The Licensing and Regulatory Affairs Committee of Fareham Council met on Monday 10 June 2024 to discuss a statutory review of parliamentary polling districts and polling places, an update on the Fareham and Gosport Environmental Health Partnership, and the committee's work programme for the upcoming year.

Statutory Review of Parliamentary Polling Districts and Polling Places

The committee received a report from the Assistant Director (Democracy) on the statutory review of parliamentary polling districts and polling places. Despite several councillors declaring interests due to their roles in various community centres, all remained in the room as there was no discussion about specific centres. The committee agreed on the statutory notice and timeline for the review, considered the proposed scheme of polling places, and delegated authority to the Assistant Director (Democracy) to make minor amendments if a UK Parliamentary General Election is called before the review is completed.

Fareham & Gosport Environmental Health Partnership Update

The Head of Environmental Health presented an update on the Fareham and Gosport Environmental Health Partnership, highlighting significant cost savings since its establishment in 2012. However, the ongoing pressure to deliver further cuts was noted as a challenge, especially with a recent resignation in the Food Safety team. The committee discussed concerns about Environmental Health Departments not fulfilling statutory duties due to budget cuts and staffing shortages. The Head of Environmental Health assured that Fareham is performing well, with over 90% of food inspections completed despite the backlog caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. The committee noted the success of the partnership and confirmed Gosport Borough Council's commitment to its continuation.

Licensing and Regulatory Affairs Committee Work Programme

The committee reviewed the work programme for the current municipal year and approved a draft work programme for 2024/25. They noted progress on actions from the previous meeting and agreed to submit the proposed draft work programme to the council for approval.

For more details, you can refer to the public reports pack and the minutes of the meeting.