AT A MEETING of the CABINET of HAMPSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL held at The Castle, Winchester on Monday 28 February 2005.

PRESENT:

Councillors: T.K. Thornber, CBE (in the Chair); C.R.H. Davidovitz; K.B. Estlin; Mrs S.M. Glasspool, DL; J.K. Glen; Felicity Hindson, MBE; D.A. Kirk; T.G. Knight; J. Waddington; M.J. Woodhall.

Also in attendance: Councillors: Mrs E.M. Byrom; K.G. Chapman; B.D. Dash; M.S. Geddes; R.J. Kimber.

432. 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.

433. MINUTES

The minutes of the meeting held on 11 February 2005 were confirmed as a correct record.

434. CHAIRMAN'S COMMUNICATIONS

The Chairman confirmed the Cabinet re-organisation following the death of the former Councillor Don Allen in order to discharge responsibility for children's and adult services and education matters until the Annual General Meeting of the County Council in May 2005:-

· Councillor Felicity Hindson, Executive Lead Member for Children's Services and Social Care, assisted by Executive Member Councillor Susan Glasspool in relation to Adult Services and working in close co-operation with Councillor David Kirk, Executive Member for Education.

· As a result of the change of responsibilities for Councillor Kirk, Councillor Tim Knight has been appointed as Executive Member for Community Development and Regeneration.

435. DEPUTATIONS

There were no deputations.

436. CORPORATE BIODIVERSITY ACTION PLAN

Cabinet considered the report of the Director of Environment (Item 5 in the minute book) seeking approval of the Corporate Biodiversity Action Plan, which is one of a suite of plans being prepared by the County Council in respect of sustainable development. The Action Plan is an extensive document and was welcomed by the Cabinet. During the ensuing discussion, Members expressed strong support for the important links the Action Plan has identified with the South East Plan and sub-regional strategies currently being prepared and which provide opportunities to ensure that priority habitats are fully protected and that biodiversity is enhanced throughout the south-east region. Cabinet adopted the recommendations set out in the report and agreed two further resolutions which are detailed in the substantive decision sheet set out as Appendix 1 to these minutes.

437. DEVOLVING DECISION MAKING: A CONSULTATION ON REGIONAL FUNDING ALLOCATIONS

Cabinet considered the report of the Director of Environment and the County Treasurer (Item 6 in the minute book) in respect of Government consultation on its proposals to improve decision-making by establishing clearer assumptions on funding for regional transport, housing and economic development. The report summarised the Government's proposals and its wider implications. During the course of a full discussion, Members expressed strong concerns about the impact the proposals would have, and in particular the loss of local democracy. To address these views, an amendment to the recommendations were agreed as detailed in the substantive decision sheet set out as Appendix 2 to these minutes.

438. CALCULATION OF REQUIREMENTS TO GENERATE EFFICIENCY IMPROVEMENTS

Cabinet considered the report of the County Treasurer (Item 7 in the minute book) identifying the amount of efficiency improvements the County Council will be required to make in its non-schools budgets between 2005/06 and 2007/08 and indicative departmental targets. Members expressed a view that it was important to adopt a positive approach in order to achieve these requirements and whilst the general thrust of the report was supported, it was noted that Members would have the opportunity to discuss the indicative departmental targets in more detail prior to the finalisation of the County Council's Efficiency Plan for submission to the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister by 15 April 2005. Cabinet adopted the recommendations set out in the report and a copy of the decision sheet is attached as Appendix 3 to these minutes.

Contact: David Pape, ext 6739 email: [email protected]

1. Summary

1.1 The following decisions are sought:

(i) That the Corporate Biodiversity Action Plan be approved by Cabinet for adoption by relevant departments for implementation.

(ii) That progress on implementing the Corporate Biodiversity Action Plan be monitored and reported as part of annual reporting on the County Council's performance in sustainable development.

(iii) That the Corporate Biodiversity Action Plan be sent to the Government Office of the South East, the South East England Regional Assembly, and the South East England Development Agency to encourage these organisations to include this Plan in their consideration of quality of life in the South East Plan, and to the New Forest National Park Authority to inform its future work.


(iv) That the County Councils' Network be asked to refer the Corporate Biodiversity Action Plan to their Rural Task Group to look at developing a common approach to biodiversity matter in rural areas of the country.

2. Reason

2.1 This decision supports Aim 2 of the Corporate Strategy (Stewardship of the Environment) by improving the County Council's performance in conserving and enhancing biodiversity and implementation of the objectives of the Corporate Sustainable Development Strategy.

3. Other Options Considered and Rejected

3.1 Taking no action.

4. Conflicts of Interest Declared by the Decision Maker or Other Executive Member Consulted - None.

5. Dispensation granted by the Standards Committee - Not applicable.

6. Reason(s) for the Matter being dealt with if Urgent - Not applicable.

Approved by: ..................................... Date: ...................................

Councillor T K Thornber

135Decn/DP

Contacts: Stuart Jarvis, ext 6126 email: [email protected]

Ejner Knudsen, ext 7430 email: [email protected]

1. Summary

1.1 The following decisions are sought:

(i) That HM Treasury be informed that the County Council:

(a) acknowledges that sustainable choices on transport, housing, planning and economic development in the south-east should not be taken in isolation but that principal authorities acting together be the proper forum for decision as the elected representatives of the people;

(b) regrets the failure of the proposals to address:

(i) the way that local priorities, as determined by local

authorities, will be considered in the process;

(ii) how the local levels of resources will be determined by

the regional agencies or the long-term provision for investment necessary to ensure the development of sustainable communities; and

(c) is alarmed that the proposals give no certainty over the funding of the essential infrastructure crucial to the development of sustainable communities; and

(d) is aware of the difficulty of calculating regional transport allocations by way of a formula, and recommends that the Government should establish a working group to consider this issue. Hampshire County Council would be willing to participate in such a working group.

(ii) That Cabinet endorse the proposed response to the specific consultation question set out in the attached appendix.

2. Reason

2.1 On 8 December 2004 HM Treasury, in collaboration with the Department for Transport, the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister and the Department of Trade and Industry, published proposals to improve decision making by establishing clearer assumptions on funding for regional transport, housing and economic development. The proposals include two major innovations. First, the establishment of regional transport funding allocations and second, the suggestion of longer-term regional resource distribution assumptions to influence allocations in future Spending Reviews.

2.2 This decision supports Aim 4 of the Corporate Strategy (Building Strong and Safe Communities) by seeking to ensure that the County Council continues to represent the views of the local community at regional and national levels.

3. Other Options Considered and Rejected

3.1 The option of not responding to the consultation was rejected because to do so would mean a missed opportunity for the County Council to influence emerging Government policy on regional funding allocations.

4. Conflicts of Interest Declared by the Decision Maker or Other Executive Member Consulted - None.

5. Dispensation granted by the Standards Committee - Not applicable.

6. Reason(s) for the Matter being dealt with if Urgent - Not applicable.

Approved by: ..................................... Date: ...................................

Councillor T K Thornber

9174Decn/SJ/EK

Contact: Paul Carey-Kent, ext 7525

1. Summary

1.1 The details of the Government's efficiency framework for 2005/06 - 2007/08 were reported to Cabinet on 11 February 2005. Cabinet will consider the draft efficiency plan for the County Council on 21 March, as will the Policy & Resources Scrutiny & Select Committee on 11 April, and the Leader, Chief Executive and County Treasurer will finalise the plan for submission by 15 April 2005.

1.2 This report identifies the £15.2m per annum efficiencies the County Council will be required to make in its non-schools budgets between 2005/06 and 2007/08 and sets indicative targets for each department.

1.3 The following decisions are sought:

(i) that calculation of the requirements on the County Council to generate efficiency improvements be noted;

(ii) that a draft efficiency plan for the County Council be considered by the Cabinet on 21 March and by the Policy & Resources Scrutiny & Select Committee on 7 April 2005; and

(iii) that the plan be finalised by the Leader, Chief Executive and County Treasurer in the light of comments made at those meetings for submission by 15 April 2005.

2. Reason

2.1 In order to meet Government requirements.

2.2 The decisions cut across all the areas of the Corporate Strategy but in particular Aim 5 - improving services in the most efficient manner.

3. Other options considered and rejected - not applicable.

4. Conflicts of interest declared by the decision maker or other Executive Member consulted - none.

5. Dispensation granted by the Standards Committee - not applicable.

6. Reason(s) for the matter being dealt with if urgent - not applicable.

Approved by: ................................... Date: .................................

Councillor T. K. Thornber, CBE