cartwright, MBE

Streetscene – Councillor Ian Bastable

Policy and Resources – Councillor S D T Woodward

To appoint Executive Members to the following bodies for 2021/22:

(i)            Portchester Crematorium Joint Committee (the current appointments made by the Executive are Councillors S D Martin and M J Ford, JP (N.B. In the past, the Executive has not appointed ‘substitute’ members to this Joint Committee. However, the Executive may, if it so wishes authorise other members of the Executive to act as deputies).

(ii)          Fareham and Gosport Building Control Members’ Panel (the current appointment made by the Executive is Councillor T M Cartwright, MBE).

(iii)         Partnership for South Hampshire (PfSH).  As PfSH is a formal Joint Committee, the following appointments are required to be made by the Executive for 2021/22.

(a)  Joint Committee representatives (the current Borough Council representatives appointed by the Executive are Executive Leader Councillor S D T Woodward and Deputy Executive Leader Councillor T M Cartwright, MBE);

(b)  Sub-Group Meetings (the current Borough Council representatives appointed by the Executive are the appropriate Executive Members, as relevant); and

(c)  Meetings with Key Consultees and similar Consultation Meetings (the current Borough Council representatives appointed by the Executive are Councillors S D T Woodward and T M Cartwright, MBE).

(iv)         CCTV Partnership (the current representative appointed by the Executive is Councillor T M Cartwright, MBE).

(v)          Fareham and Gosport Environmental Health Partnership Panel (in 2019/21, (the current representative appointed by the Executive is Councillor T M Cartwright, MBE).

(vi)         Aspect Building Communities Ltd (the current representative appointed by the Executive is Councillor F W Birkett).

(vii)        Joint Member Shared Coastal Management Board (the current appointments made by the Executive are Councillor S D Martin as the Borough Council’s representative and Councillor P J Davies as deputy).

(viii)       Solent Airport Consultative Committee (the current appointments made by the Executive are the Executive Leader, Councillor S D T Woodward as the Chairman of the Committee, the Deputy Executive Leader, Councillor T M Cartwright, MBE as the Vice Chairman of the Committee and Councillors  Miss T Harper, S Dugan and J Forrest from the Titchfield, Hillhead and Stubbington wards respectively as Members of the Committee.

RESOLVED to appoint Executive Members to the following bodies for the 2021/22 municipal year:

(i)            Portchester Crematorium Joint Committee – Councillors S D Martin and I Bastable with Councillor Mrs Susan Walker as Deputy.

(N.B in the past, the Executive has not appointed ‘substitute’ members to this Joint Committee.  However, the Executive may, if it so wishes, authorise other members of the Executive to act as deputies).

(ii)          Fareham and Gosport Building Control Members’ Panel – Councillor T M Cartwright, MBE.

(iii)         Partnership for South Hampshire (PfSH)

As PfSH is a formal Joint Committee, the following appointments are required to be made by the Executive for 2021/22:

(a)  Joint Committee representatives – Executive Leader Councillor S D T Woodward and Deputy Executive Leader, Councillor T M Cartwright, MBE.

(b)  Sub-Group Meetings – The Borough Council’s representatives are the appropriate Executive Members.

(c)  Meetings with Key Consultees and similar Consultation Meetings – Councillors S D T Woodward and T M Cartwright, MBE.

(iv)         CCTV Partnership – Councillor T M Cartwright, MBE.

(v)          Fareham and Gosport Environmental Health Partnership Panel – Councillor T M Cartwright, MBE.

(vi)         Aspect Building Communities Ltd – Councillor F W Birkett.

(vii)        Joint Member Shared Coastal Management Board – Councillor S D Martin and Councillor S Daniells as Deputy.

(viii)       Solent Airport Consultative Committee – Executive Leader Councillor S D T Woodward as Chairman of the Committee, Deputy Executive Leader Councillor T M Cartwright, MBE as the Vice Chairman of the Committee and Councillors Miss T Harper, S Dugan and J Forrest from the Titchfield, Hillhead and Stubbington wards respectively as Members of the Committee.  The Executive Leader stated that Councillor Mrs P Hayre is appointed to this Committee by Hampshire County Council.

A report by the Deputy Chief Executive Officer.

RESOLVED that the Executive agrees that the Policy on Assistance with Home Adaptations, Repairs and Improvements, attached as Appendix A to the report, be approved.

A report by the Director of Planning and Regeneration.

RESOLVED that the Executive:

(a)  notes the Warsash Neighbourhood Forum’s withdrawal for the purposes of producing a Neighbourhood Plan and notes the withdrawal statement, which meets the requirements of the relevant legislation; and

(b)  agrees to withdraw the Warsash Neighbourhood Area.

A report by the Director of Planning and Regeneration.

RESOLVED that the Executive agrees that:

(a)  the land the subject of the Purchase Notice has a restricted use by virtue of an existing planning permission; and

(b)  the Council declines to confirm the Purchase Notice and refers it to the Secretary of State.

A report by the Deputy Chief Executive Officer.

RESOLVED that the Executive approves the submission of an application to the Government’s Levelling Up Fund, including letters of support from Fareham MPs, seeking a contribution of £13.1m towards the capital costs of the Fareham Live and Osborn Road projects.