Councillor Simon Martin
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Activity Timeline
Meetings Attended Note this may include planned future meetings.
60 meetings · Page 1 of 12
Executive - Monday, 2nd February, 2026 6.00 pm
Decisions from Meetings
108 decisions · Page 11 of 22
Hampshire and the Solent Devolution MHCLG Consultation - Council response
From: Executive - Tuesday, 1st April, 2025 6.00 pm - April 01, 2025
To consider the Council’s response to the Government consultation regarding devolution proposals for Hampshire and the Solent. Hampshire, Isle of Wight, Portsmouth and Southampton Councils applied to join the Devolution Priority Programme to establish a Mayoral Combined County Authority across these areas. On 5 February 2025, the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) confirmed Hampshire and the Solent was one of six regions across England that has been accepted onto the programme. A public consultation on the establishment of a Mayoral Combined County Authority in the area is the first key step of the Devolution Priority Programme; the consultation is led by the MHCLG and is required before taking a decision on whether to proceed with the making of the necessary legislation to enable devolution. It seeks views on the Proposed Geography, Governance Arrangements, Supporting the Economy, Improving Social Outcomes, Local Government Services, Improving the local natural environment, and Supporting the needs of the local communities and reflect local identity. The eight-week consultation, launched on 17 February 2025, seeks views from interested, including those who live and work in the area, on a proposal to form a Mayoral Combined County Authority (MCCA) for the local government areas in Hampshire County Council, Portsmouth City Council, Isle of Wight Council and Southampton City Council. As a non-constituent body, Fareham Borough Council does not have a direct role in the creation of the MCCA, but nonetheless recognises the significant potential that the devolution arrangements could have for the borough. Consequently, it is appropriate for the Council to submit a consultation response to the Government in order to shape the development of the MCCA with a view to achieving the best outcomes for Fareham and the County as a whole. The draft response is attached as Appendix A to the report and reflects the Council’s position that devolution is broadly and widely supported. There are, however, aspects of the proposals where the Council believes that Governance and local representation could be strengthened, and this is reflected in the draft response.
Recommendations Approved
Fareham Housing Disposal of 29 Cottes Way, Hill Head - Variation to previous agreement for a tenure change at the property
From: Executive - Tuesday, 1st April, 2025 6.00 pm - April 01, 2025
The Executive is requested to approve the variation of a previous decision regarding 29 Cottes Way, Hill Head from a change of tenure to disposal of the property. In November 2024, the Executive approved the change of tenure of 29 Cottes Way from a rented to a Shared Ownership property. Following the decision, officers engaged with multiple teams across the Council to deliver this. As part of that work, a more in-depth assessment of the proposal has been completed, having regard to the property condition and the shared ownership market. This thorough assessment of the property and market conditions concluded that there is a stronger business case to dispose of the property. Further detailed reasoning is provided in confidential Appendix A to the report.
Recommendations Approved
Irrecoverable Debts
From: Executive - Tuesday, 1st April, 2025 6.00 pm - April 01, 2025
The report proposes the approval of the write-off of certain debts over £5,000 which are considered to be irrecoverable. Appendix A to the report lists the debts that are considered irrecoverable. Every effort has been made to recover the debts and, in most cases, there is no further legal action that can be taken.
Recommendations Approved
Local Government Reorganisation: Interim Submission to Government
From: SPECIAL, Executive - Thursday, 20th March, 2025 5.00 pm - March 20, 2025
To enable Fareham Borough Council to meet the timescales set by the Government for the submission of an interim position statement as plans are developed for local Government Reorganisation across Hampshire and the Solent area. The Government has selected Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, and all Councils in the area including Fareham Borough Council, to be part of its Devolution Priority Programme (DPP). A requirement of the DPP is that the district, county and neighbouring unitary councils should merge with neighbouring authorities to form larger unitary councils (also known as local government reorganisation or LGR). The Secretary of State has formally requested that interim LGR proposals are made by 21 March 2025, with final business cases to be submitted by 26 September 2025. Following the final business case submission, Minister will decide their preferred option for LGR in Hampshire, and lay legislation in Parliament leading to the new councils taking legal effect from 1 April 2028 at the latest. The report presents the draft interim plan that has been developed in collaboration with all Councils across Hampshire/IoW and seeks the approval of the Executive to submit it to Government by 21 March. The Executive is also asked to endorse the progression of the work, under the direction of the Executive Leader and Chief Executive Officer, in order to develop a final business case for Full Council consideration later in 2025.
Recommendations Approved
Fareham Borough Local Development Scheme
From: Executive - Tuesday, 11th March, 2025 6.00 pm, NEW - March 11, 2025
To approve the Fareham Borough Local Development Scheme (2025). Local Planning Authorities are required to prepare and maintain a Local Development Scheme (LDS). The LDS provides a timetable for the preparation of local plans and other related planning documents and sets out the planning strategy work programme for the year ahead including the production of any supporting documents. In December 2024, the Deputy Prime Minister requested that all local planning authorities produce an updated Local Plan timetable (LDS) by the 6 March 2025 and submit it to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government. National Planning Policy specifies that policies in local plans should be reviewed at least once every five years and updated as necessary. The Fareham Local Plan 2037 was adopted in April 2023 and is therefore considered up to date until April 2028. The Levelling Up and Regeneration Act 2023 and the revised National Planning Policy Framework (December 2024) have significantly changed the national planning policy context. The method for calculating housing requirement has been changed resulting in a much higher requirement for most authorities, and significant changes are to be made to the content of Local Plans with the forthcoming introduction of a national set of Development Management policies, removing the need for such policies to be included in local plans Therefore, to ensure that the Local Plan remains consistent with national policy and to ensure continued coverage of the Borough by an up to date Local Plan, it is justified for this Council to set out the programme for ensuring a replacement of the Local Plan is in place by April 2028. The timeline for future Local Plan production is proposed in line with the new plan making system which sets out a 30-month timeframe from commencement to adoption. The proposed LDS attached at Appendix A sets out a local plan preparation timetable that is considered realistic in terms of enabling this Council to develop and undertake the necessary work to produce a replacement local plan, whilst providing flexibility to respond to changes in planning legislation and guidance expected during 2025. As increased clarity is provided by the Government regarding the new plan making system, elements of the LDS may be required to be updated.
Recommendations Approved
Summary
Meetings Attended: 60
Average per Month: 2.4
Decisions Recorded: 108