Gosport Borough Council
Councillors:
28
Wards:
14
Committees:
10
Meetings (2025):
48
Meetings (2024):
47
Meeting
Policy and Organisation Board - Gosport
Meeting Times
Scheduled Time
Start:
Wednesday, 12th March 2025
6:00 PM
Wednesday, 12th March 2025
6:00 PM
End:
Wednesday, 12th March 2025
10:00 PM
Wednesday, 12th March 2025
10:00 PM
Meeting Status
Status:
Confirmed
Confirmed
Date:
12 Mar 2025
12 Mar 2025
Location:
Council Chamber
Council Chamber
Meeting Attendees
Council Staff
Head of Planning and Regeneration and Assistant to the Chief Executive
Debbie Gore
Copy docmts only
Agenda
0
Exclusion of the Press and Public
Minutes
RESOLVED: That the press and public be excluded from the meeting.
1
Apologies for non-attendance
To receive apologies for Members inability to attend the meeting.
Minutes
There were none.
2
Declarations of interest
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.
Minutes
Councillor Hutchison advised that he had a non pecuinary interest in the Digital Strategy as Elson Hub were a location.
3
Minutes of the meeting of the board held on 21 January 2025 and 5 February 2025
· To sign as a true and correct record the minutes of the meetings held on 21 January 2025 and 5 February 2025.
Attachments:
- Document Minutes Public Pack, 21/01/2025 Policy and Organisation Board 04 Mar 2025
- Document Minutes Public Pack, 05/02/2025 Policy and Organisation Board 04 Mar 2025
Minutes
RESOLVED: That the minutes of the meetings heldon the 21January 2025 and the 5 February 2025 be signed as a true and correct record.
4
Deputations - Standing Order 3.4
(NOTE: The Board is required to receive a deputation(s) on a matter which is before the meeting of the Board provided that notice of the intended deputation and its object shall have been received by the Borough Solicitor by 12 noon on 10 March 2025. The total time for deputations in favour and against a proposal shall not exceed 10 minutes).
Minutes
There were none.
5
Public Questions - Standing order 3.5
(NOTE: The Board is required to allow a total of 15 minutes for questions from Members of the public on matters within the terms of reference of the Board provided that notice of such Question(s) shall have been submitted to the Borough Solicitor by 12 noon on 10 March 2025).
Minutes
There were none.
6
Digital Strategy - Project delivery plan
To set out the proposed UKSPF funded Digital project plans for 2025/26.
Attachments:
- Document 06 Board Report FINAL Mar2025 04 Mar 2025
- Document 06 App 1 - Funding award Yr4 - breakdown across investment priorities 04 Mar 2025
- Document 06 App 2 PO Board report - Digital March 2024 - Final 04 Mar 2025
- Document 06 App 3 Digital strategy & Project Delivery Plan IIA June 2023 04 Mar 2025
- Document 06 App 4 Gosport the Digital Peninsula Digital Strategy for the Borough 04 Mar 2025
- Document 06 App 5 UKSPF Investment Priorities 2025-26 04 Mar 2025
- Document App 6a UKSPF_Indicators_25-26 Introduction 04 Mar 2025
- Document App 6b - Output Indicators (update) 04 Mar 2025
- Document App 6c - Outcome Indicators (update) 04 Mar 2025
Minutes
Consideration was given to a report of the Economic Development and Regeneration Manager detailing out the proposed UKSPF funded Digital project plans for 2025/26.
Members welcomed the report and were keen to get feedback on the success of existing projects and requested that consideration be given to providing audio for the digital totems as well as visual.
Members advised that the elderly had benefited from the use of the project, learning to utilise emails and the NHS app.
RESOLVED:
i) That the Board approves the Year Four project plans set out in Section 2, in accordance with the UKSPF funding criteria.
ii) Provides delegated authority to the Economic Development & Regeneration Manager to determine the final detail and deliver the schemes in consultation with the Chief Executive and the Council Leader.
Members welcomed the report and were keen to get feedback on the success of existing projects and requested that consideration be given to providing audio for the digital totems as well as visual.
Members advised that the elderly had benefited from the use of the project, learning to utilise emails and the NHS app.
RESOLVED:
i) That the Board approves the Year Four project plans set out in Section 2, in accordance with the UKSPF funding criteria.
ii) Provides delegated authority to the Economic Development & Regeneration Manager to determine the final detail and deliver the schemes in consultation with the Chief Executive and the Council Leader.
7
Treasury Management Stratgey and MRP Policy 2025/26
This report outlines the Council’s policy for charging unfinanced capital expenditure to revenue (MRP) together with the expected treasury operations for this period. It fulfils a key legislative requirement.
Attachments:
- Document 07 Treasury Management Strategy Report 2526 no links 04 Mar 2025
Minutes
Consideration was given to the report of the Borough Treasurer outlining the Council’s policy for charging unfinanced capital expenditure to revenue (MRP) together with the expected treasury operations for this period. It fulfils a key legislative requirement.
Members acknowledged that there could be a potential impact from international politics and the budget announcement on the 26th March, but the implications of these could not be predicted.
RESOLVED: That the Board approve
Minimum Revenue Provision Policy, as identified in 2.1
The Treasury Management Strategy, as identified in 3.0
Members acknowledged that there could be a potential impact from international politics and the budget announcement on the 26th March, but the implications of these could not be predicted.
RESOLVED: That the Board approve
Minimum Revenue Provision Policy, as identified in 2.1
The Treasury Management Strategy, as identified in 3.0
8
Final Accounts 2023/24
The purpose of this report is to update the members of the P&O Board on the status of the 2023/24 Financial Statements.
Attachments:
- Document 08 P&O Board confirmation that 2324 Financial Accounts are certified 04 Mar 2025
Minutes
Consideration was given to the report of the Borough Treasurer updating the members of the P&O Board on the status of the 2023/24 Financial Statements.
Members recognised that this was the culmination of work to meet the backstop date for finalising the accounts and that it was satisfying to finally close off the work.
The Board noted the report.
Members recognised that this was the culmination of work to meet the backstop date for finalising the accounts and that it was satisfying to finally close off the work.
The Board noted the report.
9
Local Development Scheme for the emerging Gosport Borough Local Plan 2040
The Council is required by legislation to prepare a Local Plan for its area. The timetable for the preparation of a Local Plan must be published in a Local Development Scheme (LDS). This report seeks approval to publish the latest version of the LDS.
Attachments:
- Document 09 LDS 2025 Final Board Report 04 Mar 2025
- Document 09 Appendix A - Final Local Development Scheme 2025 04 Mar 2025
Minutes
Consideration was given to the report of the Manager of Planning Policy detailing the timetable for the preparation of a Local Plan must be published in a Local Development Scheme (LDS). This report seeks approval to publish the latest version
of the LDS.
Members expressed concern that the Regulation 18 had been started 3 and a half years ago and that Regulation 19 would not be met in a year’s time and that there would be difficulty in the inspector signing off the plan.
The Board was advised that an advisory visit had been arranged from the Planning Inspectorate which would be a high level meeting to discuss arrangements. Last year there had been suggestions to improve demographic work, which had been done.
It was felt important that the deliverability and the viability of sites in Gosport was recognised, there was pressure to deliver but a lack of suitable sites. The sites potentially identified or being sought for use would not be able to deliver affordable housing options.
Members also felt that the uncertainty of LGR would also muddy waters as to what is required. PUSH has successfully allowed neighbouring authorities to plan and work together.
Members welcomed the report and recognised that any pressure on the defence sector could potentially impact on availability of sites.
RESOLVED: That the Board approve the Local Development Scheme (March 2025)
of the LDS.
Members expressed concern that the Regulation 18 had been started 3 and a half years ago and that Regulation 19 would not be met in a year’s time and that there would be difficulty in the inspector signing off the plan.
The Board was advised that an advisory visit had been arranged from the Planning Inspectorate which would be a high level meeting to discuss arrangements. Last year there had been suggestions to improve demographic work, which had been done.
It was felt important that the deliverability and the viability of sites in Gosport was recognised, there was pressure to deliver but a lack of suitable sites. The sites potentially identified or being sought for use would not be able to deliver affordable housing options.
Members also felt that the uncertainty of LGR would also muddy waters as to what is required. PUSH has successfully allowed neighbouring authorities to plan and work together.
Members welcomed the report and recognised that any pressure on the defence sector could potentially impact on availability of sites.
RESOLVED: That the Board approve the Local Development Scheme (March 2025)
10
Housing Delivery Test Action Plan (March 2025)
In 2018 the Housing Delivery Test (HDT) was introduced into the planning system as part of the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF). This report sets out and seeks approval for Gosport’s third HDT Action Plan (March 2025) (Appendix A), which considers housing delivery in the Borough and identifies measures to address the shortfall in delivery over the last three years. This HDT Action Plan is in response to the Government’s publication of the HDT measurement 2022 (published December 2023) and HDT measurement 2023 (published December 2024).
Attachments:
- Document 10 HDTAP 2025 Board Final Report 04 Mar 2025
- Document 10 Appendix A-HDTAP 2025- Final Board 04 Mar 2025
- Document 10 Appendix B-IIA - HDTAP Final 2025 04 Mar 2025
Minutes
Consideration was given to the report of the Manager of Planning Policy setting out and seeking approval for Gosport’s third HDT Action Plan (March 2025) (Appendix A), which considers housing delivery in the Borough and identifies measures to address the shortfall in delivery over the last three years. This HDT Action Plan is in response to the Government’s publication of the HDT measurement 2022 (published December 2023) and HDT measurement 2023 (published December 2024).
The Government required any authority that would not meet 95% of the Housing Target were required to produce an action plan on how they would address the shortfall.
The Board was advised that the Brownfield sites were detailed on a register and that the Council were always looking for sites to develop. Gosport struggled to meet the allocation required and there was the loss of sites such as the bus station and the police station which would impact on ability to deliver properties.
Concern was expressed that pushing requirements on to neighbouring authorities or creating larger authorities would see a push for development on sites such as the corridor along the Stubbington bypass, strategic gaps and pressure on greenfield sites. It was felt that developers could be waiting for such pressure to be able to apply for permission to build on these sites and others such as Browndown potentially asphyxiating the Borough.
Consideration was still being given to the use of the Council’s carparks in the Town Centre, with viability consultations being undertaken.
RESOLVED That the Board approves the 2025 Housing Delivery Test Action Plan (Appendix A) for publication.
The Government required any authority that would not meet 95% of the Housing Target were required to produce an action plan on how they would address the shortfall.
The Board was advised that the Brownfield sites were detailed on a register and that the Council were always looking for sites to develop. Gosport struggled to meet the allocation required and there was the loss of sites such as the bus station and the police station which would impact on ability to deliver properties.
Concern was expressed that pushing requirements on to neighbouring authorities or creating larger authorities would see a push for development on sites such as the corridor along the Stubbington bypass, strategic gaps and pressure on greenfield sites. It was felt that developers could be waiting for such pressure to be able to apply for permission to build on these sites and others such as Browndown potentially asphyxiating the Borough.
Consideration was still being given to the use of the Council’s carparks in the Town Centre, with viability consultations being undertaken.
RESOLVED That the Board approves the 2025 Housing Delivery Test Action Plan (Appendix A) for publication.
11
Any other items
Minutes
The Chairman advised that in consultation with his family he would like to propose an additional award to honour Honorary Freeman Hewitt and that it be directly linked to unsung volunteers.
It was requested the Board agree this and allow Democratic Services to progress this so that it is awarded within this year’s Citizen of the Year nominations.
RESOLVED: That the Graham Hewitt award for volunteering be added to the awards issues as part of Citizen of the Year.
It was requested the Board agree this and allow Democratic Services to progress this so that it is awarded within this year’s Citizen of the Year nominations.
RESOLVED: That the Graham Hewitt award for volunteering be added to the awards issues as part of Citizen of the Year.
12
URGENT ITEM - ACQUISITION OF LAND AT SEALARK ROAD - PRIDDY'S HARD
This report sets out the background of and rationale for proceeding with the acquisition of a small parcel of land comprising 1.4 acres and adjoining Grove Road Recreation Ground in Priddy’s Hard.
Attachments:
- Document URGENT PO Board Report - Proposed Acquisition of Land adjacent to Sealark Road v1.1 04 Mar 2025
- Document Appendix 1 - Title Plan- HP743523 04 Mar 2025
- Document Appendix 2 Title Register- HP743523 04 Mar 2025
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