At a Meeting of Hampshire County Council held at The Castle, Winchester on Thursday, 27 January 2005 at 11.30 a.m.

Chairman:

p Councillor J. V. Bryant

Vice Chairman:

p Councillor J. K. West

Councillors:

	Mrs S. E. Allbright		Mrs. K. Heron
	D. G. Allen	p	Felicity Hindson, M.B.E.
p	Mrs. A. E. Bailey	p	Mrs. P.G.E. Holden-Brown
	Mrs. E. S. M. Barron	p	K. House
p	Mrs. P. G. Banks	p	P.R.C. Hutcheson
	R. J. Baulk	p	Jo Kelly
p	I. F. E. Beagley		M. J. Kendal
p	Carol Boulton	p	R. J. Kimber
	F. J. Bright	p	D. A. Kirk
p	P. R. Brown	p	T. G. Knight
p	Mrs. A. Buckley	p	Mrs. C. A. Leversha
p	Mrs. E. M. Byrom	p	A. R. Ludlow
p	M. F. Cartwright	p	P. Luffman
p	K G. Chapman	p	P. K. Mason
P	P. J. Chegwyn	p	R. C. McIntosh
P	A. P. Collett	p	Mrs. A. M. McNair Scott
p	B. D. Dash	p	Mrs. P. G. Peskett
p	C. R. H. Davidovitz	p	P. A. Pierce
p	G. W. Davies-Dear	p	R. H. Price
p	Mrs. P. M. Devereux	p	Mrs. E. M. F. Randall
p	Mrs. P Dickens	p	A. W. Rice, T. D.
	A. G. Dowden	p	M. J. Roberts
p	L. T. Dunsdon	p	Sir James Scott
p	Dr. R. J. Ellis	p	K. P. J. Searle
	Capt. K. B. Estlin	p	J. D. Shaw
	W. J. Filer		M. L. Sheehan
p	Mrs. J. K. Frankum		Mrs. M. D. Snaith
p	E. F. Gale, M.B.E.	p	Mrs V. Steel
p	M. S. Geddes	p	J. W. Stocks
	D. Gillett	p	T. K. Thornber, C.B.E.
p	Mrs. S. M. Glasspool, D.L.	p	J. Waddington
p	J. K. Glen	p	Dr. J. G. L. Wall
p	B. T. Gurden	p	Mrs. P. A. West
	Mrs. D. R. Harrison		M. J. Woodhall
p	S. A. Hayes	p	Jenny Wride
	P. A. Heath		D. F. Wright

359 BATTINS AND BONDFIELDS COUNTY ELECTORAL

DIVISION - BY-ELECTION

The Chairman welcomed Councillor Mrs Ann Buckley to her first County Council meeting following the Battins and Bondfields County Electoral Division by-election on 2 December 2004.

360 CHAIRMAN'S STATEMENT

The Chairman reported that he had sent his condolences to Princess Alexandra on the passing of Sir Angus Ogilvy and had received a letter of thanks from her Private Secretary. He was also saddened to report the passing of former County Councillor Tony Bolt, the member for Farnborough North County Electoral Division between 1977 and 1983 and 1993 and 2001 and former County Councillor Mrs Penny Wright, the member for Hawley and Church Crookham between 1993 and 1997. The Leader of the Council, the Leaders of the Liberal Democrat and Labour groups and other members reflected upon the stalwart service to the community which both former members had given. The Chairman also referred to 27 January being National Holocaust Day and to the tsunami tragedy across the Indian Ocean on 26 December 2004. The Council stood in silence in memory of former County Councillors Bolt and Mrs Wright and all of those whose lives had been lost or affected by the Holocaust and the tsunami.

361 LEADER'S REPORT

The Leader took the opportunity to advise the Council that a Council Tax of less than 5% was being planned for 2005/06 and, therefore, contrary to newspaper reports nationally, the County Council would not be capped.

The Leader also sought and obtained the Council's support for proposals to provide assistance in kind as the County Council's contribution towards relief for those affected by the recent tsunami and its trail of devastation across the Indian Ocean. The County Council was directly helping Hampshire families who had suffered bereavement and an emergency helpline was affording trained support. The Leader's proposal was that the County Council should materially assist in the re-establishment of schools and other infrastructure. Fifty volunteers had come forward from amongst the County Council's staff. The minority political group leaders endorsed the Leader of the Council's approach as did the County Council as a whole, including considering what assistance could be given to the training of teachers to replenish the losses incurred.

362 DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

Members were mindful that, where they believed they had a personal or personal prejudicial interest in any matter to be considered at the meeting, they should normally at the time of the debate, declare their interest and, having regard to the circumstances described in paragraphs 9, 10, 11 and 12 of the County Council's Code of Conduct consider whether to leave the meeting whilst the matter was discussed.

363 CHILDREN AND ADULT SERVICES - STRATEGIC MANAGEMENT

Councillors Mrs. P. Dickens and A. R. Ludlow declared personal interests in the subject matter by virtue of National Health Service employment and National Health Primary Care Trust chairmanship respectively.

The Council considered and adopted the report of the Chief Executive (Item 3 in the Minute Book) the recommendations of which had been approved by the Cabinet on 24 January 2005. The Chief Executive introduced the report and, with the Director of Social Services, made a presentation to the Council (a copy of which is marked Item 3a in the Minute Book) drawing out the key issues in relation to the way ahead including the statutory requirements to appoint a Director of Children's Services by 2008. The Cabinet had agreed that this should proceed forthwith together with a new post of Director of Adult Services. The posts of Director of Social Services and County Education Officer would, therefore, cease as part of the transition to the new structural and organisational arrangements. There would be similar issues for the County Council's Executive and Scrutiny roles as the transition unfolded.

The provisions of the Children Act were far reaching and were expected to bring about extensive cultural change. The Director of Social Services commented on the implications of the Act for services for adults including older persons. Adult Services represented a significant share of the County Council's expenditure. The County Council had taken pre-emptive steps in developing closer working with Health and Voluntary Services in anticipation of the publication of the a Government Green Paper.

Members asked questions by way of clarification and commented on various aspects of the proposals. The way ahead presented major challenges all of which would need to be overcome against a background of continuing high quality services of which the County Council was justly proud. Service integration within the County Council and with partners was particularly highlighted. Whilst the challenges of fundamental change were inevitable, there was also the opportunity to be a leading player in a more effective operation which had the potential to improve the quality of service provision across the whole range of Children and Adult Services. Many issues would require sensitive handling to maintain morale and commitment.

The Council was also mindful of the budgetary implications of the Children Act. Little financial encouragement had been received from government and there were concerns that the fundamental changes required would not be cost neutral. It was most important, therefore, for the County Council to maximise and build upon its strengths particularly in the fields of education and social care although it was acknowledged that the impact of the Children Act would touch all services to a greater or lesser extent. In this respect it was considered important in coming to conclusions as the new arrangements unfolded that the County Council did not lose sight of the needs of the Hampshire community beyond the key service areas affected by the Act.

In conclusion, the Council was mindful of the impact such a major change could have on County Council staff given also the other major change programmes currently underway. The Council wished to place on record their appreciation of the strenuous efforts being made by the workforce to maintain the delivery of high quality services and members' unqualified support to staff through the very difficult period which lay ahead.

ORDERED :

That the actions taken by the Cabinet and progressed to date by the Officers in response to the Children Act be noted.

The meeting closed at 1.15 p.m.