AT A MEETING of the CABINET of HAMPSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL held at The Castle, Winchester on 19 December 2005

Chairman:

p Councillor T.K. Thornber, CBE

Councillors:

Also present: Councillors Dr. R.J. Ellis and Mrs C.A. Leversha

71. APOLOGIES

Apologies for absence (part of the meeting) were received from Councillors Perry and Woodhall, and Peter Robertson, Chief Executive who were attending the funeral of Honorary Alderman Maurice Jones, former Chairman of the County Council.

72. 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.

73. MINUTES

The minutes of the meeting held on 28 November 2005 were confirmed as a correct record.

74. CHAIRMAN'S COMMUNICATIONS

There were no communications on this occasion.

75. DEPUTATIONS


The Cabinet received a deputation from Penelope Waterfield, Chair of Burnham Copse Schools' Governing Body, and Mike Christmas who spoke in support of the proposals detailed in Item 6 on the agenda "Review of School Places at Burnham Copse Infant and Burnham Copse Junior Schools.

76. REVIEW OF SCHOOL PLACES AT BURNHAM COPSE INFANT AND BURNHAM COPSE JUNIOR SCHOOLS

The Cabinet considered the report of the Director of Children's Services (Item 6 in the Minute Book) detailing the background to a request emanating from the schools' governing body to amalgamate the Burnham Copse Infant and

Burnham Copse Junior schools. The report also detailed the outcome of the consultation process that followed which included a joint visit to the schools by members of the Cabinet and members of the Children's Services Policy Review Committee on 28 November 2005.

During the course of a full discussion, the Cabinet expressed their support for the report's proposals and following their visit to the schools were of the unanimous view that the new one form of entry should be established by way of refurbishment of the existing Junior School site. The Cabinet adopted the recommendations set out in the report, with an amendment to reflect the view expressed in respect of the preferred site. A copy of the substantive decision sheet is attached to these minutes as Appendix 1.

77. SOCIAL SERVICES SUPPORT TO HAMBANTOTA, SRI LANKA: 14 SEPTEMBER TO 6 OCTOBER 2005

The Cabinet considered the report of the Director of Children's Services (Item 7 in the Minute Book) detailing the benefits of the further support given by Social Services to Hambantota in Sri Lanka following the Tsunami in December 2004. Lynn Ludford, Team Leader along with Lorraine Hopkin, Caroline Munro, Liz Maddock and Peter Newman attended the meeting to expand on the report and answer Members questions. A short DVD highlighting the current situation in Hambantota was shown and thanks were extended to Mary Pebble, Southampton City Council social worker and Caroline Munro for their expertise in putting together the DVD. The Cabinet welcomed the report and extended their thanks to all members of the team for their continuing work.

During the course of a full discussion, the Cabinet were keen to explore what other support opportunities existed such as in the technical and infrastructure areas. It was therefore agreed that the Director of Property, Business and Regulatory Services and Lynn Ludford consider how the County Council might best offer further help to Hambantota including the possibility of an investigative visit to assess the position in terms of technical and infrastructure support. The Cabinet adopted the recommendations in the report together with an additional resolution to reflect Members' views as detailed in the substantive decision sheet, a copy of which is attached to these minutes as Appendix 2.

78. 2006/07 AND 2007/08 PROVISIONAL BUDGET AND CAPITAL PROGRAMME GUIDELINES

The Cabinet considered the report of the County Treasurer (Item 8 in the minute book) detailing the Revenue Support Grant (RSG) Settlement announced by the Government on 5 December 2005, and outlining the budget

guidelines for 2006/07. The County Treasurer gave a short presentation detailing the key changes to the way the grant is calculated and reported that detailed analysis of the settlement indicated that the County Council's position at end of 2007/08 would be far worse than originally anticipated with a total potential loss of £38m or 30% of grant due in the main to additional damping for adult social care (£14m). Although 100% Direct Schools Grant meant a good settlement for schools and allows for plenty of headroom, the knock-on effect of this is that spending on other services is mainly met from council tax. This sees the County Council with the lowest relative needs grant (formula used by the Government to determine the amount of grant required per head to spend on services) out of all the English counties. Furthermore, the County Treasurer emphasised the need to meet with the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (ODPM) at the earliest opportunity to make strong representations to reconsider the Council's position as a result of changes in Adult Social Care funding and the withdrawal of certain specific grants. These changes sees Hampshire severely disadvantaged, and should be taken into account by the Government when setting notional amounts for the capping level for Council Tax.

The Cabinet expressed strong concerns about the extremely difficult position this puts the County Council in, and the very stark choices that will need to be faced in the next two years. The Chairman reported that the ODPM had agreed to meet with representatives of the County Council and it was anticipated that this meeting would take place in January. The Cabinet were due to meet with MPs in the New Year and would lobby them also about the County Council's position. In the meantime, Executive Members were advised to liaise with officers to prepare provisional budgets in line with a council tax increase of 4.7% to keep within the projected capping limit of 5% whilst bearing in mind efficiency savings targets as previously identified.

The Cabinet adopted the report's recommendations along with an additional resolution to inform the Policy and Resources Scrutiny and Select Committee in response to their advice, that the option of a 2.7% council tax increase was not feasible given the position detailed above. A copy of the substantive decision sheet is attached to these minutes as Appendix 3.

79. CONTACT CENTRE

The Cabinet considered the report of the Director of Property, Business and Regulatory Services and Chairman of the Contact Centre Board (Item 9 in the minute book) detailing the rationale for, and concept of operating a Corporate Contact Centre which would focus on improving public access to information and services by telephone and e-mail and creating a more efficient way of managing the associated processes. The County Treasurer emphasised the financial position summarised in the report and the need to reduce some service budgets to re-pay the initial capital which could be met by an `invest-to-save' reserve. Furthermore, the Chief Executive reported on the intention to undertake a rolling property review commencing in 2006 and there was an expectation that this would generate some additional capital receipts to set up the `invest-to-save' reserve.

The Cabinet were supportive of the report's proposals and indicated that this was the direction in which the County Council should be moving to improve performance, contact with the public and achieve efficiency savings. The Cabinet adopted the report's recommendations with an additional resolution that a progress report be submitted in due course. A copy of the substantive decision sheet is attached to these minutes as Appendix 4.

80. INTERNATIONAL LINKS

The Cabinet considered the report of the Chief Executive (Item 10 in the minute book) detailing the background to the County Council's involvement in European and international activity and the benefits this has reaped. The Chief Executive reported that it was timely to review the framework for this area of work given the huge opportunities that exist to work with international networks and agencies to promote the interests of Hampshire and influence and shape policy development internally and in Europe for the benefit of the people of Hampshire.

The Cabinet were supportive of the proposals detailed in the report and recognised the expertise of county officers and officers based at the European Office in Brussels in preparing successful bids which the County Council had benefited from thus far. The Cabinet adopted the report's recommendations along with an additional resolution to receive a further report by June 2006. A copy of the substantive decision sheet is attached to these minutes as Appendix 5.

81. FUTURES GROUP - SCHOOLS PROJECT

The Cabinet considered the report of the Futures Group (Item 11 in the minute book) seeking approval of a set of proposals in respect of a schools project, to be run as a pilot, seeking to engage young people on their local community and improving understanding of local government and its services. Officers were pleased to report an outstanding level of response by schools wanting to participate in this project and as a result, the Cabinet were asked to consider the widening of this pilot.

During the ensuing discussion, the Cabinet expressed their continued support for this project and were extremely pleased with the many expressions of interest, which had far outweighed expectations. Furthermore, the Cabinet agreed that all schools involved in the eliminatory round should receive the sum of £100. The Cabinet adopted the report's recommendations with an additional resolution to reflect their views on the level of reward, as detailed above. A copy of the substantive decision sheet is attached to these minutes as Appendix 6.

Contact: Chris Holt, 5673; e-mail: [email protected]

Peter Colenutt, 6157; e-mail: [email protected]

1 Summary

1.1 The following decisions were made:

a. That public notices be published in accordance with Sections 28 and 29 of the School Standards and Framework Act 1988, to:

· Discontinue Burnham Copse Infant School and Burnham Copse Junior School with effect from 31 December 2006 and

· Establish a new one form entry community primary school, to cater for 210 pupils aged 4 - 11 plus pre-school provision in remodelled buildings on the Burnham Copse Junior School site, with effect from 1 January 2007;

b. That the Director of Property, Business and Regulatory Services undertake a feasibility study to consider the possible alternative uses of the redundant school building and report to Cabinet in March 2006 on the findings of the study and a capital strategy for funding the work to establish the primary school.

2 Reason

2.1 These decisions support the following Corporate Aims:

· Aim 1 - maximising life opportunities, by developing strategies for the most appropriate educational provision;

· Aim 4 - building strong and safe communities, by taking full account of community and neighbourhood issues when deciding upon how best to meet the demand for school places;

· Aim 5 - improving services, by considering solutions which will contribute to the raising of educational standards.

2.2 These decisions support the aims of the Children Act:

· Being healthy (enjoying good physical and mental health and living a healthy lifestyle) - by the provision of a facility and environment where action is taken to promote children's physical health;

· Staying safe (being protected from harm and neglect) - by having access to a secure learning environment;

· Enjoying and achieving (getting the most out of life and developing the skills for adulthood) - by providing a high standard of education for children in suitable buildings within their own community;

· Making a positive contribution (being involved with the community and society and not engaging in anti-social or offending behaviour) - by safe-guarding friendship and neighbourhood groups by allowing for primary education to be provided as close to people's homes as reasonably practicable;

· Economic well-being (not being prevented by economic disadvantage from achieving their full potential in life) - by the provision of and environment which will not disadvantage children and will protect quality of opportunity, setting them on the road to achieving economic well-being.

3 Other Options considered and rejected - None.

4 Conflicts of Interest declared by the decision maker - None.

5 Dispensation granted by the Standards Committee - Not applicable.

6 Reason for the matter being dealt with if urgent - Not applicable.

Approved by: ................................... Date: ...............................
Councillor T K Thornber, CBE

Contact: Lynn Ludford 01252-796270 E-mail [email protected]

1. Summary

1.1 This report identifies the benefits for the people of Hambantota, Sri Lanka following a second three week visit to that region by six Social Workers from the Children's Services Department of Hampshire County Council and two Social Workers from Southampton City Council.

1.2 The following decisions were made:

That the Cabinet agrees:

(a) that a Hampshire County Council Social Worker (already experienced in supporting Hambantota) should join the multi agency team representing the Southern Consortium of Local Authorities.


(b) that the Director of Children's Services and the Director of Property, Business and Regulatory Services consider how the County Council might best offer further help to Hambantota including the possibility of an investigative visit to assess the position in terms of technical and infrastructure support.

2. Reasons

2.1 In relation to decision (a) by agreeing to a Hampshire County Council Social Work representative joining the multi- agency team provided by the Southern Consortium this would ensure continuity and make use of the considerable links already made with the community.

2.2 By agreeing to the above Hampshire County Council would be able to continue to enable the local non-governmental organisations, community workers, the urban council and other organisations to support the community.

3. Other options considered and rejected

3.1 Not to offer further support.

4. Conflicts of interest declared by the decision maker or a member or officer 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

Contact: Jon Pittam, 7400; e-mail: [email protected]

1. Summary

1.1 This report recommends provisional service budget and capital programme guidelines to enable policy review committees and executive members to consider their budget proposals in January for submission to the Cabinet in February.

1.2 The Cabinet set its budget strategy and guidelines when it considered its medium term financial strategy, provisional budget strategy 2006/07 and budget consultation on 25 July 2005. Two budget options were agreed for consultation with a community workshop and other `stakeholder' interests, to consider at this meeting. The two options for 2006/07 would have lead to:

· a budget rise of 4% and a council tax increase of 6.7% with efficiency savings to absorb new pressures

· or a budget rise of 2.4% and a council tax increase of 4.7% within the projected capping limit of 5%, requiring £8m of cuts as well as efficiency savings

1.3 The Government has responded to the campaign for more grant resources to avoid higher council tax rises and cuts in services. For this County Council, grant reductions are deferred for two years by a higher grant floor, which is £24m in 2007/08, paid for by scaling-back other authorities grant increases. This means that budget guidelines can now be set with a spending increase commensurate with the first option but with a council tax rise equivalent to the second option.

1.4 The following decisions were made:

i. the County Treasurer in consultation with the Leader should submit a written response by 11 January 2006 to The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (ODPM) on behalf of the County Council to the provisional formula grant settlement

ii. the Cabinet determine if the County Council should seek an individual meeting with the ODPM as well as the Leader's deputation on behalf of the County Councils' Network

iii. service budgets be prepared within the provisional guidelines set out in Table 8, paragraph 6.2 of the report, for consideration by policy review committees

iv. following consideration by policy review committees, executive members approve service budgets within the budget guidelines for submission to the Leader and Cabinet in February 2006

v. executive members identify efficiency improvements for inclusion in the 2006/07 Annual Efficiency Statement which meet or exceed the 2.5% per annum target

vi. executive members meet their inescapable budget pressures and legislative requirements within the provisional budget guidelines with proposals for cashable efficiency savings or redeployment of resources to offset any new spending priorities

vii. any proposals for additional spending above budget guidelines which are met from redeployments or proposed efficiency savings, should be accompanied by a summary business case containing clear financial and performance data setting out how performance will be improved and value for money achieved

viii. executive members report back on their annual review of charges and maximisation of income

ix. executive members identify the workforce implications of their proposed budgets as part of the process of linking workforce and financial planning

x. executive members prepare indicative budget plans within the provisional budget guidelines for 2007/08

xi. considered the recommendation of the Policy and Resources Scrutiny and Select Committee to continue looking at the option of a 2.7% council tax increase, but given the ultimate withdrawal of grant in 2007/08 coupled with the fact that the actual grant increase for 2006/07 now appears to be lower than the headline floor increase, the Cabinet were of the view that this option was not feasible

xii. executive members prepare proposals for a locally resourced four year capital programme within the current limits, adjusted for inflation

xiii. in addition, executive members submit:

· capital schemes supported by Government grants and scheme or programme specific supported borrowing for 2006/07 and those expected to be supported in 2007/08, 2008/09 and 2009/10

· proposals for the use of unsupported borrowing in accordance with the County Council's policy on prudential borrowing

· proposals for supported credits for any Private Finance Initiative scheme.

2. Reason

2.1 The Leader and Cabinet need to determine the basis on which service budgets and capital programmes are prepared for consideration by executive members and policy review committees in January, as the next step in the preparation of final budget and council tax decisions for 2006/07 to be taken in February 2006, together with setting provisional budget limits for 2007/08.

2.2 These decisions support all of the aims of the corporate strategy as it provides the financial resources for:

Aim 1 - maximising life opportunities

Aim 2 - stewardship of the environment

Aim 3 - achieving economic prosperity

Aim 4 - building strong and safe communities

Aim 5 - improving services

Aim 6 - developing councillors and staff

3. Other options considered and rejected - none

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

5. Dispensation granted by the Standards Committee - none

6. Reason(s) for the matter being dealt with if urgent - none

Approved by: ............................... ... Date: ..............................
Councillor T K Thornber, CBE

Contact: Andrew Smith Ext: 7826 email: [email protected]

Councillor T K Thornber, CBE

Contact : Jill Lovelock Ext 7591, e-mail address: [email protected]


1. Summary

1.1 The following decisions were made:

(a) Cabinet adopts the vision statement for international links:

Hampshire County Council's status as an excellent authority will be supported, developed and sustained through its European and international activities. It will work with international networks and agencies to promote the interests of Hampshire and influence and shape policy development internally and in Europe for the benefit of Hampshire people. International work adds value to the Council's corporate priorities and services to promote the economic, social and environmental well-being of Hampshire.


(b) Members and the International Officers group identify priority activities and how to disseminate information.


(c) That a further report be submitted by June 2006.

2. Reason


2.1 The County Council has been involved in European and international activity for many years, with benefits coming from a range of activities and projects. With a new Cabinet member for External Affairs it is timely to review the framework for this work.

The Council's international work supports all six aims of the Corporate Strategy.


3. Other options considered and rejected: - Not applicable.


4. Conflicts of interest declared by the decision maker or a member or officer consulted - Not applicable.

5. Dispensation granted by the Standard's Committee - Not applicable.
6. Reason(s) for the matter being dealt with if urgent - Not applicable.

Approved by: .................................... Date: ...............................
Councillor T K Thornber, CBE

Contact: Futures Group Steering Group

_ Lise-Anne Boissiere; 01962 847967; [email protected]

_ Peter Colenutt; 01962 846157; [email protected]

_ Marcos Frangos; 01962 813811; [email protected]

_ Martin Goff; 01962 846185; [email protected]

_ Chris Locke; 01962 826038; [email protected]

_ Andrea Prior; 01962 831009; [email protected]

_ Nick Suffolk; 01962 826734; [email protected]

1. Summary

1.1 The following decisions were made:

(a) That the Cabinet approve the proposals of the Futures Group and the widening of the this pilot in the light of so many expressions of interest;

(b) That the Futures Group organise a form of an eliminatory round, the details of which to be confirmed.

(c) That all schools involved in the eliminatory round should receive the sum of £100.

2. Reason

2.1 These decisions support the following Corporate Aims:

· Maximising life opportunities

· Stewardship of the environment

· Achieving economic prosperity

· Building strong and safe communities

· Improving services

· Developing councillors and staff

2.2 It is anticipated that the project will also contribute to each of the following five outcomes of the Children Act:

· Be healthy

· Stay safe

· Enjoy and achieve

· Make a positive contribution

· Achieve economic well-being

3. Other options considered and rejected - None.

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