Frequently Asked Questions

A to Z of Services - S

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Sacks (Garden Waste)

Fareham Borough Council offers a free collection service for one sack of garden waste per fortnight, and a charged-for service for any extra garden waste you would like the Council to collect.  Please note that we will only collect Fareham Borough Council garden waste bags and sacks.

 

Safer Food Better Business

New food hygiene regulations became effective from the 1st January 2006.  To help businesses comply with this particular regulation, the Food Standards Agency have produced a toolkit called 'Safer Food, Better Business'.  For further information please contact the Food Team by e-mail at regulatory@fareham.gov.uk or telephone us on 01329 236100.

 

Safety Advisory Groups

If you are planning to hold an event in the borough, you will need to seek permission from the Department of Customer Services, Leisure & Community if you want to hold it on council land.  You may also require an event licence for the sale of alcohol or live entertainment.  Speciality events or those which more than 500 people may attend may need a Safety Advisory Group input from the Council.  For further information please contact us on 01329 236100.

 

Salt Bins

Please report damage to salt bins to Hampshire Highways at Hampshire County Council (this is an external hyperlink).

 

Sand Bags - Flooding

A limited number of sandbags may be provided in case of immediate and unforeseen flooding events.  The full Operational Flood Plan can be found online.  For enquiries regarding sand bags, please contact the Head of Engineering in the Department of Planning and Transportation on tel: 01329 236100, or e-mail engineering.transportation@fareham.gov.uk.

 

Searches - Land Charges

The Council undertakes land searches on request whenever land or property is going to be sold. Comprehensive, yet not exhaustive, 'guidelines' have been compiled on 'Land Charges/Searches' which may answer your queries. Should you require any further information please contact the Land Charges Officer in the Department of Legal and Democratic Services on tel: 01329 236100, or e-mail landsearches@fareham.gov.uk.

 

Seats and Benches

These can be placed within public spaces and cemeteries, the work being arranged by the council following discussion and consultation with the prospective donor. More information is available from the Parks Officer in the Department of Customer Services, Leisure & Community Division on tel: 01329 236100 or e-mail parks@fareham.gov.uk.

 

Self-Guided Walks

We have created a range of self-guided walks in the borough , varying in difficulty and duration, ranging from short walks over flat terrain with few obstacles, to a lengthy hike involving slopes and frequent stiles and steps.  Each walk has detailed instructions, including a basic map, plus information on the nearest refreshments. For further details, please contact the Countryside Rangers on 01329 236100, or e-mail parks@fareham.gov.uk.

 

Senior Citizens

There is  information, support and advice for elderly people, including information on retirement, adult education, sheltered housing, social service and assistance with garden maintenance and internal decoration. Alternatively, please e-mail community@fareham.gov.uk

 

Sensory Garden of Reflection

Opened in 1998, this memorial garden (in memory of Diana, Princess of Wales) in Fareham's town centre, is based on the senses of sound, touch, vision and smell, allowing for self-interpretation by all regardless of any sensory, mental or physical disability. For more information please contact the Horticultural Development Officer in the Department of Customer Services on tel: 01329 236100 or e-mail customerservices@fareham.gov.uk..

 

Sewers (Environmental Health)

Except in the case of Council tenants who should contact Housing Maintenance (on 01329 236100) enquiries relating to blocked/defective drains/sewers should be directed to Southern Water Services on tel: 0845 278 0845. They will inform you as to whether or not the problem is located in a public sewer or private sewer/drain. For further information see A Householders Guide to Drainage or contact the Department of Regulatory Services, Environmental Health Division on 01329 236100, or e-mail regulatory@fareham.gov.uk.

 

Sharps Boxes/Clinical Waste

Sharps boxes are available on request to domestic properties free of charge. Please contact Street Scene Services in the Refuse & Cleansing section of the Department of Customer Services on tel: 01329 236100 or e-mail customerservices@fareham.gov.uk

 

Sheltered Accommodation

The council has over 650 units of sheltered accommodation located within the borough for more information please contact the Sheltered Housing Support Officer on 01329 236100 or e-mail housing@fareham.gov.uk.

 

Shopping in Fareham

Fareham offers easy access shopping.  A compact pedestrianised town centre with undercover centre and surrounding speciality shops, Fareham town centre retains its traditional market town and historic architectural appeal in a modern shopping environment. Contact the Town Centre Manager on 01329 824474 or e-mail towncentre@fareham.gov.uk.

 

Skip Permits

Any skip that is placed on the public highway must have a permit. If you want to hire a skip, the company you deal with will arrange the permit.  For information on permits that have been issued please contact Hampshire Highways at Hampshire County Council (this is an external hyperlink).

 

Smoke Free Legislation

In summer 2007 the Health Act 2006 made virtually all indoor public places and workplaces, including work vehicles smoke-free. It affects every business in Fareham.  For more information please visit our Smoke Free Legislation pages.

 

Smoky Vehicles

Have you ever followed a car or HGV emitting a lot of smoke from the exhaust pipe?  Should you wish to either report a smoky vehicle, or would like further information please contact Environmental Health at Fareham Borough Council, tel: 01329 236100, or e-mail us at regulatory@fareham.gov.uk.

 

Social Inclusion

For information on social inclusion, please contact the Policy and Performance team by e-mailing performancereview@fareham.gov.uk.

 

Social Services

Social Services in Fareham can offer advice and information about a range of services including home adaptations, meals on wheels, residential care homes, child protection, adoption, mental health problems and physical disabilities.

You can contact Social Services on tel: 0845 600 45 55, textphone: 01329 827838, or e-mail ssfg0101@hants.gov.uk.

 

Societies

Details of local clubs and societies are available online.

 

Speed Limits

Strict rules are in place to ensure that a speed limit is appropriate for the particular road and is enforceable.

For information on the above please contact the Assistant Engineer on tel: 01329 236100 or e-mail engineering.transportation@fareham.gov.uk.

 

Sponsoring Roundabouts

Fareham Borough Council is committed to making the Borough a more attractive place to live and work. One initiative is for organisations to sponsor roundabouts. More information on the roundabout sponsorship scheme is available online or please contact the Department of Planning and Transportation on tel: 01329 236100 or by e-mail engineering.transportation@fareham.gov.uk.

 

Sports Clubs Questionnaire

To help us keep our records updated and be able to plan and provide workshops, training and sport for local sports clubs, please fill in our online Sports Club questionnaire.

 

Sports Development

The Sports Development Service for the borough of Fareham is co-ordinated by the Partnership and Development Officer.  The aim of the service is to identify and promote sports development initiatives and opportunities and where possible to support local sports clubs and organisations.   

For more information please contact the Partnerships and Development Officer on tel: 01329 236100 or e-mail: sportsdev@fareham.gov.uk.

 

Sports Pitches/Facilities

There is a wide range of sports activities and sports facilities available for the residents of Fareham. Through our Sports Partnership we encourage family participation in events and support sports clubs and individual sports performers.

 

Squirrels

The Council does not provide a pest control service for dealing with squirrels. The control of squirrels is permitted but should only be carried out by qualified pest control officers. Private pest control operatives can be found in the Yellow Pages.

For more information on squirrels contact Environmental Health at Fareham Borough Council on tel: 01329 236100, or e-mail us at regulatory@fareham.gov.uk.  

 

Stray Dogs

Fareham Borough Council collects stray dogs and keeps a register of stray dogs collected within the borough.

 

Street Café - Licensing

This information is being developed and will be available shortly.  Enquiries should be directed to Environmental Health either by emailing licensing@fareham.gov.uk or by telephone 01329 236100.

 

Street Cleaning

The street cleansing function is carried out by the in-house workforce on a contractual basis. For more details on street cleaning please contact the Department of Customer Services on tel: 01329 236100 or e-mail customerservices@fareham.gov.uk

 

Street Collections

The provision of street collection permits to allow people to collect in those areas of Fareham, are controlled by the Council and can be obtained from the Environmental Health Division of the Department of Regulatory Services on tel: 01329 236100, or e-mail regulatory@fareham.gov.uk.

 

Street Lighting

Please report defective street lighting or vandalism (remembering to give us the number on the column) to Hampshire Highways at Hampshire County Council (this is an external hyperlink).

 

Street Name Plates

To report damage to an existing street name plate or to report a missing street name plate please contact the Department of Planning and Transportation on tel: 01329 236100, e-mail engineering.transportation@fareham.gov.uk or complete the online form for reporting a problem with a street name plate.

 

Street Naming & Numbering

The Building Control Partnership is responsible for street naming and numbering (this is an external hyperlink) and for changes to numbering of existing streets and individual dwellings. Please contact the Building Control Partnership on telephone number 01329 824823 or email bcpartnership@fareham.gov.uk

 

Street Parking

Enforcement of waiting restrictions is the responsibility of Fareham Borough Council’s parking enforcement team and if you have any queries relating to the enforcement of on street parking restrictions please contact the Parking Office on tel: 01329 236100 or e-mail parkingservices@fareham.gov.uk. 

If you have other on-street parking problems please contact the Traffic Management and Design Manager in the Department of Planning and Transportation on tel: 01329 236100 or e-mail engineering.transportation@fareham.gov.uk.

A range of frequently asked questions on car parking have been compiled which may answer your queries.

 

Street Traders

Please contact the Estates section in the Department of Finance & Resources on tel: 01329 236100, or e-mail estatesservices@fareham.gov.uk.

 

Sunday Trading

Environmental Health in the Department of Regulatory Services maintains the register of large shops permitted to open on Sundays and also investigates alleged breaches of Sunday Trading Legislation. Please contact them on tel: 01329 236100, or e-mail regulatory@fareham.gov.uk.

 

Supplementary Planning Document

Supplementary Planning Documents will supplement policies and proposals in the Development Plan Documents and may take the form of site development briefs, or issue-based documents.

Supplementary Planning Documents are non-statutory documents which are not subject to independent examination and do not have Development Plan status. However, they will be subject to a thorough process of public consultation, in accordance with the council's Statement of Community Involvement, and will be subject to Sustainability Appraisal. They can also be 'material considerations' when making decisions about new development.

Fareham Local Development Scheme identifies the stages of preparation of a number of Supplementary Planning Documents over the next three years.

 

Supplementary Planning Guidance

From time to time, the Council publishes supplementary planning guidance (SPG) to amplify the policies contained in Fareham's local plan. SPG will usually be in the form of leaflets relating to specific issues, for example, guidance on crime reduction through design, conservation area character assessments, development briefs (which provide detailed guidance on particular development areas or sites), and the Portsmouth Harbour Plan Review (which provides guidance on the future use and management of that area).

 

Support for Carers

Information, advice and help for carers (this is an external hyperlink) is available from Social Services. Social Services is controlled by Hampshire County Councils Headquarters in Winchester, but Fareham does have its own local office. You may find the Social Services information (this is an external hyperlink) published on Hampshire County Council's website useful.

 

Supporting People

The Hampshire Supporting People Programme funds and commissions housing related support services that assist over 18,000 people across the county, including over 1500 people in the Fareham area.  General enquiries to the Hampshire Supporting People Team can be made via e-mail to: supporting.people@hants.gov.uk and by phone on (01962) 847982.

 

Sustainable Community Strategy

Preparation of a Sustainable Community Strategy is a requirement for councils.  The purpose of a SCS is to set the overall strategic direction and long-term vision for the economic, social and environmental well-being of a local area – typically 10-20 years – in a way that contributes to sustainable development in the United Kingdom.  The Fareham Sustainable Community Strategy 2010–2020 (this is an external hyperlink) was drawn up by Fareham's Local Strategic Partnership known as networkfareham (this is an external hyperlink).  For further information email networkfareham@fareham.gov.uk or tel: 01329 236100.

 

Swanwick & Burridge

The agricultural and residential villages of Swanwick & Burridge lie on the western boundaries of the borough and are both well known throughout the British Isles for their excellent strawberry fields.

 

Swimming Pool

The Leisure Centre and Swimming Pool is managed by SLM in partnership with the council.  For membership or general enquiries, tel: 01329 233652 or e-mail: farehaminfo@slm-ltd.co.uk, or visit www.everyoneactive.com (this is an external hyperlink) and www.bananafitness.net (this is an external hyperlink).

 

Swine Influenza

Swine Flu Leaflet (this is an external hyperlink) - this is the government leaflet about swine flu.  The leaflet contains essential information about swine flu and what to do if you think you have flu symptoms.  The leaflet also promotes a telephone number for people to hear the latest pre-recorded information about swine flu.  Further information on Swine Flu

 

Syringes - Used

The Council offers a free collection service for needles and syringes from domestic premises. The needles are stored in a secure sharps box which is exchanged as required. To arrange this service, or any clinical waste collection, please contact the Customer Service Centre on 01329 236100 or email customerservices@fareham.gov.uk

 

Frequently Asked Questions

What do the Planning Enforcement team do?
The team investigates allegations of breaches of planning control including:

unauthorised development, or uses;
unauthorised works to a listed building - both internal and external works;
unauthorised display of advertisements;
non-compliance with conditions of planning permissions; and,
untidy sites where these are considered detrimental to local amenity
unauthorised work to trees which are protected or are located in conservation areas
N.B Works to trees which are protected or are located in conservation areas without the consent of the local planning authority is an offence.

What is the extent of planning controls?
Planning controls relate to any development. The definition of ''development'' for the purposes of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 is considered to include "carrying out of building, engineering, mining or other operation in on or under land or the making of a material change of use of any building or other land".



(N.B all mining and waste planning issues are dealt with by the County Council).

Do you require planning permission for all development?
No, many minor developments are exempt from the need for planning permission by the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) Order 1995. You should always contact the local planning authority to find out if you need planning permission before commencing any development

Is it an offence to undertake development without permission?
No, under the Act it is not considered to be an offence to fail to comply with planning controls, although you are advised to contact the local planning authority prior to carrying out works which might require approval. Should a local planning authority consider it expedient to issue an enforcement notice against a development which is unauthorised then non-compliance with this notice is an offence, for which the maximum fine is £20,000.

What happens if a condition on a planning permission is not complied with?
The local planning authority has the power to issue a breach of condition notice against which there is no right of appeal. It is an offence not to comply with such a notice. This offence maybe prosecuted in the magistrates court with a maximum fine of £1,000.

Is it an offence to undertake works to a listed building?
Yes, if these works are considered to affect the character and integrity of the building.

Is it an offence to display an advertisement without consent
Some advertisements are exempt from the need for express advertisement consent. Advertisements which do not require consent are those which enjoy deemed consent under the provisions of the Town and Country Planning (Control of Adverts) Regulations 1992. Booklets and advice can be obtained from the Local Planning Authority.

What information is required for an alleged breach to be investigated?
Address of land or building where breach alleged
Details of alleged breach
Complainant contact name and address and telephone number.
Any additional relevant information/other interested parties

How do I report an alleged breach?
by completing and submitting a Complaint Form which can be found on this page on the website. http://www.fareham.gov.uk/council/departments/devcontrol/complaint.asp. Please note that you will be required to provide your name, address and telephone number for any complaint to be investigated. Your details will be kept confidential. Complaints can also be made in writing to the address shown below.

Department of Development Control
Fareham Borough Council
Civic Offices
Civic Way
Fareham
PO16 7TT

What are the stages of an investigation?
Complaint registered and acknowledged - 4 days
First site visit made - 10 days
Complainant will be kept informed of progress with investigations.

What action may be taken where a breach of planning controls is found to be occurring?
Once a complaint has been investigated and a breach identified, depending on the severity of the breach a number of things may happen:

negotiate a satisfactory solution
seek a retrospective planning application
if no application is forthcoming or the breach is serious then an enforcement notice may be issued
In the case where significant harm is being caused by the breach it may be appropriate to issue a stop notice in conjunction with an enforcement notice or seek a legal injunction to stop the unauthorised activities.



It is important to note that the enforcement of Planning Control is a discretionary power and in some circumstances it may not be expedient to take action

Is there a right of appeal?
On an enforcement notice, listed building enforcement notice and an advert discontinuance notice, there is a right of appeal. The appeal is made to the Planning Inspectorate.

Is there a period after which development becomes immune from enforcement action?
Yes, The period within which planning enforcement action can be taken is limited to:

4 years for operational development and change of use to any building for use as a single dwelling house
10 years for all other changes of use and breaches of conditions
If you wish to confirm that development is immune from planning enforcement action, you are advised to make an application for a Certificate of Lawfulness.

Is there a period after which development becomes immune from enforcement action?
Yes, The period within which planning enforcement action can be taken is limited to:

4 years for operational development and change of use to any building for use as a single dwelling house
10 years for all other changes of use and breaches of conditions
If you wish to confirm that development is immune from planning enforcement action, you are advised to make an application for a Certificate of Lawfulness.

Why can I not find the address I''m looking for?:
The addresses available are for Fareham Borough only.
The criteria entered into the search fields needs to match how the address information appears in the database. Often the way addresses have been formatted can vary as well can the spelling, this may affect whether you can find the address. The way around this is to search on the least amount of information as possible. Also use of a wild card "%" which can assist a search if the whole address is not known or if search is not finding an address. The use of a wild card either side of word will look for the word within the database eliminating any surrounding words or letters.

For example a search for Civic Offices could look like

Building: %Civic%

Road Name: Civic Way

Postcode: PO16%

If the property is in the Fareham borough and still does not appear to be available through the address search please email gis@fareham.gov.uk.

Why can''t I see a map layer that is switched on?
1. Once the box has been checked for a certain layer, the Refresh button needs to be pressed for the map data to appear.
2. The area of the map you are looking at contains no features from the specified map layer.

3. The map viewer is at an inappropriate zoom for viewing this map layer. Try zooming out or in to different scales.

Why does the map take so long to load?
Map data can be quite large and can take sometime to be transferred between Fareham Borough Council''s server and your computer. Therefore be careful not to display too many map layers at once as this will not help the performance.
FarehamMap is best viewed from a broad band internet connection for the same reasons.

External link to information on Preparing for Emergencies .|. The official Government website for citizens .|. The official Government website for business .|. External link to Get Safe Online website .|.

How to get here

Fareham Borough Council, Civic Offices, Civic Way, Fareham, PO16 7AZ

Tel: +44 (0)1329 236100 | Mobile Text/Photo: 07876 131415 | Fax: +44 (0)1329 821770