Andrew Wannell

The Draft Fareham Housing Right-Sizing Policy

From: Executive - Monday, 7th July, 2025 6.00 pm - July 07, 2025

The new Policy provides comprehensive information on the Council’s ‘Right-Sizing’ Policy, outlines the structure and the main changes from the previous scheme.  This will be published on the Council’s Housing webpages.    The Policy is not required by statute, though it is a common feature of many local authorities’ housing management practices, and the primary aim is to ensure the policy is in line with current legislative ‘best practice’ and to ensure the fair and transparent application of it while enabling us to make the best use of available stock.

Recommendations Approved

The provision of sanitary bins in male toilets - Boys need Bins

From: Executive - Monday, 7th July, 2025 6.00 pm - July 07, 2025

Recommendations Approved

General Fund Revenue Outturn

From: Executive - Monday, 7th July, 2025 6.00 pm - July 07, 2025

This report provides the Executive with details of the actual revenue expenditure for 2024/25 for the General Fund.   The revised revenue budget set by the Executive for the General Fund in February was predicting a contribution from reserves of £285,700 in order to balance the budget. Although budget monitoring had been indicating some pressure points during the year there have also been some positive outcomes within services such that the overall outturn position will be an underspend, of £437,893, after the proposed carry forwards, which will be added to the Council’s reserves.   The main reasons for this were higher than expected income in some areas, such as shopping centre rents, car parking, and investment and commercial properties There was also lower than expected spend in some areas, particularly employee costs due to staff turnover, the local plan and for the homelessness service. However, there continues to be a pressure on the budgets in the year in particular for vehicle costs for the waste collection and street cleansing services.   This contribution to reserves, rather than the expected draw down of reserves, will help towards the funding gap identified for 2026/27 in the Medium-Term Finance Strategy and will reduce the savings that need to be made from the Opportunities Plan.   However, there remains a need to be cautious as the Council’s overall reserves position will not yet be sufficient to go through to the end of the Finance Strategy period. Contingencies are also needed the levels of Government’s financial support remain uncertain and it is likely that the Fair Funding Review will come into force during the 2026/27 financial year along with a business rate reset, both of which are not expected to have a favourable outcome for lower tier authorities.

Recommendations Approved

Capital and Treasury Management Outturn

From: Executive - Monday, 7th July, 2025 6.00 pm - July 07, 2025

This report provides the Executive with details of the capital and treasury management outturn for 2024/25 to comply with the reporting requirements of the Code of Practice for Treasury Management. The report also seeks approval for the proposed methods of financing the General Fund capital programme.   Executive summary: Actual capital expenditure on General Fund schemes in 2024/25 was £13,370,221 (£31.2 million in 2023/24) compared with the revised capital programme of £15,511,300. Overall the programme has been underspent by £2,141,079. A detailed analysis of the variations is given in Appendix A to this report.   Total savings from individual projects of £263,245 were achieved, additional expenditure of £506,335 on others was incurred and a total of £2,384,169 will be carried forward into 2025/26. Details of the various methods used to finance this expenditure are set out in this report.   Full details of Treasury Management investment and borrowing activity in 2024/25 are also set out in this report and is summarised below. This shows that there has been a slight decrease in the Council’s net borrowing position.     31 March 2024 Actual £’000 2024/25 Movement £’000 31 March 2025 Actual £’000 Total borrowing 64,589 (2,753) 61,836 Total investments (13,588) (3,915) (17,503) Net borrowing 51,001 (6,668) 44,333   Net interest received from investments in 2024/25 was £57,388 and net interest paid on borrowing for the HRA was £2,011,719 The overall investment property portfolio increased in value by £103,000 and contracted income was approximately £4,890,000. During 2024/25, the Council complied with its legislative and regulatory requirements of the Prudential Code.

Recommendations Approved

The Draft Fareham Borough Council Domestic Abuse Policy

From: Executive - Monday, 7th July, 2025 6.00 pm - July 07, 2025

To approve the draft Fareham Borough Council Domestic Abuse policy for consultation and approve delegated authority to the Director of Housing, following consultation with the Executive Member for Housing, to make any minor changes to the Policy prior to public consultation.   The new Policy provides comprehensive information on the Council’s Domestic Abuse Policy.  This policy details how we will readily meet those duties and work with Hampshire County Council and others to support victims and survivors of domestic abuse.  It details how we will treat all reports of domestic abuse however and from whoever we receive them.  It also sets out how we will meet our commitment to treat the victims and survivors of domestic abuse with the dignity, respect, care and understanding they deserve.  

Recommendations Approved