ITEM 1

AT A MEETING of the CABINET of HAMPSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL held at The Castle, Winchester on Monday, 25 February 2002.

PRESENT:

Councillors: T.K. Thornber, CBE (in the Chair); D.G. Allen; K.B. Estlin; Mrs. S.M. Glasspool, DL; Felicity Hindson, MBE; D.A. Kirk; J. Waddington; J.K. West; M.J. Woodhall.

Also in attendance: Councillors B.D. Dash and W.H. Wheeler

57 MINUTES

The Minutes of the meeting held on 11 February 2002 were confirmed as a correct record.

58 CHAIRMAN'S ANNOUNCEMENTS

There were no matters arising under this item.

59 IMPACT OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT WHITE PAPER

The Cabinet considered the report of the Chief Executive and the County Treasurer (Item 3 in the Minute Book) on the implications for the County Council of the Government White Paper "Strong Local Leadership - Quality Public Services".

The Cabinet expressed support for the basic thrust of the proposed response to the Government as contained in recommendation (2), of the main report with the exception of (iv) regarding the Government proposals to turn combined Fire Authorities into major precepting authorities, where it was considered that no comment should be made. However, the Cabinet felt that Appendix 2 should be strengthened to reflect the depth of the County Council's concern at the perceived failure of the proposals to provide Local Government with the autonomy it needed to deliver services efficiently, and at the inference that Central Government was better placed than individual local authorities to judge where particular pressures lie. The preparation of an Executive Summary was also regarded as desirable. It was also considered appropriate to draw attention to the problems caused by the lack of co-terminosity between County Council and Health Authority boundaries; to express concern at the Government's failure to link and synchronise the related Government papers recently published or about to be published, namely the Local Government White Paper, the Planning Green Paper and the White Paper on the Regions; and to suggest that the current council tax bands should be extended at the upper end of the scale to make the tax less regressive.

A copy of the substantive decision sheet is set out as Appendix 1 to these Minutes.

60 PLANNING: DELIVERING A FUNDAMENTAL CHANGE - THE PLANNING GREEN PAPER

The Cabinet considered the report of the County Planning Officer (Item 4 in the Minute Book) on the proposed response to the Planning Green Paper "Planning: Delivering a Fundamental Change". In amplifying the report, the County Planning Officer explained that with regard to paragraph 1.2 (ii) and (iii) on page 4, the form of the County Council's responses would be considered by the Cabinet at its meeting on 25 March.

Whilst accepting the need for a streamlining of the planning process, the Cabinet was greatly concerned at the diminution of the crucial role of County Councils, as expounded in the report. The Cabinet also felt strongly that two of the aims of the Green Paper, speeding up the planning process and enhancing public involvement in procedures, were incompatible.

Attention was drawn to the absence of any reference to County Councils retaining development control responsibilities for their own development. This power was regarded as crucial to the timely and effective delivery of the social infrastructure necessary to maintain the quality of life for local communities and the Cabinet requested that this be highlighted in the response on the Green Paper. The foregoing, together with other detailed amendments included to reflect points made in discussion, is incorporated in the substantive decision sheet, a copy of which is set out as Appendix 2 to these Minutes.

61 A SOUTH DOWNS NATIONAL PARK: PUBLIC CONSULTATION

The Cabinet considered the report of the County Planning Officer (Item 5 in the Minute Book) on the proposed response to the Countryside Agency paper "A South Downs National Park: Consultation Report". The County Planning Officer amplified the report and answered Member questions. The Cabinet adopted the recommendation contained in the report and a copy of the decision sheet is set out as Appendix 3 to these Minutes.

62 HAMPSHIRE PARKING STRATEGY AND STANDARDS

The Cabinet considered the report of the County Surveyor (Item 6 in the Minute Book) on the proposed adoption of the Hampshire Parking Strategy and Standards document as Supplementary Planning Guidance to the County Structure Plan 1996-2011 (Review). It was noted that the matter had been referred to Cabinet by the Executive Member for Environment following recommendation of approval to the adoption of the Strategy by the Environment Policy Review Committee and the Strategic Planning Joint Advisory Panel.

In amplifying the report, and in answer to specific Member questions, the County Surveyor confirmed that the maximum parking standards laid down by the Government in PPG's 3 and 13 gave little room for flexibility and that there was a Government right of call-in in individual cases should the guidelines not be adhered to; that the Standards related to new developments only and new development within existing sites and could not be applied retrospectively; and that the Government assumption of a maximum of 1.5 cars per dwelling was at variance with the present Hampshire average of nearly two cars per dwelling.

The Cabinet noted that the Government Office for the South East (GOSE) had confirmed that the Standards complied with Government guidelines, and adopted the recommendations. A copy of the decision sheet is set out as Appendix 4 to these Minutes.

63 SOUTH HAMPSHIRE ECONOMIC STRATEGY AND ACTION PLAN

The Cabinet considered the report of the Head of Economic Development (Item 7 in the Minute Book) on the proposed adoption of the South Hampshire Economic Strategy and Action Plan and the proposed participation by the County Council within an economic development forum for South West Hampshire and Southampton. The Cabinet adopted the recommendations and a copy of the decision sheet is set out as Appendix 5 to these Minutes.

64 HEALTH REVIEW AND SCRUTINY

The Cabinet considered the report of the Chief Executive and the Director of Social Services (Item 8 in the Minute Book) relating to the County Council's power of overview and scrutiny of Health and NHS Services, and proposals for a response to the Department of Health Consultation Paper "Local Authority Health Overview and Scrutiny".

A detailed discussion ensued. Whilst it was accepted that final proposals had yet to be drawn up and the Cabinet was merely being requested to agree broad principles at this stage, if was felt nonetheless that

· it might be necessary also to consider establishing standing review committees, geographically based, and with a core of County Council Members and


· reference to both thematic and operational matters should be added to the provisional list of topics for scrutiny/review contained in Appendix 2.


The Cabinet adopted the recommendations with one caveat; whilst the Leaders of the Minority Groups would be consulted on the County Council's detailed response to the Department of Health Consultation paper, the final version would be agreed by the officers in consultation with, solely, the Leader of the Council. A copy of the substantive decision sheet is set out as Appendix 6 to these Minutes.

65 COUNTY COUNCIL'S RESPONSE TO A CONSULTATION PAPER ON PARISH AND TOWN COUNCILS

The Cabinet considered the report of the County Treasurer (Item 9 in the Minute Book) on the proposed response to a consultation paper on how principal authorities should work closely in partnership with parish and town councils. The Cabinet adopted the recommendations contained in the report and a copy of the decision sheet is set out as Appendix 7 to these Minutes.

66 DISTRICT AUDITOR'S MANAGEMENT LETTER 2000/01

The Cabinet considered the report of the Chief Executive (Item 10 in the Minute Book) on the main findings of the District Auditor's management letter in relation to the audit of accounts for 2000/01. The Cabinet adopted the recommendations contained in the report and a copy of the decision sheet is set out as Appendix 8 to these Minutes.

67 EXCLUSION OF THE PRESS AND PUBLIC

RESOLVED:

That, by virtue of Paragraph 1 of Part I of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972, the press and public be excluded from the meeting for consideration of the following item.

68 RATIONALISING THE COUNTY COUNCIL'S STRATEGIC MANAGEMENT: THE ENVIRONMENT GROUPING

The Cabinet considered the confidential report of the Chief Executive (Item 12 in the Minute Book) on proposals for rationalising the County Council's strategic management with regard to the Environment Grouping. The Cabinet adopted the recommendations contained in the report with the exception of Recommendation 5 which it was felt was a separate issue. A copy of the substantive decision sheet is set out as Appendix 9 to these Minutes.

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