Archived decisions
AT A MEETING of the RECREATION AND HERITAGE POLICY REVIEW COMMITTEE of the COUNTY COUNCIL held at The Castle, Winchester on Thursday, 19 January 2006.
PRESENT:
Councillors:
p Beagley, I.
p Boulton, Carol.
p Broadhurst, A.
p Chapman, K. (Chairman)
p Chegwyn, P.
a Ellis Dr R.
a Gale, E.
a Gurden, B.
p Kimber, R.
p Price, R. H.
p Maxwell, J.
p Rice, A. W. (Vice-Chairman)
p Still, Elaine.
P Tucker, Marilyn.
P Wright, D.
Also in attendance: Councillors Felicity Hindson M.B.E. and Mrs Carol Leversha
49. APOLOGIES
Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Dr. R. Ellis as he was attending a Health conference and from Councillors E. Gale and B.Gurden.
DECLARATION OF INTEREST
The Committee was advised that all Members who believed they had a personal or a personal prejudicial interest in any matter to be considered at the meeting should declare their personal 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. The declaration to be made at the time of the relevant debate.
No interests were declared.
50. MINUTES
The Minutes of the meeting held on 17 November 2005 were confirmed by the Committee and signed by the Chairman.
51. CHAIRMAN'S COMMUNICATIONS
The Chairman congratulated Jan Smith, the County Archivist, on being appointed to sit on the Lord Chancellor's Advisory Council. The Council advises the Lord Chancellor on all matters relating to records and archives within the United Kingdom.
Together with the Chairman of the Children Services Policy Review Committee, the Chairman invited the Members of the Recreation and Heritage Committee to attend two DVD presentations to be held at the close of the Special County Council meeting on the thoughts and aspirations of young people across Hampshire and on the Music for Youth Schools Proms event, which had taken place in December 2005.
Members noted that the Chairman would be attending a meeting with Surrey County Council towards the end of January 2006 concerning Surrey's involvement with the Basingstoke Canal.
52. MEMBERS' QUESTIONS
None were submitted.
53. DEPUTATIONS
There were none.
54. REVENUE BUDGET 2005/06, 2006/07 AND 2007/08 AND PERFORMANCE MONITORING 2005/06
The Committee considered the joint report of the County Treasurer and Director of Recreation and Heritage (Item 7 in the Minute Book) on the proposed Recreation and Heritage Revenue Budget for 2006/07, a provisional budget for 2007/08 and a revised budget for 2005/06.
The County Treasurer advised the Members that the report had been prepared in consultation with the Executive Member for review by the Policy Review Committee, before its consideration formally by the Executive Member. The Leader and Cabinet would make final recommendations to the County Council on 22 February 2006.
It was noted that the Revenue budget figures for 2006/07 and 2007/08 followed the corporate guidelines of a base budget adjusted for inflation. The provisional budget guidelines for 2006/07 were £31.5 million and for 2007/08 £32.5 million. Cost pressures amounted to £457,000, arising within the Library and Information Service, which would have to be found by managers from within the Recreation and Heritage budget.
Members expressed concern at the pressures on the library service including the proposed increase for book fines and the Book Fund allocation. The County Treasurer explained that due to the extension of the book loan period to four weeks, there was an anticipated loss of income, for which an adjustment was needed. In response to a concern about increases on all other charges, Members were reminded that these were now dealt with under delegated authority as agreed at a former meeting of the committee. Further information as to the current scale of charges could be provided to a future meeting, if required.
The Chairman thanked the County Treasurer and the Director of Recreation and Heritage and staff for their work in producing the budgets.
RESOLVED:
That the following recommendations be submitted to the Executive Member for Recreation and Heritage for her approval and be submitted to the Cabinet for approval:
(i) The revised budget for 2005/06 (as set out in Appendices 1 and 2);
(ii) The base budget for 2006/07 (as set out in Appendix 3);
(iii) The proposals for growth and redeployment of resources (as set out in Appendix 4);
(iv) The proposals for efficiency improvements (as set out in Appendix 5)
(v) The annual review of income and charges (as set out in Appendix 6);
(vi) The workforce implications of the proposed budget for 2006/07 (as set out in Appendix 7);
(vii) The detailed budget for 2006/07 (as set out in Appendix 8);
(viii) The summarised trading accounts for business units (as set out in Appendix 9);
(ix) The provisional budget for 2007/08 (as set out in Appendix 10).
55. CAPITAL PROGRAMME 2006/07 TO 2009/10
The Committee considered the joint report of the Director of Recreation and Heritage and County Treasurer (Item 8 in the Minute Book) on the Capital Programme proposals for 2006/07 to 2009/10.
RESOLVED:
That the proposals for the Capital Programme 2006/07 to 2009/10 be noted and submitted to the Executive Member for Recreation and Heritage for her approval and be submitted to the Cabinet for approval.
56. LOCAL TRANSPORT PLAN 2006-11
The Committee considered the report of the Director of Environment (Item 9 in the Minute Book) on the Local Transport Plan for 2006-11 for submission to the Government by the end of March 2006.
The Director of Environment amplified the report and answered Members' detailed questions. It was noted that the proposed capital programme for transport improvements included an allocation of £900,000 for improvement works associated with the statutory Rights of Way Improvement Plans or Countryside Access Plans, as referred to in Hampshire. In 2005, the Government had made the Rights of Way Improvement Plans a part of the Local Transport Plan. Under a system of full reward funding, up to £500,000 could be made available in addition. The allocation would cover improvements identified through public consultation, which would provide for recreational active travel. The Director of Recreation and Heritage explained that the allocation figure had to meet the objectives of the LTP, and had been agreed in discussions with the Director of the Environment. He stated that recognition by the LTP of access to the countryside was an important milestone and a crucial and welcome change in Government policy.
RESOLVED:
That the Executive Member for Recreation and Heritage be requested to approve the Local Transport Plan, as it relates to access to the countryside and constitutes the Rights of Way Improvement Plan for Hampshire, and that it be submitted to the Cabinet for approval.
57. MUSEUMS VISITOR RESEARCH
The Committee received a presentation by the Director of Recreation and Heritage on a Community Museums Visitor Survey carried out in July 2005 and a Hampshire Record Office survey conducted in 2004.
The museums survey was conducted to ascertain the types of people visiting the museums, how often they came, the things they liked and those they wished to see changed and also to determine which sectors of the population did not visit and their reasons. Face to face interviews were conducted with 100 visitors at each of the nine Community Museums and Rockbourne roman villa. Telephone interviews were held with a sample of visitors. Analysis of the results indicated that visitors were drawn from the new social group headings of Suburban Comfort, Happy Families, Symbols of Success, Grey Perspectives, Blue Collar Enterprise and Ties of the Community. Approximately 70% were repeat visits, with 80% visiting more than once and 50% visiting more than five times during the previous twelve months. Over 70% of visitors were local to Hampshire. Nearly 100% considered their visit enjoyable and 89% approved of the quality of the displays. Lowest approval was for facilities, such as parking, toilets and signposting. A lack of activities was highlighted by adults and families.
The Hampshire Record Office survey was part of the national survey conducted every 18 months and undertaken in October 2004. The aim of the survey was to seek visitor perceptions of the service. Overall the archive service was rated good to very good by 98% by the 200 people in the sample survey. The length of stay for the majority of people was between 2 to 5 hours. Some areas of improvement were cited and included IT facilities, copy services and the web site. The largest age group using the service was 55 to 64 year olds.
Members considered that the figures for the Museums Survey should be circulated to the District Councils as an indication of the affection felt by local people for the service.
58. COMPREHENSIVE PERFORMANCE ASSESSMENT (CPA) 2005 CULTURE SERVICE BLOCK
The Committee considered the report of the Director of Recreation and Heritage (Item 11 in the Minute Book) on the improvement in the Comprehensive Performance Assessment score for the Culture Service Block in 2005 and the proposed changes and challenges for further improvement in 2006.
The Director of Recreation and Heritage reported that Hampshire County Council had been awarded the highest score of 4 in the annual service assessment for Culture for CPA 2005.
The Chairman and Members congratulated the Director of Recreation and Heritage and his staff on their fine achievement.
RESOLVED:
That the Executive Member for Recreation and Heritage be requested to acknowledge in her report to the County Council the achievement of the Recreation and Heritage department in gaining the highest rating under the CPA annual service assessment for Culture.
59. PROGRESS ON THE MUSEUMS HUB 2006/08
The Committee received a presentation by the Director of Recreation and Heritage on the South East Museums Hub Business Plan for 2006-2008.
It was reported that the South East Business Plan had been approved on 18 January 2006. The South East Hub included the Hampshire County Museums and Archives Service (as lead partner); the Royal Pavilion, Libraries and Museums, Brighton and Hove; the Oxford University Museums; and the Chatham Historic Dockyard Trust. A total of £1.932 million and £4.394 million had been awarded for 06/07 and 07/08 respectively, of which £434,900 and £927,650 had been awarded to Hampshire for those years. Business Plan targets had been set by the Department of Culture, Media and Sport for achievement by 2008, which included increasing visits to Hub museums by 2% and the number of people from priority groups, increasing by 25% contact with school age children, and maintaining and increasing the number of new users. The goals for 2008 were 359,000 visitors, 41,000 school age children, 61,000 new visitors, 10 museums to be revitalised, funding for a resource centre identified and £5 million capital to be levered in.
60. YOUNG PEOPLE MATTER
The Committee received a presentation by the Director of Recreation and Heritage on the diversionary activities and early intervention services provided by the Department of Recreation and Heritage for young people.
The Director of Recreation and Heritage explained that under the agenda of `Every Child Matters' arising from the Children Act led by the Children Services Board, vulnerable young people had been identified as being children at risk and in need of protection; children looked after; care leavers; children and adolescents with mental health issues; young people not attending or excluded from school; young people at risk of disaffection; and young people living in deprived communities. Efforts had been made to improve the life chances of the such children and young people by widening their participation in a range of sport, recreational and cultural activities. Examples were shown of case studies at the Phoenix Centre in Andover, the Tilehurst Barn challenge and mention made of various activities including the day event held at the Calshot Activities Centre.
Councillor Felicity Hindson, the Executive Member for Children's Services thanked the Department for their invaluable work and support.
4aM260106