AT A MEETING of the CABINET of HAMPSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL held at The Castle, Winchester on Monday, 27 October 2003.

PRESENT:

Councillors: T.K. Thornber, CBE (in the Chair); D.G. Allen; K.B. Estlin;

Mrs. S.M. Glasspool, DL; J.K. Glen; Felicity Hindson, MBE; D.A. Kirk; J. Waddington; M.J. Woodhall.

Also in attendance: Councillors A.P. Collett; B.D. Dash; M.S. Geddes; M.J. Kendal; and W.H. Wheeler.

261 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.

262 MINUTES

The Minutes of the meeting held on 22 September 2003 were confirmed as a correct record.

263 CHAIRMAN'S COMMUNICATIONS - REFERENDUMS ON REGIONAL GOVERNMENT

The Leader reported that the Government had announced its intention to hold the referendums on elected regional assemblies and on local government changes by all-postal ballots. The Cabinet shared his concern that the electorate would thus be deprived of the opportunity to vote at polling stations for these ballots, a method which was preferred by many.

264 2003/04 BUDGET MONITORING

The Cabinet considered the first budget monitoring report for 2003/04 by the County Treasurer (Item 4 in the Minute Book) which reviewed the implications of the reports on service budgets submitted to Executive Members and the latest assumptions on non-cash limited budgets. During the course of the detailed discussion which ensued, the Cabinet expressed its grave concerns about the Government's constraints and inadequate funding levels for special educational needs provision, and asked that appropriate representations be made to the Secretary of State for Education and Employment. The Leaders of the Minority Groups on the County Council were invited to be co-signatories to the letter making the representations, and agreed to do so. With this addition, the recommendations contained in the report were adopted and a copy of the substantive decision sheet is set out as Appendix 1 to these Minutes.

265 LOCAL GOVERNMENT ACT PART 6 (COUNCIL TAX PROVISIONS) - CONSEQUENTIAL REGULATIONS AND DIRECTIVES - A CONSULTATION PAPER

(With the concurrence of the Chairman under Section 100(B)(4)(b) of the Local Government Act 1972, this matter was included on the agenda to enable the County Council to respond formally to the consultation paper by the deadline date of 29 October 2003).

Councillors Estlin, Glasspool and Woodhall declared an interest in the item as owners of second homes and took no part in that portion of the discussion.

The Cabinet considered the report of the County Treasurer (Item 5 in the Minute Book) on the Government consultation paper on the draft regulations and directives that would give effect to the council tax provisions of the Local Government Bill in England. In discussing the report, the Cabinet emphasised that the adverse effects of high council tax increases were not confined solely to pensioners, and that similar hardship could be suffered by families and other individuals. Subject to an addition to reflect this point, the recommendations were adopted and a copy of the substantive decision sheet is set out as Appendix 2 to these Minutes.

266 GOVERNMENT CONSULTATIONS ON DRAFT PRUDENTIAL REGULATIONS AND ON BUSINESS RATE GROWTH INCENTIVES

The Cabinet considered the report of the County Treasurer (Item 6 in the Minute Book) on draft regulations published by the Government on the new prudential system of local government finance and on a consultation paper on local authority business growth incentives. The Cabinet adopted the recommendations contained in the report and a copy of the decision sheet is set out as Appendix 3 to these Minutes.

267 MONITORING THE LOCAL PUBLIC SERVICE AGREEMENT

The Cabinet considered the report of the Chief Executive (Item 7 in the Minute Book) which outlined the progress to date after 18 months of operation in terms of performance and spending for each of the 13 targets included in the Local Public Service Agreement.

Whilst the Cabinet was pleased to note the good progress overall, there was concern that changes in Government policy and target/indicator definitions in some areas could have an adverse impact on the County Council's ability to deliver on its targets. This was particularly evident in respect of Target 1 for Key Stage 3, Level 5 covering all Hampshire secondary schools (paragraph 4.2 of the report refers) and it was agreed that the County Education Officer, in consultation with the Executive Member for Education should write to the Secretary of State for Education and Employment in the matter. The Cabinet adopted the recommendation contained in the report and a copy of the decision sheet is set out as Appendix 4 to these Minutes.

268 COUNTYWIDE REVIEW OF STRATEGY AREAS AND TRANSPORTATION STRATEGY PANELS

The Cabinet considered the report of the Director of Environment (Item 8 in the Minute Book) on outline arrangements for rationalising the existing transport strategy areas and the transportation strategy panels. The Cabinet adopted the recommendations contained in the report and a copy of the decision sheet is set out as Appendix 5 to these Minutes.

269 ARRANGEMENTS FOR REGIONAL AND SUB-REGIONAL PLANNING

The Cabinet considered the report of the Director of Environment (Item 9 in the Minute Book) on the proposed next steps if the South East England Regional Assembly should commission the preparation of sub-regional strategies for parts of Hampshire. Whilst Members of the Cabinet had now received copies of the South Hampshire Study document referred to in the report, there was a general view that there had been insufficient time to peruse it in any detail, and accordingly a decision to publish the Study for information was deferred.

The Cabinet emphasised the crucial importance of the County Council securing a role for itself in any arrangements for regional and sub-regional planning which reflected its role as a community leader; the Executive Member for Environment and the Director of Environment were asked to research the process for developing a Countywide vision and report back. The importance of integrating the County Council's key partners into any new planning mechanism was also stressed. The Cabinet agreed that in the event of the South East England Regional Assembly commissioning the preparation of sub-regional strategies for parts of Hampshire, the County Council should promote the establishment of a cross-authority Member Steering Group for each sub-regional strategy area based on the principles set out in the report. A copy of the substantive decision sheet reflecting the above is set out as Appendix 6 to these Minutes.

270 HAMPSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2002/03

The Cabinet considered the report of the Director of Environment (Item 10 in the Minute Book) on progress made to achieve the aims of the Corporate Sustainable Development Strategy during 2002/03 and seeking approval to the Action Plan for 2003/04. The Cabinet adopted the recommendations contained in the report and a copy of the decision sheet is set out as Appendix 7 to these Minutes.

271 STATEMENT BY MINISTER OF STATE FOR HOUSING AND PLANNING AND PROPOSED CHANGES TO PLANNING POLICY GUIDANCE NOTE 3 (HOUSING PPG3)

The Cabinet considered the report of the Director of Environment (Item 11 in the Minute Book) on the proposed response to the Government's invitation to submit views on proposed changes to planning policies for affordable housing and on reusing employment land for housing. The Cabinet adopted the recommendation contained in the report and a copy of the decision sheet is set out as Appendix 8 to these Minutes.

272 CORPORATE STRATEGY FOR MANAGING RISK

The Cabinet considered the report of the Chief Executive (Item 12 in the Minute Book) which sought approval to the Corporate Strategy for Managing Risk. Subject to the inclusion of further emphasis on the need to take risks and the importance of being risk-aware rather than risk-averse, the Cabinet endorsed the Corporate Strategy for Managing Risk. A copy of the substantive decision sheet is set out as Appendix 9 to these Minutes.

273 EXCLUSION OF THE PRESS AND PUBLIC

RESOLVED:

That, by virtue of paragraph 9 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972, the press and public be excluded from the meeting for consideration of the following item.

274 CONCESSIONARY FARES FOR YOUNG PEOPLE

The Cabinet received the confidential report of the Director of Environment (Item 14 in the Minute Book) on the concept of a concessionary fares scheme for young people. Whilst concurring with the broad thrust of the recommendations, the Cabinet felt that the views of a wider spectrum of young people than proposed in the report should be sought. Similarly, Members asked that commitment to the principles of a countywide scheme be sought from the Hampshire Strategic Partnership. The Cabinet emphasised the need to co-ordinate actions on developing such a scheme with the budget planning process.

It was not considered appropriate, at this juncture, to forward copies of the report to Hampshire Members of Parliament, as suggested in the recommendations.

Subject to amendment to reflect the above, the recommendations were adopted and a copy of the substantive decision sheet is set out as Appendix 10 to these Minutes.

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