Archived decisions
AT A MEETING of the POLICY AND RESOURCES POLICY REVIEW COMMITTEE of the COUNTY COUNCIL held at The Castle, Winchester on 11 October, 2002
PRESENT:
Councillors: P.A. Pierce (Vice-Chairman) (In the Chair); I.F.E. Beagley; J.V. Bryant; M.F. Cartwright; P.J. Chegwyn; B.D. Dash; C. Davidovitz; A.G. Dowden; R.J. Ellis; W.J. Filer; J.K. Glen; K House; M.J. Kendal; Mrs. C.A. Leversha; P. Luffman; A.W. Rice; M.J. Roberts; Mrs. M.D. Snaith; J.K. West, W.H. Wheeler.
69 DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
There were no declarations of interest reported to this meeting.
70 MINUTES
The Minutes of the meeting held on 5 September, 2002 were confirmed, as a correct record, and signed by the Chairman.
Matters arising:-
Reorganisation of Postal Services and Impact on Sub-Post Offices (Minute 59)
Members were concerned that they had not yet received an update on this matter and the Chief Executive was asked to remind the Head of Economic Development of this.
Best Value Inspectorate (Minute 60)
Members noted that they would receive at a future meeting a report on the recent inspections of the "Support to the Voluntary and Community Sector" and "Economic Prosperity" reviews which had been conducted by this Committee.
71 CHAIRMAN'S COMMUNICATIONS
There were no Chairman's Communications to this meeting.
72 MEMBERS' QUESTIONS
There were no Members' questions to this meeting.
73 DEPUTATIONS
There were no deputations made at this meeting.
74 HEALTH OVERVIEW AND SCRUTINY
The Committee considered the report of the Chief Executive (Item 6 in the Minute Book) seeking approval to a consultation paper setting out how the County Council proposes to use its power of health scrutiny.
Among the issues highlighted in the report were the need to establish a new County Council Health Review Committee to exercise the Council's health review and scrutiny role and to make financial provision for this in next year's Council budget.
In supporting the approach and way forward set out in the report, the Committee wished to identify at this early stage several issues for future consideration by the new Committee. Accordingly, it was
RESOLVED:
That the Cabinet be advised:
(i) That the Health Review in Hampshire Consultation Paper be approved subject to the range of issues to be initially considered including poor health of school age children; health inequalities and mental health problems among young people for distribution to partner organisations and be made available to the public on the County Council's website.
(ii) That the Committee endorses the proposal for setting up a new County Council Committee specifically for the purpose of undertaking health overview and scrutiny.
(iii) That when preparing the Council's budget for 2003/04; the Committee considers that it would be imprudent for the County Council not to make arrangements to exercise the power of health scrutiny and that detailed arrangements, including a programme of reviews, should be determined when the Government's decision on funding is known.
75 COMMITTEE'S TIMETABLE OF FUTURE DECISIONS
The Committee received and noted the report of the Chief Executive (Item 7 in the Minute Book) on forthcoming key-decisions which may be made by the Leader and the Committee's timetable of future activity which had been updated since the last meeting.
76 EXCLUSION OF PRESS AND PUBLIC
(Note: At this point in the meeting there were no members of the press and public in attendance).
The Committee noted that the current version of the Gypsy and Traveller Services report no longer contained confidential information. Also, that the Land and Property Review report (with the exception of appendix 3) could also be made non-confidential. Accordingly, it was
RESOLVED:
That the remaining items on Gypsy and Traveller Services and on Land and Property Review - County Farm Estate (with the exception of confidential appendix 3, relating to individually named properties) be made non-confidential reports and be circulated to the press and public in the normal way.
77 COUNTY COUNCIL GYPSY AND TRAVELLER SERVICES
The Committee considered the report of the Director of Property, Business and Regulatory Services (Item 9 in the Minute Book) about the County Council's response to unauthorised gypsy and traveller encampments in Hampshire and its provision of permanent gypsy sites.
In discussion the Committee highlighted the importance of joint collaboration with district councils on gypsy related matters and felt that the districts should be encouraged to set up gypsy/travellers' forums and to work with the County Council in seeking to identify temporary stopping places within their localities.
Some Members were opposed to the permanent closure of the Peak Copse Gypsy Site at Dummer and gave notice of their intention to "call-in" such a decision if it were to be made by the Executive Member for Policy and Resources on 16 October 2002. However, in conclusion, the majority of the Committee supported the way forward set out in the report. Accordingly, it was
RESOLVED:
That the Executive Member for Policy and Resources be advised that the Policy Review Committee endorses:
(i) the initiatives taken in conjunction with District Councils to improve the management of unauthorised encampments;
(ii) authority to explore the feasibility of providing sites with District Councils for temporary stopping places as proposed by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister in July 2002;
(iii) the permanent closure of the Peak Copse Gypsy Site, Dummer and that proposals for the future use of the site be brought forward to the Executive Member for Policy and Resources Decision Day on 12 December 2002.
(iv) That District Councils be encouraged to set up gypsy/travellers' forums.
78 LAND AND PROPERTY REVIEW - COUNTY FARMS ESTATE
The Committee considered the report of the Director of Property, Business and Regulatory Services (Item 10 in the Minute Book) on the land and property review of the County Farms Estates.
Members supported the outcomes of the Review but felt it would be helpful if the County Council was to reaffirm its policy not to permit genetically modified food trials on its land and to seek to strengthen the educational link between farm, classroom and the community as referred to in paragraph 7.6.7 of the report.
Accordingly it was
RESOLVED:
That the Executive Member for Policy and Resources be advised that the Policy Review Committee endorses the following recommendations to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of the management of the Estate:
1.
(i) amalgamate units across the Estate to improve the viability of holdings, to allow progression from starter farms to promotion units;
(ii) let holdings as part-time units, where the unit is unable to sustain a full-time income, coupled with the maximisation of income with diversification of farm activity at a rent which also reflects the residential value of the farmhouse;
(iii) promote agri-environmental schemes linked to extension of public access where compatible with farming operations;
(iv) introduce whole farm plans for all farms as they are vacated and prior to re-letting, to ensure proposed enterprise is compatible with environment, location and bio-diversity, and wishes to reaffirm that the County Council will not permit genetically modified food trials on its land and will consider educational opportunities to strengthen the link between farm, classroom and the community.
(v) identify In/Out or capital programme schemes to allow reinvestment in Estate infrastructure, triggering improved performance and compliance with changing legislation, i.e. Nitrate Vulnerable Zones;
(vi) identify opportunities to replace land sold for development with advantageous land purchases for long-term investment purposes;
(vii) pursue opportunities to provide key worker housing through links to housing associations and development of off-plan sites where compatible with farming interest;
(viii) encourage farm tenants to work together, pooling equipment, labour and resources to meet challenging economic circumstances. Continued financial support for farm business appraisals, leading to investment in business development and contribution to wider rural economic outturn;
(ix) secure landscape improvement through tree planting and hedge planting, funded by County Council initiatives to reduce carbon dioxide emissions leading to carbon neutral status;
(x) endorse traditional management techniques compatible with stewardship and ownership obligations
2. The Action Plan to implement the above recommendations and
3. The application of the Management Principles in the future management of the
County Farm Estate as referred to in Appendix 5 of the report.
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