AT A MEETING of the RECREATION AND HERITAGE POLICY REVIEW COMMITTEE held at The Castle, Winchester on Thursday, 17 January 2002.

PRESENT:

Councillors: J.V. Bryant (Chairman); Mrs. S.E. Allbright; R.J. Baulk; Mrs. E.M. Byrom; K.G. Chapman; P.J. Chegwyn; J.E. Coles; E.F. Gale; M.S. Geddes; B.T. Gurden;

Mrs. K. Heron; Jo Kelly; Mrs. C.A. Leversha; P.K. Mason; R.H. Price; A.W. Rice, TD; M.L. Sheehan.

Councillors J. Waddington and M.J. Woodhall were also in attendance.

10 MINUTES

The Minutes of the meeting held on 15 November 2001 were confirmed by the Committee and signed by the Chairman.

11 OUTCOME REPORT FOR BEST VALUE REVIEWS

The Committee considered the report of the Corporate Performance Manager (Item 2 in the Minute Book) on the outcome reports for the Best Value reviews of Transport Management and Registration Services.

RESOLVED:

(i) That the outcome reports for the Best Value reviews of Transport Management and Registration Services be agreed for referral to the Leader, noting the particular proposals in respect of the registration service, as follows:


· That consultations take place with staff with a view to restructuring the Registration Service to a single registration district, and appropriate recommendation being made to the Registrar General.


· That consultations take place with staff and the public in regard to the rationalisation of offices and the closure of specific offices that fall below minimum standards.


· That a programme of improvements is planned and implemented for remaining offices to ensure they meet required standards including accessibility, maintenance and decoration, waiting areas, reception facilities and IT links/provision.


· That legislative changes be recommended to Central Government in regard to service delivery methods outlined in option 4 (see report at Appendix 2), should the Government's report on the national review of the registration service not cover these issues.


(ii) That a summary of the reviews be prepared in the standard format for inclusion in the Best Value Performance Plan.


(iii) That a copy of the summary mentioned in (ii) above and the Improvement Plan be provided to the Leader to effect implementation of the review outcomes.


(iv) That arrangements be made for the Policy and Resources Policy Review Committee to receive an annual progress report on the Improvement Plans, to be considered in each January, starting from 2003, to facilitate future reporting in the Best Value Performance Plan.

12 ANNUAL REVIEW OF CHARGES

The Committee considered the report of the County Treasurer (Item 3 in the Minute Book) on the annual review of charges in respect of recreation and heritage matters; the charges in question would have previously been approved by the various panels which reported to the old Recreation and Heritage Committee. The aim was to generate total income at 5% above the 2001/02 budget to help meet budget pressures that cannot be met from existing resources.

In the ensuing discussion the following major points arose:-

(i) An exemption for students from the £1 charge for library books ordered from out of the County was suggested.


(ii) It was felt that Joint Management Committee Museum charges should be referred to the Committee in future.


(iii) It was stressed that the same age rules for old age pensioners across all the services should be imposed.


(iv) It was suggested that increases should be imposed on Hampshire Record Office charges notwithstanding the fact that the large increase in requests for copies and searches should result in a 5% increase in budget.


The Chairman agreed to put these points and others made at the meeting to the Executive Member for Recreation and Heritage.

RESOLVED:


(i) That the Executive Member for Recreation and Heritage determines the charges to be made for 2002/03 after considering the views of the Committee and taking into account the budget guidelines for the service.


(ii) That it be a RECOMMENDATION to the Executive Member for Recreation and Heritage that representations be made to Re:Source (the Council for Museums, Libraries and Archives) and other relevant bodies and organisations about the impact of the recent introduction of free admission to National Museums on the public's expectations when visiting other museums.

12 REVENUE BUDGET 2002/03

The Committee considered the report of the County Treasurer and Officers of the Recreation and Heritage Services (Item 4 in the Minute Book) on the proposed Recreation and Heritage revenue budget for 2002/03 and the revised budget for 2001/02. Members unanimously felt that the Leader should be advised that the Recreation and Heritage revenue budget should not have to cover overspending arising from the effects of Foot and Mouth disease outside that earmarked from corporate resources. It was also requested that figures relating to Milestones should be shown separately in the budget papers in future years.

RESOLVED:

That the Executive Member for Recreation and Heritage be recommended to approve for submission to the Cabinet:

(i) The base budget (as set out in Appendix 1 and Annexes 1 - 4 to the report).


(ii) The efficiency improvements (as set out in Appendix 2 to the report).


(iii) The proposals for redeployment within budget guidelines (as set out in Appendix 4 to the report).


(iv) The budget for 2002/03 and the revised budget for 2001/02 (as set out in Appendix 5 to the report)


(v) The summarised trading accounts for business units (as set out in Appendix 6 to the report).

13 CAPITAL PROGRAMME 2002/03 TO 2005/06

The Committee considered the report of the County Treasurer (Item 5 in the Minute Book) on the Recreation and Heritage capital programme for 2002/03 to 2005/06. The Executive Members had been requested to prepare proposals for a locally-resourced capital programme for the four year period within the guidelines of the current capital programme uplifted for inflation and capital schemes supported by scheme or programme specific Government grants and borrowing approvals for 2002/03 and those expected to be supported in the next three years. Priority was being given to the upgrade and extension of computerised library systems and arts centre and theatre improvements and the level of grants to village halls was being maintained at £50,000 each year.

RESOLVED:

That the Executive Member for Recreation and Heritage be recommended to approve the capital programme as set out in the report for submission to the Cabinet.

14 ANNUAL LIBRARY PLAN - SEPTEMBER 2001

The Committee considered the report of the Acting Head of Libraries (Item 6 in the Minute Book) on the Annual Library Plan - September 2001. Preparation of such a plan is a statutory requirement and must be submitted to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) by the 30 September each year. The plan had been considered by the Committee in September and was now being resubmitted for approval prior to consideration by the full Council this February. Next year's plan would reflect the Best Value Review of the Library Service.

Although the plan had yet to be submitted to the Council it had now been assessed and scored by the DCMS and the overall assessment had been that the overall quality of the plan as a planning tool had been rated as satisfactory as had the authority's approach to meeting the public library standards. Officers would be attending a feedback seminar on annual library plans in March.

RESOLVED:

That the Annual Library Plan - September 2001 be submitted as it stands to the Executive Member for Recreation and Heritage for approval prior to submission to the County Council.

15 MUSEUMS ACQUISITION AND DISPOSAL POLICY 2002/2007

The Committee considered the report of the Director, County Museums Service (Item 7 in the Minute Book) on the museums acquisition and disposal policy which controls the development of the museum collection of the County Council. The policy is concerned with trying to ensure that the County Council develops and maintains collections which are relevant to the aims of its museums service and it is a standard of the national registration standard for museums overseen by the Council for Museums, Libraries and Archives that the policy is reviewed at least every five years. The report summarised the principal issues addressed by the revised policy and highlighted the main area of change from previous acquisition and disposal policies.

RESOLVED:

That the Collecting (Acquisitions and Disposal) Policy for the Museums Service 2002-2007 be recommended to the Executive Member for Recreation and Heritage for subsequent recommendation to the County Council for adoption.

16 MR MERRICK DENTON-THOMPSON

The Committee expressed their congratulations to Mr. Merrick Denton-Thompson, Assistant County Planning Officer, on his recent award of an OBE for founding the Learning Through Landscapes Trust which had helped many pupils to enjoy their school grounds.

17 SOUTH DOWNS NATIONAL PARK : PUBLIC CONSULTATION REPORT

The Committee considered the report of the County Planning Officer (Item 8 in the Minute Book) on a consultation document published by the Countryside Agency entitled "A South Downs National Park : Public Consultation Report" covering administrative arrangements and the draft boundary for a South Downs National Park. The same report was also being considered by the Environment Policy Review Committee and this Committee was examining closely the likely implications for the County Council's Countryside Service (i.e. the management of Country Parks and the Rights of Way Service).

The County Planning Officer advised that in 1999 the Government had announced its ambition to create National Parks in the New Forest and the South Downs which would differ from earlier National Parks which encompassed remote, mainly upland landscapes. Designation of these two National Parks would offer residents opportunities for quiet, informal recreation close to where they live. It was envisaged that after the completion of the consultation exercise, the Countryside Agency would make a National Park Designation Order in the summer of 2002 and subsequently the Secretary of State would either confirm the Designation Order or announce a public inquiry. It had been suggested that the final decision might be taken in the Spring of 2003 if no public inquiry was to take place or 2004 if one was to be held.

The Countryside Agency had identified seven issues that it wished to be addressed in relation to the proposed administration of the Park and the relevance to this Committee was membership of the South Downs National Park Authority, land management, visitor management, a national park management plan and securing the involvement of schools, young people, local people and other partners in the future of the Park. The County Planning Officer drew particular attention to his support for the Countryside Agency's preferred option for a National Park Authority of 46 members and apportionment of County Council seats based upon geographic area and population rather than on the simplistic formula based on the presence of the number of District Authorities within the boundary in each County. He had also made recommendations in the report on the exclusion of five areas from the Park and inclusion of six.

RESOLVED:

That the Cabinet be recommended to submit the following views of the Recreation and Heritage Policy Review Committee to the Countryside Agency on the South Downs National Park public consultation report:-

(i) Issue 1 (membership)


(i) The County Council is concerned at the lack of direct democratic accountability associated with National Park Authorities.


(ii) In the absence of special arrangements to address the lack of democratic accountability, the Countryside Agency's preferred option for a National Park Authority of 46 members is supported.


(iii) The apportionment of County Council seats on the National Park Authority should be based upon the geographical area and population within the National Park.


(ii) Issue 3 (A Role in Land Management)


(i) Land management generally: the role of the management plan and its relationship to national, regional and park-wide issues should be defined by the Countryside Agency.


(ii) Farming and forestry; nature conservation; cultural heritage: the Agency's approach is supported.




(iii) Issue 4 (A Role in Visitor Management)


(i) A countryside management service: the creation of a countryside management service is supported, but only if it adds value to the existing provision of such services.


(ii) The transfer of ownership and management of County Council country parks and other recreational sites to the National Park Authority should only take place where there is a demonstrable need.


(iii) Access and rights of way: the Agency's preferred option (a) is rejected. The legal responsibility for rights of way should remain with the County Council, managed in partnership with the National Park Authority.


(iv) Tourism: the National Park Authority should take an active role in the promotion of the park to visitors in partnership with the local authorities and tourist boards.


(iv) Issue 5 (A National Park Management Plan)


(i) The National Park Management Plan is the umbrella document which embodies the vision and policies for the National Park and its importance should be reflected more strongly.


(v) Issue 6 (Working in Partnership)


(i) The Countryside Agency's approach is supported.


(vi) Issue 7 (Involving Local People)


(i) The Countryside Agency's approach is supported.


(vii) Draft Boundary

The draft boundary of the South Downs National Park as proposed by the Countryside Agency is supported, with the exception of the areas referred to in paragraphs 4.8 to 4.21 of the report.

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