Samantha Wightman

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

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

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

Housing Revenue Account 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 Housing Revenue and Repairs Account, with updates and implications for the HRA capital programme.   The Housing Revenue and Repairs Account is separate from the General Fund of the Council and covers the income and expenditure for the Council owned housing stock.   The £15.6M revised budget set by the Executive for the Housing Revenue and Repairs Account in February highlighted a number of pressures including responsive repairs costs remaining high alongside those for planned maintenance and other capital costs. Therefore, the revised budget was set with no expected transfers to the HRA reserves other than for leaseholders.   However, careful management of resources and phasing of the planned maintenance programme has meant that the HRA outturn position is stronger.   The final figures for the Housing Revenue and Repairs Account (HRA) in 2024/25 show net Expenditure for the year of £14.7M, against income of £16.1M. This has meant that it has been possible to make a £500k contribution to both the Capital Improvement and Development Fund and Debt Repayment Reserve to earmark them for future financial resilience. This has left a £274,985 surplus on the account which will be added to the HRA revenue reserve.   Overall, total HRA Reserves have increased by £1.649 million. However, HRA borrowing has increased by £3.85 million mainly to finance the new build projects in the capital programme.

Recommendations Approved