Gosport Borough Council
Councillors:
27
Wards:
14
Committees:
10
Meetings (2026):
59
Meetings (2025):
50
Meeting
Policy and Organisation Board - Gosport
Meeting Times
Scheduled Time
Start:
Monday, 23rd March 2026
6:00 PM
Monday, 23rd March 2026
6:00 PM
End:
Monday, 23rd March 2026
10:00 PM
Monday, 23rd March 2026
10:00 PM
Meeting Status
Status:
Confirmed; Extraordinary
Confirmed; Extraordinary
Date:
23 Mar 2026
23 Mar 2026
Location:
Council Chamber
Council Chamber
Meeting Attendees
Committee Member
Councillor Kirsty Cox
Present, as expected
Committee Member
Councillor Jamie Hutchison
Present, as expected
Vice-Chair
Councillor Robert Hylands
Present, as expected
Committee Member
Councillor Mrs June Cully
Present, as expected
Agenda
1
Apologies for non-attendance
To receive apologies for non attendance.
Minutes
There were none.
2
Declarations of interest
All Members are required to disclose at this point in the meeting or as soon as possible thereafter, any disclosable pecuniary interest or personal interest in any item(s) being considered at this meeting.
Minutes
There were none.
3
Deputations - Standing Order 3.4
(NOTE: The Board is required to receive a deputation(s) on a matter which is before the meeting of the Board provided that notice of the intended deputation and its object shall have been received by the Borough Solicitor by 12 noon on Thursday 19 March 2026. The total time for deputations in favour and against a proposal shall not exceed 10 minutes).
Minutes
There were none.
4
Public Questions - Standing order 3.5
(NOTE: The Board is required to allow a total of 15 minutes for questions from Members of the public on matters within the terms of reference of the Board provided that notice of such Question(s) shall have been submitted to the Borough Solicitor by 12 noon onThursday 19 March 2026).
Minutes
There were none.
5
Housing Payments (Crisis and Resilience Fund), to replace the Discretionary Housing Payment Policy. - Withdrawn
Report to follow.
Minutes
This item was withdrawn as further detailed guidance relating to the national Crisis and Resilience Fund was released very recently, and the Officer needs time to review the information and ensure the report and policy fully reflect the latest position.
The report will be updated accordingly and brought back to the Board at the earliest opportunity.
It was confirmed that there was no detrimental impact on residents as the policy itself would not change too much it was more the wording.
The report will be updated accordingly and brought back to the Board at the earliest opportunity.
It was confirmed that there was no detrimental impact on residents as the policy itself would not change too much it was more the wording.
6
Any other items
Minutes
The Board was advised that a decision was expected on LGR in the next dew days and guidance would come after.
7
EXCLUSION OF THE PRESS AND PUBLIC
That in relation to the following item the public should be excluded from the meeting, as it is likely, in view of the nature of the business to be transacted or the nature of the proceedings, that if members of the public were present during this item there would be disclosure to them of exempt information within Paragraph 3 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972, and further that in all circumstances of the cases, the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information, for the reasons set out in the report
Minutes
The Board was advised that the financial information contained in the report included the price as agreed with the purchaser and an independent valuation to assist the Members in making their decision. It included cash flows and different scenarios and would put the Council at a commercial disadvantage if the information was shared publically at this stage as the discussions were not yet concluded. The urgency for the meeting was that the funds for the project were included in the purchaser’s budget for the year 2025/26 and were therefore not guaranteed after the 31st March 2026 and must be completed this financial year. This was confirmed in an email from the purchaser.
Clarification was sought that on 15 October 2025 a report was presented to the meeting of the Full Council as an urgent item detailing the license and lease proposal and that the Council must have known that they were considering the sale of the land on 19th February as this is when it was advertised for disposal and interested parties had responded with their concerns. It was the same land, now being proposed to be sold and not leased, which some Members considered to be the better position.
In October the report had not been confidential, but the appendices were, and the appendices had been released for publication when appropriate. There had been detailed financial information in the report in October, but it had been published.
On this point, the Head of Commercial Property advised that the previous report on the leasing of the site would allow for future consideration of sale. As this latest report detailed a proposal for the land to be sold, there would be no comeback option and it could not be reversed and it was felt that more detail was needed from the finance team to ensure that Members were aware of the options.
The consideration for the site had been concluded last October when it was agreed to lease it, and there was now an additional proposal. The previous proposal had been a £95,000 a year rental from the Home Office.
Concern about the item being considered in exempt session was expressed, and also that the financial figures and report had been delivered 3 days in advance of the meetings.
Concern was expressed that if the purchaser could not secure funding into the 2026/27 financial year, what were they planning on using to pay for the lease and would they be in breach of the agreement made on 15 October 2025. It was confirmed there was a break clause in the previous proposal, and also that the first five years of rental on the lease would have been paid before 31st March 2026.
Members were reminded that they were considering a proposal for the sale of the land at Fort Road Car Park.
Concern was expressed that the budget had been agreed on funding that was not in place. The Board was advised that both the lease and the sale had a 31st March 2026 deadline for conclusion. Concern was expressed that the lease option had been discontinued and it was reiterated that the sale of the land was the consideration being presented.
It was advised that the funds would be able to be utilised in the capital programme.
A Member queried that to what respect the Council’s capital programme should be kept confidential from residents and that the proposal was a government department paying a local government which was public money and where was the commercial interest. It was reiterated that publication of the financial figures could disadvantage the Council and that the officer’s guidance was that it should be confidential.
The Board was advised that £7m in funding had been awarded to the Alverstoke flood scheme and that the government were supporting the Borough. The Officer’s advice had been sound and the sale would lead to a significant sum enhancing the capital programme.
RESOLVED: That in relation to the following item the public should be excluded from the meeting, as it is likely, in view of the nature of the business to be transacted or the nature of the proceedings, that if members of the public were present during this item there would be disclosure to them of exempt information within Paragraph 3 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972, and further that in all circumstances of the cases, the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information, for the reasons set out in the report
Clarification was sought that on 15 October 2025 a report was presented to the meeting of the Full Council as an urgent item detailing the license and lease proposal and that the Council must have known that they were considering the sale of the land on 19th February as this is when it was advertised for disposal and interested parties had responded with their concerns. It was the same land, now being proposed to be sold and not leased, which some Members considered to be the better position.
In October the report had not been confidential, but the appendices were, and the appendices had been released for publication when appropriate. There had been detailed financial information in the report in October, but it had been published.
On this point, the Head of Commercial Property advised that the previous report on the leasing of the site would allow for future consideration of sale. As this latest report detailed a proposal for the land to be sold, there would be no comeback option and it could not be reversed and it was felt that more detail was needed from the finance team to ensure that Members were aware of the options.
The consideration for the site had been concluded last October when it was agreed to lease it, and there was now an additional proposal. The previous proposal had been a £95,000 a year rental from the Home Office.
Concern about the item being considered in exempt session was expressed, and also that the financial figures and report had been delivered 3 days in advance of the meetings.
Concern was expressed that if the purchaser could not secure funding into the 2026/27 financial year, what were they planning on using to pay for the lease and would they be in breach of the agreement made on 15 October 2025. It was confirmed there was a break clause in the previous proposal, and also that the first five years of rental on the lease would have been paid before 31st March 2026.
Members were reminded that they were considering a proposal for the sale of the land at Fort Road Car Park.
Concern was expressed that the budget had been agreed on funding that was not in place. The Board was advised that both the lease and the sale had a 31st March 2026 deadline for conclusion. Concern was expressed that the lease option had been discontinued and it was reiterated that the sale of the land was the consideration being presented.
It was advised that the funds would be able to be utilised in the capital programme.
A Member queried that to what respect the Council’s capital programme should be kept confidential from residents and that the proposal was a government department paying a local government which was public money and where was the commercial interest. It was reiterated that publication of the financial figures could disadvantage the Council and that the officer’s guidance was that it should be confidential.
The Board was advised that £7m in funding had been awarded to the Alverstoke flood scheme and that the government were supporting the Borough. The Officer’s advice had been sound and the sale would lead to a significant sum enhancing the capital programme.
RESOLVED: That in relation to the following item the public should be excluded from the meeting, as it is likely, in view of the nature of the business to be transacted or the nature of the proceedings, that if members of the public were present during this item there would be disclosure to them of exempt information within Paragraph 3 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972, and further that in all circumstances of the cases, the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information, for the reasons set out in the report
8
Proposed Disposal of Land at Fort Road, Gosport
Report to follow.
Attachments:
- Document PO Board Report - Disposal of land at Fort Road Car Park FINAL 200326 13 Mar 2026
- Document Appendix 1 - Existing site plan 13 Mar 2026
- Document Appendix 2 - Agreed Heads of Terms 13 Mar 2026
- Document Appendix 3 - Carter Jonas Valuation Advice 13 Mar 2026
- Document Appendix 4 - Letters of objection 13 Mar 2026
- Document Appendix 5 13 Mar 2026
Previous Meetings
Join the Discussion
You need to be signed in to comment.
Sign in