AT A MEETING of the CABINET of HAMPSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL held at The Castle, Winchester on Monday, 26 January 2004.

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 and W.H. Wheeler.

294 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.

295 MINUTES

The Minutes of the meeting held on 15 December 2003 were confirmed as a correct record.

296 CHAIRMAN'S COMMUNICATIONS - PERIODIC ELECTORAL REVIEW OF COUNTY ELECTORAL DIVISIONS

The Leader reported briefly on the Boundary Committee's draft recommendations in respect of the periodic electoral review of county electoral divisions, including in particular the welcome proposal that the County Council should have four additional County Councillors. The leaders of the political groups had rejected the concept of multi-member electoral divisions and would propose appealing against this at a special meeting of the County Council.

297 AREA COMMITTEES/REPRESENTATION

The Cabinet considered the report of the Chief Executive (Item 4 in the Minute Book) on proposed arrangements for the establishment of area policy review committees in the County. Since preparation of the original report, further consideration had been given to the issues outlined in the paper and the Cabinet was now recommended to consider revised proposals, the key features of which were to retain the arrangements for policy review committees at the centre, and to pilot local area committee arrangements initially in two district council areas. The Cabinet strongly supported these revised proposals with their emphasis on engaging with the community via local strategic partnerships, district councils and other interest groups as appropriate on local matters (rather than scrutiny of County Council decisions) in order to inform future policy and resource allocation. The Cabinet also requested that arrangements be put in hand as a matter of urgency to restructure the Policy and Resources Policy Review Committee as a "select committee" on the lines of the parliamentary model. A copy of the substantive decision sheet is set out as Appendix 1 to these Minutes.

298 LOCAL PUBLIC SERVICE AGREEMENT - SECOND GENERATION

Consideration of this item was deferred for further discussion at a future meeting. A copy of the amended decision sheet is set out as Appendix 2 to these Minutes.

299 RIGHTS, RESPECT AND RESPONSIBILITIES IN HAMPSHIRE SCHOOLS: TRANSFORMING SCHOOLS AND COMMUNITIES

The Cabinet considered the report of the County Education Officer (Item 6 in the Minute Book) on the Rights, Respect and Responsibilities programme, the aim of which was to encourage each school to base its ethos and code of behaviour on the UN Convention on The Rights of the Child and therefore on the rights of people, both adults and children, and the responsibilities which they have to each other. The Cabinet welcomed the innovative proposals contained in the report and, in addition to adopting the recommendation, requested that a seminar on the subject be arranged for all Members of the County Council. A copy of the substantive decision sheet is set out as Appendix 3 to these Minutes.

300 UPDATE ON PAY AND BENEFITS PROJECT

The Cabinet considered the report of the County Personnel and Training Officer (Item 7 in the Minute Book) on the achievements to date on the pay and benefits project and current work under way. The Cabinet welcomed the positive progress made on the project and in noting the position requested that a project plan be submitted to Cabinet as soon as was practicable. A copy of the substantive decision sheet is set out as Appendix 4 to these Minutes.

301 CORPORATE HEALTH AND SAFETY STRATEGY AND POLICY

The Cabinet considered the report of the County Personnel and Training Officer (Item 8 in the Minute Book) on the proposed new Corporate Health and Safety Strategy and the revised Corporate Health and Safety Policy. In addition to certain textual amendments, noted by the officers for incorporation into the Corporate Policy Statement, the Cabinet asked for a further report in six months' time providing more detailed information on the targets and goals set out therein. A copy of the substantive decision sheet is set out as Appendix 5 to these Minutes.

302 MEMBERS' ATTENDANCE AT CONFERENCES AND SEMINARS - SEPTEMBER 2003 - DECEMBER 2003

The Cabinet noted the report of the Chief Executive (Item 9 in the Minute Book) on the attendance of Members at conferences and seminars for the period September 2003 - December 2003. The Chief Executive reported an addition to the list contained in the appendix in respect of the attendance of Councillors Hindson, McNair Scott, Steel and Wride at the National Social Services Conference "The Challenge of Change" held at Brighton from 15-17 October 2003. A copy of the substantive decision sheet is set out as Appendix 6 to these Minutes.

303 EXCLUSION OF THE PRESS AND PUBLIC

RESOLVED:

That, by virtue of paragraph 14 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972, the press and public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the following item.

304 HEALTH AND SAFETY MANAGEMENT ISSUES

The Cabinet considered the confidential report of the Chief Executive (Item 11 in the Minute Book) on current health and safety management issues. In addition to noting the position and endorsing the proposed way forward, the Cabinet recorded its appreciation of the sterling efforts of the officers concerned with the recent court case as referred to in the report. A copy of the substantive decision sheet is set out as Appendix 7 to these Minutes.

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