Samantha Wightman
Council: Fareham
Committees:
Activity Timeline
Meetings Attended Note this may include planned future meetings.
69 meetings · Page 1 of 14
Executive Portfolio for Leisure and Community - Thursday, 20th November, 2025 1.30 pm
Decisions from Meetings
109 decisions · Page 13 of 22
Finance Strategy, Capital Programme, Revenue Budget & Council Tax 2025/26
From: SPECIAL, Executive - Thursday, 13th February, 2025 5.00 pm - February 13, 2025
The report seeks final confirmation of the recommendations to be made to Council on 14 February 2025, in respect of the revenue budget, capital programme and council tax for 2025/26. On 13 January 2025, the Executive reviewed the Council’s overall finance strategy and considered proposals relating to the revenue budgets and the council tax for 2025/26. This report updates the Council’s budgets to reflect the decisions taken and other known changes since 13 January 2025, including the provisional local government finance settlement. The net revenue budget for 2025/26 will be £15,050,100. With core funding estimated to be £5,819,957 no payment from the collection fund and other income sources and use of reserves totalling £693,500, this leaves the total amount due from the Council taxpayers to be £8,536,643. This level of council tax for 2025/26 equates to £191.42 per Band D property. This represents an increase of £5.56 per year from the council tax set for 2024/25 and is within the 2.99% referendum threshold set by the Government.
Recommendations Approved
Community Fund Application - Victory Hall
From: Executive Portfolio for Leisure and Community - Tuesday, 4th February, 2025 4.30 pm - February 04, 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 Victory Hall for £10,000 towards a new accessible toilet and additional storage space at the front of the hall. Victory Hall has an existing toilet block, but when the hall is busy access is via going outside into the car park and accessing the toilet via the back door which is not suitable. More storage is also required to store tables and chairs which are currently taking up valuable cloakroom space. The Hall currently has over 1,000 users attending each week, with many being elderly or having mobility issues. Provision of a new accessible toilet would be a real benefit to these users and make the hall a more attractive venue. Better storage would also allow the hall to host more different types of events. Planning permission has been acquired for these works. The estimated cost of the project is £80,000. Victory Hall are looking for £10,000 from the community fund. They have raised £17,500 from fundraising and donations and will use £12,500 from reserves. Victory Hall have also secured a loan of £40,000 from ACRE to be paid back over 5 years. As of 13 January, Victory Hall held £81,685 in their accounts. In the accounting year 1 April 2023 – 31 March 2024, there was an income of £84,711 and expenditure of £69,033. Both Councillor Ford and Councillor Burgess supports Victory Hall’s application.
Recommendations Approved
Fareham Housing Acquisitions, Disposals and Tenure Changes
From: Executive - Monday, 3rd February, 2025 6.00 pm - February 03, 2025
To obtain Executive approval for Fareham Housing to acquire additional homes, dispose of existing properties and change the tenure of vacant properties, to ensure the housing stock is fit for purpose and meets local housing need. The Affordable Housing Strategy (2019) aims to provide the right affordable homes in the right places for those who need them. As a responsible housing provider, Fareham Housing aims to provide accommodation to meet the needs of residents. The report recommends delegated authority is given to the Director of Housing to acquire, dispose or change the tenure of empty homes as required, to ensure decisions concerning the best use of the housing stock can be made quickly and efficiently.
Recommendations Approved
Draft Air Quality Strategy 2025-2030 for Consultation
From: Executive - Monday, 3rd February, 2025 6.00 pm - February 03, 2025
To approve the draft Air Quality Strategy 2025 – 2030 for consultation prior ro final consideration and adoption. Air pollution can have a serious effect on people’s health. The Environment Act 2021 requires all local authorities to have either an active Air Quality Action Plan (AQAP) if the authority has declared an Air Quality Management Area or to produce an Air Quality Strategy. In 2024, Fareham revoked both of its AQMAs and is therefore no longer required to have an AQAP. As such, an Air Quality Strategy is required. A 12-week public consultation process on the draft Air Quality Strategy is proposed and the final Strategy will be brought back to the Executive for decision later in the year.
Recommendations Approved
Insurance Services Contract
From: Executive - Monday, 3rd February, 2025 6.00 pm - February 03, 2025
This report considers the tenders received for the provision of Insurance Services for Fareham Borough Council. The report recommends an award of contract for the services. Ten Borough and District councils in Hampshire have worked collaboratively to procure insurance services from 1 April 2025 using an Open Procedure in accordance with the Public Contracts Regulations 2015. The current cost of insurance across the 10 borough and district councils in Hampshire is £4.7 million a year and for Fareham Borough Council £531,000. This report provides the Executive with information regarding the tenders received and seeks an award of contract for a 3-year long term agreement with the option to extend for a further 2 years for the provision of insurance services.
Recommendations Approved
Summary
Meetings Attended: 69
Average per Month: 3.0
Decisions Recorded: 109