Archived decisions
At a Meeting of Hampshire County Council held at The Castle, Winchester on Thursday, 19 September, 2002 at 10.00 a.m.
Chairman :
p Councillor P.R.C. Hutcheson
Vice-Chairman:
p Councillor Mrs. M.D. Snaith
Councillors:
p Mrs S.E. Allbright
p D.G. Allen
Mrs A.E. Bailey
Mrs. E.S.M. Barron
p Mrs P.G. Banks
R. J. Baulk
p I.F.E. Beagley
p Carol Boulton
p F.J. Bright
p P.R. Brown
p J.V. Bryant
p Mrs. E.M. Byrom
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
G.W. Davies-Dear
p Mrs. P.M. Devereux
p Mrs. P. Dickens
A.G. Dowden
p Dr. R.J. Ellis
Capt. K.B. Estlin
p W.J. Filer
p Mrs. J.K. Frankum
p E.F. Gale, M.B.E.
p M.S. Geddes
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
Mrs. K. Heron
p Felicity Hindson, M.B.E.
p Mrs. P.G.E. Holden-Brown
K. House
p Jo Kelly
p M.J. Kendal
p R.J. Kimber
D.A. Kirk
p T.G. Knight
Mrs C.A. Leversha
p A.R. Ludlow
p P. Luffman
p P.K. Mason
p R.C. McIntosh
p Mrs. A.M. McNair Scott
p Mrs. P.G. Peskett
p P.A. Pierce
R.H. Price
Mrs. E.M.F. Randall
p A.W. Rice, T.D.
p M.J. Roberts
p Sir James Scott
p K.P.J. Searle
p M.L. Sheehan
Mrs. V. Steel
p J.W. Stocks
p T.K. Thornber, C.B.E.
p J. Waddington
p Dr. J.G.L. Wall
p J.K. West
Mrs P.A. West
p W.H. Wheeler
p M.J. Woodhall
p Jenny Wride
p D.F. Wright
108 MINUTES.
The Minutes of the meeting of the County Council held on 25 July 2002 were confirmed and signed by the Chairman.
109 DECLARATION OF INTERESTS.
No interests were declared by Members at this juncture.
110 DEPUTATIONS.
No deputations had been received.
111 CHAIRMAN'S COMMUNICATIONS.
The Chairman reported on engagements he had attended since the last meeting of the County Council. He made particular reference to the following:-
· His thanks, on behalf of the Council, to Christine Leaman on completion of 40 years' service with the County Council.
· Hosting a long service reception on 18 September for some 200 members of staff who had achieved 25 years' service with the County Council.
· On September 11, attendance with the Leader at a service in Winchester Cathedral to mark the tragic events in America a year previously.
· The Chairman, Leader and the Leaders of the two minority groups, on behalf of the Council, each thanked Marion Barron for her hard work and commitment to the Members' Secretariat and the County Council over many years. Members wished her all the very best for her retirement.
112 LEADER'S REPORT.
The Leader asked, and the Council agreed, to send best wishes to Councillor Dowden for a speedy recovery.
The Leader reported with pleasure the purchase by the County Council of the Sir George Staunton Country Park at Havant. Councillors Wheeler and Mrs Byrom were given the opportunity to place on record their appreciation also, on behalf of the local community.
It also gave the Leader great pleasure to report that Milestones, Hampshire's living history museum, had been declared the best museum of social and industrial history in the Museum of the Year awards judged by National Heritage. Milestones was also the runner up to the British Museum as the overall Museum of the Year.
For the information of the Council, the Leader outlined arrangements whereby all Members would be closely involved in the formulation of proposals for County Electoral Divisions for submission to the Boundary Committee for England in connection with the periodic electoral review. Members were nominated to coordinate and collate the views of each County Councillor in each District, Borough and City Council's area by early October. District, Borough and City Council Leaders had been invited to express their views to the three political group leaders on 30 September. Final draft proposals were to be submitted to the Boundary Committee by 25 November. Details would be considered by the three group leaders and the Chairman in consultation with Councillors Pierce, Mrs Glasspool, Mrs Allbright, Kendal and Mrs Barron. The local coordinating members nominated were:
Basingstoke and Deane - Councillors D.G. Allen and P.A. Heath
East Hampshire - Councillors M.F. Cartwright and J.K. West
Eastleigh - Councillor C.R.H. Davidovitz
Fareham - Councillors K.B. Estlin and T.G. Knight
Gosport - Councillors M.S. Geddes and Mrs M.D. Snaith
Hart - Councillors J.K. Glen and P.R.C. Hutcheson
Havant - Councillors E.F. Gale, D. Gillet and Jenny Wride
New Forest - Councillors Mrs. P.G. Banks and J. Waddington
Rushmoor - Councillors R.J. Baulk and Mrs. P.M. Devereux
Test Valley - Councillors D.A. Kirk and M.J. Woodhall
Winchester - Councillors Mrs. S.M. Glasspool and Felicity
Hindson
In relation to Members' allowances, the Leader took the opportunity to draw to Members' attention the views expressed by the Audit Commission on the matter of the backdating of allowances. This was a national problem and the Local Government Association had asked for a meeting with the Government and the Audit Commission to resolve the issues arising. It was appropriate, therefore, that no further action was taken by the County Council in relation to the backdating of allowances and to await the conclusion of the discussions between the Local Government Association, Government and the Audit Commission and the further clarification of legal opinions.
The Leader reminded Members that the Council was seeking to achieve improvements in its headquarters facilities. Later in the year it was intended to upgrade the sound and audio facilities in the Council Chamber. In addition to improving the sound and hearing aspects of the system it was also hoped to move towards electronic voting.
It was with grave concern that the Leader reported proposals by Government to change the formula funding of local government which could result in the County Council's Rate Support Grant settlement being reduced by £80m. It was the Leader's intention to protest in the strongest possible terms to the Government. He, and the County Treasurer, had already appeared in person before the Parliamentary Select Committee. Difficult decisions faced the Council should the Government pursue their plans and all savings options would have to be considered.
113 MEMBERS' ALLOWANCES.
The Council considered the report of the Chairman of the Standards Committee pursuant to Minute 99(i) of the meeting of the Council held on 25 July 2002. The Leader reported support for the proposals by the Leaders of Portsmouth and Southampton City Councils.
ORDERED:
(i) That approval be given to the payment of special responsibility allowances to the opposition spokesmen on the Hampshire Fire and Rescue Authority, to be paid at the same rate as the allowances for the opposition spokesmen on the County Council's Policy Review Committees (i.e. Liberal Democrat Group £5,000; Labour Group £2,500) providing that they are Members of the County Council and that this allowance be increased in line with inflation as with the other allowances;
(ii) That the payment of the allowance take effect from 19 September 2002 with the proviso that, if legal opinion subsequently confirms that it is permissible to backdate the allowance to 1 September 2001, the allowance be paid from that date;
(iii) That the position be reviewed when the Government decision on precepting for Fire and Rescue Authorities is announced or when Regulations relating to Members' allowances for Fire Authorities are issued, whichever is the sooner.
114 QUESTIONS PURSUANT TO STANDING ORDER 20(b)(i).
Councillor D.G. Allen, Executive Member for Education, answered a question from Councillor Mrs. P.G.E. Holden-Brown concerning character checks for people working with children (other than in school) who provided services to the Local Education Authority.
Councillor T.K. Thornber, CBE, Leader of the Council, answered a question from Councillor M.J. Roberts concerning asbestos assessment of, and accessibility to buildings.
In the absence of the Executive Member for Environment, Councillor T.K. Thornber, CBE, Leader of the Council, answered a question from Councillor Mrs. P.G.E. Holden-Brown concerning the stop watch bus system.
In the absence of the Executive Member for Environment, Councillor T.K. Thornber, CBE, Leader of the Council, answered a question from Councillor M.J. Roberts concerning the truncation of bus 38 (Havant to Aldershot).
115 APPOINTMENTS.
(a) Schools Monitoring Panel
ORDERED:
(i) That Councillor R.J. Kimber be appointed Chairman of the Schools Monitoring Panel;
(ii) That the Schools Monitoring Panel be asked to consider its Vice-Chairmanship and make a recommendation to the Council at a future meeting.
(b) Connexions
ORDERED:
That Councillor Mrs. C.A. Leversha be appointed to represent the County Council on Connexions' local management committee.
(c) West Hampshire NHS Trust
ORDERED:
That Councillor Mrs. P.G. Banks be appointed to represent the County Council at West Hampshire NHS Trust meetings.
116 CABINET/LEADER - PART I - FINAL ACCOUNTS 2001/02
Part I of the report of the Cabinet/Leader was presented proposing the approval of the Statement of Accounts 2001/02. Members noted the need for minor, detailed editing.
ORDERED:
That, subject to detailed editing, the Statement of Accounts for 2001/02 (as set out in Item 9 in the Minute Book), be approved.
117 POLICY REVIEW COMMITTEE REPORTS.
The Chairman of each Policy Review Committee presented his report pursuant to the requirements of the County Council's Constitution, Part I: Chapter 6, paragraph 6.5(a) as follows:
· Policy and Resources
· Education
· Environment
· Recreation and Heritage
· Social Care
Whilst there remained concern as to the impact of the provisions of the Local Government Act 2000 on local democracy, it was clear from the reports that Members had, through Best Value Reviews and at the request of the Cabinet and Executive Members, scrutinised significant cross-cutting reviews and contributed to policy formulation. Individual Members had also taken the opportunity to bring items to the Committees' notice. During the year, only two items had been called-in. There had also been occasions when the Executive Member had taken into account advice offered by a Policy Review Committee, but reached a different conclusion. It was agreed that each item of advice to the Executive Member be listed in future annual reports with his/her decision.
In the report of the Social Care Policy Review Committee it was noted that, in paragraph 4(ii) the words "Approach Programme" had been transposed and the report was amended accordingly.
118 NOTICE OF MOTION - SPRINKLER SYSTEMS.
Councillor K.G. Chapman, seconded by Councillor Mrs. A.M. McNair Scott, proposed the following motion, notice of which had been given in accordance with Standing Order 17:
"Considerable research, both here and in the United States has established that the installation of sprinkler systems in buildings can significantly help to mitigate the loss of life and damage to property caused by fire.
Sadly, public buildings - particularly schools - frequently fall victim to arson.
Apart from the obvious danger to life, property and the environment, there can be immeasurable detrimental impact to the community in terms of disruption to public services.
Although there is generally no statutory duty to install sprinklers in County Council buildings (including schools), it is recommended that the Authority should set an example of good practice to its wider community by taking the initiative to fit sprinklers in all its new buildings in the future".
ORDERED:
That the motion be referred to the Leader of the Council as Executive Member for Policy and Resources for consideration in accordance with Standing Order 17.4, and report back to the Council.
119 HAMPSHIRE POLICE AUTHORITY.
On this occasion there were no matters arising for report to the Council and no questions had been received under Standing Order 20(d) concerning the discharge of its functions.
120 HAMPSHIRE FIRE AND RESCUE AUTHORITY.
On this occasion there were no matters arising for report to the Council and no questions had been received under Standing Order 20(e) concerning the discharge of its functions.
121 MATTERS FOR INFORMATION OR WITHIN DELEGATED POWERS.
Part II of the 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
In relation to paragraph 168, Museums Strategy, Councillor M.S. Geddes
declared a personal and prejudicial interest as a trustee of the Explosions
Museum at Gosport which was referred to in debate on this item.
Executive Member for Social Care
The meeting closed at 3.00 p.m.
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