ITEM 2

AT A MEETING of the CABINET of HAMPSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL held at The Castle, Winchester on Tuesday, 9 November, 2004.

PRESENT:

Councillors: T.K. Thornber, CBE (in the Chair); D.G. Allen; C.R.H. Davidovitz;

K.B. Estlin; Mrs. S.M. Glasspool, DL; J.K. Glen; Felicity Hindson, MBE; M.J. Woodhall.

Also in attendance: Councillors: Mrs P.G. Banks; Mrs. E.M. Byrom; K.G. Chapman;

R.J. Kimber; T.G. Knight; Mrs. A.M. McNair-Scott; Mrs. P.A. West.

395 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.

396 MINUTES

The Minutes of the meeting held on 25 October, 2004 were confirmed as a correct record.

397 CHAIRMAN'S COMMUNICATIONS

There were no communications.

398 DEPUTATIONS

There were no deputations.

399 HOUSING AND PLANNING IN THE REGIONS

The Cabinet considered the report of the Director of Environment (Item 5 in the Minute Book) on a proposed response to the Government Consultation Paper "Housing and Planning in the Regions". Whilst the Cabinet concurred with the broad thrust of the report of the Director of Environment, it amended and extended the recommendations to reflect its additional concerns that the consultation document failed to link into other important issues such as quality of life, support for infrastructure and investment; and employment creation; would do nothing to address the imbalance of housing growth inter-regionally throughout the country and the infrastructure backlog and strains in the South East; and failed to recognise the role of elected local authorities as community leaders. Furthermore, the Cabinet was gravely concerned that powers were increasingly being given by Government to the South East England Regional Assembly, a voluntary unelected regional body which, in its



view, did not have democratic accountability or legitimacy. A copy of the substantive decision sheet amended to reflect the Cabinet's views, is set out as Appendix 1 to these Minutes.

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