Archived decisions
AT A MEETING of the ENVIRONMENT POLICY REVIEW COMMITTEE held on Wednesday 4 December 2002 at The Castle, Winchester.
PRESENT:
Councillors: J.K. Glen (Chairman); Mrs P.G. Banks; F.J. Bright; Mrs E.M. Byrom; A.P. Collett; C.R.H. Davidovitz; Mrs P.M. Devereux; Mrs P. Dickens; W.J. Filer; M.S. Geddes; Mrs K. Heron; K. House; R.J. Kimber; T.G. Knight; M.J. Roberts; Sir James J. Scott; J.K. West; Miss J. Wride
Also in attendance (part): Councillor K.B. Estlin, Executive Member for Environment
100. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
Members were mindful that, where they believed they had a personal or personal prejudicial interest in any matter to be considered at the meeting, they should, normally at the time of the debate, declare their interest and, having regard to the circumstances described in paragraphs 9, 10, 11 and 12 of the County Council's Code of Conduct, consider whether to leave the meeting whilst the matter was discussed.
101. MINUTES
The Minutes of the meeting held on 16 October 2002 (Item 2 in the Minute Book) were confirmed by the Committee as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.
Arising thereon:-
In relation to Minute 99 (Draft Hampshire Water Strategy), Councillor Roberts asked if a report on the new Water Bill would be submitted to the Committee for consideration at some point. It was confirmed that the Bill had not been published yet, therefore the request was noted.
102. CHAIRMAN'S COMMUNICATIONS
The Chairman welcomed Alison Quant, Director of Environment to her first meeting of the Committee having taken up post on 28 October 2002.
The Chairman also congratulated David Tarrant on his appointment as Deputy Director of Environment.
103. MEMBERS' QUESTIONS
No questions were formally submitted to the Executive Member for Environment prior to the meeting.
Councillor J.K. West raised concern in respect of rising groundwater levels. The Executive Member for Environment responded by confirming that the Environment Agency was aware of the situation in Hampshire and in particular, Hambledon. Although there was no serious concerns at this time, the Environment Department was in daily contact with the Environment Agency and the overall situation would continue to be carefully monitored.
Councillor Mrs Byrom asked if the Environment Agency were still producing the Groundwater Newsletter. The Executive Member for Environment reported that the Newsletter was most likely to be published on the Environment Agency's website rather than distributed in hardcopy format but offered to raise the matter at a meeting he was due to attend with the Environment Agency later that day.
104. DEPUTATION
The Committee received a deputation from Mr Harvey Cole on the Future Development of Air Transport in the United Kingdom.
In order that Mr Cole could hear the Committee's debate, the Chairman agreed to bring forward Item 8 of the published agenda for discussion.
105. THE FUTURE DEVELOPMENT OF AIR TRANSPORT IN THE UNITED KINGDOM: A NATIONAL CONSULTATION
The Committee considered the report of the Director of Environment (Item 8 in the Minute Book) detailing the key strategic issues for Hampshire following the launch of regional consultation documents by the Secretary of State for Transport. The consultation documents set out a range of options for the future development of air services and airports in the United Kingdom over the next 30 years. The closing date for responses to a detailed questionnaire was 30 November 2002, with the opportunity for additional comment. It was noted that the County Council had sent a holding letter to meet this initial deadline. Following consideration of the Director of Environment's report by this Committee, a further report would be submitted for decision by the Cabinet on 12 December 2002 after which a detailed response would be sent to the Department for Transport. It was also confirmed that further consultation for the South East region would be undertaken as a result of a successful legal challenge mounted by Kent, Medway and Essex County Councils, the outcome of which had not been known at the time this report had been prepared.
The Director of Environment detailed the background to the consultation process and amplified areas of the report. It was noted that the need for a White Paper on Aviation had been pursued by the County Council for some time through the Strategic Aviation Special Interest Group (SASIG). In particular Members' attention was drawn to paragraph 4.6 of the report which set out the possible airport development options for the South East; paragraphs 4.10-4.16 which highlighted some of the implications for Southampton, Farnborough and Blackbushe airports and paragraphs 4.25-4.38 which highlighted some of the implications for the South West region, including Bournemouth International Airport. Southampton International Airport Consultative Committee's response to the Department of Transport was attached to the report as Appendix 1.
Councillor Davidovitz declared an interest as one of the County Council's representatives on the Southampton International Airport Consultative Committee. Councillor Mrs Heron declared an interest as the County Council's representative on the Bournemouth International Airport Consultative Committee.
A full debate ensued during which Members' detailed questions were answered. In particular, the Committee was of the view that Southampton and Bournemouth International Airports and associated infrastructure, could not satisfactorily accommodate the additional demand that would arise should adequate capacity to meet demand not be provided at other South East airports. A number of amendments to the report's recommendations were agreed, substantive resolutions detailed below.
RESOLVED:
That the Cabinet be advised that:
1. The Department for Transport be informed that the County Council:
(i) welcomes the national consultation on `The Future Development of Air Transport in the United Kingdom';
(ii) requests that the Government undertake and publish environmental, health and infrastructure assessments on options that it details in the forthcoming White Paper on Aviation;
(iii) questions the need for a new 24 hour airport in the South East;
(iv) is not in a position to comment on detailed growth proposals for Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted or a new airport proposal at Cliffe;
(v) requests the preparation of an air cargo strategy for the United Kingdom;
(vi) would support measures to bring all significant developments at airports under planning control by abolishing the very substantial permitted development rights currently enjoyed by airports, in order to ensure that the off-site impact of proposals can be properly assessed and mitigation be agreed before development proceeds;
(vii) welcomes the recognition of Southampton and Bournemouth International Airports as regional airports providing a valuable contribution to both the South East and South West regions;
(viii) welcomes the expansion of services from Southampton and Bournemouth International Airports subject to appropriate safety, environmental safeguards and mitigation measures;
(ix) recommends that the complementary roles of Southampton and Bournemouth International Airports be recognised;
(x) supports the recognition of the continuing role for both Farnborough and Blackbushe Airports in providing business aviation facilities and general aviation subject to appropriate safety, environmental safeguards and mitigation measures; and
(xi) subject to the above, endorses the response of the Strategic Aviation Special Interest Group (SASIG) to the consultation.
2. The County Council thanks the Strategic Aviation Special Interest Group for the work undertaken in preparing the detailed response to the consultation and informs it of the Council's response to the Department for Transport.
3. The County Council informs the Bournemouth International Airport Consultative Committee, Southampton International Airport Consultative Committee, Farnborough Airfield Liaison Committee and the Blackbushe Airport Consultative Committee of the response to the Department for Transport's consultation.
106. REVIEW OF LOCAL BUS SERVICE FUNDING
The Committee considered the report of the Director of Environment (Item 6 in the Minute Book) detailing the consideration of the County Council's approach to the funding of local bus services which took place at the last meeting of the Committee on 16 October. The report followed up certain points raised at that meeting, detailed further work planned and scopes the basis of the proposed Bus Strategy which was attached to the report as Appendix 3.
The Director of Environment drew Members' attention to section 2.1(i) of the report which stated that further information would be orally reported at the meeting. It was confirmed that in terms of funding pressures for the 2003/04 financial year for the ten comparator authorities that had been approached, the information collected indicated an anticipated average increase of 13%. It was also confirmed that the outcome of the Association on Transport Coordinating Officers (ATCO) annual price and expenditure survey indicated a national average of 9.5% based on a return from 80% of local authorities.
Members' highlighted the importance of Quality Bus Partnerships and priority bus measures in order to provide bus services to members of the public that were both dependable and reliable. A Government report entitled "Public Subsidy for the Bus Industry" was discussed and the need for officers to incorporate its findings into future reports was noted.
In respect of the CANGO demand-responsive services recently launched in Leigh Park, Havant, concerns were raised in respect of the distribution of the advertising material for this particular service. Martin Robertson, Head of Passenger Transport reported that there was a good take-up of the new service. He would be pleased to discuss Members' concerns in more detail after the meeting to check any weaknesses in the distribution of the advertising.
In respect of the bid that had been submitted to the 2002 Rural Bus Challenge competition, as detailed in section 2.1(iii) of the report, it was confirmed that Members' could make arrangements to view the details of this bid by contacting Martin Robertson direct, on telephone number (01962) 846997.
Members' attention was also drawn to an update of the Hampshire County Council Travel Plan, attached to the report at Appendix 2 and the County Council's draft Bus Strategy, attached to the report as Appendix 3. The Director of Environment reported an update in respect of the Travel Plan and the target of 10% reduction in the number of staff travelling alone in their cars to work. The report stated that the result of a survey indicated a reduction of 5% of the overall number of staff travelling to work by car. Unfortunately, further analysis showed that this figure was in fact 0%, which was very disappointing given the amount of work that had been done in this area.
RESOLVED:
That the report and Members comments on the information provided, be noted.
107. BEST VALUE REVIEW OF POLICY DEVELOPMENT IN THE ENVIRONMENT DEPARTMENT
The Committee considered a report of the Director of Environment (Item 7 in the Minute Book) detailing the progress made on the Best Value Review of Policy Development in the Environment Department. The Director of Environment amplified certain areas of the report and in particular drew Members' attention to the report's appendices detailing a vision for the Policy Development Service in 2005, objectives of the service and prompts for Members' consideration.
In respect of the workshops referred to in paragraph 6.1 of the report, it was noted that the Members of this Committee that had attended found them to be very interesting, informative and well run. The inclusion in Appendix 2 of prompt for Members' consideration was commended and it was noted that the inclusion of this in future reports would be welcomed.
RESOLVED:
That the vision for the Environment Department's Policy Development Service set out in Appendix 1, be endorsed.
108. TOPICS FOR FUTURE DISCUSSION BY THE ENVIRONMENT POLICY REVIEW COMMITTEE
The Committee considered the report of the Director of Environment (Item 9 in the Minute Book) outlining how discussions had evolved and developed in respect of exploring ways in which the Environment Policy Review Committee could become more engaged in its scrutiny and policy formation functions. The Director of Environment reported on the background to the report and drew Members' attention to the report's appendices. It was confirmed that Appendix 1 detailed Members' responses to a letter inviting them to put forward key topics that they felt could be debated by the Committee over the next year or so. It was noted that a wide range of interesting topics had been submitted.
RESOLVED:
That the Chairman and Vice-Chairman of the Environment Policy Review Committee, in consultation with officers, draws up a list of issues and priorities under each of the three headings outlined in paragraph 4.2 of the report and decides the most suitable way of dealing with the issues identified.
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