Hampshire County Council Universal Services Select Committee Meeting

Apologies were received from Councillors Barry Dunning and Kim Taylor. Councillor Alex Crawford attended as a deputy for Kim Taylor.

Members were mindful that where they believed they had a Disclosable Pecuniary Interest in any matter considered at the meeting they must declare that interest at the time of the relevant debate and, having regard to the circumstances described in Part 3, Paragraph 1.5 of the County Council's Members' Code of Conduct, leave the meeting while the matter was discussed, save for exercising any right to speak in accordance with Paragraph 1.6 of the Code. Furthermore Members were mindful that where they believed they had a Non-Pecuniary interest in a matter being considered at the meeting they considered whether such interest should be declared, and having regard to Part 5, Paragraph 2 of the Code, considered whether it was appropriate to leave the meeting whilst the matter was discussed, save for exercising any right to speak in accordance with the Code.

The minutes of the last meeting were reviewed and agreed.

The Select Committee received a deputation from Pamela Charlwood, Chairman of the Titchfield Haven Community Hub who spoke against the proposals being put forward to the Executive Member and requested a deferral to the decision. Local County Councillor Pal Hayre also attended and shared her concerns with the Committee over the recommendations.

There were no formal announcements, but the Chairman thanked the Committee for attending the meeting at short notice.

The Select Committee pre-scrutinised a report going to the Executive Member for Countryside and Regulatory Services (item 6 in the minute book) on the Titchfield Haven Nature Reserve management and Haven House.

The report and proposals were summarised by the Assistant Director and it was confirmed that there were exempt appendices detailing the financial and commercial elements of the proposals, which Members of the Committee had seen.

During questions of the officers, the following points were clarified:

·         Officers had been in regular contact with the Titchfield Haven Community Hub (THCH) throughout the moratorium period and assisted with the setting up of the hub and THCH’s grant application to the Community Ownership Fund.

·         The criteria had been clearly stated from the start of the moratorium along with expectations and the cut-off date for applications.

·         The Reserve was suffering following a delay in investment due to the moratorium period, which had put everything on hold. Whilst emergency repairs had been done, no improvements had been able to be made.

·         In response to the late funds anticipated by the THCH, officers confirmed that the funding was past the deadline date and pledges were different to having cash available. The pledge also only met one element of the criteria expected. It was confirmed that the proposals by THCH did not meet the criteria as the Reserve was not supported long-term, and it was vital that any proposals met both the requirements regarding Haven House and the nature reserve.

·         As confirmed at the previous meeting in December 2022, Haven House was not fit for purpose and also had accessibility issues.

·         It was anticipated that marketing Haven House would happen in mid-September.

·         Officers welcomed providing face-to-face feedback with the THCH.

·         Leasing did not come forward as part of the proposals and therefore hadn’t been considered.

·         Haven Cottage was currently in the process of being sold by the County Council and had gone to open market.

·         Whilst the moratorium had ended, if a subsequent bid was to come forward before Haven House had been sold then it would be dealt with.

·         Fareham Borough Council had been approached about finding additional income through parking for the site, but there had been no agreement.

It was proposed by Councillor Alex Crawford and seconded by Councillor Sarah Pankhurst that an additional recommendation be put forward to the Executive Member for Countryside and Regulatory Services. This would welcome any further bids from the THCH and/or Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust. In debating the amendment, some Members of the Select Committee felt that this was already possible and the recommendation was not necessary. The amendment was put to the vote:

Favour: 6
Against: 10

The amendment was not carried.

During general debate, Members shared their sympathy for residents and the local community and thanked them for attending the meeting, but overall it was accepted that the criteria had not been met and it was important the process proceeded to help and protect the Reserve in the longer term.

RESOLVED

The Universal Services Select Committee supported the recommendations being proposed to the Executive Member for Countryside and Regulatory Services in paragraphs 3. – 7. of the attached report.

The meeting did not go into exempt session and it was therefore not required to formally exclude the press and public.

This item was considered along with item 6 on the agenda, but was not directly referenced and therefore there was no need to go into exempt session.