Councillor Simon Martin

Sheltered Housing Later Living Strategy

From: from 12/05/25, Executive - Tuesday, 20th May, 2025 6.00 pm, - May 20, 2025

To seek Executive approval for the draft Fareham Housing Later Living Strategy to go for six weeks public consultation.   The Later Living Strategy details the renewed approach to Fareham Housing’s sheltered housing service.  The term ‘later living’ replaces the outdated name of ‘sheltered housing’ to remove the old-fashioned connotations that surround it.   The strategy focuses on three priorities based on the building, the service and the route into later living housing.  It identifies the aims and actions, as well as the issues that need to be overcome.   Approval is sought for a six-week period of consultation before the strategy is brought back to the Executive for adoption.   At its meeting on 3 April 2025, the Housing Scrutiny Panel considered the strategy and no comments or suggestions were made.

Recommendations Approved

The Draft Fareham Housing Tenant Alterations and Improvements Policy - Adoption

From: from 12/05/25, Executive - Tuesday, 20th May, 2025 6.00 pm, - May 20, 2025

To seek Executive approval for the Draft Fareham Housing Tenant Alterations and Improvements Policy for adoption.   Under section 97 of the Housing Act 1985, as amended, all eligible tenants have the right to make alterations or improvements to their homes.  While tenants must have the permission of the landlord to carry out any such alterations or improvements, the law also stipulates that this permission cannot be ‘unreasonably withheld’.   The draft Fareham Housing Alterations policy provides comprehensive information on the alterations process, background and relevant legislation.  This document updates the information on our website and brings it together in a single policy.   At its meeting on 9 January 2025, the Housing Scrutiny Panel approved the document to go to Executive with changes to the process chart in Appendix C to improve clarity.  Following Executive agreement on 3 February 2025, the draft Tenant Alterations and Improvements policy was circulated for public consultation from 17 February to 31 March 2025.

Recommendations Approved

From: from 12/05/25, Executive - Tuesday, 20th May, 2025 6.00 pm, - May 20, 2025

Recommendations Approved

Simpler Recycling - Recycling Collection Services

From: from 12/05/25, Executive - Tuesday, 20th May, 2025 6.00 pm, - May 20, 2025

To consider the introduction of new recycling collection services across the Borough in March 2026.   The Environment Act 2021 and its associated Regulations, known as Simpler Recycling, requires the Council to collect household food waste weekly, collect glass from the kerbside and extend the range of dry missed recyclables collected from households by 31 March 2026.   In November, Members approved the proposals for introducing food waste collection services from 30 March 2026.  This report considers what dry recycling collection services will be offered to Fareham’s households.   Hampshire County Council, as Waste Disposal Authority, has advised that the current waste disposal infrastructure cannot currently process paper, card, metal, glass and plastics in a way that is compliant with the new Simpler Recycling requirements.  As such, Fareham Borough Council has four options to consider for dry recycling collections.  The recommended option is to make no changes to the dry recycling collections until the new waste disposal infrastructure is operational in Winter 2027.  This is supported by Defra, has minimal impact on the Borough’s potential to improve recycling performance and incurs no additional costs.    

Recommendations Approved

Hampshire and the Solent Devolution MHCLG Consultation - Council response

From: Executive - Tuesday, 1st April, 2025 6.00 pm - April 01, 2025

To consider the Council’s response to the Government consultation regarding devolution proposals for Hampshire and the Solent.   Hampshire, Isle of Wight, Portsmouth and Southampton Councils applied to join the Devolution Priority Programme to establish a Mayoral Combined County Authority across these areas.  On 5 February 2025, the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) confirmed Hampshire and the Solent was one of six regions across England that has been accepted onto the programme.   A public consultation on the establishment of a Mayoral Combined County Authority in the area is the first key step of the Devolution Priority Programme; the consultation is led by the MHCLG and is required before taking a decision on whether to proceed with the making of the necessary legislation to enable devolution.  It seeks views on the Proposed Geography, Governance Arrangements, Supporting the Economy, Improving Social Outcomes, Local Government Services, Improving the local natural environment,  and Supporting the needs of the local communities and reflect local identity.   The eight-week consultation, launched on 17 February 2025, seeks views from interested, including those who live and work in the area, on a proposal to form a Mayoral Combined County Authority (MCCA) for the local government areas in Hampshire County Council, Portsmouth City Council, Isle of Wight Council and Southampton City Council.   As a non-constituent body, Fareham Borough Council does not have a direct role in the creation of the MCCA, but nonetheless recognises the significant potential that the devolution arrangements could have for the borough.   Consequently, it is appropriate for the Council to submit a consultation response to the Government in order to shape the development of the MCCA with a view to achieving the best outcomes for Fareham and the County as a whole.   The draft response is attached as Appendix A to the report and reflects the Council’s position that devolution is broadly and widely supported.  There are, however, aspects of the proposals where the Council believes that Governance and local representation could be strengthened, and this is reflected in the draft response.

Recommendations Approved