Newsflash: Stubbington Study Centre

I am delighted to report that this afternoon, the Select Committee at HCC voted unanimously not to accept the recommendation to close Stubbington Study Centre so that the site could be used for a secure children's home to replace Swanwick Lodge.

There were deputations from children and young people, teachers past and present, myself and four county councillors from the immediate area who were not on the committee themsleves, all arguing against the closure. 

The Select Committee members all recognised the importance of providing for the very vulnerable children who need secure places, but did not accept that the only option was to close Stubbington Study Centre.  They had had a visit to the centre and had been hugely impressed and like us, they felt that there should have been more co-operation with borough and district councils to find other sites and more dialogue with central government to seek an extension to the deadline.  They therefore voted unanimously - across all party lines - to reject the proposal before them and instead asked for much more thorough examination of alternatives.

It is crucial to note that whilst the Select Committee's decision today is important - and pretty well unprecedented in Hampshire - the all important decision lies with Cabinet on 18 March.  However, five of the nine Cabinet members - including Leader Nick Adams King - were present and listening throughout today's meeting so they will have heard the strength of opinion from all present.  By the 18 March we shall also have the result of FBC's consideration on 11 March of HHRA's application for the centre to be listed as an asset of community value.

So well done everyone who wrote, signed, marched and otherwise made representations in favour of the study centre.  We are over the first hurdle and very much hoping the Cabinet will make the right decision on the 18th.

HHRA to HCC Select Committee 6 March 25 final version.docx

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HHRA Update 5 March 2025

Stubbington Study Centre

The Select Committee at Hampshire County Council will meet tomorrow morning at 10.00 and have before them a 250 page report dismissing all the comments made during the consultation and recommending that they support the proposal to close the Study Centre and build the secure home for young people on the site. I shall be attending and will make a deputation on behalf of HHRA as will a number of others who have been involved in the campaign to save the Study Centre.  If the Select Committee does support the proposal, it will go to the HCC Cabinet on 18 March reflecting that support.  The draft of my deputation is on our website www.hhra.org.uk Latest News.

By way of contrast, Fareham Borough Council Executive Committee has on its agenda for 11 March our application for the Study Centre to be listed as an asset of community value, with a recommendation that they approve the application.  Lynne Murray – author of our ACV application  – and I will attend.  As we have observed before, listing as an asset of community value will not stop HCC doing what it wants, but it is another means of making public opinion clear and it must be taken into consideration when any planning application is considered.

Osborne View rebuild P/24/1544/FP

The application to rebuild the Osborne View public house is on the planning committee agenda for 12 March with a recommendation from the planning officer that it be approved.  We welcome the prospect of the Osborne View re-opening though we are aware that a number of our members have concerns about disturbance from the pub: these are largely dismissed in the report. We are advising our members that it will be important to make any concerns known to the Licensing Committee when, nearer the time of completion, it considers Hall & Woodhouse’s application for licensing hours and conditions.

At the meeting we held with Hall & Woodhouse in September, when asked when they might open, they said ‘With a following wind, maybe summer 2026’.  I would say it has taken rather longer getting to this stage than they might have hoped, so it’s possible it might be rather later. 

Assuming it is approved next week, we will renew our request to Hall & Woodhouse to set up a ‘neighbourhood forum’ through which they can brief and consult with neighbours as the construction phase emerges.

Devolution

Don’t forget that the proposals for the Mayoral Combined Authority incorporating Hampshire, Portsmouth, Southampton and the IoW are open for consultation until 13 April: https://consult.communities.gov.uk/lggc/hampshire-and-the-solent-devolution-consultation/?fbclid=IwY2xjawIjGopleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHatUYQ5NZEs6eW5wtCxOKcEGporyT0YCZCYe7aN1IjTkuCZB2k6E2tbsnw_aem_26pCpRSDMJjlknmEd-43JA

All local authorities have also been asked to submit by 21 March their proposals for replacing the ‘two tier’ authorities which exist in councils such as Hampshire with unitary authorities which are expected to cover populations around 500,000.  Watch this space….

Country Market

As an enthusiastic supporter of country markets myself, I thought you might wish to know that markets will now be held at Stubbington library on the second and fourth Friday of each month from 9.30 – 11.30.  Do go and sample the excellent baked items and crafts available at the market and support local producers and creators.

AGM and Leader of FBC 7.30pm Monday 24 March Catholic church hall Bells Lane

The reports for our AGM were sent out last week: please remember that we shall not have paper copies at the meeting, though ‘headlines’ will be shown on the screen.

There are a number of topics we have flagged to the leader of FBC, Councillor Simon Martin, for his meeting with us following the AGM.  They are

·       Planning issues, including new housing targets likely to be set for Fareham. Please note that Cllr Martin will not be able to discuss in any detail ‘live’ planning applications such as Old Street houses as he cannot pre-empt what a future planning committee might decide.

·       Devolution – see above.

·       Fareham town centre redevelopment.

·       New arrangements for recyclable waste disposal.

If there are other issues you would like to add to the list, please reply to this email and let me know: it is always helpful to give notice of topics so that the speaker can be sure to have up to date information from officers and other colleagues. 

Please remember that Fareham Borough Council is not responsible for highways, buses, paths and pavements, street parking, countryside, adult social care, children’s services and libraries: these are all managed by Hampshire County Council.

HHRA Update 20 February 2025

1.     Stubbington Study Centre: HHRA’s application for the Study Centre to be listed as an Asset of Community Value will be considered by Fareham Borough Council’s Executive at their meeting at 6pm on Tuesday 11 March.  That is after the HCC Select Committee meeting at 10.00 on 6 March (note 6th – not 5th as shown in an earlier Update) but it is before the HCC Cabinet meeting at 10.30 on 18 March.  A reminder – anyone who wishes to make a deputation at either of those HCC meetings can do so: the easiest way to make contact is via members.services@hants.gov.uk 

Meanwhile, the online and paper petitions have more than 19,000 signatures, which is a record for petitions submitted to HCC.  Media coverage continues and there is likely to be more when the FBC Executive papers are published on 3 March, including our bid for listing as an Asset of Community Value.  (Just a reminder – FBC are the good guys in this fight and are trying as hard as anyone to make HCC see sense).

2.     Fareham Town Centre Redevelopment: the attached link provides an update on the recent FBC consideration of the proposals to redevelop the town centre. Councillor Martin will doubtless cover this when he comes to our meeting on 24 March. https://www.dailyecho.co.uk/news/24935326.fareham-regeneration-proposals-hit-cash-shortage/?fbclid=IwY2xjawIeu0NleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHVZ6U3t3WAS5M9FS29M6bw5CdpSNDlHDqV0QlQ3PNqNzgsq2Gid3wq6TKw_aem_Yq2hQPBuA3HBJqNJJL5HNA&sfnsn=scwspmo

3.     Devolution.  Following the approval by central government for the creation of a Hampshire and Solent combined strategic authority with devolved powers, the link below allows us to comment upon the proposal.  The closing date is 13 April. https://consult.communities.gov.uk/lggc/hampshire-and-the-solent-devolution-consultation/?fbclid=IwY2xjawIjGopleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHatUYQ5NZEs6eW5wtCxOKcEGporyT0YCZCYe7aN1IjTkuCZB2k6E2tbsnw_aem_26pCpRSDMJjlknmEd-43JA

The strategic authority would consist of Hampshire County Council, Portsmouth and Southampton City Councils and Isle of Wight County Council, with an elected mayor. A reminder: this is not about ‘local government re-organisation’ which could involve doing away with borough councils.  That will be a separate debate and consultation later in the year.

4.     Subscriptions. From the sublime (?) to the strictly practical…..  we still have some subs outstanding.  If you have set up a standing order for 1st March, please disregard this reminder.  If you are not sure if you have paid, you can contact membership@hhra.org.uk to check.

5.     SIM card swap scam.  This is a new one to us, but apparently evil people who have picked up your details via social media can somehow persuade your phone provider that they are you and that you want to use a new SIM card, which they are asked to register…. Once done, they are into your systems and accounts. We are advised:

                 i.          Secure your mobile account: Ask your network provider about any additional security, for example, you may be able to set up a unique Pin or password which must be provided to approve any account changes in-store or over the phone. 

                ii.          Turn on MFA: Most email, social media and online bank accounts can be secured with multi or two-factor authentication – check 2fa.directory/gb for a list. Avoid SMS-based checks if you can (although they're still better than no MFA at all). We prefer passkeys (supported by Apple, Google, Microsoft and Samsung), as they're tied to a physical device rather than your phone number. 

              iii.          Clean up your online profile: Restrict who can see your social media profiles and avoid sharing details such as your date of birth and phone number, or answers to common security questions such as the name of your first pet or school.

              iv.          Recognise the signs and act: Call your network immediately if you receive an unexpected message about your Sim being ported or a PAC request, or you unexpectedly lose phone service. 

                v.          Tell your banks: Warn any financial organisations so that they can freeze your accounts, and keep a close eye on your bank statements, email and social media accounts for unusual activity. Change your passwords and disable SMS as an authentication method, where possible.

6.     Next Members’ meeting Monday 24 March 7.30pm at the Catholic church hall Bell’s Lane.  We shall have a brisk AGM and Councillor Simon Martin, Leader of Fareham Borough Council will then speak to us about the many issues currently of interest and concern in the borough.