Archived decisions
At a Meeting of Hampshire County Council held at The Castle, Winchester on Thursday, 21 February, 2002 at 11.00 a.m.
Chairman :
p Councillor A. W. Rice, TD
Vice-Chairman:
p Councillor P. R. C. Hutcheson
Councillors:
p Mrs S.E. Allbright
p D.G. Allen
p Mrs A.E. Bailey
Mrs. E.S.M. Barron
Mrs P.G. Banks
p R. J. Baulk
I.F.E. Beagley
P Carol Boulton
p F.J. Bright
p P.R. Brown
p J.V. Bryant
p Mrs. E.M. Byrom
p M.F. Cartwright
p K.G. Chapman
P P.J. Chegwyn
p J.E. Coles
p A.P. Collett
Rita Collins
p B.D. Dash
p C.R.H. Davidovitz
p G.W. Davies-Dear
p Mrs. P.M. Devereux
p Mrs. P. Dickens
p A.G. Dowden
p Dr. R.J. Ellis
p Capt. K.B. Estlin
p W.J. Filer
p Mrs. J.K. Frankum
p E.F. Gale, M.B.E.
p M.S. Geddes
p D. Gillett
p Mrs S.M. Glasspool, D.L.
p J.K. Glen
p B.T. Gurden
p Mrs. D.R. Harrison
p S.A. Hayes
p P.A. Heath
p Mrs. K. Heron
p Felicity Hindson, M.B.E.
p Mrs. P.G.E. Holden-Brown
p K. House
p Jo Kelly
p M.J. Kendal
p R.J. Kimber
p D.A. Kirk
p T.G. Knight
p Mrs C.A. Leversha
A.R. Ludlow
p P. Luffman
p P.K. Mason
p R.C. McIntosh
Mrs. A.M. McNair Scott
p Mrs. P.G. Peskett
p P.A. Pierce
p R.H. Price, J.P.
p Mrs. E.M.F. Randall
M.J. Roberts
p Sir James Scott
p K.P.J. Searle
p M.L. Sheehan
p Mrs. M.D. Snaith
p Mrs. V. Steel
p J.W. Stocks
p T.K. Thornber, C.B.E.
p J. Waddington
Dr. J.G.L. Wall
P J.K. West
p Mrs P.A. West
p W.H. Wheeler
P M.J. Woodhall
p Jenny Wride
p D.F. Wright
50 MINUTES
The Minutes of the meetings of the County Council held on 13 December, 2001 and 30 January, 2002 were confirmed and signed by the Chairman.
51 CHAIRMAN'S COMMUNICATIONS
On the death of HRH Princess Margaret the Chairman had sent a letter of condolence to HM The Queen expressing sympathy on behalf of the Council, staff and the residents of Hampshire. Her Private Secretary had written to thank all those who had sent messages of comfort at this time of great sadness.
A collection at the end of the staff carol concert in December, 2001 had raised £330 which the Chairman had presented to representatives of the Magpie Cancer Campaign for a new cancer centre at the Royal Hampshire County Hospital, Winchester.
The Chairman also reported that he had been advised by the Bishop of Winchester of the appointment of The Venerable Trevor Willmott as Suffragan Bishop of Basingstoke. He would be consecrated at Southwark Cathedral in early May and a service of welcome and commissioning was planned to take place on 11 May at 5.00 p.m. in Winchester Cathedral.
The Chairman was delighted to report to the Council that Andrew Seber, County Education Officer, had been elected Vice-President of the Society of Education Officers. He would automatically become President next year. The Council applauded Mr. Seber's appointment.
The Chairman was pleased to have attended an award presentation by the Lord Lieutenant of Hampshire to Fish Guidance Systems Limited, a company based in Fawley which had provided a solution to a worldwide environmental problem - the needless destruction of the large quantities of fish that are accidentally drawn into power station water intakes. The company had developed intense underwater sound fields in front of the intakes to deter fish from entering. Millions of fish every year were being saved by the technology which had now been installed on more than 60 intakes across Europe. The company had no competitors in its field and the United States of America was a potential customer .
Lastly the Chairman reminded the Council that there was business held over from the December, 2001 meeting, a number of Part II reports which would normally be dealt with after the Leader's report. Given the importance of the decisions to be made by the Council, however, it was
ORDERED:
That Standing Order 12 be suspended to the extent that all the Part II items before the Council be considered under Agenda item 9.
52 LEADER'S REPORT
The Leader of the Council reported that expressions of interest were being invited from the private sector by advertising the South Hampshire Rapid Transit 1 procurement opportunity in the Official Journal of the European Community. Candidates would be advised of the potential for wider, future opportunities. Applications would be evaluated against criteria governing eligibility, economic, financial and technical qualities. The four most suitable organisations or consortia would be invited to bid for the concession.
In the wider context of strategic transport in South East Hampshire, the Leader drew to the attention of the Council the Executive Member for Environment's recommendation to the meeting for the renaming of the Southampton Area Transportation Strategy Panel and the South East Hampshire Transportation Strategy Panel together with new terms of reference to reflect the County Council's needs in implementing its own capital programme. He emphasised that the Council was committed to retaining close links with Portsmouth and Southampton and the district councils in relation to the County Council's strategic transportation responsibilities and the need for integrated transport management for the area to involve all those with responsibility for delivering transport services. Detailed arrangements as to how best to achieve this were being developed including joint working arrangements and terms of reference. The County Council was committed to developing effective transportation strategies and policies for the benefit of not only South East Hampshire but the community at large. Whilst there were many issues to be taken into account he was confident that, when Members had revisited the constitution as part of the review he had announced at the December meeting, the Council would be asked to agree arrangements which would ensure cohesive partnership on strategic transport issues in the area and strong community leadership.
The Leader was pleased to report that, in partnership with the Southern Tourist Board, the County Council had secured a grant of £268,000 from the South East England Development Agency (SEEDA)for use over the next 18 months to support the marketing and implementation of the Visit service across Hampshire and South East England. SEEDA saw this as a major project for "wiring up" the tourism industry across the region. Being a powerful integrated on-line tourism, marketing and management system, Visit would deliver major improvements in the quality and accessibility of information to both tourists and local residents in line with Government strategy and SEEDA policy; and improved marketing and sales of local tourism, leisure and cultural services so increasing the economic benefits of tourism for Hampshire and the South East. There would now be a major marketing initiative for the project which would include continuing publicity campaigns at each new destination local authority implementing Visit. It was a leading system of its kind and would be used as one of the English Tourism Council's blueprints for other parts of the country as a feeder to national systems. In turn, this presented the County Council with a number of very real possibilities for additional national funding to support the County Council's work.
In conclusion, the Leader advised the Council that, that day, the Countryside Agency had placed on deposit the New Forest National Park (Designation) Order 2002. The Order had been made under the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act 1949 and designated as a national park 670 sq km of land in Hampshire primarily, Wiltshire and Dorset. The Order was on deposit for a month during which time representations and objections could be made to the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. Any objections would trigger a public inquiry. The Cabinet was to consider the matter at its March meeting.
53 QUESTIONS UNDER STANDING ORDER 20(b)(i)
Councillor T.K. Thornber CBE, Leader of the Council, answered a question from Councillor M.J. Kendal concerning capital spending and financing.
Councillor Felicity Hindson MBE, Executive Member for Social Care, answered a question from Councillor Mrs. P.A. West concerning liaison with the district councils in pursuance of the County Council's policy of supporting people in the community.
54 SOUTH EAST ENGLAND REGIONAL ASSEMBLY
Following the appointment of the Leader of the Council, Councillor T.K. Thornber CBE, as a member of the South East England Development Agency it was
ORDERED:
That Councillor D.A. Kirk (deputy Councillor P.R.C. Hutcheson) be appointed the County Council's representative on the South East England Regional Assembly.
55 REPORT OF THE CABINET/LEADER - PART I
Part I of the report of the Cabinet/Leader was presented and by agreement the revenue and capital budgets were considered together in a single debate.
56 REVENUE BUDGET AND PRECEPT 2002/03
Councillor T.K. Thornber CBE presented the proposed revenue budget for 2002/03.
Councillor A.P. Collett, seconded by Councillor B.D. Dash, proposed that the Revenue Budget recommendations (i) - (v) be amended to read as follows:-
"a) that the following resources be made available: £'000
· reduce additional balances from £3.6m to £3.2m |
400 |
· delete extra edition of Hampshire Now |
95 |
· savings on corporate communications |
500 |
· efficiency savings of 1% on supplies and services and energy, excluding schools and purchased services |
400 |
· assume a vacancy factor of 0.75% on staffing costs, excluding teachers, other school staff and front-line staff in Social Services |
750 |
· provide for (non-teaching) pay increases at 3% rather than 3.5% |
1,100 |
· provide for interest rates to increase to 4.5% rather than 5% |
600 |
· reduction of revenue contributions to capital for one year only for additional capital receipts (known £1m, anticipated £1m) |
2,000 ------- |
· Total reduction in budget |
5,845 ------- |
b) that the following additions be made: £'000
· increase bus subsidy budget to prevent a reduction in the overall level of the subsidised network |
400 |
· use all rural bus subsidy grant for new rural bus services |
262 |
· additional basic support for care in the home services |
600 |
· no increase in meals on wheels charges |
27 |
· increase foster care rates to NFCA rates to encourage the recruitment and retention of foster carers |
390 |
· bring forward county-wide provision of behaviour intervention teams to support schools |
386 |
· further youth service provision |
200 |
· targeted improvements to library service (increased opening hours, improved book stocks and minor repairs to buildings) |
200 |
· ensure no cuts in Recreation and Heritage services by fully funding the revenue lost due to foot and mouth disease |
180 |
· total addition to budget |
------- 2,645 ------- |
c) That it be an amendment to recommendation (ii) that the total budget requirement for the general expenses of the County Council for the year beginning 1 April 2002 be £917.314m.
d) That it be an amendment to recommendation (iii) that the County Council's basic council tax for the year beginning 1 April 2002 be £727.83.
e) That it be an amendment to recommendation (iv) that the County Council's council tax for the year beginning 1 April 2002 for properties in each tax band be:
£ | |
Band A |
485.22 |
Band B |
566.09 |
Band C |
646.96 |
Band D |
727.83 |
Band E |
889.57 |
Band F |
1,051.31 |
Band G |
1,213.05 |
Band H |
1,455.66 |
f) That it be an amendment to recommendation (v) that precepts be issued totalling £343,230,777.40 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 taxbase of each billing authority's area as determined by them and as set out below:
Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council |
57,151.00 |
East Hampshire District Council |
45,030.34 |
Eastleigh Borough Council |
41,579.60 |
Fareham Borough Council |
40,729.00 |
Gosport Borough Council |
24,904.70 |
Hart District Council |
34,923.80 |
Havant Borough Council |
41,951.00 |
New Forest District Council |
68,577.70 |
Rushmoor Borough Council |
28,876.36 |
Test Valley Borough Council |
43,627.00 |
Winchester City Council |
44,230.47 |
following amendment to Revenue Budget recommendation (i):
"(a) that the following additions be made to the budget
Education |
£'000 |
£'000 |
· £500,000 for primary schools' budgets and £500,000 for secondary schools' budgets to supplement the Government grant of nearly £2m for teacher recruitment and retention, and to provide for additional support staff and extra administration staff |
1,000 |
|
· additional resources for repairs and maintenance towards health and safety improvements and the requirements of the Disability Discrimination Act in schools |
250 |
|
· extra provision for special educational needs to enable better use of improved diagnostic information now becoming available |
200 ----- |
|
Total increase for Education |
1,450 | |
Environment |
||
· extra resources to support all existing bus subsidy commitments |
400 | |
Social Services |
||
· sufficient resources to raise foster care payments from 90% to 100% of the national foster care rate |
390 |
|
· increase the resources for low level care support provided in the transport schemes, cleaning services and day centres run by voluntary organisations to enable older persons to stay longer in their own homes |
600 |
|
· reduction in charges for meals on wheels to 10p below the 2001/02 level |
60 |
|
· extra staffing in residential homes for the frail elderly and for children with challenging behaviour, and resources to provide higher standards in training and better staff qualifications |
750 ----- |
|
Total addition for Social Services |
1,800 ------- | |
Total addition to budget |
3,650 ------- |
The resources for these additions will be found by:
· reducing revenue contributions to capital by £1m per annum by applying the additional £4m of capital receipts identified in the capital programme to finance existing capital spending rather than being set aside for allocation to new capital schemes |
1,000 |
|
· allocating £250,000 of the £1m contingency sum for repair and maintenance of buildings which was first provided in the 2000/01 budget to provide some flexibility in making decisions about relative priorities |
250 |
|
· utilising £600,000 of the accumulated reserves of £1m on centrally managed business units |
600 |
|
· increasing balances by £3m instead of £3.6m |
600 |
|
· deferring any contribution to the reserve for job evaluation transitional costs until 2003/04 |
900 |
|
· assuming that interest rates will only increase to 4.75% not 5% during 2002/03 |
300 ----- |
|
· total resources found |
3,650 ------- |
and that Capital Programme recommendation (ii) be amended by the deletion of £4m of new capital starts yet to be allocated."
Councillor K. House, seconded by Councillor Mrs. P. Dickens, proposed a further amendment to Revenue Budget recommendation (i) with particular reference to bus subsidy as follows:
"That it be an amendment to recommendation (i) seeking approval for the revenue budget for 2002/03:
£'000 | ||
(a) |
to increase the budget for bus subsidy to prevent a reduction in the overall level of the subsidised network |
400 |
(b) |
to reduce additional balances from £3.6m to £3.2m |
-400 |
-------"
-
-------
The amendments proposed by Councillors A. P. Collett, and W. H. Wheeler were each put to the vote and lost.
On the requisition of more than 10 members the voting on the amendment proposed by Councillor K. House was recorded to show how each member present and voting gave their vote. The result of the recorded vote was as follows:
Members supporting the amendment proposed by Councillor K. House:
Councillors Mrs. A. E. Bailey, P. J. Chegwyn, J. E. Coles, A. P. Collett, B. D. Dash,
G. W. Davies-Dear, Mrs. P. Dickens, A. G. Dowden, Mrs. J. K. Frankum,
Mrs. P. G. E. Holden-Brown, K. House, Jo Kelly, P. Luffman, P. K. Mason,
Mrs. P. G. Peskett, R. H. Price, Mrs. V. Steel, W. H. Wheeler.
Total: 18
Members opposing the amendment proposed by Councillor K. House:
Councillors Mrs. S. E. Allbright, D. G. Allen, R. J. Baulk, F. J. Bright, J. V. Bryant, Mrs. E. M. Byrom, M. F. Cartwright, K. G. Chapman, C. R. H. Davidovitz,
Mrs. P. M. Devereux, R. J. Ellis, K. B. Estlin, W. J. Filer, E. F. Gale, M. S. Geddes,
D. Gillett, Mrs. S. M. Glasspool, J. K. Glen, Mrs. D. R. Harrison, S. A. Hayes,
P. A. Heath, Mrs. K. Heron, Felicity Hindson, P. R. C. Hutcheson, M. J. Kendal,
R. J. Kimber, D. A. Kirk, T. G. Knight, Mrs. C. A. Leversha, R. C. McIntosh,
P. A. Pierce, Mrs. E. M. F. Randall, Sir James Scott, M. L. Sheehan, Mrs. M. D. Snaith,
J. W. Stocks, T. K. Thornber, J. Waddington, J. K. West, Mrs. P. A. West,
M. J. Woodhall, Jenny Wride.
Total: 42
Councillor A. W. Rice abstained.
Accordingly, the amendment proposed by Councillor K. House was lost.
The substantive proposal by Councillor T. K. Thornber, CBE was put to the
vote and was carried.
ORDERED:
(i) That the revenue budget for 2002/03 as set out in the attached draft budget book, be approved.
(ii) That the total budget requirement for the general expenses of the County Council for the year beginning 1 April 2002 be £920.514m.
(iii) That the County Council's basic council tax for the year beginning 1 April 2002 be £734.67.
(iv) That the County Council's council tax for the year beginning 1 April 2002 for properties in each tax band be:
£
Band A 489.78
Band B 571.41
Band C 653.04
Band D 734.67
Band E 897.93
Band F 1,061.19
Band G 1,224.45
Band H 1,469.34
(v) That precepts be issued totalling £346,456,391.23 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 57,151.00
East Hampshire District Council 45,030.34
Eastleigh Borough Council 41,579.60
Fareham Borough Council 40,729.00
Gosport Borough Council 24,904.70
Hart District Council 34,923.80
Havant Borough Council 41,951.00
New Forest District Council 68,577.70
Rushmoor Borough Council 28,876.36
Test Valley Borough Council 43,627.00
Winchester City Council 44,230.47
(vi) That an overall borrowing limit of £360m be set for the year ending 31 March
2003.
(vii) That a short-term borrowing limit of £240m be set for the year ending 31 March
2003.
(viii) That the proportion of interest payable at rates which can be varied by the lender or by external factors be set at 10% of the interest payable for the year ending 31 March 2003.
(ix) That the County Treasurer be authorised to carry out borrowing transactions
within the limits set out in recommendations (vi), (vii) and (viii) above.
57. CAPITAL PROGRAMME 2002/03 - 2005/06
The proposed Capital Programme was presented by Councillor T. K. Thornber,
CBE, Leader of the Council.
ORDERED:
(i) That the capital programme for 2002/03 be approved as set out in the attached
draft capital programme subject to the conditions set out in Annex 1 of the report.
(ii) That the capital programmes for 2003/04 to 2005/06 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).
(iii) 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 credit approvals.
(iv) That approval 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 2002/03 to 2005/06 provided that the relevant scheme has been the subject of a feasibility or design project appraisal approved by the relevant Executive Member.
(b) Up to the amount included in the 2002/03 programme in respect of
advance and advantageous land purchases.
(v) That the carrying out of feasibility studies for potential "in/out" schemes be approved,
the cost to be met from within approved revenue budgets.
(vi) That the Executive Member for Policy and Resources be authorised to approve requests from Executive Members to undertake any design work associated with potential "in/out" schemes, provided that such costs as may fall on the County Council are met from within the relevant Executive Member's capital programme limits.
58 STANDARDS COMMITTEE AND MONITORING OFFICER - PART I -
APPOINTMENT OF INDEPENDENT MEMBERS TO STANDARDS COMMITTEE AND INDEPENDENT REMUNERATION PANEL
Part I of the report of the Standards Committee and the Monitoring Officer was presented by Councillor P. A. Pierce, Chairman of the Standards Committee.
ORDERED:
(i) That Mr. John Chester and Doctor Barbara Spender be appointed as the two
independent Members to serve on the County Council's Standards Committee for a period of 4 years expiring in February 2006; and that Mr. Randolph Coldham be identified as the first reserve;
(ii) That Mr. Geoff Boutle and Mr. Frederick Quick be appointed to serve on the Independent Remuneration Panel for a period of 4 years expiring in February
2006 and that Doctor Elizabeth Waterman-Roberts be identified as the first reserve;
(iii) That Professor Malcolm Grant be appointed Chairman of the Independent Remuneration Panel for a period of 4 years expiring in February 2006;
(iv) That the existing members allowances scheme be continued until such time as the Independent Remuneration Panel has made its recommendations and any changes have been approved by the County Council, and that any such changes be backdated as appropriate.
59 EXECUTIVE MEMBER FOR ENVIRONMENT - PART I - SOUTHAMPTON AREA TRANSPORTATION STRATEGY PANEL AND SOUTH EAST HAMPSHIRE
TRANSPORTATION STRATEGY PANEL - REVISED TERMS OF REFERENCE
AND CHANGE OF NAME
Councillor K. B. Estlin, Executive Member for Environment, presented Part I of his report.
ORDERED:
(i) That the terms of reference of the Southampton Area Transportation Strategy Panel and
the South East Hampshire Transportation Strategy Panel be revised as shown in the
appendices to the report of the Executive Member for Environment;
(ii) That the panels be renamed the South West Hampshire Transportation Panel and the South East Hampshire Transportation Panel respectively in order to reflect the revised terms of reference and that Part 1: Chapter 10 of the Constitution be revised accordingly under the heading "Local Transportation Panels".
60 EXECUTIVE MEMBER FOR RECREATION AND HERITAGE - PART I
Councillor J. Waddington, Executive Member for Recreation and Heritage, presented Part 1 of his report.
61 ANNUAL LIBRARY PLAN - SEPTEMBER 2001
ORDERED:
That the Annual Library Plan - September 2001 be submitted to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport.
62 MUSEUMS ACQUISITION AND DISPOSAL POLICY 2002/07
ORDERED:
That the Collecting (Acquisitions and Disposal) Policy for the Museums Service 2002/07
be adopted.
63 HAMPSHIRE POLICE AUTHORITY
Councillor S. A. Hayes, the nominated spokesman for the Hampshire Police
Authority presented the report of the Authority. No questions had been submitted pursuant to Standing Order 20 (d).
64 HAMPSHIRE FIRE AND RESCUE AUTHORITY
Councillor M. F. Cartwright, Chairman of the Hampshire Fire and Rescue Authority, presented the report of the Authority. No questions had been submitted pursuant to Standing Order 20 (e).
65 MATTERS FOR INFORMATION OR WITHIN DELEGATED POWERS
The Part II reports of the following comprising matters for information or dealt with within delegated powers were presented, received and adopted:
The Cabinet/Leader
Executive Member for Education
Executive Member for Environment
Executive Member for Recreation and Heritage
Executive Member for Social Care
Pension Fund Panel
Regulatory Committee
The meeting closed at 6.10 p.m.
5aM30202