Archived decisions

    REPORT OF THE

    RECREATION AND HERITAGE POLICY REVIEW COMMITTEE

    1. The Recreation and Heritage Policy Review Committee has adopted a pro-active approach in respect of its three main areas of work namely policy development, scrutiny and best value.

2. The Committee has advised the Executive Member for Recreation and Heritage on a number of key policy development areas as follows:-

    (i) The annual library plan. The plan is submitted on an annual basis to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport and covers such matters as service delivery, the review of the previous year, statement of objectives, performance appraisal and medium term strategy.

    (ii) The museums strategy. The strategy summarises how and why the County Council supports museums and shows the contribution of museums to a wider cultural strategy for Hampshire. It helps decision making in the short-term and supports best value reviews.

    (iii) The recreational cycling strategy for the period 2002-2006. The strategy has analysed what has been delivered to date against the first strategy published in 1997 and has proposed how implementation progress can be improved, both in terms of network development and innovative marketing.

    (iv) The development of a strategic approach to the delivery and promotion of wider access to the Hampshire countryside. This approval stems from the running by the County Council of a national access pilot project (the IADP) which is developing innovative approaches for access to the countryside and the new measures set out in the Countryside and Rights of Way Act to improve access to the countryside.

    (v) The objectives and management of the Recreation and Heritage Department. The objectives include a strong marketing approach to the delivery of services, the progressive stewardship of the rich heritage of the County's cultural, recreational and countryside assets and the development of a strong commitment to high quality services. Changes which have been made to the management of the Department include combined management of the Museums Service and the Record Office and the creation of new posts of Head of Business, Development, Marketing Manager and External Funding Manager.

    (vi) A strategic plan for the outdoor service. The aim of the plan, which will cover the period 2002/03 to 2004/05, will be to assist members, staff and partner organisations to focus on the priorities for the service during this period.

    3. Matters which will be considered by the Committee over the next few months will be the draft arts strategy, the museums acquisition and disposal policy, the possible creation of national parks for the South Downs and the New Forest and the establishment of a local access forum for the County.

    4. As part of their information gathering programme, the Committee has visited the Welsh Mountain Centres to witness the facilities which are available for Hampshire school children and in addition a visit to the Beaulieu and Tile Barn Outdoor Centres in the New Forest is planned.

    5. Part of the workload of the Committee has been in the area of Best Value and so far reviews of the Transport Management Section, Registration Services and Library Services, have been considered. In the case of the former it was agreed that Hampshire Transport Management should continue to manage and maintain the County Council's fleet of vehicles and plant whilst in the case of the registration service restructuring to a single registration district together with rationalisation of offices and the closure of specific offices was supported. An improvement plan for the Library Service was supported in the light of the Audit Commission inspection of the Library Service Best Value review.

    6. The Committee will continue to exercise its responsibilities actively and positively with the aim of providing a wide range of facilities and activities which will improve the quality of life of the people of Hampshire.



    John V. Bryant
    Chairman

    4IR270802