AT A MEETING of the HAVANT AREA COMMITTEE of the COUNTY COUNCIL held at Warblington School, Southleigh Road, Havant on Thursday, 27 January 2005.

PRESENT

Councillors: Jenny Wride (Chairman); Mrs S E Allbright; Mrs A Buckley;

E F Gale MBE; R C McIntosh; Mrs V Steel.

Councillor Mrs G Blackett Havant Borough Council

Mrs S Spencer - Havant Council of Community Services

P Turnbull - Havant Residents Association

Also in attendance: Rev R Hines - Vice Chairman, Havant Local Strategic Partnership

14 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.

The following personal interests were declared:

Councillor Gale in relation to grant application from Registered Riders Scheme, Hayling Island, St Andrew's Church, Eastoke, Hayling Island and Friday Luncheon Club, Hayling Island.

Councillor McIntosh in relation to Purbrook and Widley Area Resident's Association.

Councillor Mrs Steel in relation to Horizon Angling Club for the Disabled, Portchester.

15 MINUTES

The Minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 18 November 2004 were confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

16 FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR COMMUNITY PROJECTS IN HAVANT

The Chief Executive presented a schedule of applications for community projects in Havant (Item 3 in the Minute Book). He reminded members of the need for an audit trail for grants and the necessity for officers comments on applications to achieve this.

RESOLVED:

That:-

(a) The following grants be made:

(i) St John's Ambulance Havant HQ £650

(ii) Westbrook Play Area Action Group £4,000

(iii) Registered Riders Scheme £1,000

(iv) St Andrew's Church, Eastoke £8,000

(v) Friday Luncheon Club, Hayling Island £500

(b) The following applications be deferred for further information:

(i) St John's Ambulance, Waterlooville Division

(ii) St John's Ambulance, Quadrilateral Division

(iii) Pubrook and Widley Resident's Association

(iv) Phoenix Community Association, Waterlooville

(c) The following applications be refused:

(i) The Hampton Trust (The Trust advised that the funding of wages cannot be supported).

(ii) Latham Lodge Nursing and Residential Care Home

(iii) Horizon Angling Club for the Disabled, Portchester (Not within the area of this Committee but the application be passed to the Executive Member for Policy and Resources with a recommendation that a grant be made).

17 INTRODUCTION OF CHAIRMAN

The Chairman welcomed everyone to the meeting and introduced the Committee Members. She explained that the Area Committee was part of the County Council's approach to involving local residents in decision making in the community and enabling local communities to have a greater voice and for the County Council to share information about its services. She said that the new Accredited Community Safety Officers had been working in Havant since November 2004. Their main function was to be out in the community patrolling the streets. From 1 January 2005 they were given a full range of powers to tackle anti-social behaviour. They could now issue fixed penalty notices of £50 for littering, fly-posting, dog fouling, cycling on footpaths and for other offences that cause injury, alarm or distress to another person or damage to property. They will be liaising daily with the police to update on problem hotspots that are patrolled and will meet regularly with key partners including the police and Havant Borough Council to agree priorities.

18 SCHOOL TRAVEL PLANS

Philippa Currie, School Travel Plan Co-ordinator, Environment Department, gave a presentation on school travel plans. She explained what a school travel plan was, why they were needed and their benefits. All schools were being encouraged to participate in school travel plans. In Havant 7 of the 51 schools had approved travel plans and 28 were engaged with the travel plan team.

19 YOUR CHILD'S EDUCATION IN HAVANT

Terry Rath, Education Officer; Nigel Hill; Head of Research and Information and Richard Mitchell, Strategic Schools Improvement Manager gave a presentation on Education in Havant. Terry Rath talked about the impact of the Children Act on Education, partnership working and increased flexibility for schools in managing the curriculum. Nigel Hill gave details of how education in Havant was progressing and Richard Mitchell gave information on how parents/carers could support their children's learning.

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