Contact: Alun Trott, ext 6899 email: [email protected]

Peter Bayless, ext 6882 email: [email protected]

1. Development Control Service Review

1.1 On 7 May 2003, a report on the Highways Development Control Service Review was presented to the Environment Policy Review Committee, following formal consultation with District Council officers and Members. The Members of the Policy Review Committee decided to set up a scrutiny task group to probe the issues in more detail before giving their advice to the Executive Member for Environment.

1.2 Following a number of meetings with the task group, the Environment Policy Review Committee met on 21 July 2003 and resolved that the Executive Member for Environment and the Cabinet be advised that discussions be undertaken with the Hampshire Districts to implement the following agreed service changes:

(i) Strategic Planning Applications - amendments to Procedure Note 12 with a new protocol to enable the threshold levels above which the County Council is consulted to be increased.

(ii) Minor Planning Applications - amendments to Procedure Note 12 with a new protocol to enable the threshold levels above which the County Council is consulted to be increased, thereby giving the District Councils greater control over larger applications.

(iii) Section 106/278 Agreements - enable District Councils to take financial contributions of up to £50,000 under a Section 106 Agreement and amend the threshold above which Executive Member authority is sought to £250,000.

(iv) Section 38 Agreements and Advance Payments Code - amend the model Section 38 Agreement. Undertake all Section 38 design checking and inspection through the Hampshire Highways Offices.

(v) Design Checks - as a general guide, schemes over £100,000 to be checked by the Engineering Consultancy as at present. Schemes under £100,000 to be checked by Hampshire Highways Offices.

(vi) Land Charge Searches - the highway element of all land charge searches for the former Island Agency areas to be completed centrally by the County Council, with a move towards modernising the system in line with e-government initiatives.

1.3 This was formally confirmed by Councillor Estlin on 23 July 2003. Subsequently, meetings have been ongoing with the individual districts to discuss the implications of the review and TUPE arrangements.

1.4 The timescale proposed for the changes to occur is a transitional period between 1 October 2003 and 31 March 2004.

2. Other Agency Arrangements

2.1 In addition to the proposed new agency arrangements to reflect the outcome of the Development Control Review, discussions were already in progress with District Councils on new draft Agreements for Traffic Management. It was also recognised that separate agreements would need to be considered for the continuation of grass cutting and tree maintenance functions and also for the delivery of some capital programme schemes.

2.2 The Executive Member for Environment had previously extended the remaining existing agency arrangements until 30 September 2003, but whilst a new Traffic Management Agency Agreement has been concluded with New Forest District Council, other District Councils postponed a decision on whether to take up the offer of Traffic Management Agency until the outcome of the Development Control Review was known. In the event, this took longer than had been anticipated and there was insufficient time to conclude new agreements for Traffic Management or other functions before 30 September.

2.3 The remaining existing agency arrangements have therefore been extended again for a further six month period to allow time for further agreements to be negotiated or the necessary alternative arrangements put into place, including staff transfers, as appropriate.

Recommendation

That this report be noted.

8340/AGT/PDB