Borough of Fareham | |
|---|---|
 Fareham town centre | |
 Fareham shown within Hampshire | |
| Sovereign state |  United Kingdom |
| Constituent country |  England |
| Region | South East England |
| Non-metropolitan county | Hampshire |
| Status | Non-metropolitan district |
| Admin HQ | Fareham |
| Incorporated | 1 April 1974 |
| Government | |
| • Type | Non-metropolitan district council |
| • Body | Fareham Borough Council |
| • Leadership | Leader & Cabinet (Conservative) |
| • MPs | Paul Holmes Suella Braverman |
| Area | |
• Total | 28.6 sq mi (74.2 km2) |
| • Rank | 224th(of 296) |
| Population (2024) | |
• Total | 115,428 |
| • Rank | 214th(of 296) |
| • Density | 4,030/sq mi (1,560/km2) |
| Ethnicity(2021) | |
| • Ethnic groups | |
| Religion(2021) | |
| • Religion | List
|
| Time zone | UTC0 (GMT) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+1 (BST) |
| ONS code | 24UE (ONS) E07000087 (GSS) |
| OS grid reference | SU5802906461 |
| Website | www |
TheBorough of Fareham is alocal government district withborough status inHampshire,England. Its council is based inFareham. Other places within the borough includePortchester,Hill Head,Sarisbury,Stubbington,Titchfield andWarsash. The borough covers much of the semi-urban area between the cities ofSouthampton andPortsmouth, and is part of theSouth Hampshire conurbation. The neighbouring districts areEastleigh,Winchester,Portsmouth andGosport. The district's southern boundary is the coast of theSolent.
The town of Fareham was governed by alocal board of health from 1849. Such local boards were reconstituted asurban district councils in 1894.[2][3] The parish and urban district of Fareham was significantly enlarged in 1932 when the neighbouring parishes ofCrofton,Hook with Warsash,Portchester,Sarisbury andTitchfield were abolished.[4][5]
Fareham Urban District was reconstituted as anon-metropolitan district on 1 April 1974 under theLocal Government Act 1972.[6][7] The reformed district was awardedborough status at the same time, allowing the chair of the council to take the title of mayor.[8]
Fareham Borough Council | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Type | |
| Type | |
| Leadership | |
Andrew Wannell since 6 May 2023[11] | |
| Structure | |
| Seats | 32 councillors |
Political groups |
|
| Elections | |
Last election | 2 May 2024 |
Next election | 7 May 2026 |
| Meeting place | |
.JPG) | |
| Civic Offices, Civic Way, Fareham, PO16 7AZ | |
| Website | |
| www | |
Fareham Borough Council providesdistrict-level services.County-level services are provided byHampshire County Council. There are nocivil parishes in the borough, which is anunparished area.[12]
The council has been under Conservative majority control since 1999.
Political control of the council since 1974 has been as follows:[13][14]
| Party in control | Years | |
|---|---|---|
| No overall control | 1974–1976 | |
| Conservative | 1976–1986 | |
| No overall control | 1986–1987 | |
| Conservative | 1987–1994 | |
| No overall control | 1994–1999 | |
| Conservative | 1999–2026 | |
The role of mayor is largely ceremonial in Fareham. Political leadership is provided by theleader of the council. The leaders since 1995 have been:
| Councillor | Party | From | To | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Roger Price[15] | Liberal Democrats | 1995 | 1999 | |
| Seán Woodward[16][17] | Conservative | 1999 | May 2024 | |
| Simon Martin[18] | Conservative | 16 May 2024 | 7 May 2026 | |
Following the2024 election and subsequent changes of allegiance up to May 2025, the composition of the council was:[19][20]
| Party | Councillors | |
|---|---|---|
| Conservative | 24 | |
| Liberal Democrats | 6 | |
| Labour | 1 | |
| Independent | 1 | |
| Total | 32 | |
The next election is due inMay 2026.[20]
The council is based at the Civic Offices on Civic Way in the centre of Fareham. The building was purpose-built for the council, being completed in 1975.[21]
Since the last boundary changes in 2024 the council has comprised 32councillors representing 16wards, with each ward electing two councillors. Elections are held in alternate years, with half the council (one councillor for each ward) elected each time to serve a four-year term of office.[22]
The following people and military units have received theFreedom of the Borough of Fareham.
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50°51′15″N1°10′32″W / 50.8542°N 1.1755°W /50.8542; -1.1755
