Borough of Fareham

The Borough of Fareham is a local government district with borough status in Hampshire, England. Its council is based in Fareham. Other places within the borough include Portchester, Hill Head, Sarisbury, Stubbington, Titchfield and Warsash. The borough covers much of the semi-urban area between the cities of Southampton and Portsmouth, and is part of the South Hampshire conurbation. The neighbouring districts are Eastleigh, Winchester, Portsmouth and Gosport. The district's southern boundary is the coast of the Solent.

History

The town of Fareham was governed by a local board of health from 1849. Such local boards were reconstituted as urban district councils in 1894.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref><ref>Template:Cite legislation UK</ref> The parish and urban district of Fareham was significantly enlarged in 1932 when the neighbouring parishes of Crofton, Hook with Warsash, Portchester, Sarisbury and Titchfield were abolished.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Fareham Urban District was reconstituted as a non-metropolitan district on 1 April 1974 under the Local Government Act 1972.<ref>Template:Cite legislation UK</ref><ref>Template:Cite legislation UK</ref> The reformed district was awarded borough status at the same time, allowing the chair of the council to take the title of mayor.<ref name="hans74">Template:Cite web</ref>

Governance

Template:Infobox legislature Fareham Borough Council provides district-level services. County-level services are provided by Hampshire County Council. There are no civil parishes in the borough, which is an unparished area.<ref>Template:Cite legislation UK</ref>

Political control

The council has been under Conservative majority control since 1999.

Political control of the council since 1974 has been as follows:<ref name=compositions>Template:Cite web (Put "Fareham" in search box to see specific results.)</ref><ref name=change>Template:Cite news</ref>

Party in control		Years
Template:Party name with colour	1974–1976
Template:Party name with colour	1976–1986
Template:Party name with colour	1986–1987
Template:Party name with colour	1987–1994
Template:Party name with colour	1994–1999
Template:Party name with colour	1999–2026

Leadership

The role of mayor is largely ceremonial in Fareham. Political leadership is provided by the leader of the council. The leaders since 1995 have been:

Councillor	Party		From	To
Roger Price<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>	Template:Party name with colour	1995	1999
Seán Woodward<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>	Template:Party name with colour	1999	May 2024
Simon Martin<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>	Template:Party name with colour	16 May 2024	7 May 2026

Composition

Following the 2024 election and subsequent changes of allegiance up to May 2025, the composition of the council was:<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref name=Thorncliffe>Template:Cite web</ref>

Party		Councillors
Template:Party name with colour	24
Template:Party name with colour	6
Template:Party name with colour	1
Template:Party name with colour	1
Total		32

The next election is due in 2026.<ref name=Thorncliffe/>

Premises

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.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Elections

Template:Also Since the last boundary changes in 2024 the council has comprised 32 councillors representing 16 wards, 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.<ref>Template:Cite legislation UK</ref>

Freedom of the Borough

The following people and military units have received the Freedom of the Borough of Fareham.

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Military Units

• Template:HMS, RN: 2 July 1974.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

See also

• List of places of worship in the Borough of Fareham

External links

• Fareham Borough Council