Archived decisions

AT A MEETING of the CABINET of HAMPSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL held at The Castle, Winchester on Monday, 10 February 2003.

PRESENT:

Councillors: T.K. Thornber, CBE (In the Chair); D.G. Allen; Mrs. S.M. Glasspool, DL; P.A. Heath; Felicity Hindson, MBE; D.A. Kirk; J. Waddington; M.J. Woodhall.

Also in attendance: Councillors A.P. Collett, B.D. Dash, J.K. Glen and W.H. Wheeler.

167 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.

168 MINUTES

The Minutes of the meetings held on 23 December 2002 and 6 January 2003 were confirmed as correct records.

169 CHAIRMAN'S ANNOUNCEMENTS

There were no announcements.

170 REVENUE BUDGET AND PRECEPT 2003/04

The Cabinet considered the report of the County Treasurer (Item 3 in the Minute Book) concerning the Council's revenue budget and the precept for 2003/04. The report incorporated details of the final settlement which, unusually, had resulted in further changes from the provisional settlement and further long term loss of grant to the County Council. The main reason for the further grant loss was the Government's decision that all Hampshire Authorities would provide a gain in area cost adjustment grant for the Isle of Wight. The Cabinet shared the concerns in the report at the Government's decision to pool Hampshire and the Isle of Wight and treat them as a single labour market for area cost adjustment purposes thus implying that they were similar, for example, to adjoining London Boroughs or Metropolitan Districts. Members noted that the Leader and the Opposition Group Leaders would be making appropriate representations to Government on the subject. Representations would also be made in conjunction with the other Hampshire Authorities if possible, probably through the medium of the Association of Hampshire and Isle of Wight Local Authorities.

The County Treasurer amplified the report, drawing attention to the key features of a budget of £1,032.1m, a council tax of £844.56 at an increase of 15% and spending which was £37.5m (or 3.8%) above Formula Spending Share (FSS). On a point of clarification, the County Treasurer explained that in view of the lower increase in Social Services FSS in the final grant settlement (6.8% rather than 7.3%) the increase in the Social Services budget intended to match the planned 7.3% increase, was now £1m more than the final increase of 6.8%.

During the course of the ensuing discussion, Executive Members expressed strong support for the individual service budget proposals as supplemented by the additions over and above the original guidelines, and for the guiding principle of not cutting services despite the deleterious effect of the Government's plans to redistribute funding from councils in the South East to urban councils in the North and Midlands. Accordingly, the Cabinet adopted the recommendations set out in the report, subject to the following amendment to recommendation 3:-

"That the passported FSS increase of 5.9% for the Schools Block and the cash increase of £1m above the 6.8% FSS increase for Social Services be confirmed."

A copy of the substantive decision sheet is set out as Appendix 1 to these Minutes.

171 CAPITAL PROGRAMME 2003/04 TO 2006/07

The Cabinet considered the report of the County Treasurer (Item 4 in the Minute Book) concerning the County Council's capital programme 2003/04 to 2006/07. The County Treasurer amplified the report and answered Member questions. The Cabinet adopted the recommendations contained in the report and a copy of the decision sheet is set out as Appendix 2 to these Minutes.

172 DISTRICT AUDITOR'S ANNUAL AUDIT AND INSPECTION LETTER 2001/02
(With the concurrence of the Chairman under Section 100b(4)(b) of the Local Government Act 1972, this matter was included on the agenda to enable the County Council to facilitate an expeditious review of the County Council's Standing Order concerning Members' question time)

The Cabinet considered the report of the Chief Executive (Item 5 in the Minute Book) on the District Auditor's Annual Audit and Inspection Letter 2001/02. The Cabinet adopted the recommendations and a copy of the substantive decision sheet is set out as Appendix 3 to these Minutes.

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