Archived decisions

                      Item 2

AT A MEETING of the ENVIRONMENT POLICY REVIEW COMMITTEE held on 21 January 2004 at The Castle, Winchester.

PRESENT:

Councillors: P.R.C. Hutcheson (Chairman); C.R.H. Davidovitz; Mrs P.M. Devereux; W.J. Filer; B.T. Gurden; K. House; R.J. Kimber; T.G. Knight; P. Luffman; R.H. Price; M.J. Roberts; Sir James J. Scott and J.D. Shaw.

Also in attendance: Councillors K.B. Estlin and J.K. Glen

193. 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. No declarations were made by any Members on this occasion.

194. MINUTES

    The Minutes of the meeting held on 3 December 2003 (Item 2 in the Minute Book) were confirmed by the Committee and signed by the Chairman subject to an amendment to paragraph 186 (ii): on the third line after the word "policies", delete the remainder of the sentence.

    Arising thereon:-

    Minute 190: Councillor Roberts asked when a scrutiny session would be convened with representatives from the Environment Agency and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) to discuss national policy on climate change and flooding issues. The Director of Environment responded that she was not aware of progress on this item but would inform the Committee of the arrangements in writing. Councillor Roberts also requested a copy of a map produced by the Environment Agency detailing flood plains.

195. CHAIRMAN'S COMMUNICATIONS


    (i) The Chairman reported the death of Martin Robertson, the County

      Council's Head of Passenger Transport, on 26 December 2003 after a short illness. The Committee extended their condolences to Mr Robertson's family and paid tribute to the good work he had done during his service with the County Council.

    (ii) The Chairman reminded Members that a seminar on Waste would be held at 2.00pm that afternoon in the Council Chamber, Castle Avenue.

196. MEMBERS' QUESTIONS


Councillor K.B. Estlin, Executive Member for Environment answered questions from Councillor M.J. Roberts on the Winchester Park and Ride Car Park, Bar End, Phase 2 Extension.

197. DEPUTATIONS

    No requests to make a deputation were received.

198. `HAMPSHIRE TODAY, HAMPSHIRE TOMORROW' - A DRAFT COMMUNITY STRATEGY FOR HAMPSHIRE


The Committee considered the report of the Director of Environment (Item 6 in the Minute Book) detailing the background to community strategies and summarised the main features of the consultation document `Hampshire Today, Hampshire Tomorrow'. To amplify the report, the Environment Department's Chief Planning Adviser gave a short presentation.

    The Committee's attention was drawn to the vision, themes and outcomes of the draft strategy and Members were asked to consider which three cross-cutting actions the Hampshire Strategic Partnership should be advised to address first. During the ensuing debate, Members' questions were answered.

    RESOLVED:

      That the Environment Policy Review Committee:

    (i) supports the vision and themes promoted in Hampshire Today, Hampshire Tomorrow, the draft Community Strategy for Hampshire but suggests that not all the key issues facing the County have been identified. In particular the Committee is concerned that the Strategy fails to address the problems and opportunities arising from demographic changes in the population; the impact of lifestyle changes; and the challenges facing the countryside; and

    (ii) agrees the value of exploring a number of cross-cutting actions which the partnership should undertake to implement the Strategy and offers the following three as actions that the Environment Department could commit itself to helping to prepare:-

      · a spatial strategy for Hampshire that interprets the vision in terms of the needs of existing and future communities within which individual partners can develop their own delivery plans;

      · an agreed approach to accessibility that all the partners can follow when devising plans and policies to deliver their services; and

      · a definition of environmental well-being and the highlighting of the contribution it can make towards achieving social and economic well-being.

199. REVENUE BUDGET 2004/05

    The Committee considered the report of the County Treasurer and Director of Environment (Item 7 in the Minute Book) setting out the proposed Environment revenue budget for 2004/05 and the revised budget for 2003/04.

    The County Treasurer and the Director of Environment amplified the report and detailed discussions were centred on a number of key areas:-

    (i) Information Technology costs

    (ii) redeployments

    (iii) public transport, in particular bus services

    (iv) highways maintenance including highways inspections, the performance of the Term Maintenance Contractor and costs associated with the control of ragwort

    (v) Management and Control Services

    (vi) Best Value Accounting Code of Practice (BVACOP)

    During the course of the discussions, the following points were noted:-

    (i) In response to a request that the Committee consider how information technology investment is determined and review investments made, it was agreed that the annual statement on IT Strategy be added to the Committee's forward plan for consideration at a future meeting.

    (ii) In respect of bus services, the Executive Member for Environment gave a detailed update on the current situation including bus subsidies and Cango bus services, which it was noted were proving to be very popular.

    (ii) In respect of the current Term Maintenance Contractor, the Director of Environment reported that performance was being monitored. Overall, indications were that the County Council was receiving a better level of service for less cost. This could be considered further when the annual performance report was brought to the Committee.

    (iii) The County Treasurer confirmed that the Best Value Accounting Code of Practice was determined by CIPFA and allows for meaningful comparisons and analysis.


    RESOLVED:

    That the Environment Policy Review Committee supports the proposals for the revenue budget 2004/05 that have been prepared in consultation with the Executive Member for Environment, prior to formal approval of the budget proposals by the Executive Member for submission to the Cabinet.

200. PROPOSED CAPITAL PROGRAMME 2004/05 TO 2007/08 AND REVISED TRANSPORT CAPITAL PROGRAMME 2003/04


    The Committee considered the report of the County Treasurer and Director of Environment (Item 8 in the Minute Book) setting out the proposed Environment capital programme for 2004/05 to 2007/08 and detailing progress on, and further amendments to the 2003/04 integrated transport programme.

    The County Treasurer and the Director of Environment amplified the report and detailed discussions were centred on a number of key areas:-

    (i) Local Transport Plan (LTP)

    (ii) Safer Routes to School schemes

    (iii) Cycle routes

    (iv) Household Waste Reclycling Centres

    (v) Chickenhall Lane Link Road major bid

    (vi) Street Lighting

    During the course of the discussions, the following points were noted:-

    (i) In respect of the next Local Transport Plan, the Executive Member for Environment confirmed that the preparation process had already commenced. The new area Transport Panels approved by the County Council at its meeting on 27 November 2003, would be tasked with considering a number of key issues associated with the next LTP.

    (ii) The Executive Member for Environment reported that some money had become available to employ a number of School Travel Plan (STP) Co-ordinators who would assist schools with the preparation of an STP. It was anticipated that this would in turn assist the County Council in meeting its target for STPs in 2005.

    (iii) Members expressed concern that the level of cyclists using off-road cycle routes had not significantly risen given the number of cycle routes now provided and the obvious safety benefits. In respect of the need for education for adult cyclists in relation to on-road cycling, it was suggested that this matter be referred to Councillor McIntosh in his capacity as Chairman of the regular meetings of the Hampshire Road Safety Council Chairmen.

    (iv) The Director of Environment took the opportunity to confirm to Members that a bid submitted to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) in respect of waste recycling was largely successful and some of this money would be used to improve some of Hampshire's existing Household Waste Recycling Centres. However, this would only address the most pressing problems.

    (v) The Director of Environment emphasised that the Chickenhall Lane Link Road remained the County Council's priority major scheme bid because of the employment opportunities it would provide, together with potential associated improvements in Eastleigh. However, it was considered that it would be difficult to bring the scheme forward earlier than the planned 2006/07 start.

    (vi) The replacement of street lighting stock and the decision not to submit a Private Finance Initiative (PFI) bid to Government was detailed in a report to Cabinet in July 2003. A copy of the report could be sent to any Member of the Committee who requested it.

    (vii) The Director of Environment confirmed that the risk assessment process for street lighting stock was a very complex one therefore a detailed written response would be issued to any Members of the Committee who requested it.


    RESOLVED:

    (i) that the Environment Policy Review Committee supports the proposed

      capital programme 2004/05 to 2007/08, and revised programme for 2003/04 that has been prepared in consultation with the Executive Member for Environment, prior to the formal approval of the capital programme by the Executive Member for submission to the Cabinet; and

    (ii) that the Environment Policy Review Committee, in particular, supports the Executive Member for Environment's request to Cabinet to consider a capital sum for 2004/05 of up to £1m for a new Household Waste Recycling Centre at one of Fawley, or Fleet, or North West Basingstoke.

201. M3 TRAFFIC NOISE AND OTHER MATTERS INVOLVING THE IMPACT OF THE MOTORWAY AND TRUNK ROAD NETWORK ON HAMPSHIRE'S ENVIRONMENT

    The Committee considered the report of the Director of Environment (Item 9 in the Minute Book) detailing the background as to why this report had been submitted to them. Following a motion at a meeting of the County Council on 25 July 2000 an M3 Noise Mitigation group was formed, chaired by the Executive Member for Spatial Strategy, to discuss M3 noise issues. The group had met on several occasions during 2003 and although the informal meetings had proved to be very useful, it was felt important to formalise future discussions by requesting the Environment Policy Review Committee to invite the Highways Agency to an annual meeting. This would keep the matter of M3 noise under review but also allow for broader, cross-cutting debate. The Executive Member for Environment considered this suggestion at his decision meeting on 9 December 2003 and in concluding that this was the best way forward, formally referred the matter to the Environment Policy Review Committee.

    The Director of Environment reported that recent discussions with the Highways Agency had indicated that an invitation to the Committee's 30 June 2004 meeting would be preferable as the Highways Agency would have their 2004/05 programme of works finalised by this time.

    During the ensuing discussion, Members requested that discussions with the Highway Agency included not only the M3 but also the M27, which impacts on Hampshire's environment too and that local Members whose electoral divisions adjoin or have these motorways running through them also be invited to attend the meeting.

    RESOLVED:

    That, in light of the Executive Member for Environment's request, the Environment Policy Review Committee invite the Highways Agency and other interested Members to an annual meeting to discuss traffic noise and other matters involving the impact of the motorway and trunk road network on Hampshire's environment; the meeting for 2004 to be held on 30 June at The Castle, Winchester.


202. REQUESTS BY MEMBERS FOR ITEMS TO BE CONSIDERED AT A

FUTURE MEETING OF THE COMMITTEE

A request from Councillor Roberts was considered:

    "That the Environment Policy Review Committee examines the statement made by the Secretary of State for Transport on 16 December 2003 in respect of airport capacity and how this affects Hampshire."

    RESOLVED:

    That this matter be added to the Environment Policy Review Committee's forward plan of items to be considered at a future date, exact timing to be confirmed.

203. ENVIRONMENT POLICY REVIEW COMMITTEE - FORWARD
PLAN

    The Committee considered the report of the Chief Executive and Director of Environment (Item 11 in the Minute Book) setting out issues for future consideration by the Committee.

    RESOLVED:

    (i) 3 March meeting: add "Benchmarking Best Value Performance Indicator targets 2002/03 - comparison with other Local Authorities."

    (ii) 5 May meeting: add "IT Strategy - Annual Statement."

    (iii) 30 June meeting: add "Presentation by the Highways Agency and discussion on traffic noise and other matters involving the impact of the motorway and trunk road network on Hampshire's environment."

    (iv) For a future meeting (timing to be confirmed): add "Airport capacity and the effect on Hampshire - examination of the statement made by the Secretary of State for Transport on 16 December 2003."

ENPRC/DAV210104