Decision Maker: Executive

Outcome: Recommendations Approved

Is Key Decision?: Yes

Is Callable In?: Yes

Date of Decision: September 1, 2025

Purpose: To seek Executive approval for the draft Fareham Housing Borough Council Vulnerability Policy to go forward for a period of consultation.   Fareham Borough Council is committed to ensuring that our residents experience fair and equitable outcomes whenever using our services.  This is particularly so for our vulnerable residents who may face barriers that would otherwise prevent this.   The Policy details how Fareham Borough Council will meet that commitment, and it supports Officers in making informed decisions when they are working with our more vulnerable residents.  It also sets out how vulnerable residents can influence decision making in order to improve our services to them, whether that be through our work with community groups advocating on their behalf or through our consultation and engagement activities, or tenant engagement opportunities.   In the absence of any universal legal agreement on a definition, the Policy sets out a workable interpretation of ‘vulnerability’ which upholds our duties under the Public Sector Equality Duty and the various regulations or guidance different services may have to adhere to.   The Policy sets out how we will identify and record vulnerability in the Council’s role of social landlord, and it explains the concept of ‘reasonable adjustments’ and how these may work in a number of different service areas.   The Policy also comes with an ‘easy read’ version and will be published alongside the main policy on our website.   A period of six weeks public consultation will be undertaken on the Draft Policy before it returns to Executive for formal adoption.

Content: RESOLVED that the Executive:   (a)  approves the draft Fareham Borough Council Vulnerability Policy to be put forward for 6 weeks public consultation; and   (b)  agrees that any minor changes to the policy prior to public consultation are delegated to the Director of Housing following consultation with the Executive Member for Housing.