Archived decisions
AT A MEETING of the RECREATION AND HERITAGE POLICY REVIEW COMMITTEE of the COUNTY COUNCIL held at The Castle, Winchester, on Thursday, 15 September 2005.
PRESENT:
Councillors: K. G. Chapman (Chairman); Alan Broadhurst; Carol Boulton; P.J. Chegwyn; Dr R. J. Ellis; E.F. Gale; B.T. Gurden; R.J. Kimber; Roger H. Price; A.W. Rice; Mrs. M.J. Tucker; D. F. Wright.
Also in attendance: Councillor Charlotte Bailey (Winchester Downlands)
21. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
Members were mindful that, where they believed they had a personal or a personal prejudicial interest in any matter to be considered at the meeting, they should normally declare at the time of the debate their interest, and having regards 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 is discussed.
No such interests were declared.
22. MINUTES
The Minutes of the meeting held on 14 July 2005 were confirmed by the Committee and signed by the Chairman.
23. CHAIRMAN'S COMMUNICATIONS
The Chairman reported that the questionnaire responses received from the Members concerning Recreation and Heritage site visits had been encouraging. The comments would be taken into account when arranging future visits.
On being informed of the Executive Member for Recreation and Heritage's sad news the Chairman and Members of the Committee requested that a letter of condolence, on their behalf, be sent to her.
24. MEMBERS' QUESTIONS
The following question was submitted by Councillor P. Chegwyn:
"Will the Chairman please give a brief report on the decision by Hampshire County Council to take a greater interest in the management of the Explosion Museum in
Gosport. Who took this decision; what will be the cost to the County Council over the next 12 months; and how are the costs of managing and promoting 'Explosion' to be
divided between the County Council and Gosport Borough Council? Will a written report on 'Explosion' be coming to a future meeting of this PRC?"
In the response given by the Director of Recreation and Heritage, it was explained that following staffing difficulties at the `Explosion' Museum earlier in the year, Gosport Borough Council had sought the assistance of the County Council's Museums and Archives service. With the full support of the Executive Member, the Director of Recreation and Heritage had agreed to help. A number of staff had been assigned to help. Following a trial period, a service level agreement was being negotiated. The Agreement would require the Borough Council to cover the costs of the managing the museum including the hours worked by County Council staff . The agreement, once finalised, would be submitted to the Executive Member of Recreation and Heritage for her approval. It was confirmed that the responsibility for the Museum would remain with Gosport Borough Council.
25. DEPUTATIONS
No requests to make deputations were received.
26. QUALITY STANDARDS
The Committee received a presentation given by the Director of Recreation and Heritage on service quality standards and accreditation in the Recreation and Heritage Department. A number of accreditations, service standards and quality marks were already held by the Department. Efforts were now being made to gain the Charter Mark, the Government's national standard of excellence in customer service. By gaining the Charter Mark, the Recreation and Heritage Department would be recognised as providing a high level of service and raise expectations in customer service and act as a catalyst for continued improvement in both service and performance standards.
27. WRITER IN RESIDENCE PARTNERSHIP PROJECT
The Committee received a presentation given by the Director of Recreation and Heritage on the Writer in Residence Partnership Project. During 2004 Hampshire Record Office and Westbury Manor Museum had worked together on the project using archives and museum collections to inspire children's creativity in writing and art. With funding from the Arts Council South East and SEMLAC (South East Museum Library and Archive Council) a local childrens' author was employed to research the collections and to hold a series of workshops in primary schools in the Fareham district. The project was the first of its kind in the country.
Members congratulated the officers involved and suggested that the presentation would be of interest to the Children's Services Policy Review Committee.
28. COUNTRYSIDE ACCESS DEVELOPMENT WORK IN HAMPSHIRE
The Committee received a presentation and considered the report of the Director of Recreation and Heritage (Item 8 in the Minute Book) which provided an update on the delivery of the County Council's new duties and responsibilities under the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 and sought support for the Countryside Service's continuation of its access development work.
The Director of Recreation and Heritage drew the Committee's attention to a letter received from the Countryside Agency thanking, in particular, two members of Hampshire's Countryside Service staff for their significant contribution in developing the draft Exemplar Rights of Way Improvement Plan. This had created great interest amongst other authorities throughout England. The exemplar project had helped in the development of the County Council's own Rights of Way Improvement Plan for Hampshire.
The Members congratulated the Countryside staff and thanked them for their level of commitment and service.
RESOLVED:
(a) That the progress made in implementing the open access legislation be noted and that the Executive Member for Recreation and Heritage be requested to support the continued implementation of the work through a targeted grant application to the Countryside Agency.
(b) That the access development work undertaken by the Countryside Service be fully
supported and in response to the national recognition recently obtained the Executive Member be requested to support the sustained approach to the current policy and approach.
(c) That the efforts to broaden the opportunities for all parts of the community to benefit from access to Hampshire's Countryside be endorsed and that the Executive Member be requested to support the continuation of this work in support of Corporate Policy objectives.
29. THE DEPARTMENT OF CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT`S RESPONSE TO
THE SELECT COMMITTEE REPORT; THE PRICEWATERHOUSECOOPER'S REPORT INTO LIBRARY IMPACT MEASURES; AND THE PKF REPORT INTO THE STOCK SUPPLY CHAIN REVIEW AND LIBRARY INEFFICIENCIES
The Committee received and noted the report of the Director of Recreation and Heritage (Item 9 in the Minute Book) on three recently published major national reports: the Department of Culture, Media and Sport's response to the House of Commons Select Committee report on Public Libraries; the report by PricewaterhouseCooper's into the impact made by public libraries and the PKF consultant's report into library stock procurement efficiencies.
Councillor Mrs Bailey attended for this item and expressed her concern regarding the PKF report recommendations. The Director of Recreation and Heritage explained that the report's recommendations were not a blueprint for implementation, and should only be considered as suggestions. He advised that with regard to book purchase, Hampshire's stock costs were amongst the lowest in the country.
Concern was expressed about Hampshire Library overhead costs, the future effect of the introduction of Discovery Centres and possible alienation of the present core library users. It was proposed that a Scrutiny Panel be set up to review at Hampshire's library service in detail, to look at book costs, opening hours, have powers to call expert witnesses and to consider ways of improving the service. The Chairman advised that prior to the commencement of another Review, the Arts Scrutiny Review should be concluded beforehand. By a majority vote, Members resolved that a Scrutiny Panel be established.
RESOLVED:
(a) That the Department of Culture, Media and Sport's response to the House of
Commons Select Committee report on Public Libraries; the report by PricewaterhouseCooper and the PKF report be noted.
(b) That it be agreed that there should be established a Scrutiny Panel to
look in detail at the library service within Hampshire, the Panel to begin its work
following the conclusion of the Arts Scrutiny Review. A report to be brought to the
next meeting of the Committee proposing terms of reference and membership of
the Panel.
30. CURRENT DEVELOPMENTS IN INFORMATION AND LIFELONG
LEARNING SERVICES
The Committee considered the report of the Director of Recreation and Heritage (Item 10 in the Minute Book) on the range of current activities aimed at improving the library service including the provision of increased opportunities for lifelong learning and the policy for the display of information in Hampshire libraries.
RESOLVED:
(a) That the developments in Information and Lifelong Learning outlined in the report
be supported.
(b) That the policies for the display of information through exhibitions, leaflets and
posters in Hampshire's Libraries as contained in the appendix to the report be submitted to the Executive Member for Recreation and Heritage for her consideration.
31. FINANCIAL AND PERFORMANCE MONITORING 2005/06
The Committee considered the report of the Director of Recreation and Heritage and the County Treasurer (Item 11 in the Minute Book) on the Recreation and Heritage Department's financial position for 2005/06 and the financial pressures on the budget.
RESOLVED:
That the following recommendations be submitted to the Executive Member for her consideration:
(i) That the current financial situation be noted.
(ii) That the action being taken to address the pressures be endorsed.
(iii) That the Recreation and Heritage Management Team find savings to ensure that the potential overspend is eliminated by the end of 2005/06.
32. RURAL DISCOVERY CENTRES
The Committee considered the report of the Director of Recreation and Heritage (Item 12 in the Minute Book) on the development of Rural Discovery Centres within those parishes identified as suffering from rural deprivation.
Members requested an amendment to the recommendation giving support to officers to investigate methods of providing the development of Rural Discovery Centres.
RESOLVED:
That the development of Rural Discovery Centres be supported and that officers investigate methods of providing this service looking particularly at the parishes suffering most from rural deprivation.
33. RECREATION AND HERITAGE POLICY REVIEW COMMITTEE -
FORWARD PLAN 2005/06
The Committee noted the report of the Chief Executive and the Director of Recreation
and Heritage on the Forward Plan for 2005/06 (Item 13 in the Minute Book).
34. EXCLUSION OF PRESS AND PUBLIC
RESOLVED:
That, by virtue of paragraph 1 of part I of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972, the press and public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of Item 15.
35. PROPOSED APPOINTMENTS TO HAMPSHIRE COUNTRYSIDE ACCESS
FORUM
The Committee considered the report of the Director of Recreation and Heritage (Item 15 in the Minute Book) on the proposed appointments to the Hampshire Countryside Access Forum.
In addition to the proposed appointments listed in the appendix to the report, the Members proposed that Hampshire Councillor Carol Boulton be considered by the Executive Member for Recreation and Heritage as an appointee to the Forum.
RESOLVED:
That the following recommendations be submitted to the Executive Member for Recreation and Heritage for her consideration:
(i) That approval be given to the proposed membership of the Hampshire
Countryside Access Forum as described in the appendix to the report.
(ii) That formal recognition be given to the contribution of the Access Forum to date
in forming County Council policy and that the appreciation of the Elected
Members for their work and advice be conveyed.
(iii) That consideration be given to the appointment of Councillor Carol Boulton to the
Access Forum.