AT A MEETING of the CABINET of HAMPSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL held at The Castle, Winchester on Thursday, 12 February 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; J. Waddington; M.J. Woodhall.

Also in attendance: Councillors: A.P. Collett; C.R.H. Davidovitz; M.J. Roberts; W.H. Wheeler.

305 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.

306 MINUTES

The Minutes of the meeting held on 26 January 2004 were confirmed as a correct record.

307 CHAIRMAN'S COMMUNICATIONS

There were no communications.

308 REVENUE BUDGET AND PRECEPT 2004/05

The Cabinet considered the report of the County Treasurer (Item 4 in the Minute Book) which proposed the recommendations to County Council on the 2004/05 budget and the council tax, based on the budget guidelines approved by Cabinet on 15 December 2003.

The County Treasurer amplified the report, drawing attention to the key features of a budget of £1052.2m, a council tax of £840.15 at an increase of 4.7%, and spending which was £44.1m (or 4.4%) above Formula Spending Share (FSS). With specific reference to paragraph 5.8 of the main report, the County Treasurer advised that the Department for Education and Skills had yet to notify the Council of its decision on the re-submitted application for an increase in the central spending limit, this time in the sum of £1.2m. It was not possible at this stage, therefore, to decide whether it would be necessary to increase the budget for special education needs in the schools budget. He anticipated a decision from the Department for Education and Skills before the County Council budget meeting on 25 February 2004.

There was unanimous support for the budget, and the recommendations contained in the report were adopted. A copy of the decision sheet is set out as Appendix 1 to these Minutes.

309 CAPITAL PROGRAMME 2004/05 - 2007/08

The Cabinet considered the report of the County Treasurer (Item 5 in the Minute Book) on the proposed Capital Programme for 2004/05 to 2007/08 based on the guidelines approved by Cabinet on 15 December 2003 and the support for capital schemes recently announced by the Government.

With regard to paragraph 6.18 of the report, the Cabinet asked that a review of waste services be conducted by officers of the County Council.. The recommendations were adopted and a copy of the decision sheet is set out as Appendix 2 to these Minutes.

310 LOCAL GOVERNMENT ASSOCIATION'S DISCUSSION DOCUMENT ON THE REVIEW OF THE BALANCE OF FUNDING OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT SERVICES

The Cabinet considered the report of the County Treasurer (Item 6 in the Minute Book) on a proposed response to the discussion document published by the Local Government Association as a contribution to the Government's review of the balance of funding of local government services. The Cabinet agreed the form of the response to the discussion document subject to minor textual amendments. The recommendations were adopted and a copy of the decision sheet is set out as Appendix 3 to these Minutes.

311 REGIONAL EMPHASIS DOCUMENT (RED)

Consideration of this item was deferred to a future meeting.

312 FIRE SERVICE REGIONAL MANAGEMENT BOARDS

The Cabinet considered the report of the Chief Executive (Item 8 in the Minute Book) on the Government's proposals to establish regional management boards for the Fire and Rescue Service. The Cabinet expressed grave concern at the Government's proposals which, in its view, represented an unacceptable erosion of local accountability for fire services which was not in the best interests of the people of Hampshire. It was also agreed that the issue be reported back to Cabinet when matters had progressed further. The recommendations were amended to reflect this view and a copy of the substantive decision sheet is set out as Appendix 4 to these Minutes.

313 OMBUDSMAN'S REPORT ON HIS INVESTIGATION OF A COMPLAINT

The Cabinet considered the report of the Head of Corporate and Legal Services and Monitoring Officer (Item 9 in the Minute Book) on the report of the Local Government Ombudsman on his investigation of a complaint against the County Council concerning provision to meet special educational needs. In noting, and accepting, the decisions of the Standards Committee on the Ombudsman's report, the Cabinet endorsed strongly the Committee's view that the complaint should have been investigated jointly with the Health Service Ombudsman. It was also agreed that a copy of the report of the Head of Corporate and Legal Services and Monitoring Officer should be submitted to the Strategic Health Authority and the National Health Service Executive.

A copy of the substantive decision sheet is set out as Appendix 5 to these Minutes.

314 SOUTH EAST HAMPSHIRE AREA INVESTMENT FRAMEWORK (AIF)

The Cabinet considered the report of the Head of Economic Development (Item 10 in the Minute Book) on progress made towards implementing the South East England Development Agency's new funding regime in the South East known as the Area Investment Framework. The Cabinet adopted the recommendations contained in the report and a copy of the decision sheet is set out as Appendix 6 to these Minutes.

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