Archived decisions
At a Meeting of Hampshire County Council held at The Castle, Winchester on Thursday, 1 April, 2004 at 10.00 a.m.
Chairman :
p Councillor Mrs. M. D. Snaith
Vice-Chairman:
p Councillor J. V. Bryant
Councillors:
p Mrs S.E. Allbright
p D.G. Allen
p Mrs A.E. Bailey
p Mrs. E.S.M. Barron
Mrs P.G. Banks
p R. J. Baulk
p I.F.E. Beagley
Carol Boulton
F.J. Bright
P.R. Brown
p Mrs. E.M. Byrom
p M.F. Cartwright
K.G. Chapman
p P.J. Chegwyn
p A.P. Collett
p B.D. Dash
p C.R.H. Davidovitz
p G.W. Davies-Dear
p Mrs. P.M. Devereux
p Mrs. P. Dickens
p A.G. Dowden
p L. T. Dunsdon
p Dr. R.J. Ellis
p Capt. K.B. Estlin
W.J. Filer
p Mrs. J.K. Frankum
p E.F. Gale, M.B.E.
p M.S. Geddes
p D. Gillett
Mrs S.M. Glasspool, D.L.
p J.K. Glen
B.T. Gurden
p Mrs. D.R. Harrison
S.A. Hayes
p P.A. Heath
p Mrs. K. Heron
Felicity Hindson, M.B.E.
p Mrs. P.G.E. Holden-Brown
p K. House
P.R.C. Hutcheson
p Jo Kelly
p M.J. Kendal
p R.J. Kimber
p D.A. Kirk
p T.G. Knight
p Mrs C.A. Leversha
p A.R. Ludlow
p P. Luffman
p P.K. Mason
p R.C. McIntosh
p Mrs. A.M. McNair Scott
p Mrs. P.G. Peskett
p P.A. Pierce
p R.H. Price
p Mrs. E.M.F. Randall
p A.W. Rice, T.D.
p M.J. Roberts
Sir James Scott
p K.P.J. Searle
p J.D. Shaw
M.L. Sheehan
p Mrs. V. Steel
J.W. Stocks
p T.K. Thornber, C.B.E.
J. Waddington
p Dr. J.G.L. Wall
p J.K. West
Mrs P.A. West
p W.H. Wheeler
p M.J. Woodhall
p Jenny Wride
p D.F. Wright
272 MINUTES
The minutes of the meetings of the County Council held on 25 February and 4 March 2004 were confirmed subject to the substitution of "North" in Minute 245 for "North East".
273 DECLARATION OF INTERESTS
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.
274 STANDING ORDERS
ORDERED:
That, in relation to the subject matter of Minute 286 below, Standing Order 13
be suspended so as to allow the item to be taken before Reports for Information (Part II)
are received and also that Standing Order 27 be suspended so that the procedure below
may be followed during that debate:
- 10 minutes for the Leader of the Labour Group to introduce and explain
the subject for debate;
- 4 minutes for a Member speaking on the subject;
- 10 minutes for the Leader of the Council;
- 7 minutes for the Leader of the Labour Group to respond.
- At the end of the debate no vote would be taken.
275 DEPUTATIONS
No deputations had been received.
276 CHAIRMAN'S COMMUNICATIONS
It was with great sadness and regret that the Chairman informed the Council of the death of former County Councillor Dennis West recently. He had served as a County Councillor from 1997 to 2001. The Leader of the Council, the Leaders of the Liberal Democrat and Labour Groups and other Members paid tribute to the service given by the late former Councillor West, a tireless worker for his community in East Hampshire. Members stood in silence as a mark of respect to his memory.
The Chairman also reported other commitments since the previous meeting of the Council including a visit to the Manor Trust Home for the elderly at Bedhampton, attending the Hart Young Musician of the Year Awards, accompanying the High Sheriff to witness Court proceedings in Winchester, and hosting events for the County Council's Honorary Aldermen and for the retiring High Sheriff of Hampshire, the Hon. Mrs. Frances Hoare, JP. The Chairman had also taken the opportunity to visit staff who had helped her during her term of office. She made particular reference to visits she had made to Hampshire Transport Management and Hampshire Printing Services where she had witnessed the commitment and dedication of staff at first hand.
277 LEADER'S REPORT
The Leader reported that the Cabinet had been briefed on the potential implications of the Civil Contingencies Bill which was expected to receive Royal Assent within the next few months. In doing so the Cabinet had examined the role of elected Members in an emergency. The County Council would take on a number of new responsibilities when the bill became law and it will be required to enhance certain aspects of its current operations. The resource implications of the Bill would require further analysis in due course. Procedures were already in place to ensure that, as a priority, Members were kept fully apprised at all times in an emergency and these arrangements would be refined and enhanced as appropriate. Training would be extended to all Members of the County Council.
The Leader also referred to advice received from the Standards Board for England concerning the County Council's Code of Conduct both in relation to planning matters and when Members were campaigning or seeking to represent their electorates. The Standards Board had confirmed that the County Council's local Code of Conduct for Councillors and Officers dealing with planning matters as recommended to the Council in November 2004 was wholly appropriate.
278 QUESTIONS UNDER STANDING ORDER 20 (b)
Councillor K B Estlin, Executive Member for Environment, answered a question from Councillor M. J. Roberts concerning the conclusions in the Barker Report on housing supply in the United Kingdom.
Councillor D. G. Allen, Executive Member for Education, answered a
question from Councillor M. J. Roberts concerning school access plans and compliance with the Disability Discrimination Act.
Councillor K. B. Estlin, Executive Member for Environment, answered a
question from Councillor M. J. Roberts concerning accessible buses operating in
Hampshire.
Councillor K. B. Estlin, Executive Member for Environment, answered a
question from Councillor M. J. Roberts concerning the recent Government Office for the South East consultation document on Regional Transport Strategy and the consultation issued by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister on the resourcing of extended affordable housing.
Councillor K. B. Estlin, Executive Member for Environment, answered a question from Councillor K. P. J. Searle concerning the impact of light rapid transit on the volume of traffic using the A32 at Gosport.
Councillor K. B. Estlin, Executive Member for Environment, answered a question from Councillor K. P. J. Searle concerning congestion on the A32 at Gosport.
Councillor K. B. Estlin, Executive Member for Environment, answered a question from Councillor D. F. Wright concerning the cost of the South Hampshire Light Rapid Transit Scheme.
Councillor K. B. Estlin, Executive Member for Environment, answered a question from Councillor D. F. Wright concerning plans to improve the A32 Gosport to Fareham road should the South Hampshire Light Rapid Transit Scheme not proceed.
279 APPOINTMENTS
Following the resignation of Councillor K. B. Estlin as a representative of the County Council it was
ORDERED:
That Councillor M. S. Geddes be appointed to represent the County Council on the Hampshire and Wight Trust for Maritime Archaeology until the Annual Meeting of the Council in May 2005.
280 EXECUTIVE MEMBER FOR SOCIAL CARE - PART I
Part I of the Executive Member for Social Care was presented in her absence by Councillor T. K. Thornber, CBE, Leader of the Council.
281 YOUTH JUSTICE PLAN FOR HAMPSHRIE AND THE ISLE OF
WIGHT
The Council considered and approved the report of the Executive Member for Social Care.
ORDERED:
That approval be given to the Youth Justice Plan for Hampshire and the Isle of Wight for submission to the Youth Justice Board for England and Wales.
282 NOTICE OF MOTION - MEDALS FOR HEROES OF THE ARCTIC
CONVOYS
Councillor Dr. J. G. L. Wall, seconded by Councillor B. D. Dash, proposed the following motion, notice of which had been given in accordance with Standing Order 17:
This Council is mindful that the veterans of arctic convoys demand recognition for Royal Navy sailors and merchant seamen who served in the Russian convoys in the Second World War.
Of the 20,000 naval heroes, an estimated 2,000 are still alive, but like their merchant comrades, they have never been given a campaign medal in honour of their extraordinary bravery.
They ran the gauntlet of submarine and air attacks through subzero conditions to take munitions, food, fuel and other vital supplies to Russia.
These efforts probably saved Russia from being defeated, which would have made an allied victory almost impossible.
But in 1946, the arctic campaign veterans were scandalously overlooked when medals were handed out, because Russia had become an enemy instead of an ally.
Veterans of the campaign started their push for a medal in 1997, saying the cold war was over and it was clear that Britain and Russia were no longer enemies. But the men who served in the arctic were told they could have the Atlantic Star, a medal for a different campaign.
In a further snub, most were unable to qualify for the Atlantic Star because it had a six month continuous service requirement, which applied to crews of just 6 of the 670 ships that sailed the arctic convoys.
All other Second World War campaign medals had a qualification period of just one day.
Years of wrong can be overturned by a simple intervention from the Prime Minister. The campaign demands that he asks the Honours and Decorations Committee in Whitehall to recommend the Queen to order the creation of a new Arctic Medal.
This is above all an issue about how Britain treats its heroes. The Prime Minister must act now to end almost 60 years of injustice.
Hampshire County Council therefore supports the Campaign by Arctic Veterans to persuade the Government to award a medal for the harshest sea campaign of the Second World War.
Furthermore, this Council agrees to send a letter to the Prime Minister to ask him to intervene on this issue because of the continued intransigence of the Ministry of Defence.
The Council also would encourage as many people as possible to sign the petition supporting this campaign.
Following debate, the motion proposed by Councillor Dr. J. G. L. Wall was put to the vote and was unanimously supported.
ORDERED:
(i) That the Notice of Motion submitted by Councillor Dr. J. G. L. Wall advocating the provision of medals for heroes of the Arctic Convoys be unanimously agreed and accordingly the County Council supports the campaign by Arctic veterans to persuade the Government to award a medal for the harshest sea campaign of the Second World War and that the Prime Minister be asked to intervene on this issue because of the continued intransigence of the Ministry of Defence, the County Council's approach to the Prime Minister to be signed by the Leader of the County Council and the Leaders of the Liberal Democrat and Labour Groups;
(ii) That in passing this resolution, the County Council also encourages as many people as possible to sign the petition supporting this campaign.
283 NOTICE OF MOTION - LITTER ON TRUNK ROADS
Councillor Dr. J. G. L. Wall, seconded by Councillor Mrs. P. Dickens, proposed the following Motion, notice of which had been given in accordance with Standing Order 17:
Hampshire County Council calls on the Government to change the current arrangements regarding the collection of litter on trunk roads.
The Highways Agency, which is responsible for all aspects of the highways
under their control except litter, should be required to either:
(i) undertake this responsibility themselves to agreed standards;
or, preferably:
(ii) resource district councils sufficiently to do the job properly, including all necessary equipment and operational support.
(Currently, litter collection on trunk roads is the responsibility of district councils, who have neither the equipment nor adequate budgets to carry this out effectively and can only work on the highways at the discretion of the Highways Agency.)
If option (i) above is pursued, since District Councils are responsible for litter collection on all other roads, they should retain responsibility for overseeing the litter condition of the trunk roads within their area and have powers to enforce against the Highways Agency as necessary.
The Chief Executive is instructed to write to the Minister for Transport with a request for prompt action on this matter on the lines suggested.
Without further discussion the matter was referred to the Environment Policy Review Committee for consideration. It was noted that the Environment Policy Review Committee was meeting representatives of the Highways Agency in late June so that a report could be made to the County Council on the notice of motion at its meeting in July.
284 HAMPSHIRE POLICE AUTHORITY
On this occasion there was no report on the Hampshire Police Authority nor were there any questions pursuant to Standing Order 20 (d) concerning the discharge of its functions.
285 HAMPSHIRE FIRE AND RESCUE AUTHORITY
On this occasion there was no report from the Hampshire Fire and Rescue Authority nor were there any questions pursuant to Standing Order 20 (e) concerning the discharge of its functions.
286 THE HEALTH AND ECONOMY OF HAMPSHIRE
The subject matter of the debate proposed by Councillor W. H. Wheeler, Leader of the Labour Group, had been circulated to Members with the agenda and reports for the meeting.
In Councillor Wheeler's view, in introducing the matter, there were a number of key issues to which the County Council, with appropriate support from the Government, should respond. Cigarette smoke, whether inhaled directly or indirectly, had an adverse effect on the health and wellbeing of the community, and poor diet, whilst having an adverse effect generally, was particularly harmful to the health and welfare of all our school children. Councillor Wheeler advocated free meals and an incremental approach towards healthy eating in schools preferring a start to be made in the most deprived parts of the Hampshire community.
Following a full debate it was agreed that direct action could be taken in relation to smoking on County Council premises and the Leader undertook that the matter would be discussed by the Buildings, Land and Procurement Panel at an early meeting.
In relation to healthier eating in schools, most Members did not consider that the provision of free meals was the solution. The general consensus was that healthy meals should be provided in schools and that the County Council was already playing a leading role in this respect. Healthy eating partnerships had already been established by Hampshire Caterers in a number of primary schools. The Council was mindful that governing bodies ultimately had responsibility for their own schools' arrangements. There was also a continuing need to encourage schools to promote school meals, there still being evidence that a stigma continued to affect the take up of free school meals
Educating both parents and children in the advantages of healthy eating was considered to be essential.
It was also considered important not to lose sight of the financial implications associated with the proposal put forward by the Labour Group. It was estimated that a 75% take up of free school meals would cost some £25m a year. 100% take up was estimated to cost £34m a year - the equivalent of 7 ½ % on the Council Tax. In that context such an approach was not considered to be one of the County Council's highest priorities without Government funding. The health of the community was considered to be a national issue and accordingly largely a matter for the Government with support from the County Council where practicable. In the absence of appropriate funding by the Government, the County Council's priorities were considered to be food education, healthier eating, and more exercise. Parents and children needed to understand more clearly the longer term effects of their eating habits and the companies promoting meals and food which was detrimental to health needed more readily to acknowledge the long term implications of their policies.
The Council was sympathetic to the issues raised by the Labour Group and, having asked the Buildings, Land and Procurement Panel to look at the issue of smoking in relation to County Council premises, the Leader also asked the Health Review Committee, in consultation with the Education Policy Review Committee, to consider options for developing a gradual policy to promote healthy eating among Hampshire's schoolchildren, including how the County Council could help to educate parents on this issue and how to minimise the impact on the community of advertising which promoted unhealthy foods and meals.
In conclusion, Councillor Wheeler reiterated his belief that free school meals would help children's diets. He was hopeful that the County Council could make an impact in Hampshire schools. He also supported the line taken by the Leader of the Council in relation to smoking and County Council premises.
287. MATTERS FOR INFORMATION OR WITHIN DELEGATED
POWERS
Part II of the reports of the following, comprising matters for information or dealt with within delegated powers was presented, received and adopted:-
- Cabinet/Leader
- Executive Member for Education
- Executive Member for Environment
- Executive Member for Spatial Strategy
- Executive Member for Recreation and Heritage
- Executive Member for Social Care
- Health Review Committee
- Standards Committee
The meeting closed at 1.00 p.m.
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