AT A MEETING of the POLICY AND RESOURCES POLICY REVIEW COMMITTEE of the COUNTY COUNCIL held at The Castle, Winchester on 24 January 2002.

PRESENT:

Councillors: S.A. Hayes (Chairman); Mrs. E.S.M. Barron; I.F.E. Beagley; J.V. Bryant; M.F. Cartwright; A.P. Collett; B.D. Dash; C. Davidovitz; Mrs. P.M. Devereux; R.J. Ellis; W.J. Filer; J.K. Glen; P.A. Heath; P.R.C. Hutcheson; M.J. Kendal; P. Luffman; P.A. Pierce; M.J. Roberts; M.L. Sheehan; Mrs. M.D. Snaith; J.G.L. Wall; W.H. Wheeler.

14. MINUTES

The Minutes of the meeting held on 14 December 2001 were confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

15. BEST VALUE CROSS CUTTING REVIEW OF ECONOMIC PROSPERITY

The Committee considered the report of the Chief Executive and Head of Economic Development (Item 2(i) in the Minute Book) on this cross cutting review.

Members commended the work of the Economic Prosperity Review Team and highlighted the importance of strengthening the County Council's role in promoting and coordinating activities which support economic prosperity in Hampshire both across all departments of the Council and in relation to Hampshire's district councils and other interested parties.

RESOLVED:

(i) That the proposals for developing a Business Plan for Hampshire be incorporated in the Improvement Plan, ensuring that they are fully integrated with other corporate planning processes.


(ii) That the Improvement Plan be developed around Option 3 as set out in the report, maintaining a mix of service provision, in consultation with other stakeholders.

16. MONITORING THE IMPLEMENTATION OF BEST VALUE IMPROVEMENT PLAN - LEGAL SERVICES

The Committee considered the report of the Chief Executive (Item 2(ii) in the Minute Book) on the monitoring of the improvement plan for legal services.

RESOLVED:

That the Monitoring Plan be approved and the progress made reported in the Best Value Performance Plan for 2002.

17. BEST VALUE CROSS CUTTING REVIEW OF CATERING SERVICES

The Committee considered the report of the Chief Executive and Director of Property, Business and Regulatory Services (Item 2(iii) in the Minute Book) on this cross-cutting outcome report.

During discussion a Member drew attention to the Audit Commission's data relating to the prices charged for meals and the percentage uptake of school meals across all County Councils. The Director of Property, Business and Regulatory Services undertook to investigate the very high levels of take-up reported by some authorities as part of the overall work included in the Improvement Plan.

RESOLVED:

(i) That the outcome report for the cross-cutting Best Value review of Catering be agreed, noting the specific improvement area identified:


· establishment of a new County Catering Unit (CCU) from within existing resources, which will maximise opportunities for improvements identified by the review, in respect of people, premises and equipment and purchasing.


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


(iii) That a copy of the summary referred to in (ii) above and the Improvement Plan be provided to the Executive Member for Policy and Resources to effect implementation of the review outcomes.


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

18. REVENUE BUDGET 2002/03

The Committee considered the report of the Officers (Item 4(i) in the Minute Book) on the proposed Policy and Resources revenue budget for the coming financial year.

In discussion a number of individual questions were raised and the Committee drew particular attention to Members' IT and the need to ensure a sufficient sum is set aside for this purpose. Also, they noted with regret that the County Council would no longer be delivering the Employee Support Line counselling services to Portsmouth City Council and queried whether the possibility of supplying those services to other local authorities in Hampshire had been considered.

In conclusion the Committee felt it was important in future years that they be consulted on the County Council's corporate budget. Accordingly, it was



RESOLVED:

(i) That the Executive Member for Policy and Resources be advised to:


(a) approve for submission to the Cabinet:


· the base budget for 2002/03 (as set out in Appendix 1 and Annexes 1 to 4)


· the efficiency improvements (as set out in Appendix 2)


· the proposals to increase charges (as set out in Appendix 3)


· The budget for 2002/03 and the revised budget for 2001/02 (as set out in Appendix 4)


· the summarised trading accounts for business units (as set out in Appendix 5)


(b) refer to the Cabinet for further consideration the budget proposals arising from the comments made by Chief Officers in paragraph 5 of the report.


(ii) That the Policy and Resources Policy Review Committee considers that it would be advantageous to the decision making quality and to the democratic accountability of the Council for the corporate budget to be presented to this Policy Review Committee for comment in future years.

19. CAPITAL PROGRAMME 2002/03 TO 2005/06

The Committee considered the report of the County Treasurer (Item 4(ii) in the Minute Book) on the proposed future capital programme.

RESOLVED:

That the Executive Member for Policy and Resources be advised to approve:-

(i) The capital programme for 2002/03 to 2005/06 as set out in Appendix 1 for submission to the Cabinet.


(ii) That priority be given to increased resources for capital repairs of non-education properties in considering the scope for increasing the services locally resourced programme guideline.

20. COUNTY COUNCIL'S FORWARD PLAN - FEBRUARY 2002 - MAY 2002 IN RELATION TO LEADER'S KEY DECISIONS

The Committee considered the report of the Chief Executive (Item 5 in the Minute Book) on the County Council's Forward Plan in relation to Leader's key decisions.



In discussion the Committee asked to be given the opportunity to comment upon a number of the forthcoming Leader's key decision items and to also receive reports on two new matters.

Accordingly, it was

RESOLVED:

(i) That the report be noted.


(ii) That this Committee be given an opportunity comment upon the following key decisions, prior to consideration by the Leader:-

· North Popley redevelopment including John Hunt of Everest Community School - Relocation (This item also to be referred to the Education Policy Review Committee. · Vehicular Access over Common Land	· County Farms Review · Policy on provision of telecommunication masts on County Council land (This item to include current district council initiatives)
· Review of Gypsy and Traveller Sites in Hampshire	· Project Integra Board Business Plan (Board) Project Integra Business Plan (County Council).
· Interim Household Waste Recycling Centre Strategy	· Interim Municipal Waste Management Strategy.

(iii) That the Chief Executive arrange for future reports to be prepared for this Policy Review Committee on the Local Government White Paper, the Department of Health Overview and Scrutiny Consultation Paper and on the Best Value Performance Plan.

21. PROPOSALS TO IMPROVE THE PERFORMANCE OF THE HEALTH SERVICE IN NORTH AND MID HAMPSHIRE

Pursuant to Minute 12 of the last meeting, the Committee considered a report of the Director of Social Services (Item 3 in the Minute Book) about proposals to improve the performance of the Health Service in North and Mid Hampshire. A briefing note in response to the request from the County Council for further information appears as Item 3(i) in the Minute Book.

The Committee welcomed to the meeting Councillors Felicity Hindson and M.J. Woodhall, Terry Butler and John Clifton, the Director and Deputy Director respectively of Social Services, Gareth Cruddace, Chief Executive of the Health Authority and Linda Bannister, Chairman of Winchester and Central Hampshire Community Health Council.



During a full discussion a number of points and concerns were raised by the Committee about the health service proposals and these are summarised as an appendix to these Minutes. It was noted that the matter was to be considered by Cabinet on 28 January 2002 and that the Committee's comments would be presented by the Director of Social Services to that meeting.

RESOLVED:

That the Cabinet agree the formal response of the County Council to the proposals to improve the performance of the Health Service in North and Mid Hampshire, taking into account the issues referred to in the Appendix to these Minutes.

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APPENDIX TO MINUTES

Proposals To Improve The Health Service In North And Mid-Hampshire

The following note summarises the presentation by Gareth Cruddace, Chief Executive of the Health Authority and main points and concerns raised by the Policy and Resources Policy Review Committee on 24 January 2002 together with the comments of the Director of Social Services on the issues raised.

1.1 Local Issues

There was a concern at the loss of beds in the Bordon area and the re-provision of eight elderly and mentally infirm beds. Public transport from Bordon to Basingstoke was seen as difficult which would be a hardship for residents who do not have access to a car.

Plan B: Gareth Cruddace outlined an alternative set of proposals that were being developed in respect of the Chase Hospital, Bordon. These essentially would see the development of the twenty-four beds due for closure as twelve intermediate-care beds and twelve interim and long-term care beds which would be reclassified as nursing home provision. Although there was a capital bid in to the NHS to achieve this, the short-term revenue implications of this development particularly on the Social Services purchasing budget had not been addressed. If the capital bid is successful, then it is likely the Health Authority will extend the consultation period to obtain views on this second plan.

1.2 Orthodontic Services

The main concern of the Committee was the travel involved in patients going to Guildford Hospital. It was pointed out that children in particular needed regular consultations for the adjustment of the treatment process which could be expensive and time consuming. It was noted that children requiring high level orthodontic services could suffer psychological damage if this treatment were not sustained. Mr. Cruddace was asked to consider the possibility of the service being provided in Winchester for some residents of north and mid Hampshire for whom that journey might be easier.

1.3 General Points

It was noted that the £500,000 saving proposed in this consultation exercise was part of a £7.5 million savings requirement. Mr. Cruddace noted that there were savings pressures on the other two Health Authorities of a not dissimilar amount. The Committee was concerned at the ability of the NHS to absorb this level of savings without service reduction. Members also noted with concern that the relatively small share of the NHS financial cake enjoyed by the people of north and mid Hampshire. The population was seen as relatively healthy and affluent and the distribution formula means that each person in north and mid Hampshire area is funded to 83% of the national average.

1.4 Working together

It was noted that the NHS and the County Council, including Transport, Planning and Education as well as Social Services, needed to work together to address critical issues of health and social care. In particular there was concern expressed at the low capacity in the nursing home market and the increasing price pressures from the volatile market setting. It was noted that the NHS and Social Services were working on not only the proposal to establish nursing home provision at the Chase Hospital site, but also to develop nursing home capacity within County Council run rest homes. In the long term, subject to NHS capital and a secure revenue stream there was the possibility of the County Council and the NHS collaborating in building nursing home capacity. However, the Committee also noted the difficulty in recruiting and training care staff of all descriptions across Hampshire.

1.5 Comments of the Director of Social Services

Collaboration with the NHS is clearly not an optional extra and joint work and joint projects will increase. The Plan B developed around Chase Hospital is to be welcomed in principle. There are concerns about the impact on Social Services revenue budgets if the SSD is expected to purchase all twenty-four beds. Further discussions need to take place with the NHS on this matter.

There seems to be scope for collaboration between the Strategic Health Authority and the County Planning and County Surveyor's Department over issues of transport in particular and planning in general.

The expertise of the Director of Property, Business and Regulatory Services will be essential as the County Council collaborates with the NHS on increasing the provision of nursing home care in the short term and looks to a longer term collaboration in this area.

2. CONCLUSION

Initiatives from Cash for Change are welcome developments. However, there does need to be long term revenue security to enable Health and Social Services to develop nursing home and other care capacity over the next three to five years. It is to be hoped that the current public spending review addresses this need to develop capacity.

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