AT A MEETING of the ENVIRONMENT POLICY REVIEW COMMITTEE held on 23 June 2005 at The Castle, Winchester.

PRESENT:

Councillors: P. R. C. Hutcheson (In the Chair); J. V. Bryant; Mrs E. M. Byrom;

A. Carew; N. Clarke; M. Cooper; Mrs P. M. Devereux; Mrs A. Edwards;

Mrs K. Heron; G. Hockley; K. House; R. C. McIntosh; Sam Payne; D. Simpson and

S. D. T. Woodward.

Also in attendance: Councillors T. G. Knight and J. K. West.

1. 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.

2. MINUTES

The Minutes of the meeting held on 16 March 2005 (Item 2 in the Minute

Book) were confirmed by the Committee and signed by the Chairman.

Matters arising:

(a) Project Integra Annual Business Plan 2005-2010 and Project Integra

Behavioural Change Strategy.

On Minute 299, the Director of Environment advised that the Chairman of

the Policy and Scrutiny Select Committee would carry out a review of

Hampshire County Council's role on the Board of Project Integra.

(b) The "Future of Air Transport" White Paper.

On Minute 300, a Member asked that representations be made to the

British Airports Authority on the future of Air Transport and the

consequences for Hampshire and a progress report be submitted to this

Committee.

3. CHAIRMAN'S COMMUNICATIONS

(a) Reported that John Rylett from the Highways Agency had accepted an

invitation to attend the Environment Policy Review Committee meeting on

22 July to which all Members of the County Council would be invited. It was

proposed that the item will be in two parts; the first, will be a presentation on

the issues affecting Hampshire's Motorway and Trunk Road Network and the

second part concentrating on strategic questions relating to the Motorway

and Trunk Road network raised by Members. To enable best use to be made of

the Highway Agency's time, it will be helpful if Members could submit

questions to Colin Taylor, Chief Engineer, Hampshire Highways East at

[email protected]. The intention is to provide a written answer to all

questions raised but to select a sample of the more strategic questions to which

the Highways Agency will respond at the meeting.

(b) Reported that as part of the ongoing induction process for Members

following the elections in May, it is proposed to provide an opportunity for

Members to find out more about the work of the Environment Department at

an event to coincide with the next meeting of the Environment Policy Review

Committee. At the conclusion of the Committee on 22 July, the Director of

Environment will give a brief presentation on the role and responsibilities of

the Environment Department. This will be complemented by an exhibition on

the services provided, staffed by senior managers from the Department. It is

hoped that Members will take the opportunity to meet staff and a light buffet

lunch will also be provided. An invitation has been sent to all Members of the

County Council and Members of this Committee are encouraged to attend.

4. MEMBERS QUESTIONS

No questions to the Executive Member for Environment : North Hampshire

and Spatial Strategy and the Executive Member for Environment : South

Hampshire and Resource Management had been received.

5. DEPUTATIONS

No requests to make a deputation had been received.

6. 2005/06 ENVIRONMENT CAPITAL PROGRAMME PROGRESS AND

REVISIONS

The Committee considered the report of the Director of Environment (item 6

in the Minute Book) providing progress and revisions to the 2005/06

Environmental Capital programme amendments reflecting programme and

cost variations on individual schemes.

The County Treasurer and the Director of Environment amplified the report

and discussions centred on Safer Routes to Schools and School Travel

Plans. Members emphasised the need for local Members to be kept informed

of developments with schools in their area and asked that a report be

submitted to a future meeting of the Committee to serve as a background

paper for new Members and a refresher paper for re elected Members.

RESOLVED:

(a) That the Executive Member for Environment : South Hampshire and

Resource Management be advised that the Committee recommended that

the revised 2005/06 Local Transport Plan Capital Programme as set out in

Appendix 1 be approved.

(b) That the Executive Member for Environment : South Hampshire and

Resource Management be advised that the Committee recommended that

the revised 2005/06 Safer Routes to School Programme be approved as set

out in Appendix 1A be approved.

(c) That the Executive Member for Environment : South Hampshire and

Resource Management be advised that the Committee recommended that

the revised 2005/06 Highways Maintenance and the Bridges programme as

set out in Appendix 3 be approved.

(d) That the Director of Environment submit a report on Safer Routes to

Schools and School Travel Plans to a future meeting of the Committee.

7. FINAL ACCOUNTS 2004/05

The Committee considered a report of the Director of Environment (item 7 in

the Minute Book) summarising the Environment Service's spending in

2004/05. The County Treasurer confirmed that there was a net under-spend of

£15,000 (0.02%) against the 2004/05 adjusted revised revenue cash limit of

£90.4m.

In response to a Member's question, it was agreed that the Director of

Environment would further consider the opportunity for the sale of traffic

surveys data and services to external organisations to generate additional

income for this service.

RESOLVED:

(a) That the Executive Member for Environment : South Hampshire and

Resource Management be advised that the Committee recommended that

the final accounts be approved.

(b) That the departmental assurance statement of the Chief Internal Auditor be

noted.

8. DRAFT LOCAL TRANSPORT PLAN

The Committee considered a report of the Director of Environment (Item 8 in

the Minute Book) describing the context, process and proposed content of the

draft Local Transport Plan, including the results of the strategic environmental

appraisal and requesting that Cabinet recommends the County Council to

approve the LTP.

During the course of the ensuing discussion, Members questions were

answered and they generally supported the proposed draft second LTP but

suggested two particular changes for Cabinet to consider.

· That the LTP should set out a clear, imaginative and aspirational longer term vision for transport in Hampshire, not limited to the emphasis of current LTP guidance as a context for and influence upon the immediate policies, programmes and targets set out in the Plan being submitted.

· That there should be clearer and stronger reference to the need for the existing infrastructure deficit to be addressed and for future growth envisaged in the South East Plan, to be clearly and explicitly conditional upon additional infrastructure investment in Hampshire including a significant contribution to transport.

RESOLVED:

That in considering the report the Committee offers the comments above which

it believes the Cabinet should take into account in recommending the County

Council to approve the provisional Local Transport Plan 2006-2011, also

taking into account the comments received on the strategic environmental

assessment.

9. CROSSRAIL IMPLICATIONS

The Committee considered a report of the Director of Environment (item 9 in

the Minute Book) on progress with the cross- London rail link and the

emergence recently of an alternative rail link proposal `Superlink' which could

have implications for Hampshire.

RESOLVED:

(a) That the report be noted.

(b) That progress of the Hybrid Bill through Parliament be monitored.

10. DISCRETIONARY SERVICE AREAS - SERVICE IMPROVEMENT

REVIEW

The Committee considered a report of the Director of Environment (item 10 in

the Minute Book) on a proposal to review the Environment Service's

discretionary services including activities not directly relating to a statutory

requirement and not previously subject to Best Value Reviews. The report also

advised members of the Review Brief and invited Member nominations from

the Committee to participate in the consultation part of the review, to

complement the input from Executive Members.

RESOLVED:

(a) That the report be noted.

(b) That Councillors A. Carew; N. Clarke; M. Cooper; Mrs P. M. Devereux;

and Mrs A. Edwards participate in the review.

11. ENVIRONMENT REVIEW OF LOCAL SERVICE DELIVERY

The Committee considered a report of the Director of Environment (item 11 in

the Minute Book) on a proposal to review the balance of service delivery

between local areas based delivery and delivery from headquarters in

Winchester. The report also advised Members of the Review Brief and invited

nominations to participate in the review alongside Executive Members.

RESOLVED:

(a) That the report be noted.

(b) That Councillors Mrs E. M. Byrom; Mrs A. Edwards; K. House;

R. C. McIntosh and Sam Payne participate in the consultation part of the

review.

12. AUDIT OF STREET LIGHTING

The Committee received and noted a report of the Director of Environment

item 12 in the Minute Book) on the findings of the recent structural survey of

street lighting columns in conjunction with the assessment within Hampshire

County Council's Risk Management System of the risk of column collapse and

outlining the progress in exploring the methods for funding street lighting

column replacement.

13. ANNUAL REPORT ON COMPLIMENTS AND COMPLAINTS

MONITORING

The Committee received and noted a report of the Director of Environment

(item 13 in the Minute Book) on complaints and compliments recorded for the

Environment Department during the period April 2004 to March 2005.

14. ENVIRONMENT POLICY REVIEW COMMITTEE -

FORWARD PLAN

The Committee considered a report of the Chief Executive and Director of

Environment (Item 14 in the Minute Book) setting out issues for future

consideration, subject to the additions of Transport Accessibility,

Bio Diversity and South East Plan Housing figures to the list of future items.

RESOLVED:

That with the additions listed above, the Forward Plan be noted.