Archived decisions

    AT A MEETING of the POLICY AND RESOURCES POLICY REVIEW COMMITTEE of the COUNTY COUNCIL held at The Castle, Winchester on 5 December, 2002

PRESENT:

    Councillors: S.A. Hayes (Chairman); I.F.E. Beagley; J.V. Bryant; M.F. Cartwright; P.J. Chegwyn; A.P. Collett; B.D. Dash; C. Davidovitz; R.J. Ellis; W.J. Filer; J.K. Glen; K House; M.J. Kendal; Mrs. C.A. Leversha; P. Luffman; P.A. Pierce; A.W. Rice, TD; M.J. Roberts; M.L. Sheehan; J.K. West, W.H. Wheeler.

Also in attendance: Councillors T.K. Thornber, CBE and M.J. Woodhall.

82 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 paragraph 9, 10, 11 and 12 of the County Council's Code of Conduct, consider whether to leave the meeting whilst the matter was discussed.

83 MINUTES

The Minutes of the meetings held on 11 October and 7 November 2002 were confirmed as correct records and signed by the Chairman.

84 CHAIRMAN'S COMMUNICATIONS

The Chairman invited the Head of Estates Practice to report on the present unauthorised encampments on the Peak Copse Gypsy Site, Dummer. Members noted that an estimated forty caravans had moved illegally onto the site. A re-possession order was being pursued by the County Council and an application was due to be heard by the Courts on 13 December 2002.

85 MEMBERS' QUESTIONS

There were no Members' questions to this meeting.

86 DEPUTATIONS

There were no deputations made at this meeting.

87 BEST VALUE INSPECTIONS

The Committee considered the report of the Chief Executive (Item 6(i) in the Minute Book) about the Best Value Inspections of Economic Prosperity and Support to Voluntary and Community Sector.



In discussion the Committee felt that future Policy and Resources led best value reviews should follow a similar practice to Education by ensuring that those Members involved in a particular review are also included in the process for monitoring. Accordingly, it was

RESOLVED:

      (i) That the Committee notes the outcome of the Best Value inspection of economic prosperity and the response to the inspectors' recommendations which will be reported in the Best Value Performance Plan, alongside the key outcomes of the review and the key findings of the inspection.

      (ii) That the Committee notes the approach being taken in respect of the inspection of support to the voluntary and community sector and will receive a future report providing the final outcome and responses to be made to the Best Value Performance Plan.

      (iii) That arrangements be made for those Members involved in future Policy and Resources led best value reviews to also be included in the process for monitoring the improvement plan for that review and to comment on the annual report for that review to this Committee.

88 OPTIONS REPORT ON THE INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS BEST VALUE REVIEW

The Committee considered the report of the Best Value Review Team (Item 6(ii) in the Minute Book) on the options report for developing international relations in the County Council following the Best Value Review.

Members supported the Council's main areas of activity on international relations and commended in particular the success of the Brussels Office and referred to the benefits accruing from carefully selected overseas visits. It was felt that it would be helpful to receive further information about successful bids for EU funding.

Accordingly, it was

RESOLVED:

      (i) That the Best Value review team develops an improvement plan based on option 2 and 3 in the report; this to identify how the current service can be enhanced within existing resources and demonstrating what additional improvements can be achieved with increased resource input.

      (ii) That the Chairman of the Best Value Review Team issue by way of letter to the Committee details of recent successful bids for EU funding.

89 COUNTY COUNCIL POLICY RELATING TO VEHICULAR ACCESS OVER REGISTERED COMMON LAND AND VILLAGE GREENS

The Committee considered the report of the Director of Property, Business and Regulatory Services (Item 7 in the Minute Book) about key-decisions due to be made by the Executive Member for Policy and Resources on 12 December in relation to this matter.

During a full discussion Members raised a number of individual questions and issues relating to maintenance responsibility, granting an easement for an access, notification of planning applications on or at the edge of Commons and the ability to refuse to grant an easement. The Director of Property, Business and Regulatory Services undertook to advise the Executive Member for Policy and Resources of the points raised, together with a request by the Committee that there should be tighter management of the Commons. Accordingly, it was

RESOLVED:

That the Policy and Resources Policy Review Committee advises the Executive Member (Policy and Resources) that:

      (i) a revised policy for regularising rights of vehicular access over Council owned Common land and Village Greens be adopted based on:

        (a) the grant of Statutory Easements in qualifying cases; and

        (b) the grant of negotiated Deeds of Grant in all other cases.

      (ii) in respect of (i)(a), above the Director of Property, Business and Regulatory Services (Head of Estates Practice) be authorised to settle the detailed terms and conditions of each transaction; the financial basis of settlement to be in accordance with the Regulations introduced under Section 68, Countryside and Rights of Way Act, 2000;

      (iii) in respect of (i)(b) above, the Director of Property, Business and Regulatory Services (Head of Estates Practice) be authorised to settle the detailed terms and conditions of each transaction and for settlements to be reported to the Executive Member (Policy and Resources) as Scheduled Items;

      (iv) 100% of the capital receipt in respect of the grant of Statutory Easements should be made available to Recreation and Heritage Committee to be held in an accumulating fund for use in financing the better management of the Commons and Village Greens, and in particular the maintenance and management of access tracks, to meet any increased legal liabilities arising out of the Countryside and Rights of Way Act, 2000.

      (v) As part of the revised management arrangements the Director of Recreation and Heritage, monitor the use of access routes across the Commons, including any intensification of use or changes to the widths of the routes on at least an annual basis to ensure that the terms of any statutory easements or deeds of grant are being complied with by the grantees.

90 FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT 2000

The Committee considered the report of the Chief Executive (Item 8 in the Minute Book) about this Act and its implications for the County Council.

RESOLVED:

That the Policy and Resources Policy Review Committee advises the Executive Member (Policy and Resources) that:-

      (i) The Act be welcomed as an opportunity for the County Council to further enhance its arrangements for openness and accountability in relation to its affairs, and to encourage participation in local issues.

      (ii) The action taken to prepare for implementation be endorsed.

91 COMMITTEE'S TIMETABLE OF FUTURE DECISIONS

The Committee received and noted the report of the Chief Executive (Item 9 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.

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