Agenda and minutes

An apology for non attendance was received from Councillor Jessop.

All Members are required to disclose at this point in the meeting or as soon as possible thereafter, any disclosable pecuniary interest or personal interest in any item(s) being considered at this meeting.

There were none.

To sign as a true and correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 26^th March 2025.

RESOLVED: That the minutes of the meeting held on 26 March 2025 be signed as a true and correct record.

The Mayor thanked all those that attended Mayor Making and hoped the year would continue in an appropriate respectful manner.

(NOTE: Standing Order No. 3.4 requires that notice of a Deputation should be received by the Borough Solicitor NOT LATER THAN 12 O’CLOCK NOON ON MONDAY 12 MAY 2025 and likewise Standing Order No. 3.5 requires that notice of a Public Question should be received by the Borough Solicitor NOT LATER THAN 12 O’CLOCK NOON ON MONDAY 12 MAY 2025)

There were no deputations.

 

There was one Public Question in the name of Chris Dyke

 

The Friends of Stanley Park would like to ask a question to yourself as Chair of the Environment and Community. For the second time this year we as a group have been unsuccessful in securing  the approval from the Borough for projects that the Hampshire Woodlands Trust have offered us to enhance Stanley Park.

The Friends of Stanley Park have monthly walkabouts with the Streetscene parks team and over several years now it has been noted that trees have fallen and not been replaced, a lot of trees are rotten and ready to fall and the comments from assessors doing the Green Flag and other awards is that the tree status is not good.

Can you please outline to us the Gosport Boroughs tree planting strategy and explain why the council is not supporting borough wide planting schemes, especially when such projects like those mentioned are funded and include short term maintenance costs,

 

Answer

 

The replacement planting of trees is subject to change due to the recent procurement of a tree management software system that will result in the comprehensive survey of all Gosport Borough Council owned trees that will provide a basis for future tree management including the planting of new and replacement trees.

 

Since 2021 there have been 8 trees removed from Stanley Park and 13 have been planted, the number of trees planted include 10 disease resistant elm trees, planted by friends of Stanley Park.

 

During 2024/25 Gosport Borough Council have planted 230 trees in 10 different locations in Gosport and Lee on the Solent. This tree planting was funded by the Urban Tree Challenge Fund in areas assessed by the funding body as having a low tree density, areas with a relatively high tree density and would not have received funding for tree planting within the terms of this fund.

 

 

 

 

(NOTE: Members are reminded that Standing Order No. 3.3 requires that Notice of Question pursuant to that Standing Order must be received by the Borough Solicitor NOT LATER THAN 12 O’CLOCK NOON ON TUESDAY 13 MAY 2025 )

There were not.

RESOLVED: That Councillor Richard Earle be elected Deputy Mayor for the Borough of Gosport for the Municipal Year ending May 2026 and that he appoint Debbie Sherman as his Mayoress.

To advise the Council of the balance of the seats on the Council and the position with regard to Political Groups and to undertake a review in accordance with the “Proportionality Rules” of the balance of seats on the Boards and Committees of the Council.

 

A Member highlighted that the Peer Challenge had highlighted that the Standards and Audit functions should be considered for separation and the Council was advised that Standard and Audit functions would not be separated.

 

The Council were reminded that the Peer Challenge report was positive.

 

RESOLVED:

That the Council approves:

 

1.    That the Community and Environment Board, Housing Board, Policy and Organisation Board comprise of  7 seats and Regulatory Board comprise of 7 members; and the Licensing Sub-Board remain comprised of 3 members; and the Licensing (General Applications) Sub-Board remain comprised of 5 members. The Standards and Audit Sub-Board will comprise of 5 members and the Grants Sub-Board will comprise of 5 members.

 

2.    The allocation of seats on the Boards as set out in Section 3 of the report

 

 

 

 

To elect from the Members of the Council the Chairman of the Policy and Organisation Board.

RESOLVED: The Councillor Chegwyn be appointed the Chairman of the Policy and Organsiation Board for the Municipal Year 2025/26.

The outside bodies as below were appointed.

 

 

 

The numbers of seats are provisional for each group and are based on the proportions in the Borough Solicitor’s report to the May 2025 Annual Council meeting.

 

POLICY AND ORGANISATION BOARD (7 seats) (4:2:1)

 

Liberal Democrat:  Chegwyn, Cox, Hutchison, Hylands

Conservative: Philpott, Raffaelli

 Labour:  Cully

 

COMMUNITY AND ENVIRONMENT BOARD (7 seats) (4:2:1)

 

 Liberal Democrat: Finn, Kelly, Maynard, Westerby

 Conservative: Huggins, Ricketts

 Labour:  Brown

 

HOUSING BOARD (7 Seats) (4:3)

 

Liberal Democrat: Ballard, Herridge, Johnston, Hutchiso

Conservative: Jessop Meenaghan, Namdeo

 Labour:

 

REGULATORY BOARD (7 seats) (4:3)

 

Liberal Democrat: Bradley K, Bradley M, Earle, Hammond    

Conservative:                          Casey, Hayes, Scard

                       

Nominated

Deputies:       Liberal Democrat:     all remaining

                       Conservative:            all remaining

 

(Note: In accordance with Standing Order 2.3.6 (c) & (f) substitute members may only be drawn from the nominated deputies and the substitute members must have received all necessary training to fulfil this role)

             

STANDARDS & AUDIT SUB_BOARD (5 MEMBERS 3:2)

 

Liberal Democrat:  Cox, Hutchison, Hylands

Conservative: Philpott, Raffaelli

 

GRANTS SUB BOARD (5 MEMBERS 3:1:1)

 

Liberal Democrat: Chegwyn, Cox, Hutchison

Conservative: Philpott

Labour: Cully

 

 

Chairpersons.

 

Community Board –  Chair Westerby Vice Chair Maynard

Housing Board –       Chair,    Ballard             Vice Chair Hutchison

Regulatory Board –   Chair,    Hammond       Vice Chair Earle

P and O  -                     Chair  Chegwyn        Vice Chair Hylands

LOCAL JOINT STAFF COMMITTEE

 

Chairman & Vice-Chairman of P & O Board plus one representative from each Political Group (4)

 

Liberal Democrat: Chegwyn, Hylands, Westerby

Conservative: Burgess

Labour: Cully

 

ALLOTMENTS STAKEHOLDERS CONSULTATIVE GROUP (2:1:1)

 

Liberal Democrat: Bradley M, Kelly

Conservative:                          Burgess

Labour: Cully

 

ARMED FORCES REPRESENTATIVE

 

Liberal Democrat: Hutchison

                                     

OTHER PANELS & OUTSIDE BODIES

 

 

GOSPORT ROYAN TWINNING FORUM

 

Deputy Mayor plus any Councillor who wishes to attend the Forum.

 

Liberal Democrat: Earle

Conservative: Philpott

 

 

LOCAL GOVERNMENT ASSOCIATION (1 representative)

 

Liberal Democrat: Chegwyn

                     

 

LOCAL GOVERNMENT ASSOCIATION HAMPSHIRE AND THE ISLE OF WIGHT (2 representatives)

 

Liberal Democrat: Chegwyn, Hylands

                     

 

LOCAL GOVERNMENT ASSOCIATION COASTAL ISSUES SPECIAL INTEREST GROUP (1 representative)

 

Liberal Democrat: Hammond

                      

 

CITIZENS ADVICE BUREAU (1 representative)

 

Liberal Democrat: Westerby

                     

 

 

GOSPORT HERITAGE OPEN DAYS (1 representative)

 

Liberal Democrat: Earle

Conservative: Casey

                     

                                                           

GOSPORT SOCIETY (The Mayor) (ex-officio) plus 1 representative)

 

Liberal Democrat: Westerby

Conservative: Casey

                       

SOUTH EAST EMPLOYERS (1 representative plus Standing Deputy)

 

Liberal Democrat:   Westerby            

           

COASTAL PANEL (2:1:1)

 

Conservative:                          Huggins

Labour: Cully                                      

Liberal Democrat: Hammond, Hylands

 

COASTAL PARTNERSHIP (1representative)

 

Liberal Democrat: Hammond

                       

GOSPORT COMMUNITY SAFETY PARTNERSHIP STRATEGIC BOARD (1 rep plus  Standing Deputy)           

Liberal Democrats: Hutchison (Standing Deputy Finn )

                        

 

HAMPSHIRE POLICE AND CRIME PANEL 1 plus Standing Deputy

                        

Liberal Democrats:  (Standing Deputy ) Hammond (Finn)

                       

                                                           

BRIDGEMARY, ROWNER AND WOODCOT COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION (1 representative)

 

Liberal Democrat:  Maynard

                      

                                               

GOD’S PORT HOUSING SOCIETY (1 representative) The mayor

 

Liberal Democrat

             

 

 

 

 

DAEDALUS AVIATION & HERITAGE GROUP (1 representative)

 

Conservative: Hayes

                      

 

GOSPORT FOOD PARTNERSHIP (2 Representative)

           

 

Conservative: Huggins

Labour: Brown

 

GOSPORT/FAREHAM JOINT ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH PANEL (1 representative)

 

Liberal Democrat: Kelly

                                               

                                   

 

GBC HEALTH AND WELL BEING STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP (1 rep plus Standing Deputy)

 

                       

SOUTH HAMPSHIRE ROAD SAFETY COUNCIL (1 representative)

 

 

Conservative:                          Jessop            

                         

 

HEDCA GENERAL MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE (1 representative)

 

Liberal Democrat:  Hutchison 

                      

 

LEE-ON-THE-SOLENT COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION (1 representative)

 

Liberal Democrat:   Bradley K

                      

                       

PORTCHESTER CREMATORIUM  ...  view the full minutes text for item 15.

This report details updates to two capital schemes which we would like Council to approve changes to.  If approved these changes would then be in addition to the Capital Programme agreed at Full Council in February 2025.

The first is the Tennis Courts at Privett Park – this project is to refurbish the existing Tennis facilities at Privett Park and provide two new pickleball courts.

The second is the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) project (The P&O Board were made aware that additional funding was granted to Gosport Borough Council in a paper that was approved at March 2025 P&O Board).

Both projects can be paid for by available third-party funding already (now) received and held as cash by Gosport Borough Council. 

 

Consideration  was given to a report of the Head of Finance detailing updates to two capital schemes which it is requested Council to approve changes to.  If approved these changes would then be in addition to the Capital Programme agreed at Full Council in February 2025.

 

Members felt that the improvements to the sports pitch at the football club. An all weather pitch would make it accessible to all teams and would allow for more use.

 

The football club hoped to have it in place in advance of the new season. Members were advised this was the first of a number of improvement projects that would be presented but this was time sensitive.

 

Members commended officers for their work and some Members expressed a desire for improvements to be made across the whole Borough. 

 

Some Members expressed disappointment that the report had not been through the Board process and as a result was not able to have the finances fully explained.

 

Members welcomed the additional use of the pitch and that it was to be more accessible to more users.

 

Members advised that there was significant spending into sports facilities including the first pickleball court in the area and this would benefit the entire Borough.

 

RESOLVED:

 

That Council:

i)      approves the additional spend on the Tennis Courts and agrees that this is paid for using available existing Section 106 money (which was allocated to the Football Pitch and then the gap can be funded by new CIL money).

ii)     approves the additional spend for the UKSPF project given that the additional funding has been confirmed.

 

There was none.