Archived decisions

Contact: Colin Taylor, tel 01730 266411

1. Summary

1.1 This report informs Members of:

(i) Reorganisation of the Environment Department.

(ii) Blueprint update.

2. Reorganisation of the Environment Department

2.1 The County Surveyor's and Planning Departments of Hampshire County Council have, during the past few years, worked together in the form of the `Environment Grouping' with a Joint Management Board and common support services. John Ekins, the County Surveyor, retired in January 2003 and the opportunity has been taken to restructure the two departments into a single Environment Department under the control of a Director.

2.2 The new Director, Alison Quant, took up the post on 28 October 2002, having joined the County Council from the London Borough of Richmond-upon-Thames, where she held the post of Director of Environment. Prior to that she was Assistant Director of Environment and Transport at Cambridgeshire County Council.

2.3 The former Deputy County Surveyor, David Tarrant, has been appointed to the post of Deputy Director of Environment, with responsibility for Strategy and Resources. The various branches within the former departments have been reorganised, each under the management of an Assistant Director. Appointments have been made to these posts, as follows:

(i) Alan Mills - Management;

(ii) Stuart Reynolds - Design and Implementation; and

(iii) Merrick Denton-Thompson - Performance and Innovation.

The revised structure, broken down by function, is shown in the attached appendix.

3. Blueprint Update

3.1 Hampshire Highways East has been fully operational since 1 October 2002. The departure of Douglas Hill as Assistant Chief Engineer has left a vacant key position within the Winchester local office. A replacement, Chris Wilson, has been appointed and will be taking up the post in May 2003. He will be based in the Abbey Mill offices.

3.2 The current highway maintenance contract with SERCO within the City Centre is due to terminate on 30 April 2003. The blueprint objective of a single county-wide term maintenance contract will then be completed, with Raynesway Construction Southern taking over the maintenance role in the City Centre.

Recommendation

That this report be noted.

7725/CT