Leigh Usher
Council: Fareham
Committees:
Activity Timeline
Meetings Attended Note this may include planned future meetings.
71 meetings · Page 1 of 15
Executive Portfolio for Leisure and Community - Thursday, 20th November, 2025 1.30 pm
Decisions from Meetings
109 decisions · Page 6 of 22
Community Fund Application - 4th Portchester Rainbows
From: Executive Portfolio for Leisure and Community - Thursday, 7th August, 2025 10.00 am - August 07, 2025
This report presents an application for funding under the Council’s Community Funding Programme. An application to the Community Fund has been received from 4th Portchester Rainbows for £2,000 towards the purchase of a silent disco starter set. 4th Portchester Rainbows would like to purchase a silent disco starter set after their positive experience of hiring a unit at a recent girl guiding event and seeing the benefits to their members for this equipment. The equipment would be used within the local Guides groups for fundraising, as well as hiring it out when not in use for a small charge within the Fareham and Titchfield divisions which in total has 634 child members. They will also hire out the equipment to the Scout groups in the area who have similar member numbers as well as local schools. The money generated from hire would fund replacement headsets and possibly further set ups depending on its popularity, allowing this project to be sustainable. The silent discos can provide potential fundraising for Guide and Scout groups as well as school PTAs. 4th Portchester Rainbows would store the equipment safely at the Guide Leaders home providing secure, dry storage and allowing better accessibility for hirers. There will be a hire agreement in place to cover terms and conditions such as damages. This will also stipulate that the equipment can only be used for not-for-profit organisations and benefit the youth of Fareham Borough. The total cost of this project is £2,233.97. 4th Portchester Rainbows are looking for £2,000 from the Community Fund, with the remaining amount of £233.97 being funded from their reserves. As of 11 July 2025, 4th Portchester Rainbows held £1,300 in their accounts which includes a ringfenced £935 for their annual subscription to HQ due in February. In the current accounting year September 2024-August 2025 there so far is an income of £2,381 and expenditure of £1,853.96. Both Ward Councillors, Councillor Bainbridge and Cllr D Wiltshire supports the 4th Portchester Rainbows application.
Recommendations Approved
Community Fund Application - Artcycle CIC
From: Executive Portfolio for Leisure and Community - Thursday, 31st July, 2025 2.00 pm - July 31, 2025
This report presents an application for funding under the Council’s Community Funding Programme. An application to the Community Fund has been received from Artcycle CIC for £315.05 from the Community Fund for the purchase of junk collecting equipment, safety wear and reusable promotional material. Artcycle CIC use junk to create artwork projects such as bags and decorations within their community workshops. They are based at AFC Portchester, are in their first year of operating and at the time of their initial application had held 4 community junk workshops with very positive feedback, affirming social value and educational enrichment. The additional equipment will allow them to continue the junk workshops for the future. They have initiated outreach with five local headteachers and have been raising awareness through AFC Portchester members and attendees. They intend to work closely with local charities, local children’s groups, home-school networks and social care within Councils to ensure their workshops are able to be accessed by those that would benefit most. The junk workshops cost between £10-20 for a 3hr workshop which covers tuition staff, room hire, materials and tools. This is exceptionally good value when comparing to other, less environmentally aware art-based activities and reflects the CIC’s non-profit making approach. The CIC will also be holding free community workshops for promotion. In the regular workshops there will be free spaces available to families who have financial struggles and these referrals will be assessed in line with their ‘free of charge’ spaces policy. Artcycle CIC are looking for £315.05 from the Community Fund. They will be funding the operating cost of first aid training which costs an additional £200. As of 28 June 2025, Artcycle CIC held £194.80 in their accounts. The organisation has been set up for less than a year and therefore have no complete annual accounts to show. Ward Councillor, Councillor Nother supports Artcycle CIC’s application. Ward Councillor, Councillor P Whittle raised concerns about the application in respect to the need for this further equipment.
Recommendations Approved
Award of Contract for Operator at Fareham Innovation Centre, Daedalus
From: Special, Executive - Tuesday, 22nd July, 2025 4.00 pm - July 22, 2025
Following procurement, this report seeks authority to award a contract for the operator of the centre and a delegated authority to agree the final terms should there be changes.
Recommendations Approved
Award of contract for Airfield Operator and approval of pavement repairs at Solent Airport, Daedalus
From: Special, Executive - Tuesday, 22nd July, 2025 4.00 pm - July 22, 2025
Following procurement, this report seeks authority to award a contract for the operator of Solent Airport Daedalus and delegated authority to agree the final terms, following consultation with the Executive Member for Policy and Resources.
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
Summary
Meetings Attended: 71
Average per Month: 3.1
Decisions Recorded: 109