Purpose

The report provides members with
an update on the work that has been undertaken between officers representing
Fareham Brough Council (FBC), Gosport Borough Council (GBC), Portsmouth City
Council (PCC), and Havant Borough Council (HBC) towards the development of an
enlarged Building Control Partnership (BCP).

 

It makes recommendations for the
admission of Havant Borough Council Building Control service to the existing
Building Control Partnership, under a revised legal agreement and memorandum of
understanding between Fareham Borough Council. Gosport Borough Council,
Portsmouth City Council and Havant Borough Council.

 

Following a senior level approach
from Havant Borough Council in early 2025, HBC are due to make a cabinet
decision on 25 September 2025 to formally request becoming the fourth member of
the BCP.

 

Negotiations between senior
officers of GBC, FBC, PCC and HBC have taken place to reach agreement on a
basis for an enlarged Partnership.

 

These negotiations have been
successfully concluded, and the report sets out the result of the negotiations
and details what is now required to take this proposal forward.

Decision

RESOLVED that the Executive
(subject to a favourable decision by Gosport Borough Council and Portsmouth City
Council) agrees that:

 

(a)  Fareham
Borough Council enter into an agreement with Havant Borough Council, Portsmouth
City Council and Gosport Borough Council for the delivery of Building Control
functions as set out in the report;

 

(b)  delivers
the Building Control function to all four Councils through the Building Control
Partnership; and

 

(c)  delegates
authority to the Director of Planning and Regeneration, following consultation
with the Executive Member for Health and Public Protection, to enter into such
agreements as necessary and on such terms as are reasonable and to take any
ancillary actions as are required to give effect to the proposal.