Contact: Linda Tartaglia-Kershaw, ext 6815

1. Summary

1.1 The following decision is sought:

That approval be given to the Environmental Improvements and Regeneration of Older Urban Areas Capital Programme for 2002/03 as follows:

Environmental Improvements Programme:

Country Towns Initiative £250,000

Schools Improvements £30,000

Heathlands £30,000

Biodiversity £29,000

Landscape Strategy £23,000

Land Management £15,000

Regeneration of Older Urban Areas £932,000

2. Reason

2.1 Other than provision for non-principal roads capitalised maintenance, all the locally-resourced scheme money within the control of the Executive Member for Environment is allocated to the Environmental Improvements and Regeneration of Older Urban Areas (ROUA) programmes. The capital budget for 2002/03 totals £377,000 for Environmental Improvements. The allocation for ROUA is £932,000. The proposed distribution of funds across various expenditure headings is set out for approval.

3. Other Options Considered and Rejected

3.1 Variations to the allocations between the different budget headings, but rejected in order to maintain a balance between competing interests.

4. Conflicts of Interest Declared by the Decision Maker or a Member or Officer consulted - Not applicable.

5. Dispensation granted by the Standards Committee - Not applicable.

6. Reason(s) for the Matter being dealt with if Urgent - Not applicable.

Approved by: Date:

Councillor K B Estlin

7. Introduction

7.1 This report sets out the Environmental Improvements and ROUA Programme capital budget for 2002/03 and makes recommendations as to how this budget should be allocated. The figures have been derived using cash limits for locally-resourced capital schemes set by the Executive Member for Policy and Resources on 12 December 2001.

8. The Environmental Improvements Programme 2002/03 - £377,000

8.1 The total provision for 2002/03 for the Country Towns Initiative has been enhanced by £200,000 as a result of decisions made by the Executive Member for Environment and Cabinet on 25 January 2002 and 28 January 2002 respectively.

8.2 The Landscape Strategy budget allocation was capitalised in November 2001 to respond to the need to implement the action plan through grant aiding capital schemes, in order to achieve the aims and objectives of the Strategy. The 2002/03 capital inflation allowance of £4,000 has been added to this heading.

8.3 The previous programme of improvements dedicated to Forests has been broadened to incorporate other wider land management issues and initiatives.

8.4 The following table sets out the proposed distribution of funds across various expenditure headings. Appendix 1 outlines the nature of each of the programme areas.

Recommended Programme Expenditure

2002/03 £'000

Country Towns Initiative 250

Schools Improvements 30

Heathlands 30

Biodiversity 29

Landscape Strategy 23

Land Management 15

Total 377

9. Country Towns Initiative

9.1 The largest element of the Environmental Improvements budget for 2002/03 is allocated to the Country Towns Initiative.

9.2 On 26 June 2000 a three year programme was approved as follows:

(i) Petersfield 2001/02;

(ii) Hythe town centre 2002/03; and

(iii) Romsey town centre 2003/04.

9.3 The proposed works at Petersfield link with and extend Local Transport Plan (LTP) objectives to achieve an integrated package of highways and environmental works, focusing on the High Street, Market Place and St Peter's Road. Funding for the overall works is from the approved LTP capital and maintenance funds, the Country Towns Initiative and East Hampshire District Council.

9.4 The approved scheme for 2002/03 is Hythe town centre. The scheme focuses on the promenade, which forms an under-utilised adjunct to the town centre and the ferry terminal area. The improvements to this important transport interchange are programmed in the LTP and will form an integrated package. New Forest District Council is expected to make a major contribution to the scheme and preliminary work has already commenced.

9.5 The enhanced budget for 2002/03 offers potential to re-visit the programme, which will be carried out urgently. It also will offer some potential to support opportunities identified as part of the Corporate Market Towns Programme, to make better use of towns' streets and spaces to promote commercial, social and recreational activities. The opportunity to make stronger links between environmental improvements and the commercial activities of a place will generate economic prosperity, reinforce local identity and promote a sense of local well-being.

10. Regeneration of Older Urban Areas Programme 2002/03 - £932,000

10.1 The programme has an approved two year plan for 2001/03. The 2002/03 programme consists of nine major projects and a sum of £40,000 ring-fenced for minor projects. The total budget available for the two year programme is £1,864,000. The agreed programme is set out in Appendix 2.

7085/LTK

APPENDIX 1

Environmental Improvements Programme

1. Country Towns Initiative

1.1 With the completion of this year's projects, this successful programme will have carried out 18 schemes in 15 historic rural towns and villages. Its objectives are, through environmental improvements, to enhance the towns' historic shopping cores, improve highway safety and, by so doing, reinforce their attractiveness and commercial viability. The initiative is seeking to work closely with the County Council's Corporate Market Towns Programme to promote the links between a high quality environment with economic and social vitality in towns' public streets and spaces.

2. School Improvements

2.1 This school improvements grant supports the improvement of the education estate for environmental and teaching purposes. This budget is available to support the Schools Landscape Project Programme and to implement initiatives generated by the schools themselves or by local communities.

3. Heathlands Project

3.1 This project safeguards and manages lowland Heathland, which is an important and diminishing resource for wildlife, historic landscape and recreation. This money forms part of the County Council's match funding towards the major Heritage Lottery Fund award for a five year programme.

4. Biodiversity

4.1 This budget enables the County Council to continue to give support to landowners for the management of important habitat, in particular restoration of coppiced woodlands.

5. Landscape Strategy

5.1 The County Council is committed to conserving and enhancing the environmental quality of Hampshire and has developed a Landscape Strategy for the county. The Strategy is a land management plan and provides the framework for other strategies and a focus for harnessing and directing environmental initiatives, studies and action on the ground. Funding contributions and grant aid from this budget to other groups, partners, organisations and individuals enable practical projects to be undertaken to achieve the aims of the Strategy.

6. Land Management

6.1 The County Council recognises that there is a growing awareness in society of the relationship between farming and the character and quality of the countryside, and particularly its connection with the wider rural economy and communities. The County Council, through its discussion paper `A Vision for the Countryside in the United Kingdom' has set out the way to address these complex relationships, through an integrated approach to land management and the production of land management plans for the county. This is supported at a national level with the duty now placed upon local authorities to produce management plans for Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AsONB) through the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000. The County Council has a commitment through partnership working with other local authorities to produce and implement land management plans for the four AsONB in Hampshire.

7. Regeneration of Older Urban Areas

7.1 This programme sets out to improve the quality of life for those living and working in the older urban areas of the county. The projects undertaken involve building on the sense of place and encouraging others to invest and sustain the towns and cities. ROUA has pursued a philosophy of securing projects that are long lasting, of high quality and appropriate to the location.

APPENDIX 2

Regeneration of Older Urban Areas Programme for 2001/03

Glebe Gardens Phase 2, Basingstoke *

The Hard, Lands End Road, Bursledon *

The Hard, Warsash

Stoke Road, Gosport *

St Michaels Church, Basingstoke *

Rumbridge Street, Old Totton *

North Camp, Farnborough *

Castle Street, Portchester

Town Centre, Yateley

North Street, Emsworth

London Road, Waterlooville

Totton Studies

Railway Partnership Projects

Havant Railway Station *

Fleet Railway Station *

Emsworth Railway Station

* major projects which are programmed to start in the 2002/03 financial year, excluding those that commenced in 2001/02