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.

HHRA Update 8 February 2025

Stubbington Study Centre

Following our meeting with the leader of Fareham Borough Council last week, we have submitted HHRA’s application for listing of Stubbington Study Centre as an asset of community value: see attached.  We are immensely grateful to our member Lynne Murray for preparing the application – thank you, Lynne.  We do not yet know when the FBC Executive will consider it, but it will be in early March.

As we said in our last Update, listing as an asset of community value won’t stop Hampshire County Council doing what it wants, but let us hope that the widespread outcry may cause them to pause and consider other options for the new secure children’s facility.

Meanwhile, the consultation ends on Monday 10 February at midnight.  If you have not already responded, please do, as a matter of urgency.  Even though the consultation document is very poor, our responses are very much needed.  Please try to make time to do it.    https://www.hants.gov.uk/aboutthecouncil/haveyoursay/consultations/stubbington-study-centre

Devolution

You will probably have seen in the press that the Hampshire and Solent bid to be in the first round of strategic authorities to be developed has been approved.  We await more information as to what will now happen, but the first definite decision is that the county council elections scheduled for this May will not now take place.  For more detail about the background to this, please refer to our Updates of 1 and 10 January – see website www.hhra.org.uk Latest News.

Subscriptions

Our thanks to the 55% of our members who have paid their subscription for 2025.  May we encourage the remaining 45% kindly to do so, please!  A reminder of details:

The amount payable is unchanged at £3 per household.

If possible, we would prefer payment by bank transfer:

Account  Name: Hill Head Residents’ Association

Account No : 74507262Sort code 30-98-97 Reference Info: Name of Member

However we can accept cash and cheques (made payable to Hill Head Residents' Association) and sent or delivered to Membership Secretary, 53 Knights Bank Road, Hill Head, PO14 3HZ.

Phone safety

You may have read that the Metropolitan Police have recently had a campaign regarding theft of mobile phones.  They have offered the following helpful advice (apart from ideally not walking around with it sticking out of your back pocket….):

• Register all phones with immobilise.com, external, a national property register

• Set up a strong password and two-factor authentication

• Turn off message previews so thieves cannot see any messages

• Write down and safely store the phone's IMEI number

Town centre regeneration plans

FBC has issued the following notification:

Fareham Borough Councillors are preparing to consider a Fareham Town Centre Regeneration Strategy at a meeting of the Policy and Resources Scrutiny Panel on 12 February.

This strategy has been developed using consultation feedback from hundreds of Fareham residents and local businesses, to provide a town centre which meets their changing needs. Residents interested in the future of the town centre are encouraged to review the strategy to see how their feedback has been taken forward.

Following the Policy and Resources Scrutiny Panel meeting, the proposed strategy will be deliberated at a special Executive Meeting on 13 February.

The proposed Fareham Town Centre Regeneration Strategy builds on existing strengths and supports the creation of a vibrant town with a diverse offer and a unique identity. It is clear that partnerships, collaborative working and ongoing engagement with businesses and visitors will be absolutely crucial for delivery. The Council will proactively seek investment across the public and private sectors, maximising opportunities to bring proposals forward and deliver a town centre that residents can be proud of.

Members’ meetings

A reminder that our next members meeting is at 7.30pm on Monday 24 March (not the original date of 24 February) when Councillor Simon Martin Leader of Fareham Borough Council will speak to us about the many current issues affecting the borough.

Stubbington Study Centre nominations form for listing as an asset of community value.pdf

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