Councillor Fred Birkett
Email: fbirkett@fareham.gov.uk
Council: Fareham
Council Profile: View on council website
Committees:
Activity Timeline
Meetings Attended Note this may include planned future meetings.
57 meetings · Page 1 of 12
Housing Advisory Panel - Thursday, 6th November, 2025 6.00 pm
Decisions from Meetings
97 decisions · Page 14 of 20
Sale of Land at Faraday North
From: Executive - Monday, 3rd February, 2025 6.00 pm - February 03, 2025
As outlined in the confidential report.
Recommendations Approved
Housing Revenue Account Budgets, Fees & Charges 2025/26
From: Executive - Monday, 3rd February, 2025 6.00 pm - February 03, 2025
The report seeks agreement from the Executive to recommend to Council the approval of the revised budget for the Housing Revenue account for 2024/25, plus the base budgets, fees and charges and rent increases for 2025/26. The Executive recommended, and the Council approved, in February 2024 the base budget and rent increase for 2024/25 for Housing Revenue Account (HRA) services. The report sets out some revisions to the Housing Revenue Account revised budget for 2024/25 and base budget for 2025/26. The housing capital programme and financing for the years 2024/25 to 2028/29 is also included for information as this impacts on the revenue budget. The report also proposes the increases in rents and fees and charges for 2025/26. The report highlights the issues affecting the Housing Revenue Account. In particular it highlights the increased expenditure needed to maintain the Council’s housing stock in the next 2 years. This will mean that we will not be able to continue with our debt repayment put aside in these years. However, any surpluses that do arise will be considered for this purpose. Due to these pressures, increased budget monitoring has been introduced for this period and a specific HRA Opportunities Plan has been drawn up which contains actions that have been identified to help reduce net expenditure. Council budgets are susceptible to change in the level of expenditure and income caused by factors inside and outside the Council’s control. Scenario analysis has been carried out to indicate the effect on housing balances of changes in the level of expenditure and income. This has been included to support the need to maintain a prudent level of reserves and a working balance.
Recommendations Approved
Capital Investment at Solent Airport - PVC aeroplane storage units
From: Executive - Monday, 13th January, 2025 6.00 pm, NEW - January 13, 2025
To seek approval to provide PVC Aeroplane Storage Units at Solent Airport to support General Aviation. To provide a self-sustaining solution to the shortage of aeroplane storage space at Solent Airport, Daedalus. This will also in turn support the future delivery of Swordfish Business Park by relocating tenants from existing hangars which are likely to need to be demolished.
Recommendations Approved
General Fund Revenue Budgets & Finance Strategy 2025/26
From: Executive - Monday, 13th January, 2025 6.00 pm, NEW - January 13, 2025
The report provides an update on the Council’s 5-year financial forecasts and makes recommendations regarding the revised revenue budget for 2024/25 and base budget for 2025/26. The Executive recommended, and the Council approve, in February 2023, the base budget for 2024/25, for the General Fund Revenue Account services. The report sets out some revisions to the budget for 2024/25 and proposes a base budget for 2025/26 for the Executive’s agreement and submission to Council. The report also gives the context to these budgets in the form of the latest five-year projections from the Medium-Term Financial Strategy. Revised General Fund Revenue Budget 2024/25 The original general fund revenue budget for 2024/25 set, for £14,883,100, required a funding shortfall of £404,200 to be met from unallocated general reserves. The projected shortfall has now dropped to £285,700, with the revised budget of £14,410,200. This is mainly dure to the savings that have been made through the Opportunities Plan and wider work in the year such as reducing the cost of Homelessness provision. Base General Fund Revenue Budget 2025/26 The proposed general fund revenue budget for 2025/26 totals £14,839,100 which is a decrease of £43,900 against the original budget for 2024/25. There is a funding shortfall of £62,600 which will need to be met from unallocated reserves. 5-Year Financial Forecasts The 5-year financial forecasts for 2024/25 to 2028/29 is predicting future funding shortfalls, each year rising to £1.3million by 2026/27, which will be the last year that the shortfall can be met from unallocated General Reserves. The Opportunities Plan work recommenced in 2023/24 and has served to delay the funding shortfall problem each year. Work will need to continue to expand and deliver the Opportunities Plan to help manage the Council’s financial pressures and remain resilient. As the easier projects have now been delivered, there may be a need to make increasingly difficult decisions. Members have already started this work which will be built into the next Opportunities Plan.
Recommendations Approved
Review of Hackney Carriage Tariff
From: Executive - Monday, 13th January, 2025 6.00 pm, NEW - January 13, 2025
To set the level of Hackney Carriage Tariff for licensed Hackney Carriage vehicles in the Borough of Fareham. Earlier this year, the Fareham Taxi & Private Hire Association approached the Council’s Licensing team seeking an increase to the Hackney Carriage Tariff. Although Licensing generally in a non-Executive function and matters are dealt with by the Licensing Committee, the setting of the Tariff is an Executive function. A consultation was undertaken with taxi vehicle owners. Of those who responded to the consultation, 17 (85%) agreed with the proposal as suggested by the Association, whilst 3 (15%) respondents indicated that the Tariff should remain as is. This matter was considered by the Licensing and Regulatory Affairs Committee on 26 November 2024 and they have recommended the proposed increase to the Executive.
Recommendations Approved
Summary
Meetings Attended: 57
Average per Month: 2.5
Decisions Recorded: 97