Contact: Roger Lawes, ext 6743

1. Summary

1.1 Discussions have been held to explore ways in which the Environment Policy Review Committee can become more engaged in developing its scrutiny and policy formation functions. This report outlines how those discussions have developed and proposes a way forward for the Committee to debate.

2. Background

2.1 On 1 October 2002 the Chairman, Vice-Chairman, Councillor Liz Barron and Councillor Mike Roberts met with officers to discuss how the Committee could develop its role. The meeting heard from officers of schemes being followed by other authorities where their equivalents of the Environment Policy Review Committee are undertaking specific programmes of action to acquire the depth of understanding necessary for them to develop their scrutiny and policy review roles.

2.2 After a wide-ranging discussion it was agreed that the first step should be to develop Members' understanding of contemporary strategic environmental issues. It was also felt that this task would probably be more effective if any discussions ranged around principles and practices rather than focusing on specific local issues of the moment.

2.3 With that in mind, on 3 October 2002 a letter was sent to all Members of the Committee to invite comments on the key topics that they felt should be debated over the next year or so, and seeking views on the most appropriate way of dealing with particular items. Appendix 1 provides a summary of the comments received. Appendix 2 lists other recent issues raised by Members.

3. Members' Response

3.1 At the meeting on 1 October 2002 a number of topics were discussed, ranging from general land use matters, such as shopping and housing, to more specific matters, such as land management plans and urban regeneration. The meeting also covered more philosophical issues, such as global warming and European collaboration.

3.2 A number of Members replied to the letter with suggestions of topics for future discussion by the Committee. These topics include minerals and waste, public transport (particularly in rural areas), car parking and the use of grants to assist improving social, economic and environmental well-being.

3.3 Most recently, the Queen's Speech highlighted a possible need to refocus some aspects of the Committee's activities with the heralded changes in the plan making process.

3.4 The Committee now needs to decide how to proceed and in what sequence various topics should be covered.

4. The Way Forward

4.1 A glimpse of one way in which the Committee could engage in a wider discussion about issues was given at the last meeting on 16 October 2002 when a large proportion of the agenda was set aside to consider public transport. The questions the Committee needs to address are:

(i) Was the session useful?

(ii) Was the format about right?

(iii) What changes should be made?

(iv) What topics should now be considered?

(v) Would they all benefit from the same approach?

4.2 The issues identified by Members so far can be broadly categorised under the following three headings:

(i) specific land use issues, for example minerals, waste, retail and housing (particularly affordable housing);

(ii) existing environmental initiatives and their effect, including an analysis of individual, current land use and transport initiatives, and how well are they integrated and how success is measured; and

(iii) emerging issues, particularly the ability of the County Council to influence changes in lifestyle (for example through the Hampshire Natural Resources Initiative) and travel mode (through Green Travels Plans and the like), and how to deal with regional and global issues.

Once the Planning Bill is published (promised before Christmas) it will be necessary to discuss the future of the strategic planning service and associated activities in the light of the proposed role of the County Council in regional and sub-regional plans and the proposed district-wide Local Development Frameworks.

4.3 The list of individual subjects within these headings could be endless. How to cascade the information to the Committee could take a variety of forms, ranging from simple seminars and discussion groups to more focused activity, perhaps through small working parties.

Recommendation

That the Committee decides a list of issues and priorities under each of the three headings outlined in paragraph 4.2, and decides the most suitable ways of dealing with the issues identified.

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