XCII

Council Proceedings, 23 February 2005

HAMPSHIRE

At a Meeting of Hampshire County Council held at The Castle, Winchester on Wednesday, 23 February 2005 at 10.00 a.m.

Chairman:

p Councillor J. V. Bryant

Vice Chairman:

p Councillor J. K. West

Councillors:

p	Mrs S. E. Allbright	p	Felicity Hindson, M.B.E.
p	Mrs. A. E. Bailey	p	Mrs. P.G.E. Holden-Brown
p	Mrs. E. S. M. Barron	p	K. House
p	Mrs. P. G. Banks	p	P.R.C. Hutcheson
p	R. J. Baulk	p	Jo Kelly
p	I. F. E. Beagley	p	M. J. Kendal
p	Carol Boulton	p	R. J. Kimber
p	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		Mrs. A. M. McNair Scott
p	B. D. Dash	p	Mrs. P. G. Peskett
p	C. R. H. Davidovitz		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		Sir James Scott
p	Dr. R. J. Ellis	p	K. P. J. Searle
	Capt. K. B. Estlin	p	J. D. Shaw
p	W. J. Filer	p	M. L. Sheehan
p	Mrs. J. K. Frankum	p	Mrs. M. D. Snaith
p	E. F. Gale, M.B.E.	p	Mrs V. Steel
p	M. S. Geddes		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
p	Mrs. D. R. Harrison	p	M. J. Woodhall
p	S. A. Hayes	p	Jenny Wride
p	P. A. Heath	p	D. F. Wright
p	Mrs. K. Heron

364 VARIATION OF ORDER OF BUSINESS

Ordered:

That Standing Order 13 be invoked to vary the order of business to enable the Item on Chairman's Communications to be taken first.

365 CHAIRMAN'S COMMUNICATIONS

The Chairman reported on several engagements which he had attended on behalf of the County Council and on several events at which he had acted as host. He had sent a letter to the Private Secretary to His Royal Highness, The Prince of Wales upon his engagement to Mrs Camilla Parker-Bowles. In conclusion he reported with great sadness the death of Councillor Don Allen, Executive Member for Education and County Councillor for Kingsclere and Tadley, who had been suffering from long-standing ill health and had died on Saturday 12 February. There were fulsome and affectionate tributes from all quarters of the Council Chamber to the late Councillor Allen's dedication, commitment to the Education Service, determination, leadership and to his inclusive approach to his duties, first of all as Chairman of the Education Committee and then more recently as Executive Member for Education. He was respected and held in high regard by members, officers and by staff and governors at Hampshire schools. The Council stood in silence as a mark of respect to his memory.

366 MINUTES

The minutes of the meetings of the County Council on 25 November 2004 and 27 January 2005 were confirmed and signed by the Chairman.

367 DECLARATION OF INTERESTS

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.

368 STANDING ORDERS

Ordered:

1. That Standing Order 21be suspended so as to allow deputations to be made as referred to in Minute 369, as;

a) Six months had not elapsed since the last appearance by those making the deputation in the case of Isitfair?

b) Notice of the Deputation from Friends of the Earth had not been

received eight clear days before the Council meeting.

2. In future Standing Order 21 be enforced rigorously, so that no more deputations are received on an exceptional basis.

369 DEPUTATIONS

The Council received deputations from Isitfair?, represented by Mrs C Melsom and Mr M Schofield, relating to Council tax increases; and from Hampshire Friends of the Earth, represented by Jenny Owens, relating to the Item on Fairtrade.

370 LEADER'S REPORT

The Leader welcomed representatives from Derby City Council who were present to evaluate the County Council's sound system in the Council Chamber. He reported on the progress of discussions with the Government on the possibility of an Arctic Star Medal Campaign, and informed the Council of the successful introduction of Accredited Community Support Officers and the positive impact they were having in support of the Police in Hampshire. He reported with pleasure that the Recreation and Heritage Department had been awarded cultural pathfinder status in a scheme promoted by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport and Local Government Association, and congratulated them on this achievement which would raise the profile of Hampshire's work in the area of culture and leisure. He reported receipt of a petition submitted by Councillor Dash urging the provision of a grade-separated pedestrian crossing on the A326 to facilitate access from the Waterside to the New Forest.

371 QUESTIONS UNDER STANDING ORDER 20(b)

Councillor T. K. Thornber CBE, Leader of the Council, answered a question from Councillor M. J. Roberts on several aspects of the Budget, particularly resourcing the Youth Service and levels of bus subsidy.

372 APPOINTMENTS

The Council considered a report by the Chief Executive marked Item 7 in the Minute Book, on proportionality following recent changes in membership of the County Council resulting from a by-election. The Council noted, in relation to Committees and outside bodies subject to proportionality rules,

that Councillor Mrs P. G. Peskett was joining the Recreation and Heritage Policy Review Committee, to take the place of Councillor Jo Kelly;

that Councillor B. D. Dash was to serve on the Standing Advisory Council for Religious Education, to replace the late Councillor Wheeler; and

that Councillors T. K. Thornber, C.B.E., M. J. Kendal, Mrs K. Heron,

B. D. Dash and L. T. Dunsdon would be appointed as the County Council's representatives on the New Forest National Park Authority.

Note:

Arising from this item, the Leader reported the changes which he had made to the Cabinet following the death of Councillor Allen. The new responsibilities, taking immediate effect and lasting for the remainder of the County Council term, were as follows:

Executive Lead Member for Children's Services - Councillor Felicity Hindson MBE

Executive Member for Education - Councillor D. A. Kirk

Responsibility for Adult Services on behalf of the Executive Member for Social Care- Councillor Mrs S. M. Glasspool

Executive Member for Community Development and Regeneration - Councillor T. G. Knight

The Council went on to consider formal appointments and it was

Ordered:

1. That the proportionality table attached as an Appendix to these Minutes be approved.

2. That Councillors C. R. H. Davidovitz and M. J. Woodhall be appointed as County Council representatives on the County Councils Network in place of the late Councillor D. G. Allen and Councillor K. B. Estlin respectively.

3. That Councillor A. W. Rice TD be appointed as the second County Council representative on the Southern Regional Flood Defence Committee, and that approval also be given to his attending the meeting held on 16 February as Deputy for Councillor J. K. West.

373 REVENUE BUDGET AND PRECEPT 2005/06 AND CAPITAL PROGRAMME 2005/06 - 2008/09

The Council considered the report of the Cabinet, marked Item 8 in the Minute Book.

Councillor T. K. Thornber CBE, Leader of the Council, presented the report and recommendations of the Cabinet in relation to the Revenue Budget and Precept 2005/06 and the Capital Programme 2005/06 - 2007/08 as follows:

(i) That the Treasurer's report under Section 25 of the Local Government Act 2003 was taken into account when the Council determined its budget and precept for 2005/06 (Appendix 1).

(ii) That the revenue budget for 2005/06 (as set out in the draft budget book circulated with the Council's agenda) be approved.

(iii) That the total budget requirement for the general expenses of the County Council for the year beginning 1 April 2005 be £1,107,865,000.

(iv) That the County Council's basic council tax for the year beginning 1 April 2005 be £869.40.

(v) That the County Council's council tax for the year beginning 1 April 2005 for properties in each tax band be:

	£
Band A	579.60
Band B	676.20
Band C	772.80
Band D	869.40
Band E	1062.60
Band F	1255.80
Band G	1449.00
Band H	1738.80

(vi) That precepts be issued totalling £420,453,637.76 on the billing authorities in Hampshire, requiring the payment, in such instalments and on such dates set by them and previously notified to the County Council, in proportion to the tax base of each billing authority's area as determined by them and as set out below:

	£
Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council	58,822.30
East Hampshire District Council	46,369.94
Eastleigh Borough Council	42,139.85
Fareham Borough Council	41,376.00
Gosport Borough Council	26,083.80
Hart District Council	36,156.40
Havant Borough Council	42,029.00
New Forest District Council	70,932.90
Rushmoor Borough Council	29,701.43
Test Valley Borough Council	44,324.00
Winchester City Council	45,677.95

(vii) That the revised Treasury Management Policy Statement (Appendix 2) be approved.

(viii) That the Annual Investment Strategy (Appendix 3) be approved.

(ix) That the Prudential Indicators (Appendix 4) be approved.

(x) That £1.85m be added to the Education capital programme for 2004/05 to provide a new Chiltern Primary School in Basingstoke.

(xi) That additional unsupported borrowing of £1.805m be used in 2005/06 and 2006/07 to finance most of the cost of the new Chiltern Primary School, to be repaid from the sale of the former Worting infant school site.

(xii) That additional unsupported borrowing of £2.857m be used in 2005/06 and 2006/07 to finance part of the cost of the scheme to provide sports facilities at Crestwood Community School, Eastleigh, which is included in the proposed capital programme for Education for 2005/06, to be repaid from the sale of excess site area at the school.

(xiii) That £4.9m be added to the Policy and Resources capital programme for 2004/05 for the purchase of a site at the Mount Hospital, Bishopstoke and to cover holding costs prior to its disposal for redevelopment, subject to the Executive Member for Policy and Resources approving the purchase.

(xiv) That additional unsupported borrowing of £4.45m be used in 2005/06 and 2006/07 to finance part of the cost of the Mount Hospital site, with the initial payment of £0.45m being met from the provision in the 2004/05 capital programme for advance and advantageous land purchases.

(xv) That the Executive Member for Social Care be asked to report to a future meeting of Cabinet on the proposed programme for Social Care including the overall use of future capital receipts made available to Social Care to cover:

- £1.32m for Social Services' contribution towards the cost of the

improvements already made to residential homes for older people;

- £375,000 for the replacement day centre for older people in the Hythe and Dibden area;

- £1.7m for the shortfall on the SWIFT social care IT systems.

(xvi) That the requests from the Executive Member for Social Care to use unsupported borrowing be deferred pending the report referred to in recommendation (xv).

(xvii) That the Cabinet be authorised to determine any further use of unsupported borrowing within the County Council's agreed prudential framework for capital finance.

(xviii) That the capital programme for 2005/06 be approved as set out in the draft capital programme and subject to the conditions set out in section B.3 of the County Council's Financial Procedures and, where appropriate, to the approval of the Executive Member for Policy and Resources to the proposed re-use of capital receipts.

(xix) That the capital programmes for 2006/07 to 2008/09 be approved as set out in the draft capital programme for the purpose of undertaking design work (including the preparation of feasibility and design project appraisals).

(xx) That expenditure on preliminary design and planning work for major transport schemes be permitted when they have achieved a place in the County Council's Local Transport Plan, subject to the cost being met within existing Government allocations.

(xxi) That authority be given to incur expenditure on land purchases as follows:

(a) up to the sum specified in respect of sites still required for the schemes included in the capital programme for the period 2005/06 to 2008/09 provided that the relevant scheme has been the subject of a feasibility or design project appraisal approved by the relevant Executive Member; and

(b) up to the amount included in the 2005/06 programme in respect of

advance and advantageous land purchases.

Councillor A. P. Collett, seconded by Councillor B. D. Dash, proposed the following amendment:

"2.1 (i) That the following amendment be made to recommendations ii)

to vi) of Item 8A on the revenue budget and precept for 2005/06:

ii) that the revenue budget for 2005/06 (as set out in the draft budget book circulated with the Council's agenda) be approved subject to the following amendments:

a) Improvements to services:	£'000
· give every district in Hampshire the benefit of accredited community safety officers by completing the roll out to all districts	1,000
· increase the level of positive engagement of young people throughout Hampshire by recruiting more youth workers, reflecting the public priority for improvement in this area	500
· reinstate non-vocational adult education courses and fund the increase in price of those courses back to last year's levels	250
· improve behaviour in our schools by increasing all 8 behaviour support area teams from 4.25 FTE to 5.25 FTE	280
· support work with children and families to address behaviour problems and achievement shortfalls through family based work, in particular in the development of parenting skills	200
· provide for more new books to be purchased to help make up for those that have not been purchased over the past two years and to keep up with inflation	250
· ensure that we are more likely to recruit the foster carers that we need for Hampshire children by increasing foster carers' allowances to the agreed national rate	390
· increase roads and footway maintenance to help catch up with the enormous backlog that built up during the years that the Conservative Government starved Hampshire of cash for this work	1,000
b) The above to be funded by:
· savings on corporate communications and publicity costs including reduction of Hampshire Now from three to two editions per year	-250
· further savings on procurement costs	-1,500
· further efficiency savings, in particular "green" savings on energy and fuel costs	-120
· revised assumption on capital receipts enabling revenue contributions to capital to be reduced	-2,000
c) Reduce the council tax increase by 1% by:
· reducing the balance in the grant equalisation reserve at 31 March 2006 from £15,050,000 to £11,050,000	-4,000
	-4,000

iii) the total budget requirement be amended to £1,103,865,000

iv) the basic council tax be amended to £861.12

v) the County Council's council tax in each band be amended to:

	£
Band A	574.08
Band B	669.76
Band C	765.44
Band D	861.12
Band E	1,052.48
Band F	1,243.84
Band G	1,435.20
Band H	1,722.24

vi) the precept to be issued be amended to £416,449,317.40."

Councillor Jo Kelly, seconded by Councillor D. F. Wright, proposed the following amendment:

"2.1 i) That the following amendment be made to recommendation ii) of

Item 8A on the revenue budget and precept for 2005/06:

ii) that the revenue budget for 2005/06 (as set out in the draft budget book circulated with the Council's agenda) be approved subject to:

	£'000
· An addition of £250,000 (equivalent to a 5% increase) to the budget for the Youth Service	250
· Creation of a contingency provision of £2m for the restructuring of Children's Services	2,000
· Earmark £2,250,000 from the proposed contribution to the modernisation, restructuring and efficiency plan reserve, whilst retaining £6,450,000 as a budgeted contribution to the reserve	-2,250
	-

2.2 That the following addition be made to the recommendations

relating to Item 8B on the capital programme for 2005/06 to 2008/09.

(xiii) That the capital programme be amended to include provision of £1m for improvements to the A32 between Fareham and Gosport, to be funded from developer contributions."

The amendments proposed by Councillors A. P. Collett and Jo Kelly were each put to the vote and were lost.

Councillor T. K. Thornber CBE, Leader of the Council, then proposed an amendment to the Cabinet's proposals on the Revenue Budget, to the following effect:

"that the Revenue Budget for 2005/06 be amended by the addition of £250,000 to the Budget for the Youth Service, to be offset by compensating savings"

That amendment was put to the vote and was carried.

Ordered:

(i) That the Treasurer's report under Section 25 of the Local Government Act 2003 was taken into account when the Council determined its budget and precept for 2005/06 (Appendix 1).

(ii) That the revenue budget for 2005/06 (as set out in the draft budget book circulated with the Council's agenda) be approved, subject to the addition of £250,000 to the Budget for the Youth Service, to be offset by compensating savings.

(iii) That the total budget requirement for the general expenses of the County Council for the year beginning 1 April 2005 be £1,107,865,000.

(iv) That the County Council's basic council tax for the year beginning 1 April 2005 be £869.40.

(v) That the County Council's council tax for the year beginning 1 April 2005 for properties in each tax band be:

	£
Band A	579.60
Band B	676.20
Band C	772.80
Band D	869.40
Band E	1062.60
Band F	1255.80
Band G	1449.00
Band H	1738.80

	£
Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council	58,822.30
East Hampshire District Council	46,369.94
Eastleigh Borough Council	42,139.85
Fareham Borough Council	41,376.00
Gosport Borough Council	26,083.80
Hart District Council	36,156.40
Havant Borough Council	42,029.00
New Forest District Council	70,932.90
Rushmoor Borough Council	29,701.43
Test Valley Borough Council	44,324.00
Winchester City Council	45,677.95