Hampshire County Council

Executive Member - Environment - 9 October 2001

Executive Member - Policy and Resources - 11 October 2001

South Hampshire Rapid Transit Procurement Joint Panel

Head of Corporate and Legal Services

Contact: Jeff Pattison, ext 7321

1. Summary

1.1. A decision is sought to re-establish the South Hampshire Rapid Transit Procurement Joint Panel and the South Hampshire Rapid Transit Development Joint Panel as a result of these joint arrangements with Portsmouth City Council having been determined by operation of law.

1.2. The Terms of Reference for the two Joint Panels shall be as contained in the Appendices to this report. The re-creation of these two Panels is undertaken in reliance of the powers contained in Section 20 of the Local Government Act 2000.

1.3. Membership of the two Panels shall be as agreed at Council on 13 September 2001 and as referred to in the Background to the report.

1.4. This decision be reviewed by May 2002.

2. Reason

2.1. The South Hampshire Rapid Transit Project is operated on a partnership basis with Portsmouth City Council and in view of the determination of these arrangements by operation of law it is necessary to re-establish them so that effective decision making is agreed between the two authorities for the promotion of this important Project.

3. Other Options considered and rejected

3.1. The need to re-establish satisfactory joint arrangements with Portsmouth City Council is vital and as the current proposal is one which was discussed and agreed previously between the two Councils, no other option was considered but to revive the previously existing arrangements which had worked satisfactorily.

4. Conflicts of Interest declared by the decision maker or a member or officer consulted

- not applicable

5. Dispensation granted by the Standards Committee

- not applicable

6. Reason(s) for the matter being dealt with if urgent

- not applicable

Approved by:

............................................ Date: .................................

Councillor K.B. Estlin

Background

1. The South Hampshire Rapid Transit Project is an initiative aimed at providing a light rapid transit system between Fareham and Portsmouth, with further extensions being proposed for the future. The first phase of this initiative between Fareham and Portsmouth is being dealt with on a partnership approach between the two highway and transportation authorities concerned, the County Council and Portsmouth City Council. Both authorities have provided, and will continue to provide, member and officer support to this Project together with financial support.

2. So as to ensure effective decision making and consultation between the two authorities, the County Council and Portsmouth City Council agreed to set up two Joint Panels. These Panels are the South Hampshire Rapid Transit Procurement Joint Panel and the South Hampshire Rapid Transit Development Joint Panel. Both of these Panels were established under Section 101 of the Local Government Act 1972 with the intention that within their respective Terms of Reference these Joint Panels would exercise the functions of both Hampshire County Council and Portsmouth City Council in respect of the South Hampshire Rapid Transit Project.

3. A copy of the Terms of Reference for both these Panels is attached to this report as an Appendix.

4. As a consequence of the Local Government Act 2000 and the Local Authorities (Executive Arrangements) (Modification of Enactments and Further Provisions) (England) Order 2001, these joint arrangements reflected in the two Panels have been terminated by operation of law from 1 September 2001. This is the date that the County Councils started to operate Executive arrangements under the 2000 Act.

5. It is therefore necessary to revive these two Joint Panels and in doing so to rely explicitly on the provisions contained in Section 20 of the Local Government Act 2000. It is therefore recommended that the two Joint Panels are re-created using their current Terms of Reference in reliance of the power given by Section 20 of the Local Government Act 2000.

6. The County Council's membership of the South Hampshire Rapid Transit Procurement Joint Panel shall be:-

Councillor K. Estlin (Chairman)
Councillor M. Geddes
Councillor T. Knight
Councillor R. Price
Councillor W. Wheeler

7. The County Council's membership of the South Hampshire Rapid Transit Development Joint Panel shall be:-

Councillor K. Estlin (Chairman)
Councillor R. McIntosh
Councillor R. Price (Deputy Councillor P. Chegwyn)
Councillor K. Searle (Deputy Councillor P. Luffman)
Councillor J. Wride