URL: https://moderngov.fareham.gov.uk/ieDecisionDetails.aspx?ID=2807

Decision Maker: Executive

Outcome: Recommendations Approved

Is Key Decision?: Yes

Is Callable In?: Yes

Purpose: To seek Executive approval for a 5-Year Asset Management Plan for the Civic Offices.   The Civic Offices remain Fareham Borough Council’s principal operational building, providing a central location for public access to services, staff accommodation, civic functions, public sector partners and wider town centre activity.  Now over 50 years old, the building has benefitted from periodic investment; however, a number of key components, including the lifts, ventilation, roof, windows, cooling systems, building management system and elements of the mechanical and electrical infrastructure, are now in poor condition or approaching the end of their serviceable life.   Investment can no longer be reasonably deferred.  However, a comprehensive long-term refurbishment would be premature and disproportionate while the future accommodation requirements of the new unitary Authority remain uncertain.  A major 25 -year refurbishment could exceed £25 million, and relocation options are considered costly, operationally disruptive and strategically unattractive.  The recommended approach is therefore a targeted 5 Year Asset Management Plan, focused on replacing critical components where necessary and extending the life of others until a longer-term accommodation strategy can be determined.   The Civic Offices are also shown to have wider strategic value.  They support town centre regeneration by generating employment, footfall and local spending.  An independent assessment indicates the building supports 366 direct on-site jobs, a further 33 indirect town centre jobs, and contributes over £45.5 million per year in economic value to the town centre. At borough level, the impact rises to 418 jobs.  The building also provides accessible public services from a central location and supports public sector partners and tenants who generated over £450,000 in 2025/26 to contribute to annual running costs.   The proposed works include life-extension and targeted replacement across the roof, structure, windows, ventilation, heating, cooling, building management system, lifts, fire/security systems, toilets and internal fabric.  The approach is designed to keep the building operational, avoid staff/tenant relocation, and minimize disruption through careful programming and out-of-hours works where necessary.   The total cost of the plan is £4,370,000, comprising £4,330,000 capital and £400,000 revenue.  Of the capital requirement £3,005,200 has already been approved, with a further £1,324,800 requested from unallocated capital receipts.  Additional revenue growth of £250,000 in 2027/28 and £150,000 in 2029/30 is also required.  

Content: To seek Executive approval for a 5-Year Asset Management Plan for the Civic Offices.   The Civic Offices remain Fareham Borough Council’s principal operational building, providing a central location for public access to services, staff accommodation, civic functions, public sector partners and wider town centre activity.  Now over 50 years old, the building has benefitted from periodic investment; however, a number of key components, including the lifts, ventilation, roof, windows, cooling systems, building management system and elements of the mechanical and electrical infrastructure, are now in poor condition or approaching the end of their serviceable life.   Investment can no longer be reasonably deferred.  However, a comprehensive long-term refurbishment would be premature and disproportionate while the future accommodation requirements of the new unitary Authority remain uncertain.  A major 25 -year refurbishment could exceed £25 million, and relocation options are considered costly, operationally disruptive and strategically unattractive.  The recommended approach is therefore a targeted 5 Year Asset Management Plan, focused on replacing critical components where necessary and extending the life of others until a longer-term accommodation strategy can be determined.   The Civic Offices are also shown to have wider strategic value.  They support town centre regeneration by generating employment, footfall and local spending.  An independent assessment indicates the building supports 366 direct on-site jobs, a further 33 indirect town centre jobs, and contributes over £45.5 million per year in economic value to the town centre. At borough level, the impact rises to 418 jobs.  The building also provides accessible public services from a central location and supports public sector partners and tenants who generated over £450,000 in 2025/26 to contribute to annual running costs.   The proposed works include life-extension and targeted replacement across the roof, structure, windows, ventilation, heating, cooling, building management system, lifts, fire/security systems, toilets and internal fabric.  The approach is designed to keep the building operational, avoid staff/tenant relocation, and minimize disruption through careful programming and out-of-hours works where necessary.   The total cost of the plan is £4,370,000, comprising £4,330,000 capital and £400,000 revenue.  Of the capital requirement £3,005,200 has already been approved, with a further £1,324,800 requested from unallocated capital receipts.  Additional revenue growth of £250,000 in 2027/28 and £150,000 in 2029/30 is also required.   RESOLVED that the Executive:   (a)  approves a 5-Year Asset Management Plan for the Civic Offices;   (b)  subject to the approval of recommendation (a) above, approves an increase to the Civic Offices revenue budget of £250,000 in 2027/28 and £150,000 in 2029/30;   (c)  subject to the approval of recommendation (a) above, notes the previously approved capital expenditure of £3,005,200 and approves further capital expenditure of up to £1,324,800; and   (d)  delegates authority to the Director of Planning and Regeneration to enter into contracts for the Asset Management plan within the agreed budget as follows:   ·         individual contracts for £250,000 and under, or ·         following consultation with the S151 officer for any individual contract awards over £250,000

Date of Decision: September 7, 2026