AT A MEETING of the SOUTH HAMPSHIRE RAPID TRANSIT PROCUREMENT JOINT PANEL held at the Castle, Winchester on

Wednesday 21 April 2004.

PRESENT:

Hampshire County Council

Councillors: K. B. Estlin (Chairman); M.S. Geddes; T.G. Knight; R.H. Price.

Also in attendance: Councillor J.V. Bryant; K. P. J. Searle

Portsmouth City Council:

Councillors: A. Bentley; J. Patey.

38. 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 debate declare their interest, and having regards 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.

39. MINUTES

The Minutes of the meeting held on 11 June 2003 were confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

40. CHAIRMAN'S COMMUNICATIONS

There were no Chairman's communications.

41. DEPUTATIONS

There were no deputations.

42. EXCLUSION OF THE PRESS AND PUBLIC

RESOLVED:

That, by virtue of paragraphs 7 and 9 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972, the press and public be excluded from the meeting for consideration of the following item.

43. SOUTH HAMPSHIRE RAPID TRANSIT (SHRT) 1 - PROGRESS REPORT

The Panel considered the confidential report of the Director of Environment (Hampshire County Council) and the City Engineer (Portsmouth City Council) (item 6 in the Minute Book) setting out progress towards establishing a revised funding agreement with the Government which would be judged sufficient to deliver the commercial bids received in March 2003.

The SHRT-1 Project Director expanded on the report paying particular attention to the transfer of risk to the public sector in the amended proposals, submitted to Government in September 2003. It was hoped that a response to the submission would be received by late July on the completion of the Department for Transport's spending review. As the scheme would provide increased transport capacity and would not directly compete with existing public transport services it was felt that there was reason to be optimistic of receiving Government funding.

Members' questions focused on the Gosport-Portsmouth ferry service which had improved considerably since the SHRT project had originally been mooted. It was confirmed that the financial effect of additional competition from the ferry company had been taken into account when drafting the revised bid for Government funding.

Further discussion centred on the statutory timescale for the compulsory purchase of land and the potential for the light rail carriages to carry cycles.

RESOLVED:

(i) That the report be noted.

(ii) That a joint Hampshire County Council and Portsmouth City Council press release be published confirming both Authorities' continued commitment to the SHRT scheme.

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