Contact: Linda Tartaglia-Kershaw, ext 6815

email: [email protected]

1. Summary

1.1 (i) That the following decisions are sought:

(a) approval be given to fund the following environmental programmes from the capital budget for 2005/06:

Regeneration of Older Urban Areas £921,000 Programme (Appendix 1, Table 2)

Country Towns Initiative (Appendix 2) £258,000

Hampshire Villages Initiative £ 82,000

(Appendix 3)

and the proposed outline pool of possible Regeneration of Older Urban Area projects for 2006/08 be noted (Appendix 1, Table 2), for further consideration at a future meeting; and

(b) approval be given to the allocation of £218,200 revenue funding for the provision of environmental services for 2005/06 to support the County Council's objectives.

(ii) That the County Council enters into agreements with the following voluntary sector and other bodies providing services and support to the County Council's objectives:

British Trust for Conservation Volunteers £ 23,000

Hampshire Buildings Preservation/Bursledon £ 15,000

Brickworks Trusts

East Hampshire Area of Outstanding Natural £ 30,000

Beauty - Joint Advisory Committee

Forest of Bere Partnership £ 15,000

Forest of Eversley Partnership £ 15,000

The Hampshire and Surrey Farming and Wildlife £ 15,000

Advisory Group

Hampshire Gardens Trust £ 15,000

Hampshire Wildlife Trust (Community Project £ 7,700

Officer)

Hampshire and Isle of Wight Trust for Maritime £ 19,000

Archaeology

Learning Through Landscapes Trust £ 22,000

Hampshire Biodiversity Information Centre £ 20,500

Hampshire Wildlife Trust(Habitat Management £ 15,000

Advisory Project)

Hampshire Ornithological Society £ 3,000

Butterfly Conservation £ 3,000

Total £218,200

1.2 The budget is provisionally allocated to projects pending consideration of alternatives to achieve 2.5% efficiency savings on all projects and programmes, work with the local community and more detailed design work.

1.3 A total allocation of £406,000 is included in the 2005/06 capital budget, of which the Country Towns Initiative is £258,000. The remaining £148,000 is allocated to a variety of Environmental Initiatives (Appendix 2).

2. Reason

2.1 To support the County Council's corporate strategies and environmental objectives through existing environmental programmes and service provision arrangements, aimed at improving and enhancing the environmental quality, commercial and social vitality in urban areas, market towns and villages; and assisting in both the statutory and discretionary activities of the County Council in rural areas by providing advice and information to land managers and communities on the conservation and enhancement of Hampshire's countryside.

2.2 This decision supports the following Aims of the Corporate Strategy:

(i) Aims 1 and 4 (Maximising Life Opportunities and Building Strong and Safe Communities) by creating opportunities for local communities to address local environmental and traffic issues and gain a better understanding of the local sense of place; and by supporting many voluntary and community groups in practical conservation of Hampshire's countryside, and promoting understanding and appreciation of the cultural, natural and built environments.

(ii) Aim 2 (Stewardship of the Environment) by implementing environmental improvement schemes which enhance the distinctiveness and quality of Hampshire's older urban areas, country towns and villages and ensuring Hampshire remains a place where people want to live.

(iii) Aim 3 (Achieving Economic Prosperity) by developing the amenity of local areas for residents and visitors to Hampshire's older urban areas, country towns and villages, and helping to achieve economic regeneration objectives identified by the local community.

3. Other Options Considered and Rejected

3.1 Not to support the existing environmental programmes. Not to make arrangements with voluntary bodies and other service providers this year.

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 K B Estlin

291/LT-K

APPENDIX 1

REGENERATION OF OLDER URBAN AREAS

TABLE 1 - RECOMMENDED NEW STARTS PROGRAMME FOR 2005/06

District Project *Estimated

Total £000

Eastleigh The Square, Hamble 200

Hart Church End Green, Yateley 200

New Forest Old Totton 300

Programme/Project Fees 221

Total 921

The proposed allocations are not cost estimates and are liable to change as projects are developed.

* Proposed financial allocation from the 2005/06 Capital Programme.

TABLE 2 - POSSIBLE FUTURE POOL OF PROJECTS FOR 2006/08

District Project

Basingstoke Brookvale, Basingstoke

Gosport Forton Road, Gosport

Havant Havant Town Centre

Rushmoor Cove, Farnborough

Discussions are still ongoing with the districts about the scope of future schemes.

The future pool includes those projects considered to best fulfil the ROUA programme criteria at this stage, subject to future priorities.

APPENDIX 2

COUNTRY TOWNS INITIATIVE

Expenditure

(£000s)

2004/05

Hythe Promenade 95

Romsey, Church Place 76

Andover High Street 50

Odiham town centre 30

Supplementary Schemes: Fordingbridge Market Place 2 5



Total 256



2005/06

Odiham town centre 208

Supplementary Schemes: Swanmore Centre 50

Total 258

Other Environmental Initiatives 2005/06

Expenditure

(£000s)

Land Management 21

Schools Landscape Programme 30

Landscape Strategy 23

Historic Parks and Gardens 10

Heathlands 32

Biodiversity 32

Total 148

APPENDIX 3

HAMPSHIRE VILLAGES INITIATIVE

FUTURE PROGRAMME

2004/05-2005/06 Expenditure

Horndean £50,000

Hurstbourne Tarrant £10,000

Rowlands Castle £3,250

Headley £6,500

Wherwell £3,000

Kimpton £5,000

Little London £15,000

Easton £3,000

Steep £3,000

Ashford Hill £15,000

South Warnborough £3,000

Other schemes to be identified £45,250

Total £162,000

SUPPLEMENTARY PROGRAMME