The Overview and Scrutiny Committee of Rushmoor Council met on Thursday 11 June 2026 to discuss the council's housing priorities, rough sleeping, and the committee's work plan for the upcoming year. The meeting was also scheduled to address appointments to various groups for the 2026-27 municipal year.

Homes for All - Priority Update

The committee was scheduled to receive a presentation on the current position of the council's Homes for All: Quality Living, Affordable Housing priority, as outlined in the Council Delivery Plan 2026-28. This update was to be provided by Suzannah Hellicar, Service Manager – Housing, Zoe Paine, Housing Strategy and Enabling Manager, Jermaine Pinto, Housing Options Manager, and Charlotte Redpath, Housing Support Team Leader. The Housing Service Performance Data for Quarter 4 was made available for reference. Councillor Keith Dibble, the Portfolio Holder for Housing, Planning and Property, was also scheduled to attend to address members' questions.

The report pack indicated that the number of homelessness enquiries had seen a significant quarterly increase, with 307 cases in Quarter 4, the first time exceeding 300 in over two years. This rise was attributed to the upcoming Renters' Rights Act, which was due to become law on 1 May 2026. The report also noted that data for homelessness duty owed, specifically the percentage housed for six months at the end of 56 days, was unavailable for Q4. However, for Q3, Rushmoor reported 83.5%, compared to 57% for the South East and 55.1% for England.

Regarding rough sleeping, the report indicated that 17 individuals were reported throughout the quarter, an increase from 13 in the previous comparison period. A Special Winter Emergency Provision (SWEP) was in effect during this time.

The report also included data on the costs associated with Bed and Breakfast (B&B) accommodation, with gross costs estimated at £69,335 for Q4, an increase from £66,501 in the previous year's Q4. The estimated total for 2025/26 was £156,274, which was less than the £278,016 spent in 2024/25.

In terms of private sector housing, the number of improvement notices issued by the council increased from one in the last comparison quarter to two in Q4. The number of complaints regarding private sector housing decreased, with 83 complaints in Q4 compared to 90 in the previous comparison quarter.

Rough Sleeping

An overview of rough sleeping within the Borough and the support mechanisms in place for vulnerable rough sleepers was scheduled to be presented.

Appointments 2026-27

The committee was due to consider appointments for several groups for the 2026-27 municipal year:

• Agenda Preparation Group: This group was to be appointed, with its membership including the Chair, Councillor Halleh Koohestani, the Vice-Chairs, and one Labour Group Member.
• Council Tax Support Task and Finish Group: The membership of this group was to be appointed, requiring the inclusion of either the Chairman or Vice-Chairman of the Committee. Nominations received were to be tabled at the meeting.
• Housing Oversight Group: The committee was to appoint the membership of this group for 2026-27, with nominations also to be tabled.

Work Plan

The committee was scheduled to consider its Work Plan for the 2026/27 Municipal Year.

Previous Meeting Minutes

The minutes of the previous meeting, held on 24 February 2026, were to be confirmed. The minutes from that meeting noted that the Housing Oversight Group (formerly the Registered Providers Task and Finish Group) had held its first meeting on 2 February 2026 with an increased membership and meeting frequency. The group's work programme covered key housing issues across all tenures and included reviewing registered provider performance. The minutes also mentioned that the Cabinet had decided not to continue with the Walk this Waste pilot scheme and was considering alternative options for addressing fly-tipping and bulky waste removal. A letter had been sent to the Leader of Hampshire County Council on 23 January 2026, and a response was still awaited.

The minutes from the February meeting also detailed discussions regarding the build of the Farnborough Leisure Centre. The committee had received a presentation from the development partner, Alliance Leisure, and discussed financial modelling, including the impact of additional borrowing and potential interest rate increases. The report pack indicated that the project's payback was anticipated in 2041/42, at the end of the initial 15-year operator contract. The committee had also discussed options for borrowing and the potential for a Parent Company Guarantee (PCG).