Archived decisions

AT A MEETING of the ENVIRONMENT POLICY REVIEW COMMITTEE held on Wednesday 22 January 2003 at The Castle, Winchester.

PRESENT:

Councillors: J.K. Glen (Chairman); Mrs E.S.M. Barron; Mrs E.M. Byrom; J.E. Coles; C.R.H. Davidovitz; Mrs P. Dickens; W.J. Filer; M.S. Geddes; Mrs K. Heron; K. House; R.J. Kimber; T.G. Knight; R.H. Price, JP; M.J. Roberts; Sir James J. Scott; Miss J. Wride

Also in attendance: Councillor K.B. Estlin, Executive Member for Environment

109. 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.

110. MINUTES

    The Minutes of the meeting held on 4 December 2002 (Item 2 in the Minute Book) were confirmed by the Committee as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

    Arising thereon:-

    Minute 103: Councillor Scott requested an update on groundwater levels within the County. The Director of Environment confirmed that information had been distributed by the Environment Agency via a newsletter and e-mail within the last few days. Up-to-date information on the flooding conditions within Hampshire could be obtained by accessing the County Council's web page: www.hants.gov.uk/TC/suhighways/floods.html which also contained contact information.


    Minute 108    : Topics for future discussion by the Environment Policy Review Committee - Councillor Roberts requested an update. The Chairman confirmed that officers would be meeting with him and the Vice-Chairman shortly with a view to prioritising the list of topics that had been submitted by Members. Progress would be reported at a future meeting.

111. CHAIRMAN'S COMMUNICATIONS

    The Chairman had no matters to report.

112. MEMBERS' QUESTIONS

    No formal questions were submitted to the Executive Member for Environment.

113. DEPUTATIONS

    No requests for deputations had been received.

114. REVENUE BUDGET 2003/04

    The Committee considered the report of the County Treasurer and the Director of Environment (Item 6 in the Minute Book) detailing the proposed Revenue Budget for 2003/04 for the Environment Department. The report also detailed the revised budget for 2002/03. The County Treasurer reported that the budget preparation had been particularly difficult on this occasion, which was mainly due to the loss of government funding, totalling £45 million, under the new finance formula which had been introduced.

    The County Treasurer and the Director of Environment amplified the report and detailed discussions were centred on a number of key areas:-

    (i) flooding;

    (ii) highway maintenance;

    (iii) Blueprint;

    (iv) bus services;

    (v) restructuring of the Environment Department

    (vi) cost of processing planning applications that are determined by the County Council

    (vii) staff vacancies/service levels

    (viii) waste management
    - disposal of fridges
    - disposal of abandoned vehicles
    - capacity of household waste recycling centres

    The Executive Member for Environment reported that officers were working hard to deal with incidences of flooding in the County and were liaising closely with the Environment Agency and other local authorities. Members discussed in particular


    detail bus service provision in the County and whilst recognising the current tight financial constraints, were opposed nonetheless to any reductions in current levels of provision.

    As an alternative to reducing support for bus services, it was suggested that consideration could be given to increasing the level of planned vacancies and to reducing the additional level of spend proposed for strategic planning. The Director of Environment agreed that it would be possible to impose an increased level of vacancy management, but this was not sustainable long term without identifying where the corresponding cuts in services should be made. On strategic planning, she noted that in previous years there had been additional provision made corporately for the statutory planning process, but this had not been available in the current year due to the overall budget context. For 2003/04 the Council's responsibilities would not change. The budgetary requirement would need to be reviewed for 2004/05 if the provisions in the Planning Bill came into force then, and following discussions with SEERA on the future role of county councils in regional planning.

    A number of the items contained in the list above would be the subject of further discussions at future meetings of the Committee.

    Following a full discussion, it was

    RESOLVED:

    that the report be noted and no further recommendations made to the Executive
    Member for Environment.

115. CAPTIAL PROGRAMME 2003/04 TO 2006/07

    The Committee considered the report of the Director of Environment and County Treasurer (Item 7 in the Minute Book) detailing the proposed Capital Programme 2003/04 to 2006/07 for the Environment Department. The report also provided a progress update to the 2002/03 programme and detailed proposed amendments.

    The Director of Environment amplified areas of the report and drew Members' attention to the A3 bus priority corridor scheme as detailed in paragraphs 6.3 and 6.4 of the report. It was noted that further justification was being provided to the Department for Transport in respect of the County Council's bid for funding for 2003/04 for the next stage of this scheme.

    The Executive Member for Environment reported the current position to Members of other major schemes as detailed in paragraphs 6.5 to 6.8 of the report.




    Following a full discussion, it was

    RESOLVED:

    that the report be noted and no further recommendations made to the Executive Member for Environment.

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