Archived decisions

At a Meeting of Hampshire County Council held at The Castle, Winchester on Thursday, 20 May, 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

Mrs. E.S.M. Barron

p Mrs P.G. Banks

p R. J. Baulk

p I.F.E. Beagley

Carol Boulton

p F.J. Bright

p P.R. Brown

p Mrs. E.M. Byrom

p M.F. Cartwright

p 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

Dr. R.J. Ellis

p Capt. K.B. Estlin

p W.J. Filer

p Mrs. J.K. Frankum

p E.F. Gale, M.B.E.

p M.S. Geddes

p D. Gillett

p Mrs S.M. Glasspool, D.L.

p J.K. Glen

p B.T. Gurden

p Mrs. D.R. Harrison

p S.A. Hayes

p P.A. Heath

p Mrs. K. Heron

p Felicity Hindson, M.B.E.

p Mrs. P.G.E. Holden-Brown

p K. House

p 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

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

p Sir James Scott

p K.P.J. Searle

p J.D. Shaw

p M.L. Sheehan

p Mrs. V. Steel

p J.W. Stocks

p T.K. Thornber, C.B.E.

p J. Waddington

p Dr. J.G.L. Wall

p J.K. West

p Mrs P.A. West

p W.H. Wheeler

p M.J. Woodhall

p Jenny Wride

p D.F. Wright

288 ELECTION OF CHAIRMAN

The Chief Executive called for nominations. Councillor T. K. Thornber, CBE seconded by Councillor M. J. Woodhall proposed that Councillor J. V. Bryant be elected Chairman of the Council for the ensuing year.

ORDERED:

That Councillor J. V. Bryant be elected Chairman of the Council to hold office until the Annual Meeting of the Council in 2005.

Councillor J. V. Bryant thereupon made the declaration of acceptance of office and took the chair.

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Councillor J. V. Bryant in the Chair

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289 MINUTES

The minutes of the meeting of the County Council held on 1 April 2004 were confirmed and signed by the Chairman.

290 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.

291 APPOINTMENT OF VICE-CHAIRMAN

The Chairman called for nominations. Councillor T. K. Thornber, CBE seconded by Councillor M. J. Woodhall proposed that Councillor J. K. West be appointed Vice-Chairman of the Council for the ensuing year.

Councillor W. H. Wheeler, seconded by Councillor P. Luffman proposed that Councillor K. P. J. Searle be appointed Vice-Chairman of the Council for the ensuing year.

Upon the propositions being put to the vote, Councillor J. K. West was appointed.

ORDERED:

That Councillor J. K. West be appointed Vice-Chairman of the Council to hold office until the Annual Meeting of the Council in 2005.

Councillor J. K. West thereupon made the declaration of acceptance of office.

292 DEPUTATION

Mrs. K. Barratt of Winchester made a deputation to the Council opposing the government's policy in relation to Terrestrial Trunked Radio (TETRA), its implications for people's health, the inadequacy of planning requirements from the point of view of the community at large, and the absence of consultation in particular.

293 CHAIRMAN'S COMMUNICATIONS

The Chairman expressed his thanks to Councillor Mrs. M. D. Snaith for all her hard work as Chairman during 2003/04. The Chairman also had great pleasure in congratulating Councillor Sir James Scott on his appointment as High Sheriff of Hampshire.

294 LEADER'S REPORT

The Leader wished to place on record his grateful appreciation of the support he had received from Jean Snowsill as his Personal Assistant during the last 6 months.

The Leader also reported that he had taken careful note of the points made by Mrs. Barratt in her deputation concerning TETRA masts.

In relation to the Council's decision at its previous meeting to support, unanimously, the Arctic Veterans' campaign for its heroes to be awarded a special Arctic Convoy medal, the Council's letter, signed by each of the political group leaders, had been passed by the Prime Minister to the Ministry of Defence for consideration.

To ensure that all Members could be more fully engaged in the Council's business and better able to contribute their views to Executive decision making, the Leader reported that, in future, all items in the Forward Plan would be considered by the appropriate Policy Review Committee before consideration by the Cabinet or individual Cabinet members. Key decisions on which the Buildings, Land and Procurement Panel and the Education Buildings Advisory Group currently advised the Executive Member for Education and himself would be excluded as would key decisions concerning grants. The Chief Executive was reviewing meeting dates with the Policy Review Committee Chairmen and their respective Executive Members so that, unless there were truly exceptional circumstances, no key decisions were made without Members' advice. The new arrangements were to come into operation from July 2004.

The Leader also reported his intention that Assistants to Executive Members should be appointed forthwith, the detail being dealt with in the Chief Executive's report (Item 9x in the Minute Book) circulated at the meeting.

In relation to the Cabinet, the Leader reported his appointment of Councillor C. R. H. Davidovitz as a member of the Cabinet with responsibility for internal and external communications, external relationships and efficiency with effect from 1 July 2004.

With regard to the Periodic Electoral Review of County Electoral Divisions by the Boundary Committee for England, the Boundary Committee had advised that their formal recommendations were to be published on 27 July 2004. There would then be a 6 week period during which interested parties may make representations to the Electoral Commission regarding the recommendations. The Leader informed the Council that there had been very strong opposition to the Boundary Committee's recommendations for multi-member constituencies and, following intervention by the County Council's Network, he was hopeful that this notion would not feature in the Boundary Committee's final recommendations except where a County Council had asked for dual member divisions.

295 QUESTIONS UNDER STANDING ORDER 20 (b)

Councillor T. K. Thornber, CBE, Leader of the Council, answered a question from Councillor A. G. Dowden concerning the Quality of Life Survey undertaken among older people in Hampshire.

The Leader also answered a question from Councillor M. J. Roberts concerning grants in relation to the Budget 2004/05.

Councillor K. B. Estlin, Executive Member for Environment, answered a question from Councillor M. J. Roberts in relation to bus service contracts.

Councillor T. K. Thornber, CBE, Leader of the Council, answered a question from Councillor M. J. Roberts in relation to the costs of job evaluation.

Councillor Felicity Hindson, MBE, Executive Member for Social Care, answered a question from Councillor A. G. Dowden in relation to the cost of her recent visit to New Zealand on Social Care business.

Councillor K. B. Estlin, Executive Member for Environment, answered a question from Councillor D. F. Wright in relation to the A32 road at Gosport.

Councillor D. G. Allen, Executive Member for Education, answered a question from Councillor A. P. Collett concerning the School Transport Bill.

Councillor T. K. Thornber, CBE, Leader of the Council, answered a question from Councillor Mrs. P. G. Peskett concerning the recycling of waste by the County Council.

Councillor T. K. Thornber, CBE, Leader of the Council, answered a question from Councillor A. P. Collett concerning the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Bill.

296 PROPORTIONALITY AND APPOINTMENTS

The Council considered the report of the Chief Executive (Item 9 in the Minute Book) concerning various matters with regard to proportionality and appointments which required the approval of the County Council. The Council also considered the supplementary report of the Chief Executive (Item 9x in the Minute Book) as a matter of urgency pursuant to the Leader's report earlier in the meeting in accordance with Section 100B(iv)(b) of the Local Government Act 1972. The Leader proposed adoption of the reports subject to changes in relation to the Vice-Chairmen of the Policy and Resources Policy Review Committee, the Vice-Chairman of the Recreation and Heritage Policy Review Committee and the Chairman of the Standards Committee.

ORDERED:

1. That the proportionality table appended to these minutes be approved;


2. That the following Chairmen and Vice-Chairmen of Committees and Advisory Panels be appointed:

3. That subject to any changes which the County Council may wish to make,
Councillor P. R. C. Hutcheson be appointed to represent the County Council
on the Thames Region Flood Defence Committee until 31 May 2005;


4. That a committee of 5 Members be appointed (3:1:1 on current
proportionality) to approve the County Council's Statement of Accounts
should it not prove possible to complete the statement for submission to the
County Council;


5. That Members be appointed (3:1:0) to represent the County Council on the
Chichester Harbour Conservancy Board until 30 June 2005 whereupon they
will be regarded as having resigned and that their appointments be renewed
until 30 June 2008;


6. That the following Members be appointed as Assistants to the respective
Executive Members with immediate effect:

Executive Member Assistant

Councillor T. K. Thornber, CBE Councillor Mrs. C. A. Leversha
Councillor M. J. Woodhall Councillor R. J. Baulk
Councillor D. G. Allen Councillor Mrs. A. M. McNair Scott

Councillor Felicity Hindson, MBE Councillor J. Wride
Councillor K. B. Estlin Councillor T. G. Knight

Councillor J. K. Glen Councillor K. G. Chapman

Councillor Mrs. S. M. Glaspool, DL Councillor Mrs. P. A. West

Councillor D. A. Kirk Vacant

Councillor J. Waddington Councillor R. J. Kimber


7. That the Leader of the Council be authorised to appoint Assistants to Executive

Members as part of the Council's formal decision making process and that appointments be recorded

as such;

8. That the Council's Scheme of Approved Duties for travelling expenses etc be
extended so that Executive Members' qualifying duties apply also to Assistants

to Executive Members.

297 THE CABINET/LEADER - PART I

Part I of the report of the Cabinet/Leader was presented by Councillor T. K. Thornber, CBE, Leader of the Council.

298 THE COMMUNITY STRATEGY FOR HAMPSHIRE

The Council considered and approved the report of the Cabinet/Leader.


ORDERED:

That the documents "Shaping Our Future Together - A Community Strategy

for Hampshire 2004 - 2007" and the accompanying Development Plan 2004 - 07

be approved.

299 ENVIRONMENT POLICY REVIEW COMMITTEE - PART I

Part I of the report of the Environment Policy Review Committee was presented by Councillor P. R. C. Hutcheson, Chairman of the Policy Review Committee.

300 TERESTRIAL TRUNKED RADIO (TETRA)

The Council considered the report of the Environment Policy Review Committee and approved its recommendations subject to the addition of the words "but that the lack of evidence of long term health impact underlines the need for a precautionary approach"

at the end of paragraph 3 of the recommendation to emphasise the need for caution.

ORDERED:

That this Council:

· reiterates its precautionary approach to the siting of masts on its land and buildings with a general presumption against the siting of such masts as determined by the Leader of the Council on 13 June 2002 and additionally a specific presumption against TETRA masts;


· makes representations to the Local Government Association (LGA) and the County Councils Network (CCN) to press the government to reassess its current policy so as to take the health concerns of the community into account more fully particularly in relation to the siting of masts at inappropriate locations having regard to population density and environmental impact and advises the LGA that it supports the thrust of the Town and Country Planning (Telecommunications Masts) Bill;


· acknowledges that independent expert advice indicates that current knowledge suggests that TETRA does not pose a serious health hazard but that the lack of evidence of long term health impact underlines the need for a precautionary approach;


· is mindful but regrets that current government advice is that health issues should not be considered as part of the planning process so long as masts satisfy ICNIRP standards;


· understands the needs of Hampshire Police for a system to enable them to provide effective law enforcement services and the needs of other emergency services, but also notes that TETRA is not the only system capable of providing that service;


· notes that it has no statutory planning responsibilities in relation to the siting of TETRA communication masts but is concerned at any attempts by telecommunications companies to circumvent the planning process in developing communication systems in Hampshire.

301 PERFORMANCE PLAN 2004/05

The Council considered the report of the Chief Executive (Item 11 in the Minute Book) giving an outline of the Council's Performance Plan 2004/05, indicating Member involvement in the various elements of the Plan and identifying the key messages that it would contain. The Performance Plan was one of only two plans required of "excellent" councils.

ORDERED:

That the outline performance plan for 2004/05 be approved subject to the Leader and the Chief Executive being authorised to agree the final text of the summary of performance against corporate aims and priorities and the statement on contracts.

302 CHANGES TO SCRUTINY AND THE INTRODUCTION OF "PILOT"
AREA COMMITTEE ARRANGEMENTS

The Council considered the report of the Chief Executive (Item 12 in the Minute Book) pursuant to the Leader's report to the Council on 22 November 2003 concerning the establishment of enhanced scrutiny arrangements and, on 25 February 2004, the creation of area based committees. The Council supported the proposed developments. an amendment, the effect of which would have been to devolve Regulatory Committee decision making responsibilities to the new area committees, was rejected. It was also confirmed that the review programme to be established by the Policy and Resources Scrutiny and Select Committee (as the Policy Review Committee would henceforth be known), would be a matter for the committee itself to determine in the light of any views expressed by the Cabinet/CMT and other Members of the Council.

Councillor Jenny Wride was nominated Chairman of the Havant Area Committee and the Leader was authorised to appoint the Chairman of the Test Valley Area Committee in order to avoid delay in introducing the new pilot Area Committee arrangements.

ORDERED:

(i) That the Council endorse, for a trial period of 1 year, the proposals set out in the report of the Chief Executive for:


(a) extending the role of the Policy and Resources Policy Review Committee;


(b) establishing Area Committees in Havant and Test Valley;

(ii) That the Leader of the Council be authorised to appoint the Chairman of the Test Valley Area Committee in order to avoid delay with the introduction of the Area Committee pilot arrangements.


303 NOTICE OF MOTION - SMART CARDS

Councillor M. J. Roberts, seconded by Councillor W. H. Wheeler, proposed the
following motion, notice of which had been given in accordance with Standing
Order 17:


"That Hampshire County Council looks to consider how it can develop a Smart Card arrangement for its residents which will give positive benefit for multi-use of its facilities. Whether this is with local districts or not, it can also look as part of its strategy to support, for example, those young people in education who actually attend on a regular basis its schools or other facilities. Such developments to consider best practice in this area as applied elsewhere and that a report be presented after due consideration to the County Council."

Following debate it was


ORDERED:

That consideration of Smart Cards be deferred pending further progress in relation to the development of National standards.

304 NOTICE OF MOTION - LOCAL TRANSPORT PARTNERSHIPS

Councillor M. J. Roberts, seconded by Councillor P. Luffman, proposed the following Motion, notice of which had been given in accordance with Standing Order 17:

"That Hampshire County Council looks to consider how it can develop a Smart Card arrangement for its residents which will both give positive benefit for multi-use of it's facilities. Whether this is with local Districts or not, it can also look as part of its strategy to support, for example, those young people in education who actually attend on a regular basis its schools or other facilities. Such developments to consider best practice in this area as applied elsewhere and that a report be presented after due consideration to the County Council."

Following debate including reports on the extensive work already being done by the County Council to develop local transport provision, the matter was noted.

305 HAMPSHIRE POLICE AUTHORITY

The report of the Hampshire Police Authority was presented by

Councillor S. A. Hayes, the nominated spokesperson for the Police Authority. No

questions pursuant to Standing Order 20 (d) concerning the discharge of the Authority's functions had been received.

306 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.

307 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


In relation to paragraph 144 (Annual Report of Major Achievements) it was noted, in Appendix I paragraph 6 that the new and remodelled special schools had opened in Winchester and Compton rather than Winchester and Otterbourne.

On paragraph 145 (Accredited Community Safety Officers), the Leader reported that a seminar would shortly be arranged for Members on this important initiative.


· Executive Member for Environment

· Executive Member for Spatial Strategy

· Executive Member for Recreation and Heritage

On paragraph 151 (Partnership Funding and Support in Recreation and Heritage), the Executive Member invited all Members of the Council to comment direct to him in response to the consultation.


· Executive Member for Social Care

· Health Review Committee

· Executive Member for Education

The meeting closed at 4.17 p.m.

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