Archived decisions

At a Meeting of Hampshire County Council held at The Castle, Winchester on Thursday, 25 November, 2004 at 2.00 p.m.

Chairman :

p Councillor J.V. Bryant

Vice-Chairman:

p Councillor J.K. West

Councillors:

p Mrs S.E. Allbright

D.G. Allen

p Mrs A.E. Bailey

Mrs. E.S.M. Barron

Mrs P.G. Banks

R. J. Baulk

I.F.E. Beagley

p Carol Boulton

p F.J. Bright

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

G.W. Davies-Dear

Mrs. P.M. Devereux

p Mrs. P. Dickens

p A.G. Dowden

p L.T. Dunsdon

p 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.

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

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.R.C. Hutcheson

Jo Kelly

p M.J. Kendal

p R.J. Kimber

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

p Mrs. A.M. McNair Scott

p Mrs. P.G. Peskett

p P.A. Pierce

p R.H. Price

Mrs. E.M.F. Randall

p A.W. Rice, T.D.

p M.J. Roberts

p Sir James Scott

K.P.J. Searle

p J.D. Shaw

p M.L. Sheehan

Mrs M.D. Snaith

p Mrs. V. Steel

J.W. Stocks

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

p J. Waddington

p Dr. J.G.L. Wall

p Mrs P.A. West

p M.J. Woodhall

p Jenny Wride

p D.F. Wright

345 MINUTES.

The Minutes of the meetings of the County Council held on 30 September 2004 and 28 October 2004 were confirmed and signed by the Chairman subject, in the case of the Minutes of the meeting held on 28 October, 2004, to the addition of the names of Councillors R.J. Baulk and Mrs. D.R. Harrison to the list of Members present.

346 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.

347 DEPUTATIONS.

None.

348 CHAIRMAN'S COMMUNICATIONS.

The Chairman welcomed Honorary Aldermen.

He also referred to the service of thanksgiving that morning in memory of the late Councillor Bill Wheeler. The Council's thoughts were with his family.

The Chairman had sent a letter of condolence to the Private Secretary to the Duke of Gloucester after the passing of Princess Alice and had received a letter of thanks from her Lady-in-Waiting.

The Chairman had attended the Schools Proms at the Royal Albert Hall where the Hampshire Youth Orchestra had the honour of opening the concert. On 12 November the Chairman had entertained many of the Station Commanders from the Armed Services bases in Hampshire strengthening further the excellent relationships already forged with them by the County Council.

The Chairman reminded Members that the staff carol concert in the Great Hall was to be held at 5.00 pm on 16 December 2004.

In conclusion it was with regret that the Chairman reported the passing of former County Councillor R.V. Bellinger. He had represented Bedhampton and St Faith's (West) County Electoral Division between 1989 and 1997. The Council stood in silence as a mark of respect to his memory.

Before proceeding to the next business, the Chairman permitted Councillor A.G. Dowden to pass two petitions to the Chief Executive from North Baddesley Parish Council concerning traffic speed.

349 LEADER'S REPORT.
The Leader welcomed Councillor K. House on his return from Ukraine and the recent elections there. He also reported Councillor D.G. Allen's apologies for absence due to his recent short stay in hospital. Councillor Allen was now recovering at home and, on behalf of the Council, the Leader wished him a speedy return to good health.
The Leader took great pleasure in informing the Council that the Hampshire Music Service was celebrating its success in receiving the National Music Council's most prestigious award. For three successive years the Hampshire Music Service had been selected for a Diploma Award; in 2004 it had received the Major Trophy which was on display at the meeting. In making the award the National Music Council had cited the County Council's highly effective partnerships with schools and the very positive feedback that the service received. The Leader, on behalf of the Council, extended the Council's congratulations to all those involved and wished them continued success.

The Leader also was pleased to report that the new pavilion at the Sir Harold Hillier Gardens and Arboretum had received the SCALA Civic Building of the Year Award and had been cited as elegant and inspiring. On behalf of the Council, the Leader congratulated the Director of Property, Business and Regulatory Services and his staff on their significant achievement.

In conclusion, the Leader also referred to the County Council's policy in relation to smoking and confirmed that, with regard to school buildings, this was a matter for school governors.

350 QUESTIONS PURSUANT TO STANDING ORDER 20(b)(i).

Councillor T.K. Thornber, CBE, Leader of the Council answered a question from Councillor A.G Dowden concerning spending per head of population on Social Services by the County Council compared with other Shire County Councils.

Councillor T.K. Thornber, CBE, Leader of the Council answered a question from Councillor M.L. Sheehan concerning the outcome of the recent North East Regional Assembly Referendum on regional government and the indication that, when given the choice, people prefer democratic and accountable local government to regional government.

Councillor Felicity Hindson, MBE, Executive Member for Social Care, answered a question from Councillor A.G. Dowden concerning the cost of market supplements for hard to recruit staff groups and budget provision in 2005/06.

Councillor Felicity Hindson, MBE, Executive Member for Social Care, answered a question from Councillor A.G. Dowden concerning the timing and cost of key service improvements.

351 REPORT OF THE EXECUTIVE MEMBER FOR ENVIRONMENT - PART I

Part I of the report of the Executive Member for Environment was presented by Councillor K.B. Estlin, Executive Member for Environment.

352 DISBANDMENT OF LIGHT RAPID TRANSIT DEVELOPMENT PANEL AND ESTABLISHMENT OF GOSPORT PENINSULA ACCESS PANEL

In presenting his report, the Executive Member for Environment drew attention to the need for minor variations to the terms of reference proposed for the Gosport Peninsula Access Panel, namely in paragraph 4 deleting the words, "appropriate Highway Authority" and inserting, "two Borough Councils" and in paragraph 5 deleting the words, "any of the Highway Authorities involved" and inserting, "either of the Borough Councils". The Council considered and approved the report of the Executive Member for Environment as amended and it was

ORDERED:

(i) That the Light Rapid Transit (LRT) Development Panel be disbanded and replaced with the Gosport Peninsula Access Panel;

(ii) That the following terms of reference be approved for the Gosport Peninsula Access Panel:

1. The Panel shall be called the "Gosport Peninsula Access Panel" and shall be comprised of up to three members appointed by Hampshire County Council and up to three representatives each from the Borough Councils of Fareham and Gosport.

2. The Panel shall be responsible for:

(a) Advising Hampshire County Council, Fareham Borough Council, Gosport Borough Council and the Solent Transport Strategy Panel on such matters relating to access to the Gosport Peninsula as may be referred to it;

(b) Steering the work of officers of the County and Borough Councils concerning the issue of access to the Gosport Peninsula;

(c) Authorising the commissioning of consultants and advisers to advise on such aspects as are necessary to enable the Panel to carry out its functions;

(d) Authorising any agreements or other actions considered necessary;

(e) Authorising such consultation with the public or a section of the public or with any interested body or bodies as it considers appropriate.

Provided that the Panel shall not authorise any action pursuant to the above which is not covered by an approved budget, or if at least two Members of the County Council require the matter to be referred to the Council for decision.

3. The Chairman of the Panel shall be from Hampshire County Council and the Vice-Chairman shall be from either Fareham or Gosport Borough Councils.

4. Meetings of the Panel shall be held on dates agreed between the County Council and the two Borough Councils and shall be convened by the Secretary of the Panel giving at least 14 days notice.

5. The Secretary of the Panel shall convene a meeting at the request of the Chairman or within 7 days receipt of a notice from either of the Borough Councils requiring him to do so.

6. Conduct of meetings of the Panel shall be regulated by the Standing Orders of Hampshire County Council so far as the same are applicable to committees and are consistent with these terms of reference, and no Member shall have a casting vote.

352 REPORT OF THE EXECUTIVE MEMBER FOR SPATIAL STRATEGY -
PART I.

Part I of the report of the Executive Member for Spatial Strategy was presented by Councillor J.K. Glen, Executive Member for Spatial Strategy.

353 HAMPSHIRE MATERIAL RESOURCES STRATEGY : MINERALS AND WASTE DEVELOPMENT SCHEME FOR HAMPSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL AND PORTSMOUTH AND SOUTHAMPTON CITY COUNCILS

The Council considered and approved the report of the Executive Member for Spatial Strategy.

ORDERED:

(i) That the Hampshire Material Resources : Minerals and Waste Development Scheme be approved for submission to the First Secretary of State, subject to Portsmouth and Southampton City Councils' formal agreement to a joint scheme;

(ii) That, in the event of Portsmouth City Council and/or Southampton City Council not agreeing to a joint scheme, and/or any submission from the emergent New Forest National Park Authority, the Director of Environment be authorised to modify and submit an amended version to the First Secretary of State to cover the appropriate administrative area.

354 SOCIAL CARE BUDGET 2005/06.

Councillor A.G. Dowden, seconded by Councillor A.P. Collett, proposed the following motion, notice of which had been given in accordance with Standing Order 17:

"This Council understands the severe pressures, both financial and in the demand for services, faced by Social Services, and, recognising the adverse impact on vulnerable people in Hampshire if a lower budget were set, calls on the County Council to passport all Formula Spending Share (FSS) and specific grants increases to Social Services within the 2005/06 budget."

Councillor Felicity Hindson, seconded by Councillor T.K. Thornber, proposed an amendment as follows:

Delete the wording of the notice of motion after the words, "This Council ..." and substitute the following : ".... has always understood the severe pressures, both financial and in the demand for services, faced by Social Services, and has budgeted to the best of its ability. It now calls on the Government to honour its responsibility for vulnerable people in Hampshire in the coming Revenue Support Settlement and avoid placing an undue burden on the council tax payers of Hampshire.

It reminds Government that implementation of the results of the 2001 Census of Population is overdue, and the addition of £7m to the Rate Support Grant which this would generate would greatly assist Social Care in particular and other services in general."

Following a wide ranging debate, and on being put to the vote, it was

ORDERED:

That this Council has always understood the severe pressures, both financial and in the demand for services, faced by Social Services, and has budgeted to the best of its ability. It now calls on the Government to honour its responsibility for vulnerable people in Hampshire in the coming Revenue Support Settlement and avoid placing an undue burden on the Council tax payers of Hampshire.

It reminds Government that implementation of the results of the 2001 Census of Population is overdue, and the addition of £7m to the Rate Support Grant which this would generate would greatly assist Social Care in particular and other services in general.

355 SAVE OUR POST OFFICES.

Councillor A.P. Collett, seconded by Councillor B.D. Dash, proposed the following motion, notice of which had been given in accordance with Standing Order 17:

"This Council notes:

(i) That many urban sub post offices in Hampshire have closed in recent years;

(ii) That many more urban sub post offices are still due to close under the Government's so-called Network Reinvention Programme;

(iii) That plans being considered by Royal Mail regarding High Street Crown post offices indicate that up to half of these could also be lost;

(iv) That the Government's decision to abolish pension and benefit books has been a major cause of loss of business for post offices;

(v) That the County Council is a formal consultee in the closure process.

This Council recognises that the loss of these sub post offices, and the potential loss of up to half of our Crown post offices, has a negative impact on the quality of life of many Hampshire residents, including:

(i) Causing social deprivation by cutting many vulnerable people off from a vital community service (undermining Corporate Strategy Aim 1);

(ii) Adding to traffic on our roads as people are forced to drive to post offices that are no longer within their walking range (undermining Corporate Strategy Aim 2);

(iii) Undermining the economic viability of other neighbourhood shops and services as people are forced to travel to more distant locations to do their post office business (undermining Corporate Strategy Aim 3);

(iv) Isolating people from their friends and neighbours as they visit more remote post offices (if they can) where they will meet far less people that they know and where a postmaster/mistress is far less likely to notice if someone doesn't turn up (undermining Corporate Strategy Aim 4).

This Council, therefore, protests in the strongest possible terms at this dismantling of our community infrastructure and resolves to:

(i) Develop a strategy to do everything we can to save sub post offices and Crown post offices in Hampshire that are under threat;

(ii) Investigate opportunities to provide County Council services through post offices in order to help keep as many of them viable as possible;

(iii) Work with partner organisations, district and parish councils and local communities throughout Hampshire to achieve the above objectives on behalf of those Hampshire residents who are elderly, frail or disabled and everyone else who will be adversely affected by this loss of essential community infrastructure."

During debate it was suggested that the words, "Work with .... community infrastructure" in the final paragraph (iii) of the notice of motion should be deleted and the following inserted: "Ask the Hampshire Strategic Partnership to take up this issue and work with the various Local Strategic Partnerships to achieve the above objectives on behalf of all Hampshire residents and businesses." This was accepted by Councillor A.P. Collett, mover of the motion. Following a wide ranging debate, it was accordingly

ORDERED:

This Council notes: