Contact: Paddy Hillary, ext 7391

1 Summary
This report follows on from the report to Cabinet in February at which it was decided to seek the views of the Policy and Resources and Environment Policy Review Committees and the Joint Advisory Panel on the statement by the Deputy Prime Minister to inform the Cabinet's decision.

1.1 Those views have now been sought and the recommendation to the Cabinet is that a letter be sent to the Deputy Prime Minister welcoming the investment aspects of the proposals but raising concerns over the impact of the proposals in Hampshire.

2 Introduction
Members will recall that at their meeting on 24 February a report was considered setting out the outline of the Deputy Prime Minister's statement `Sustainable Communities: Building for the Future'. Cabinet decided to seek the views of the Policy and Resources and Environment Policy Review Committees and the Joint Advisory Panel to inform a response to the document.

2.1 A fuller report on the proposals and the implications for Hampshire was considered by the Policy Review Committees and the Joint Advisory Panel and is attached as Appendix 1 to this report.

3 Summary of comments from PRCs and JAP
The 3 committees made very similar comments on the Communities Plan proposals and the County Council's Policy Review Committees felt that it was important for the County Council to make its views known alongside the many other agencies who have expressed concerns such as the Environment Agency and the Local Government Association. It was also recognised that other bodies such as the House of Commons Select Committee and the all party Conservation and Wildlife Group at Westminster have commented on the proposals.

3.1 The main issues which Members felt should be included in a response to the Deputy Prime Minister are:

· Objection to the bringing forward to April 2003 of the changes to the Local Authority Social Housing Grant and the weakening of the ability of local housing authorities to find solutions to their own housing problems,

· The lack of explanation in the Communities Plan of the source and nature of infrastructure investment in support of the proposals,

· Concerns over the nature of the proposed Regional Housing Boards and the lack of democratic involvement,

· While welcoming additional funding for affordable housing, concern over the plans for this to be channelled through the Regional Housing Boards towards the key regional priority areas which may reduce the ability of Hampshire to attract as much funding as at present,

· The need to make sure that the proposals are linked into the Local Strategic Partnership and Community Strategy processes and existing local partnership working.

4 Recommendation

That the Cabinet agrees to send a response on behalf of the County Council, outlining concerns in relation to the proposals contained in the Communities Plan, to the Deputy Prime Minister.

Background Information

Section 100D - Local Government Act 1972 - background papers

The following documents disclose facts or matters on which this report, or an important part of it, is based and has been relied on to a material extent in the preparation of this report. NB the list excludes:

1. Published works

2. Documents which disclose exempt or confidential information as defined in the Act.


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