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 18 of 22
Bird Aware Solent Partnership - Revised Strategy
From: Executive - Tuesday, 3rd December, 2024 6.00 pm - December 03, 2024
Fareham Borough Council is a member of the Bird Aware Solent Partnership. The purpose of this report is to seek the Executive’s approval of the Bird Aware Partnership’s Revised Strategy. The Solent Coastline contains large numbers of important bird assemblages which resulted in it being designated as a Special Protection Area (SPA) under the EU Birds Directive and subsequently transported into the UK Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2017 (the Habitats Regulations). The Solent SPA bird species are particularly vulnerable to the effects of recreational disturbance arising from new housebuilding in the area. The Solent Recreation Mitigation Partnership (SRMP) was formed, of which Fareham Borough Council (FBC) is a member, to develop a strategy that would allow local authorities to permit new residential development whilst ensuring protection and mitigation of The Solent SPAs. The Solent Recreation Mitigation Strategy, later renamed the Bird Aware Strategy, was produced and adopted in April 2018. The current Strategy sets out the approach to mitigate the impact upon SPA birds up to 2034. It proposes a series of management measures which actively encourage all coastal visitors to enjoy their visits in a responsible manner rather than restricting access to the coast or preventing activities that take place. On 30 September 2024, the Partnership for South Hampshire (PfSH) approved a Revised Bird Aware Strategy, which incorporates several main changes from the existing strategy: · The duration of the strategy has been extended from 2034 to 2050. · The Strategy has been extended to also address the effects upon summer breeding birds. · The core team of dedicated staff will be increased from 10 to 19. · Increased resources will be allocated to the dog initiative ‘Coast and Country Canines’, communications and engagement workstreams and monitoring. Payment of the Bird Aware contribution contributes towards the necessary mitigation to protect the SPAs in line with the advice of Natural England, the Government’s statutory advisor on nature conservation. If applicants decide not to make the contribution, they will need to undertake their own Habitat Regulations Assessment to assess and mitigate the impact that their development may have on an SPA, as required by the Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2017 (the Habitats Regulations).
Recommendations Approved
General Fund Revenue Monitoring 2024/25
From: Executive - Monday, 4th November, 2024 6.00 pm - November 04, 2024
The report provides comparative information on the Council’s revenue expenditure for the period for the first half of the financial year. Members are invited to consider the financial performance and any corrective action that may be deemed appropriate. The report provides summary information on the overall spending position against the revenue budgets in the current year, as set out in the following tables:- General Fund Budget 2024/25 Budget to 30 Sept 24 Actual to 30 Sept 24 Variation £000s £000s £000s £000s Service Budgets 16,096 1,532 904 -628 Non-Service Budgets -2,803 -33 -33 0 Net Budgets 13,293 1,499 871 -628 Revenue spending plans are currently showing a net underspend for the first half of the financial year. Any underspending achieved by the end of the year will reduce the need to call on the Council’s reserves for 2024/25 which was originally expected to be in the region of £404,200 when the base budget was agreed. There are a number of areas where spend is in excess of the budget and some areas are likely to continue to be overspent through to the end of the financial year. However, current forecasts against the base budget are predicting that the half-way position overall will continue to the end of the year. It therefore remains appropriate to continue to monitor financial performance closely over the remainder of the financial year to ensure that any slippage does not change this position or adversely affect the services provided to residents and customers. Commentary on the most significant variations is set out in the briefing paper accompanying the report.
Recommendations Approved
Food Safety Service Plan 2024-2026
From: Executive - Monday, 4th November, 2024 6.00 pm - November 04, 2024
To approve the revised Food Safety Service Plan 2024-2026 as required by the Food Standards Agency. The Food Standards Agency requires a detailed Food Safety Service Plan to demonstrate that the Council has adequate arrangements in place to meet its statutory responsibilities as a Food Authority. This should be updated regularly. The Agency has provided detailed guidance as to how the Plans should be set out and the information they should contain; the revised Plan meets these requirements.
Recommendations Approved
Irrecoverable Debts
From: Executive - Monday, 4th November, 2024 6.00 pm - November 04, 2024
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
Change of tenure of 29 Cottes Way, Hill Head and disposal of 5 Gordon Road, Fareham including the freehold
From: Executive - Monday, 4th November, 2024 6.00 pm - November 04, 2024
To obtain Executive approval for the change of tenure of 29 Cottes Way, Hill Head to shared ownership, and the disposal of 5 Gordon Road, Fareham, including the building freehold. The Affordable Housing Strategy (2019) aims to provide the right affordable homes in the right places for those who heed them. Following a review of the suitability of two void properties, the report asks for Executive approval to change the tenure of 29 Cottes Way to shared ownership, and to dispose of 5 Gordon Road, including the building freehold. The report also seeks approval for the costs, detailed in the accompanying appendix to the report, to undertake improvement works to 29 Cottes Way before converting to shared ownership. Capital receipts arising from the sales will be retained within the Housing Revenue Account and be spent on affordable housing, regeneration or the paying off of HRA debt.
Recommendations Approved
Summary
Meetings Attended: 60
Average per Month: 2.4
Decisions Recorded: 106