Archived decisions
AT A MEETING of the ENVIRONMENT POLICY REVIEW COMMITTEE held on 8 September 2004 at The Castle, Winchester.
PRESENT:
Councillors: PRC Hutcheson (Chairman); Mrs E M Byrom; Mrs P M Devereux;
L T Dunsdon; M S Geddes; Mrs K Heron; K House; R J Kimber; T G Knight;
P Luffman; M J Roberts; Sir James J Scott; J D Shaw and J K West.
Also in attendance: Councillor Capt K B Estlin and J K Glen.
242 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 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. No declarations were made.
243 MINUTES
The Minutes of the meeting held on 30 June 2004 (Item 2 in the Minute
Book) were confirmed by the Committee and signed by the Chairman.
Arising thereon:
(i) Minute 231(iv): New Forest as a National Park - the Deputy
Director of Environment advised that designation for the National
Park had been confirmed subject to final resolution of the
boundaries and expressions of interest for the Secretary of State
appointees to the Board had been advertised but formal
consultation was still awaited on the makeup of the Board.
(ii) Minute 234: Visit of the Highways Agency - the Deputy Director
of Environment reported that a letter had been sent to the
Secretary of State Department for Transport to lobby Government
for a change in legislation on the responsibility for litter collection
on Motorways and Trunk Roads. It was suggested and agreed that
the Director of Environment should also contact The Association
of Hampshire and Isle of Wight Local Authorities.
(iii) Minute 235: Term Maintenance Contract (Raynesway)
Performance - Councillor Roberts asked for additional information
on Performance Indictors and the Deputy Director of Environment
confirmed that he would supply this information direct, in writing.
(iv) Minute 241: Forward Plan - Nominations were requested from the
Labour and Liberal Groups for Members to sit on the Sub Group
of Members to review the future business of the Policy Review
Committee. Councillors Roberts and House were appointed to the
Sub Group.
244 CHAIRMAN'S COMMUNICATIONS
(i) Reminded Members about the Seminar to be held that afternoon in
The Cinema at the Record Office on the South East Plan and Sub
Regional Strategies. A light lunch would be provided at 1.30pm.
(ii) Reported that a Working Group of Environment Policy Review
Committee Members had previously been formed to bring forward
proposals for a Bus Priority Policy. The work of the Group had
now concluded and following public consultation, the Executive
Member for Environment would at his meeting on 14 September
2004 be asked to approve the Policy. The Policy would then be
incorporated within the work taking place on the new Local
Transport Plan to be submitted to the Department of Transport in
July 2005.
245 MEMBERS QUESTIONS
No questions to the Executive Member for Environment or the Executive
Member for Spatial Strategy had been received.
246 DEPUTATIONS
No requests to make a deputation had been received.
247 IMPLEMENTING THE NEW PLANNING SYSTEM IN HAMPSHIRE
The Committee considered the report of the Director of Environment (Item
6 in the Minute Book) explaining the County Council's responsibilities in
the revised planning system for minerals and waste planning and for
assisting the Regional Assembly with the preparation of the new Regional
Spatial Strategy the `South East Plan' including the provisions for preparing
first proposals for sub regional policies. It also described the process and
timetable for the preparation of both the new Minerals and Waste
Development Framework and the South East Plan,. Itits component Sub-
Regional Strategies for South Hampshire and for the Western Corridor and
Blackwater Valley.
Members welcomed the changes to the planning system which gave a
statutory role to County Councils in advising the Regional Assembly on the
preparation of the Regional Spatial Strategy and in respect of work on sub
regional policies.
RESOLVED:
(i) That the statutory role for County Council's in regional and sub-
regional planning, set out in the Planning and Compulsory
Purchase Act 2004, be welcomed.
(ii) That full support be given to the County Council's representatives
on the Assembly, its Regional Planning Committee and the Sub-
Regional Strategy Steering Groups in championing and
safeguarding Hampshire's interests.
248 SCHEME ESTIMATING AND REPORTING
The Committee considered the report of the Director of Environment (Item
7 in the Minute Book) identifying the current processes surrounding the
development of cost estimates, highlighting the risk areas encountered both
in Hampshire and nationally within the construction industry and setting out
an improvement plan to be taken forward over the next 12 months,
following an independent review undertaken by the County Treasurer.
During the course of the ensuing discussion, Members questions were
answered and the Director of Environment advised that changes to the way
that the information was presented were taking place.
RESOLVED:
That the Executive Member for Environment be advised that the Environment Policy
Review Committee commends the Action Plan, as set out in Appendix 1 to the report,
to be developed as a method of improving communications and financial
management.
249 TRANSPORT CAPITAL PROGRAMME 2004/05 - PROGRESS AND PROGRAMME AMENDMENTS
The Committee considered a report of the Director of Environment (Item 8
in the Minute Book) providing progress on the 2004/05 programme
amendments which were proposed to reflect slippage in the individual
scheme programmes and variations in cost estimates in some of the
schemes.
The County Treasurer and Director of Environment amplified the report
and detailed discussions centred on the Havant Bus Station.
RESOLVED:
That the Executive Member for Environment be advised that the Environment Policy
Review Committee supports the proposed:
(i) Revised Transport Capital Programme for 2004/05 as set out in
Appendix 1 to the report.
(ii) Pedestrian Crossing Programme for 2004/05 as set out in
Appendix 3 to the report.
(iii) Safer Routes to School Programme for 2004/05 as set out in
Appendix 4 to the report.
250 REVENUE BUDGET MONITORING 2004/05
The Committee considered a report of the County Treasurer and Director of
Environment (Item 9 in the Minute Book) presenting the first budget
monitoring review for 2004/05 for the Environment Services. The County
Treasurer and Director of Environment answered Members' detailed
questions.
RESOLVED:
That the report be noted.
251 LOCAL TRANSPORT PLAN
The Committee considered a report of the Director of Environment (Item 10
in the Minute Book) introducing the 2004 Local Transport Plan (LTP)
Annual Progress Report (APR) submitted to the Government on 30 July
2004. The report focussed on performance during 2003/04 in terms of
service delivery, progress towards targets and capital spending levels, as
well as forecasts for 2004/05.
During the course of discussion, Members highlighted the need to give
consideration to School Travel Plans and the Director of Environment
agreed to submit a report to the Policy Review Committee on either 21
January or 10 February 2005.
RESOLVED
(i) That the performance reported in the Annual Progress Report be
noted and the comments made by Members taken forward by the
appropriate Officers.
(ii) That the Director of Environment submit a report on School Travel
Plans to the Policy Review Committee on either 21 January or 10
February 2005.
252 REQUESTS BY MEMBERS FOR ITEMS TO BE CONSIDERED AT A FUTURE MEETING OF THE COMMITTEE
The Committee considered requests submitted by Councillor Roberts as follows:
"Transport 10 Year Plan"
"Road Congestion Charging Study"
"Crossrail Implications"
RESOLVED:
That these matters be added to the Committee's list of items for future
consideration and that the Sub Group of Members set up to review future
business consider these at its first meeting.
253 ENVIRONMENT POLICY REVIEW COMMITTEE - FORWARD PLAN
The Committee considered the report of the Chief Executive and Director of
Environment (Item 12 in the Minute Book) setting out issues for future
consideration by the Committee.
RESOLVED
That the report be noted.
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