Community Action Team Meeting (CAT)

29 June 2023 - Fareham Academy

Who was there?

Councillors Present: Cllr Woodward, Cllr Foot, Cllr Bird, Cllr Gregory, Cllr Hamilton, Cllr Trott

Residents: 9

What was talked about?

Cllr Foot, the Chairman of the meeting, gave a brief introduction and introduced the speakers.

Local Police Issues: Acting Inspector Young and Acting PS Butler

A/Insp Young introduced herself as acting up from Sargent in the Neighbourhood Policing Team. Fareham South has a small neighbourhood policing team with one PC and a current vacancy for a PCSO. Two local issues of note have been identified by the team which are anti-social behaviour and drugs. Police are working with the Council on these issues and will be focusing on patrolling problem areas and engaging with offenders. Police rely on the community to report issues and are aware that the 101 number can have a long waiting time so a reminder that the online form can be used to report issues . This form provides the information they need for planning a response and evidencing the need for resources.

Questions from the floor to Police

Q: When completing the 101 online forms, how long does it take to filter down to neighbourhood officers and get a response?

A : On average, around 24 hours for reports to reach the neighbourhood team. Please dial 999 for any emergencies.

Q: I have called the Police twice recently, the first incident no-one came out and the second incident was a 4-5 hour wait and the police officers that attended were from Waterlooville.

A: Fareham Police covers a vast area and resources can be stretched at times. Hampshire constabulary is focusing on recruiting more officers and these officers are going through training now. If you are in fear, call 999 and if needed officers from other areas may attend.

Q: The Police and Crime Commissioner/Hampshire Constabulary received additional funding, what is the funding being used for?

A: This money will be spent on recruiting and supporting 650 new police officers as well as rolling out a national programme to report rape crime, improve the criminal justice system and 
investment in programmes to combat drugs and serious crime. The new officers are in training so it will take some time to see the increase of police visibility in the neighbourhood.

Q: I was pleased to see a police officer on a bicycle and stop to talk to me recently.

A: Thank you, we are hoping to improve our neighbourhood policing and be more present in the community.

Q: There has been vandalism in the Gillies underpass, with graffiti occurring to the main bridge support and the Falkland's arch.

A: Unfortunately the Police would need to be in the area at the time to take action against offenders. The Street Cleansing and Enforcement Teams at Fareham Borough Council are quick to clean up graffiti and help the Police with patrolling areas.

Q: There has been an increase of dogs not on leads, I recently witnessed two dogs in the town centre on market day that were not on a lead. Can the police act?

A: The police would deal with matters such as dangerous dogs i.e., dog attacks. The enforcement officers at Fareham Borough Council also deal with dog control matters and can issue on the spot fines for dogs not on leads in some areas of the Borough.

Update on the developments in the Borough:  Executive Leader of Fareham Borough Council, Cllr Seán Woodward

Cllr Woodward gave a presentation on recent developments and Council initiatives across the Borough and outlined some of the exciting projects that are planned over the next few years. This is a link to the Fareham Community Action Team presentation (16 MB).

Questions from the floor

Q: Why is the slipway opposite the hovercraft in Lee on Solent closed?

A: Homes England closed it for commercial reasons. Gosport Borough Council received a planning application in February this year as part of the Solent Enterprise Zone development, details can be found here .

Q: On the Quay Street roundabout, there are two lanes from the Portland Way exit, can this be increased to three lanes to stop cars blocking the roundabout?

A: Suggestion noted and will be passed to Hampshire County Council Highways.

Q: There are lots of weeds on the pavements and roads, when are they going to be cleared?

A: Hampshire County Council Highways are responsible for weed control. This is done once a year and is due to be done in Fareham in August.

Q: I have been coming to Community Action Team (CAT) Meetings for a long time and this is the lowest attendance I have seen. Have the other meetings held this year also been low attendance?

A: Our CAT meetings about hot topics still remain popular. We also continue to have the e- panel where residents can sign up and be notified about online consultations and surveys.

Q: Concerns about the public transport situation in the west end of Fareham in the evenings. With regards to the planning application at Longfield Avenue, it is suggested that people walk from the proposed new estate to Redlands Lane to use the e-service buses. Could one of these buses change direction and not go down Redlands Lane but go up by the college in evenings, to Broadlaw Walk and up to the proposed new estate and then along back to St Michaels Grove, with a new bus stop outside St Michaels Church?

A: There is a current planning application from Hallam Land Management for a development at Longfield Avenue and it is still under consideration. Please comment on the application to suggest that the developer improves the bus transport proposals.

Q: Have you checked the suitability of the name Welborne?

A : There is another Welborne already in the country. Not aware of any unpleasant associations with the name Welborne.