AT A MEETING of the RECREATION AND HERITAGE POLICY REVIEW COMMITTEE of the COUNTY COUNCIL held at The Castle, Winchester, on Thursday 1 July 2004.

PRESENT:

Councillors : M.S. Geddes (Chairman); Mrs S.E. Allbright; R.J. Baulk; Carol Boulton; Mrs E.M. Byrom; K.G.Chapman; P.J.Chegwyn; C.R.H. Davidovitz; Dr. R.J. Ellis; E.F.Gale; P.A. Heath; Jo Kelly; P.K. Mason; P.A. Pierce; A.W. Rice; K.P.J. Searle; Mrs M.D. Snaith

Also in attendance: Councillor J. Waddington, Executive Member for Recreation and Heritage; and Councillor Mrs F. Hindson, the Executive Member for Social Services

for item 6.

146 DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

Members were mindful that, where they believed they had a personal or a personal prejudicial interest in any matter to be considered at the meeting, they should normally declare at the time of the debate 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 is discussed.

147 MINUTES

(i) The Minutes of the meeting held on 13 May, 2004 were confirmed by the Committee and signed by the Chairman.


(ii) The Minutes of the Special Meeting held on 15 June, 2004 were confirmed by the Committee and signed by the Chairman.

148 CHAIRMAN'S COMMUNICATIONS

The Chairman announced that the County Council had been asked to contribute to a National Conference on Countryside Access in Birmingham. On 22 June 2004 Councillor Waddington, the Executive Member for Recreation and Heritage and a small team of officers attended the event and gave a presentation on the Hampshire Integrated Access Demonstration Project which was well received. Hampshire's achievements in this project had generated national recognition in terms of innovative work on access to the countryside and the Chairman congratulated the Countryside Service.

149 MEMBERS' QUESTIONS

No questions were submitted.

150 DEPUTATIONS

No requests to make deputations were received.

151 SOCIAL SERVICES/RECREATION AND HERITAGE JOINT WORKING

The Committee considered the report of the Director of Recreation and Heritage (Item 6 in the Minute Book) on the joint working between the Social Services and Recreation and Heritage Departments in supporting the corporate aims to improve the quality of life, health, independence and personal development of people in Hampshire, in particular the more vulnerable groups of adults and children, young people, looked after children and the elderly. The report set out some examples and analysis of current joint working activities between the two departments, identifying some of the issues arising from the activities and presented some of the planned projects and ideas for future development of joint working.

The Director of Recreation and Heritage explained that it had been recognised that there was a need to get closer to the County Council's core objectives in improving the quality of life for key target groups. To achieve this aim a number of activities had been identified where joint working could lead to improved outcomes for those groups and for the departments involved. To demonstrate the type of event which benefited from links with Social Services and other departments, a short video was shown of "The Event 3" which had taken place at the Calshot Activities Centre in December 2003. By sharing information, looked after children had been identified and then invited to take part in the Centre's recreational activities for free. Other joint working projects identified were "Reminiscence Workshops in Residential Care Homes"; "Making a Difference" - arts events and activities into residential care homes; "Visits to the Hampshire Mountain Centre for Care Leavers"; and "Looked after Children `Right to Read'". More planned projects were hoped to be developed. Joint conferences for staff from the Recreation and Heritage and Social Services Departments would take place in July and October to identify further opportunities for joint working. Members were advised that the proposal for looked after children, foster carers and their families to have free access or concessionary admission to Countryside Service facilities and events between July and September had come to fruition.

Councillor Mrs Hindson, Executive Member for Social Services, expressed her grateful thanks to the staff of the Recreation and Heritage Department for their work and for the services which had been made available to the vulnerable members of society.

Members praised the report and support was expressed for the integration of services across the two departments and for the work undertaken. It was hoped that the projects would help vulnerable children to integrate more easily into society in the future.

RESOLVED:

That the joint working between Social Services and Recreation and Heritage be noted and supported, and submitted to the Executive Member for Recreation and Heritage for consideration.

152 HAMPSHIRE AND ISLE OF WIGHT DRAFT SPORTS STRATEGY

The Committee considered the report of the Director of Recreation and Heritage (Item 7 in the Minute Book) on the draft strategy which aimed to develop a sports strategy for the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Sports Partnership as opposed to a strategy exclusively for Hampshire County Council. Due to recent developments in sport and physical education, partnership working had become increasingly necessary with a large number of agencies such as the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, the Department for Education and Skills, the Department of Health, Sport England, Sports Coach UK, the Youth Sports Trust, District Councils and schools. Members received a video presentation compiled by the Recreation and Heritage Department which outlined the partnership strategy providing a framework for the development of sport and physical activity and education for Hampshire and the Isle of Wight between 2004 to 2010. The partnership would encourage active participation and support performance development, especially for young people. Examples were shown of the Community Coach Scheme, the Parallel Games for disabled children, the Mini Games and Youth Games, the Learn to Swim project in Rushmoor and Step into Sport, which gave an indication of the projects and schemes already operating within Hampshire to encourage more sport participation.

Members expressed their support for the strategy and thanked the officers for their enthusiasm and the excellent report.

RESOLVED:

That the draft Sports Strategy for the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Sports Partnership be supported and submitted to the Executive Member for consideration.

153 WESSEX FILM AND SOUND ARCHIVE: REGIONAL DEVELOPMENTS

The Committee considered the report of the Director of Recreation and Heritage (Item 8 in the Minute Book) on the South-East Audiovisual Mapping Project and Strategy produced by the South East Museums Libraries and Archives Council (SEMLAC) and the implications for the future developments of the regional role for Wessex Film and Sound Archive (WFSA). In introducing the report the County Archivist showed clips of archived film which showed the range and variety of material in the collection.

The WFSA had been set up in 1987 and is funded mainly by the County Council through the Hampshire Archives Trust. Although a similar body had been set up in Brighton in 1992 covering Kent and Sussex, no comparable body was in existence in Berkshire, Oxfordshire or Buckinghamshire. The SEMLAC review had concluded that better support was needed for a sustainable development strategy to enable the full potential of the material to be realised. The report envisaged that the WFSA would take on a wider regional role. Members welcomed the creation of a South East Audiovisual Archives Service provided that the service provided WFSA in Hampshire did not suffer diminution and that its independence was retained.


RESOLVED:

That the following views be submitted to the Executive Member for Recreation and Heritage for his consideration:

(i) That the South East Audio Visual Mapping Project and Strategy report be welcomed as a step towards the better preservation, management and public accessibility of film and sound archives across the region.

(ii) That the recommendations of the strategy be endorsed, in particular the creation of a South East Audiovisual Archives Service (SEAVAS) combining WFSA and SEFVA as a centre of expertise, subject to the development of an acceptable organisational structure and acceptable funding arrangements including the independence of WFSA being retained and the present core work of WFSA for Hampshire, Portsmouth and Southampton continuing without diminution.

154 WINCHESTER CULTURAL CENTRE

The Committee considered the report of the Director of Property, Business and Regulatory (Item 9 in the Minute Book) which highlighted the current position and sought approval in principle on the proposals to develop a Cultural Centre on the Jewry Street library site in Winchester, prior to the submission of a full design project appraisal to the Executive Member for Recreation and Heritage in the autumn.

Members expressed support for the proposals and welcomed the proposed partnership arrangements with Winchester City Council.

RESOLVED:

That the proposals for the Winchester Cultural Centre in partnership with Winchester City Council and the submission of a detailed design project appraisal be supported and submitted to the Executive Member for Recreation and Heritage for his consideration.

155 PROPOSALS FOR NEW LIBRARIES

The Committee considered the report of the Director of Recreation and Heritage (Item 10 in the Minute Book) on the proposals to build new libraries as part of the Whitchurch Community Facility Scheme and as part of the Bursledon Community Centre extension. By providing residents with much improved libraries, the schemes in Whitchurch and Bursledon would meet Aim 5 of the County Council's Corporate Strategy.

Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council had agreed to explore further with the County Council opportunities which would be afforded by including the library with the Whitchurch community centre.

The proposed building of a new library at Bursledon as part of the extended Community Centre would be a partnership scheme involving the local Community Association, Bursledon Parish Council, Eastleigh Borough Council and Hampshire County Council, with the initial funding for the library project provided by Eastleigh Borough Council.

In response to concerns about potential problems with leasing arrangements, Members were assured that the libraries had been designed so that they could operate independently of the community centres, if necessary.

Councillor C.R.H. Davidovitz declared an interest as an Eastleigh Borough Council Member.

RESOLVED:

That the following action be supported and submitted to the Executive Member for Recreation and Heritage for his consideration:-

(i) That detailed negotiations with Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council with the aim of achieving a new library as part of the Whitchurch Community Facility be undertaken.


(ii) That detailed negotiations with Eastleigh Borough Council, the local Community Association, and Bursledon Parish Council with the aim of achieving a new library as part of the Lowfield Community Centre be undertaken.

156 MONITORING OF SUGGESTIONS AND COMPLAINTS

The Committee considered the report of the Director of Recreation and Heritage (Item 11 in the Minute Book) on the record of the Recreation and Heritage Department on the handling of suggestions and complaints in the year ending 31 March, 2004. It was noted that there had been a significant increase in the number of complaints and compliments in the Library Information Service. This was considered to be mainly due to improved recording of details following the circulation of a revised guidance, plus major changes in the library service and problems associated with internet terminals now more widely available within libraries.

Whilst Members noted that all comments were logged as complaints, they sought and were given an assurance that specific problems were not overlooked and were properly addressed.

RESOLVED :

That the information on the monitoring of suggestions, complaints and compliments contained in the report be noted and submitted to the Executive Member for Recreation and Heritage for his consideration.

157 LIBRARY AND INFORMATION SERVICE - THE TRANSFORMATION AGENDA AND BACKGROUND TO THE CURRENT ANNUAL LIBRARY PLAN PROCESS

The Committee considered the report of the Director of Recreation and Heritage (Item 12 in the Minute Book) on the progress made by the Library and Information Service in response to the Government's "Framework for the future" plan and the background to the Annual Library Plan process. During 2003/04 the Library and Information Service had undergone a radical restructuring in order to provide a more proactive, flexible and community responsive approach to service delivery and development, which had been implemented in September 2003. At the same time work had begun on a two year programme of library refurbishments and extended opening hours. The service was playing a key role in developing the Discovery Centre concept locally and was in the forefront of library policy enhancement nationally.

Members welcomed the report and expressed support for the work undertaken.

RESOLVED:

That the progress made to date by the Library and Information Service be welcomed and submitted to the Executive Member for Recreation and Heritage for his consideration.

158 FINAL ACCOUNTS 2003/04 - RECREATION AND HERITAGE SERVICE

The Committee considered the joint report of the County Treasurer and Director of Recreation and Heritage (Item 13 in the Minute book) on the Recreation and Heritage Service's spending in the financial year 2003/04. The report recommended that the final accounts be approved and as per the County Council's current policy £16,000, 50% of the under spend of £32,000, be carried forward to 2004/05 and added to the Recreation and Heritage service cash limit for 2004/05. In respect of capital, schemes to the value of £3.2 million had started in the year and schemes to the value of £1.9 million had been approved to be carried forward to start in 2004/05 and that the additional cost of £5, 000 for those schemes completed in 2003/04 should be charged to the service's capital cash limit.

RESOLVED:

That the following proposals be supported and submitted to the Executive Member for Recreation and Heritage for his consideration:

(i) the final accounts for 2003/04 be approved;


(ii) £16,000 of the underspendings in 2003/04 be carried forward and added to the 2004/05 budget: and


(iii) the additional cost of capital schemes completed in 2003/04 be deducted from the 2004/05 capital programme limit.

159 BUDGET MONITORING 2004/05

The Committee considered the joint report of the County Treasurer and the Director of Recreation and Heritage (Item 14 in the Minute Book) on budget monitoring for 2004/05, which concentrated on the final disposition of the budget and in particular on the allocation of £300,000 of new funding provided to meet specific objectives including improvements in library opening hours. Attention was drawn to the Learning Skills Council' s decision to withdraw funding for adult and community learning from September 2004 onwards which would have a major impact upon the Recreation and Heritage budget and also the effect of the time limited resources provided by the New Opportunities Fund to support the setting up of the People's Network.

RESOLVED:

That the budget allocations set out in paragraph 2 and 3 of the report be supported and submitted for consideration to the Executive Member for Recreation and Heritage.

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