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 14 of 22
Fareham Housing Decants Policy - approval for consultation
From: Executive - Monday, 3rd February, 2025 6.00 pm - February 03, 2025
To seek Executive approval for the draft Fareham Housing Decant Policy to go for six weeks public consultation. The Policy details the legislation and process for when occupants are required to move accommodation in an emergency or to enable repairs, major works and development. The policy applies to Council tenants, leaseholders, and in rare instances, private residents. Approval is sought for a six-week public consultation to be undertaken, prior to the policy returning to the Executive for formal adoption. An ‘easy read’ document accompanies the policy and will form part of the consultation. This is to ensure the key points of the policy can be communicated effectively. At its meeting of 9 January 2025, the Housing Scrutiny Panel considered the policy and requested clarification on the rent amount and the number of non-permanent decants in the past year. This is detailed in paragraph 16.
Recommendations Approved
Housing Revenue Account Budgets, Fees & Charges 2025/26
From: Executive - Monday, 3rd February, 2025 6.00 pm - February 03, 2025
The report seeks agreement from the Executive to recommend to Council the approval of the revised budget for the Housing Revenue account for 2024/25, plus the base budgets, fees and charges and rent increases for 2025/26. The Executive recommended, and the Council approved, in February 2024 the base budget and rent increase for 2024/25 for Housing Revenue Account (HRA) services. The report sets out some revisions to the Housing Revenue Account revised budget for 2024/25 and base budget for 2025/26. The housing capital programme and financing for the years 2024/25 to 2028/29 is also included for information as this impacts on the revenue budget. The report also proposes the increases in rents and fees and charges for 2025/26. The report highlights the issues affecting the Housing Revenue Account. In particular it highlights the increased expenditure needed to maintain the Council’s housing stock in the next 2 years. This will mean that we will not be able to continue with our debt repayment put aside in these years. However, any surpluses that do arise will be considered for this purpose. Due to these pressures, increased budget monitoring has been introduced for this period and a specific HRA Opportunities Plan has been drawn up which contains actions that have been identified to help reduce net expenditure. Council budgets are susceptible to change in the level of expenditure and income caused by factors inside and outside the Council’s control. Scenario analysis has been carried out to indicate the effect on housing balances of changes in the level of expenditure and income. This has been included to support the need to maintain a prudent level of reserves and a working balance.
Recommendations Approved
Corporate Peer Challenge Position Statement
From: Executive - Monday, 3rd February, 2025 6.00 pm - February 03, 2025
To present and seek approval of the Positioning Statement for the Corporate Peer Challenge to support the LGA peer team to provide feedback. As part of the Council’s commitment to continuous improvement and to meet its Best Value Duty, Fareham Borough Council is participating in the Local Government Association’s (LGA) Corporate Peer Challenge. The aim of the challenge is to provide assurance, share good practice with the wider sector, as well as receive valuable challenge and advice to support improved service provision. The peer team will be made up of a lead Councillor and senior officers from other local authorities around the country. Preceding an on-site visit by the peer team to make their own assessments, the Council will be providing a data pack and positioning statement with relevant information including requests for guidance on specific topics. If approved, the positioning statement will be submitted to the LGA peer team to review before the on-site visit.
Recommendations Approved
Irrecoverable Debts
From: Executive - Monday, 3rd February, 2025 6.00 pm - February 03, 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
Gas Servicing, Maintenance and Installation Contract
From: Executive - Monday, 3rd February, 2025 6.00 pm - February 03, 2025
To advise the Executive of the procurement process to provide a 5-year term contract with options to extend, for the service, maintenance and installation of new heating and hot water systems in the Council’s housing stock and public buildings. To seek delegated authority to appoint a single contractor for the contract term, following a thorough procurement/tendered process. This contract maintains heating, hot water systems including gas and heat pumps. It also delivers our legal responsibilities to ensure gas installation in our properties remain safe. The report provides Members with details of the new contract that will replace existing contract arrangements which expire in the summer of 2025. Further details surrounding the funding arrangements, including the total estimated cost to deliver the contract, are provided in Confidential Appendix A to the report. This report seeks Executive agreement for delegated authority that will allow an efficient hand-over from the existing contractor to a new provider.
Recommendations Approved
Summary
Meetings Attended: 60
Average per Month: 2.4
Decisions Recorded: 106