Archived decisions

Seq. No.

Major Corporate Achievements

Corporate Aim

1.

Prepared submission for retention of `Excellent' status.

All

2.

Published first Hampshire Community Strategy for consultation.

All

3.

The budget for 2004/05 allowed for significant additional funding of key services to respond to new demands whilst restricting the rise in Council Tax to 4.7%, its lowest-ever increase and the lowest rise in local taxation for 20 years.

All

4.

Continued to secure positive comments from the Audit Commission on financial performance, including an unqualified opinion on the 2002/03 accounts.

3, 5

5.

Launched an integrated voice network on HPSN including connection to the Unitary authorities and 10 Hampshire districts.

5

6.

Over 120 major building contracts let with a value of over £80m, including:

1. New and remodelled special schools opened in Winchester and Compton

2. 400 seat Music Hall at Thornden School

3. Badminton Centre of Excellence at the Westgate School.

Completed and opened the Visitor and Education Pavilion at the Hillier Gardens in April 2004

2, 5

7.

Children and Young People Strategic Partnership

1

Seq. No.

Chief Executive's Department

Corporate Aim

1.

Introduced emergency out of hours legal advice service for Social Services, to meet Climbie recommendation, within relevant deadline.

1

2.

Managed budget consultation workshop to inform council tax decision making.

1, 4, 5

3.

Established officer arrangements to support Health Review Committee and commenced first reviews.

1, 4, 5

4.

Achieved improvement in quality assurance of national performance indicators, with improved audit and PI results.

All

5.

Opened New Milton `one-stop shop' Information Centre in partnership with New Forest DC, New Milton TC and CAB.

All

6.

Maintained Lexcel accreditation with Law Society confirming best practice standards continuing to be met.

5

7.

Publicised a series of events during Local Democracy week to link to the week's theme of `voters of tomorrow' including a question and answer session for the Youth Council with cabinet members.

1, 2, 3, 4, 5

8.

Secured endorsement for a new Corporate Strategy for Managing Risk.

All

9.

Published the second Edition of the Hampshire Business Directory promoting 8,000 Hampshire firms.

3

10.

Managed `Hands off Hampshire' Campaign raising awareness of council tax issues.

All

11.

Launched the Conference Hampshire Project to encourage more business tourism to the county.

3

Seq. No.

County Treasurer's Department

Corporate Aim

1.

Continued implementation of new financial and related systems.

5, 6

2.

Co-ordinated the efforts of managers across the County Council which enabled spend to be almost exactly on budget (overall 0.02% under spend) in 2002/03.

3, 5

3.

Prepared for the introduction of the new prudential code for borrowing, to take effect from 2004/05.

3, 4

4.

Complied with the revised CIPFA Code of Practice for treasury management in public services.

3, 5

5.

Retained ISO9000 registration for Audit Services.

5, 6

6.

Played a national role, including seconding staff to Glasgow, in the implementation of a new IT system and streamlined processes for Student Support.

3, 5

7.

Co-ordinated production of the capital strategy and corporate asset management plan, both of which have been commended as best practice by the Government.

2, 5

8.

Continued to work to influence and better understand Government policy developments through, for example, the County Treasurer acting as lead advisor for Counties to the Local Government Association, and the Association's financial advisor for Education.

All

9.

Successfully introduced financial assessment and benefit (FAB) teams across the County to visit Social Service clients in their own homes to deal with charging and income maximisation.

5

10.

Implemented new budget consultation procedure using community workshops.

3, 5

Seq. No.

IT Services

Corporate Aim

1.

Completed the IT2000 Strategy with 6,500 desktops and more than 900 printers available to over 10,000 users.

5

2.

Implemented SWIFT phase 1 holding unified case records for Social Services clients, typically handling around 1,000 concurrent users.

5

3.

Continued development of the eGovernment and ICT Strategy.

1,5, 6

4.

ViSiT, which delivers up to the minute and easy to use information and interactive facilities for tourism and leisure via one shared database, recognised nationally as an exemplar of a standard model for other local authorities, tourism agencies and tourism enterprises.

3, 5

5.

Introduced an e-Learning programme - Learn.IT - which delivers interactive learning and quick reference guides for an increasing range of technology skills and is key to the development of a technology-aware workforce.

1, 5, 6

Seq. No.

Property, Business and Regulatory Services

Corporate Aim

1.

Introduced the country's first consumer education programme integrated into the Citizenship curriculum - now available in all our secondary schools and taken up by a number of other authorities.

1, 3, 5

2.

Fair Trading team is now able to provide a rapid reaction capability for incidents involving doorstep selling, especially where older people are being targeted.

1, 3, 4, 5

3.

Launched the first stage of a countywide project to support and protect older people - in their own homes. Starting in Andover, the scheme - a partnership with Social Services and many other agencies, provides support and consumer advice to vulnerable individuals.

1, 3, 5

4.

Hosted a debate on Genetically Modified Foods.

2, 4

5.

The Scientific Service won two new contracts to supply food testing services to Derbyshire and Bedfordshire County Councils and retained the Public Analyst contract with Surrey County Council after a tendering exercise.

4, 5

6.

Won National Civic Trust Awards for Whiteley, Knightwood and Great Binfields Primary Schools, Brune Park Secondary School and Southampton Magistrates Court.

2, 5

7.

Achieved reduction of over £400,000 per annum in the non-domestic rates payable by the County Council for the period 2000-2005.

5

8.

Increased visitor numbers and income at the Hillier Gardens by over 20% and increase of membership by 20%.

1, 2, 5

9.

Successfully managed the opening of a new visitor and Education Pavilion and a visit from Her Majesty the Queen at the Hillier Gardens.

1, 2, 5

10.

Hampshire Caterers relaunched as HC3S.

1, 5

11.

County Supplies awarded contracts for the supply of electricity achieving savings which exceeded the targets for green energy.

2, 5

Seq. No.

Personnel and Training Department

Corporate Aim

1.

Rolled out of the authority's leadership programme, developed in a partnership between the council's internal corporate training team, Hampshire Learning Centre and external consultants.

5, 6

2.

Learning Zone has been launched as a single entry point for all staff within the council.

5, 6

3.

New programme for Member development has been designed and implemented.

6

4.

Developed integrated teacher recruitment and retention strategy for the LEA.

5, 6

5.

Performed a major role in the further development of performance related pay for teachers and a lead role in development of approach for school workforce remodelling in Hampshire.

5, 6

6.

Supported and provided guidance to departments, through an internal assessment process, in maintaining Investors in People (IiP) status through out the council.

6

7.

Completed a major stage in the Pay and Benefits project - streamlining job titles and evaluating all the County Council jobs to facilitate the slotting into a new grading and pay structure.

6

8.

Improved the recruitment process through the implementation of a new contract for advertisement / recruitment support and the implementation of the SAP recruitment module.

5, 6

9.

Developed a successful new approach to Social Services recruitment through a dedicated recruitment centre.

5, 6

10.

Supported HCC achievement of level 1 of the Equality Standard of Local Government led working group that Developed Compact Consultation Code of Good Practice and have ensured that Hampshire County Council can meet the code.

5, 6

Seq. No.

Education Department

Corporate Aim

1.

Implemented strategic agreement (Compact) between the County Council and the DfES to work in partnership to achieve better educational outcomes for children and young people in the short and medium term.

1, 4, 5, 6

2.

Continued to work to influence and better understand Government policy developments through, for example, the County Education Officer as National President of ConFed taking a leading role on school funding, standards, inspection and developing a new relationship between DfES and local education authorities

All

3.

In partnership with Social Services a CAMHS Trust has been set up to develop services for children and adolescents with mental health needs. This is a trailblazer initiative under the government's initiative for Children's Trusts involving education, health and social services.

1, 3, 4

4.

Received a £6.6 million award from the New Opportunities Fund (lottery) for 12 capital sports projects on school sites. Included in this are four sports halls.

1, 5

5.

Won three awards from Sport England for sports facilities on school sites totalling £2,499,027.

1, 5

6.

Successful bid to the New Opportunities 2003 secured funding of £1,643,790 to create 3,094 new childcare places.

1, 3, 5

7.

Funding for three year old nursery education places became a universal entitlement in Hampshire, six months ahead of plan.

1, 5

8.

Enhanced Governor Recognition Programme implemented and well received.

4,5

9.

The Hampshire developed Clerk to Governing Body Accreditation Programme was adopted by Oxfordshire, Surrey and Portsmouth. Hampshire now has 44 clerks who have qualified for this nationally recognised accreditation.

4,5,6

10.

Continuation of Spend to Save initiative in Home to School Transport contributed to a saving of £1.1 million in 2002/3.

1, 2, 5

11.

Developed and installed EdICTNet, a whole school networking standard to enable schools to encompass all the latest e-learning initiatives. Additional development to reduce install times by over 50% and to take the product to the next version of Windows.

5, 6

12.

Developed and piloted innovative software to support schools using the "P scales" assessments with children with Special Educational Needs.

1

13.

Partnership between Hampshire Music Service, and the community of Hampshire was extended with the opening of the new Thornden Hall, Chandlers Ford. This award-winning, purpose-designed Hall is the new home of the Hampshire County Youth Orchestra and the Eastleigh Area Schools Orchestras.

1, 4, 5

14.

Opened the `Box': A new youth wing at Wildern School.

1, 4

15.

Southampton Foundation Degree. The Youth Service Development and Training team have worked with Southampton University to provide a work place learning programme to train youth workers to nationally qualified status.

1, 3, 4, 5

16.

Strengthened links between the County Youth Council and elected members.

1, 5

17.

Youth Service managed a contract on behalf of the County Council with the South Central Connexions Partnership. Over 40 personal advisers have been recruited and are working in district teams focusing on young people 13-19 not in education, training or work, or at risk.

1, 3, 4

Seq. No.

Social Services Department

Corporate Aim

1.

Social Services received two stars for the second time in the Government performance ratings in November 2003, and did so with an overall improvement in performance compared to the previous year.

5

2.

Integrated community equipment store (ICES) - Hampshire agreed with five Primary Care trusts to manage equipment services across Eastleigh, Romsey, New Forest, Mid and North Hants and the Blackwater Valley. A section 31 Agreement is being developed.

1

3.

The multi agency adult protection policy was revised and launched across Hampshire to ensure the protection of adults and older people from abuse. Funding has been secured for a comprehensive training strategy to support this.

4

4.

The number of Looked After Children in Higher Education is 4%.

1

5.

The department was selected by the Department of Health to form one of the first Children's Trusts in the country under a partnership formed by HCC and the county's seven Primary Care Trusts.

1, 5

6.

The department became the first in the country to develop a scheme using information technology to enable people to live independently in their own homes. Consisting of sensors which monitor activities and actions linked to a telephone or other device, residents can either be notified of any risks or a third party such as a relative can be notified if there is no response from the resident.

1, 5

7.

In partnership with Hampshire & IOW Strategic Health Authority, Social Services secured Government funding for 500 nursing home beds.

1, 5

8.

The new occupational therapy helpline - OT Direct - went live in November 2003.

5

9.

Social Services became the lead agency for "Supporting People". The transfer of funding and support to about 25,000 people across 120 services with a budget of c.£35m went smoothly and with no disruption to services.

1, 5

10.

Joint work between Social Services and Education in 2003 raised the educational attainment levels of Children Looked After.

1, 5

11.

A Section 31 Agreement was secured between HCC and West Hampshire NHS Trust to support the completion of the integration of line management arrangements in Adult Mental Health services - providing a single line management of Community Mental Health Teams.

5

12.

Within Adult Mental Health Services, seven additional Carers Support Workers were recruited in 2003 (doubling the provision) to support those who care for relatives with serious and enduring mental health problems.

1, 5

13.

The department was awarded £7.2m over three years in respect of the Children's Fund, an initiative to provide services for vulnerable 5 - 13 years and their families to prevent social exclusion.

1, 5

14.

Hampshire Social Services' staff were the first in the country, alongside staff working for Barnardo's, to join the first ever national register of social care workers, which opened on 1 April 2003 under the auspices of the General Social Care Council.

6

15.

Major refurbishments to two Older People's Homes (OPH) and their official re-openings were achieved in 2003. In addition, 24 Intermediate Care Beds were successfully commissioned in three OPHs.

5

Seq. No.

Environment Department

Corporate Aim

1.

The County Council was awarded a record sum of £ 31.35 million for transport capital works in 2004/05. This includes £1.76 million in recognition of performance and will enable increased investment in roads and bridges maintenance and other transport improvements.

1, 2, 3, 4, 5

2.

Cango bus services have been further extended across the County and the call centre utilised for coordinating other transport services. The service won the Bus in the Countryside Award in the prestigious annual Bus Industry Awards in November 2003.

1, 2, 3, 4, 5

3.

A County Council-led partnership with the Strategic Rail Authority, South West Trains and Network Rail opened a new railway station at Chandlers Ford in Summer 2003.

2, 3, 4, 5

4.

The first elements of the A3 bus priority corridor from Horndean to Gunwharf Quays were completed. Accepted by the DfT as major scheme, value £30m.

1, 2, 3, 4, 5

5.

Introduced Solent Travelcard, through the Solent Transport partnership. This is the first truly integrated bus ticket for the whole Solent area, including the cities of Southampton and Portsmouth.

2, 3, 4, 5

6.

Extension for the Park and Ride car park at Bar End Winchester has been completed and offers a further 428 spaces.

2, 3, 4, 5

7.

As part of HCC Walk to School Week in June 2003 almost 70,000 Hampshire schoolchildren at 289 infant, junior and primary schools across the County were encouraged to use two feet rather than four wheels to get to school.

1, 2, 3, 4, 5

8.

Reducing demands for landfilling waste have been progressed through:

· launching the Material Resources Strategy (MRS), developed by the County Council and other key partners in September

· a £5 million award to the Project Integra partners from the National Waste Minimisation and Recycling Fund

· opening the first Energy from Waste Incinerator at Chineham

· opening new £200,000 Household Waste Recycling Centre in New Alresford.

1, 2, 3, 4, 5

9.

The County Council and other partners including the Environment Agency coordinated the first ever Water Festival at Winchester in August with an estimated 10,000 visitors receiving messages about the use of this precious resource.

1, 2, 3, 4

10.

The European Union (EU) awarded Hampshire County Council and partners £1.7 million for the four-year ESPACE Project. This aims to prepare for the impacts of climate change and develop solutions.

2, 3, 4, 5

11.

Over 200 representatives from Hampshire schools attended the Schools Ground Fair in Winchester in June drawing together the wealth of expertise and knowledge to make the best practical and educational use of schools' external environment.

All

Seq. No.

Recreation and Heritage Department

Corporate Aim

4.

Cultural Strategy, produced in consultation with District councils, neighbouring authorities and other stakeholders was published and launched at the New Forest Show.

1, 2, 3, 5

5.

Library Service Best Value re-inspection resulted in outcome as a 2 star service - `good service with promising prospects for improvement'.

5

6.

Funding approved and work commenced in Gosport on the first in a number of planned Discovery Centres

1

7.

People's Network now live in all 54 libraries and user education and training taking place at over 10 libraries across the county.

1, 5

8.

Refurbishment programme begun for Yateley, Fleet, Farnborough, and Chandlers Ford Libraries and new Alton library commenced.

5

9.

As lead Partner for the South East Museum Hub, directed the production of the Education Programme Delivery Plan for the South East Region - a national strategy led by Resource, to lay the foundations for a comprehensive museum based education service for all schools.

1, 5

10.

A major new local history gallery being developed at the Red House Museum, making better use of existing space and providing much improved disabled and intellectual access.

1, 3, 4, 5

11.

Hampshire Record Office's electronic catalogue was made available on the Internet via Hantsweb in August and further data inputting completed - 75% of total catalogue accessible and searchable online.

1, 5

12.

Hampshire Photographic Project launched with £78,000 Heritage Lottery funding to digitise photographic collections and mount them on Internet.

1, 5

13.

A wider programme of over 1,000 professional arts workshops was delivered to residents in care homes across the county in 2003 building on the success of last year's pilot.

1, 5

14.

In partnership with the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Sports Partnership ran what is thought to be the first Parallel Games event for over 200 young people with disabilities in the UK.

1

15.

Our focus on providing leisure, cultural and recreational opportunities for looked after children culminated in Event3 hosted once again at Calshot Activities Centre in December in partnership with Children's Services and the CAT (Care Action Team). Over 60 looked after children enjoyed a full day of Arts, Sport and Challenge activities.

1

16.

Two major open-air music events took place at countryside venues attended by more than 8,000 people.

1, 3, 5