Councillor Fred Birkett
Email: fbirkett@fareham.gov.uk
Council: Fareham
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Activity Timeline
Meetings Attended Note this may include planned future meetings.
60 meetings · Page 1 of 12
Executive - Monday, 2nd February, 2026 6.00 pm
Economic Development & Regeneration Advisory Panel - Thursday, 15th January, 2026 6.00 pm
Decisions from Meetings
106 decisions · Page 11 of 22
Irrecoverable Debts
From: Executive - Tuesday, 1st April, 2025 6.00 pm - April 01, 2025
The report proposes the approval of the write-off of certain debts over £5,000 which are considered to be irrecoverable. Appendix A to the report lists the debts that are considered irrecoverable. Every effort has been made to recover the debts and, in most cases, there is no further legal action that can be taken.
Recommendations Approved
Fareham Housing Disposal of 29 Cottes Way, Hill Head - Variation to previous agreement for a tenure change at the property
From: Executive - Tuesday, 1st April, 2025 6.00 pm - April 01, 2025
The Executive is requested to approve the variation of a previous decision regarding 29 Cottes Way, Hill Head from a change of tenure to disposal of the property. In November 2024, the Executive approved the change of tenure of 29 Cottes Way from a rented to a Shared Ownership property. Following the decision, officers engaged with multiple teams across the Council to deliver this. As part of that work, a more in-depth assessment of the proposal has been completed, having regard to the property condition and the shared ownership market. This thorough assessment of the property and market conditions concluded that there is a stronger business case to dispose of the property. Further detailed reasoning is provided in confidential Appendix A to the report.
Recommendations Approved
Unreasonable Complainant Behaviour Policy Update
From: Executive - Tuesday, 1st April, 2025 6.00 pm - April 01, 2025
The report provides an updated Unreasonable Complainant Behaviour policy and proposes a centrally managed process for the very small occasions when the Council implements this policy. The Council’s complaints policy explains how customers can make a complaint and the procedure that will be followed. A consistent approach to handling complaints came into effect on 01 April 2024 in line with the obligation on the Council to follow a two-stage process set out in the Housing Ombudsman Code of Complaint Handling, mirrored in the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman’s draft Complaint Handling Code. Whilst the Council is committed to dealing with all complaints fairly, on occasion, our employees have to deal with unreasonable, persistent or vexatious behaviour from customers. On these, fortunately rare, occasions this behaviour can take up a lot of officer time. The LGSCO provides guidance to help authorities and other bodies within their jurisdiction to develop a proportionate approach when responding to unreasonable complaint behaviour, based on their view of good practice in dealing with these customers. The Council’s updated policy is presented for approval. Changes include the introduction of a managed approach when considering applying this policy and to managing the process for review after it has been applied.
Recommendations Approved
Local Government Reorganisation: Interim Submission to Government
From: SPECIAL, Executive - Thursday, 20th March, 2025 5.00 pm - March 20, 2025
To enable Fareham Borough Council to meet the timescales set by the Government for the submission of an interim position statement as plans are developed for local Government Reorganisation across Hampshire and the Solent area. The Government has selected Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, and all Councils in the area including Fareham Borough Council, to be part of its Devolution Priority Programme (DPP). A requirement of the DPP is that the district, county and neighbouring unitary councils should merge with neighbouring authorities to form larger unitary councils (also known as local government reorganisation or LGR). The Secretary of State has formally requested that interim LGR proposals are made by 21 March 2025, with final business cases to be submitted by 26 September 2025. Following the final business case submission, Minister will decide their preferred option for LGR in Hampshire, and lay legislation in Parliament leading to the new councils taking legal effect from 1 April 2028 at the latest. The report presents the draft interim plan that has been developed in collaboration with all Councils across Hampshire/IoW and seeks the approval of the Executive to submit it to Government by 21 March. The Executive is also asked to endorse the progression of the work, under the direction of the Executive Leader and Chief Executive Officer, in order to develop a final business case for Full Council consideration later in 2025.
Recommendations Approved
Communications and Engagement Strategy - Adoption
From: Executive - Tuesday, 11th March, 2025 6.00 pm, NEW - March 11, 2025
To seek Executive approval for the new Communications and Engagement Strategy. The creation and implementation of a new Communications and Engagement Strategy is a key project to be delivered under Priority Six of the Corporate Strategy 2023-2029 which aims to ensure we are a ‘responsive, inclusive and innovative Council. The Strategy sets out the Council’s approach to how we will communicate and engage with our diverse internal and external audiences. The Executive on 4 November 2024 approved the draft strategy for public consultation which ran from 20 November 2024 to 8 January 2025. The report summarises the outcome of the consultation and presents proposed minor amendments to the Strategy for approval.
Recommendations Approved
Summary
Meetings Attended: 60
Average per Month: 2.4
Decisions Recorded: 106