AT A MEETING of the CABINET of HAMPSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL held at The Castle, Winchester on Monday, 22 March 2004.

PRESENT:

Councillors: T.K. Thornber, CBE (in the Chair); D.G. Allen; K.B. Estlin; J.K. Glen; D.A. Kirk; M.J. Woodhall.

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

315 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.

316 MINUTES

The Minutes of the meeting held on 12 February 2004 were confirmed as a correct record.

317 CHAIRMAN'S COMMUNICATIONS

There were no communications.

318 ANNUAL REPORT OF THE MAJOR ACHIEVEMENTS OF THE COUNTY COUNCIL IN 2003/04

Consideration of this item was deferred to a future meeting.

319 BEST VALUE PERFORMANCE INDICATORS - COMPARATIVE RESULTS FOR 2002/03

The Cabinet considered the report of the Chief Executive (Item 5 in the Minute Book) on the comparative performance indicator results for 2002/03 for a basket of key performance indicators, and the actions taken in 2003/04 to address the areas of concern. The Cabinet adopted the recommendations contained in the report and a copy of the decision sheet is set out as Appendix 1 to these Minutes.

320 REGIONAL EMPHASIS DOCUMENT (RED)

The Cabinet considered the report of the Chief Executive (Item 6 in the Minute Book) which invited Member comments on the Regional Emphasis Document (RED) which informed the Government's 2004 Spending Review.

The Cabinet broadly welcomed the RED document and in particular its assertion that there was a clear and pressing need for increased and timely Central Government investment (capital and revenue) in infrastructure and public services in the South East. In formally responding to the document the Chief Executive was requested to highlight the concerns of the County Council at the perceived failure of the Government to recognise properly the impact of additional housing on, specifically, roads, transport, education, health, and water supplies, and to provide supporting information in respect of each. The County Treasurer was also requested to submit a report to a future meeting of the Cabinet examining the proposals on funding for investment in infrastructure and the public services to be investigated further with the Government, as referred to in Annex A of the RED document. A copy of the substantive decision sheet, reflecting these resolutions, is set out as Appendix 2 to these minutes.

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