ITEM 1

AT A MEETING of the ENVIRONMENT POLICY REVIEW COMMITTEE held on Wednesday 5 June 2002 at The Castle, Winchester.

PRESENT:

Councillors: Mrs P.M. Devereux (Chairman); Mrs P.G. Banks; F.J. Bright; Mrs E.M. Byrom; J.E. Coles; A.P. Collett; C.R.H. Davidovitz; Mrs P. Dickens; M.S. Geddes; Mrs K. Heron; T.G. Knight; P. Luffman; R.C. McIntosh; R.H. Price, JP; M.J. Roberts; Sir James J. Scott; K.P.J. Searle; J.K. West; Miss J. D. Wride

Also in attendance: Councillor K.B. Estlin

62. CHAIRMAN'S COMMUNICATIONS

(i) There would be an additional meeting of the Environment Policy Review Committee on Monday 15 July 2002, 10.00am at The Castle, Winchester. The main agenda item would be the consultation by the Countryside Agency on a South Downs National Park. The County Planning Officer would prepare a report for consideration by the Committee, followed by a decision by the Cabinet at its meeting on 22 July 2002.


(ii) Members would be receiving, within the next few days, a copy of the Minerals Issues Paper. A briefing seminar on the Review of the Plan would be held for Members in July, to which Portsmouth and Southampton Members would also be invited. A firm date would be confirmed as soon as possible.


(iii) Members should have received a letter from the Chairman of the Committee regarding local bus services. As stated, a report would be brought to the meeting of the Committee on 4 September 2002 and the meeting on 16 October 2002 would be given over solely to this important subject.


(iv) Following agreement at the County Council meeting on 16 May 2002, arrangements had been made for Policy Review Committee members to submit questions to the respective Executive Member about business within the Executive Member's portfolio. Accordingly, a question to the Executive Member for Environment had been received and this item would be dealt with following the confirmation of the Minutes.

63. MINUTES

The Minutes of the meeting held on 17 April 2002 (Item 1 in the Minute Book) were confirmed by the Committee and signed by the Chairman as a correct record.

Arising thereon:

41(i) Passenger Transport

Councillor M.J. Roberts put a question to Councillor K.B. Estlin, Executive Member for Environment, in respect of the recent Stagecoach Integrated Transport Conference. The Executive Member confirmed that he had been unable to attend the Conference but would respond to Councillor Roberts by letter in due course.

Councillor Mrs P. Dickens requested an update in respect of a meeting between Hampshire County Council and Winchester City Council to discuss local bus services. Councillor K.B. Estlin confirmed that he had met with the Leader of Winchester City Council on 1 May 2002. However following the Local Elections a new Leader had been appointed. A letter had been sent and a response was awaited.


44 Project Connaught

Councillor A.P. Collett requested an update in respect of this matter, however the County Planning Officer confirmed that there was nothing further to report at this time.


58 A Strategy for the Household Waste Recycling Centre Service

In respect of resolution 3, the County Surveyor confirmed that as the Committee's meeting on 16 October 2002 would be taken up solely with the topic of local bus services, an update report on this Strategy would be brought forward to the meeting on 4 September 2002.

Councillor A.P. Collett reported that it was likely that there would be a change made to the Liberal Democrat's membership of the Environment Policy Review Committee, which in turn would lead to a change in respect of the nominations given for the working party detailed in resolution 4. Confirmation would follow in due course.

64. MEMBERS' QUESTION TIME

Councillor K. B. Estlin, Executive Member for Environment answered a question from Councillor M.J. Roberts concerning local bus services.

65. HAMPSHIRE COUNTY STRCTURE PLAN POLICY H4 MONITORING PAPER

The Committee considered the report of the County Planning Officer (Item 2 in the Minute Book) concerning the issue of reserve housing provision in the County Structure Plan. A monitoring paper, prepared jointly by Hampshire County Council, Portsmouth City Council and Southampton City Council, had been published for consultation in April 2002. The County Planning Officer confirmed that the monitoring paper concluded that although there was not a need to release any of the reserve housing provision this year, release might be justified in the future. The outcome of urban capacity studies were still uncertain and there were outstanding issues in respect of one Major Development Area, with delays to the anticipated delivery dates being experienced with the remaining baseline MDAs.

During the ensuing discussion, Members' detailed questions were answered and in particular concern was raised about the ever increasing problem of a lack of affordable housing.


In respect of paragraph 4.1, the County Planning Officer confirmed that the three local councils that had responded during the consultation period were New Forest District Council, East Hampshire District Council and Fareham Borough Council.

RESOLVED:

That it be a RECOMMENDATION to the Executive Member for Environment that, subject to the views of the Strategic Planning Joint Advisory Panel, the conclusions in the monitoring paper be endorsed.

66. PORTSMOUTH CITY LOCAL PLAN: FIRST REVIEW - REVISED DEPOSIT DRAFT

The Committee considered the report of the County Planning Officer and County Surveyor (Item 3 in the Minute Book) making a recommendation to the Executive Member for Environment on any changes that had been made to the First Deposit Draft of the plan in response to the County Council's objections.

The County Planning Officer updated Members in respect of the County Council's objections since the report had been published. As a result, recommendations (i) and (iii) of the report were amended.

RESOLVED:

(i) the objection to the Policy LH3 of the First Deposit Plan on Minerals and Waste Local Plan be maintained;


(ii) no objection be made to the Portsmouth City Local Plan: First Review - Revised Deposit Draft;


(iii) the objections to Policy SP7 and NL1 raised at the time of the First Deposit Plan not be pursued.

67. SOUTH EAST ENGLAND REGIONAL TRANSPORT STRATEGY - CONSULTATION

The Committee considered the report of the County Surveyor and County Planning Officer (Item 4 in the Minute Book) examining the key issues of particular interest to Hampshire in respect of the draft Regional Transport Strategy (RTS). The County Surveyor reported that this was an important document and welcomed the opportunity for consultation prior to the launch for public consultation on 26 June 2002.

During the ensuing discussion, Members' detailed questions were answered. Particular concern was expressed in respect of the importance of reducing the need to travel. As a result, an amendment to recommendation (iii) of the report was noted.

RESOLVED:

That it be a RECOMMENTATION to the Executive Member for Environment that:

(i) the South East England Regional Assembly be thanked for the opportunity

to comment on the draft Regional Transport Strategy;


(ii) the draft Regional Transport Strategy be welcomed in principle and the South East England Regional Assembly congratulated on providing a much improved strategy document for Regional Planning Guidance;


(iii) the South East England Regional Assembly be informed of the comments and views expressed in section 5 of this report, with the addition that the Development and Management Objectives should include reducing the need to travel;


(iv) attention be drawn to Hampshire County Council's particular concerns regarding the possible introduction of charging for the use of roads in the South East Region, as highlighted in this report;


(v) the South East England Regional Assembly be informed of the County Council's disappointment that a mass transit proposal for the Blackwater Valley area is not included in the priority list of schemes for the Western Policy Area;


(vi) the County Council would welcome further dialogue with the South East England Regional Assembly to discuss in detail the range of issues raised in this report in order to agree a way forward; and


(vii) the County Surveyor and County Planning Officer, in consultation with the Executive Member as necessary, be authorised to make further representations to the South East England Regional Assembly as appropriate.

68. SAFETY FENCES AND PARAPETS ON BRIDGES OVER RAILWAYS

The Committee considered the report of the County Surveyor (Item 5 in the Minute Book) reviewing the provision of safety fences and parapets on bridges over railways as a result of reports published recently by the Highways Agency and the Health and Safety Commission following the Selby train crash. The County Surveyor highlighted that the report concentrated on County Council and Railtrack owned bridges over railways as well as other lengths of county highway adjacent to railways.

The County Surveyor assured Members that action was being taken and that the County Council was participating in the process of drawing up a national framework. However, the importance of adopting a balanced view was agreed by all.

RESOLVED:

That the proposed actions, as set out in paragraph 6 of the report, be supported.

69. ENVIRONMENT POLICY REVIEW COMMITTEE - FORWARD PLAN

The Committee considered the joint report of the Chief Executive, County Surveyor and County Planning Officer (Item 6 in the Minute Book) setting out issues which the Committee might wish to discuss as future meetings.

RESOLVED:

That the Committee's forward plan be noted.

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