COUNCIL PROCEEDINGS, 22 FEBRUARY 2006

HAMPSHIRE

At a Meeting of Hampshire County Council held at The Castle, Winchester on Wednesday 22 February 2006.

Chairman:

p Councillor John K. West

Vice Chairman:

p Councillor Mrs. P. A. West

Councillors:

79 APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors: Mrs. E. M. Byrom, Phrynette Dickens and Harrison.

80 PRESENTATIONS TO HONORARY ALDERMEN MRS. EDITH RANDALL, JOHN WADDINGTON AND ALEX VARDEN

Honorary Aldermen Mrs. Randall, Waddington and Varden had been appointed to that office by the County Council at special meetings on 8 December 2005 and 30 January 2006 in recognition of the eminent service that they had rendered to the County Council over many years. The Leader of the Council, Councillor T. K. Thornber C.B.E., presented each with their certificate of appointment which the Council applauded wholeheartedly. Each of the new Honorary Aldermen thanked the Council for bestowing the office of Honorary Alderman upon them and expressed their appreciation to the Council. Honorary Alderman Mrs. Randall presented an original photograph of the statue of Queen Victoria when it had resided outside rather than inside the Great Hall.

81 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.

82 MINUTES

The minutes of the Special and Ordinary meetings of the County Council held on 8 December 2005 and the Special and Extraordinary meetings of the County Council held on 30 January 2006 were confirmed and signed by the Chairman.

83 DEPUTATIONS

The Council received a deputation from Isitfair concerning the Council Tax and from Mr. P. Mason concerning the County Council's budget and Adult Services expenditure in particular.

84 CHAIRMAN'S COMMUNICATIONS

The Chairman reported with pleasure the appointment of John Coughlan, the Director of Children's Services as Vice-President of the Association of Directors of Social Services, his term running until the Association's annual conference in October when he would become president of the Association. The Chairman was also pleased to report the broadcasting of Hampshire Music Service's "Worldsong" as performed at the Schools Prom by BBC TV. The Chairman mentioned celebrations to mark the 200^th anniversary of the birth of the famous engineer Isambard Kingdom Brunel in 2006. He also mentioned for members' diaries events which he would be hosting in the near future.

85 LEADER'S REPORT

The Leader was delighted again to report the receipt of a number of awards by the County Council. Its Occupational Therapy Direct Service had won both the Southern Regional and National Award for Technology in the Annual Department of Health Awards for Health and Social Care Agencies and had achieved national recognition as the winner of the best project in the Government to Citizen category of the UK Government Computing Awards 2005. The Leader took pleasure in presenting the awards to representatives of the service namely Angela Watwood, Fiona Harris, Miles Hutchings, Alison Coulter, Joseph Stepney and Keith Cheesman.

The Road Safety Team had been highly commended on its drug testing radio advert and the County Council's Road Safety Team and Hampshire Constabulary had recently been awarded the PRIME (Problem Resolution in Multi-Agency Environment) Community Safety Award for 2006. This award was for partnerships demonstrating excellence in problem solving the casualty reduction programme. The County Council had also achieved a significant award relating to the use of IT to provide better services to residents and staff having won the local E-Government Excellence "Efficiency" Award thus demonstrating that the County Council was an excellent example of a government organisation using IT to improve its services and enhance its interaction with individuals, local communities, businesses and stakeholders. The County Council's catering services (HC3S) had been awarded Hospitality Assured, the internationally recognised standard for delivering service and business excellence in the hospitality industry thereby joining an elite group of other organisations that had achieved this prestigious accolade.

There was also acclaim for the County Council's younger employees, two of whom had been highly commended in a nationwide competition to find the best young Local Authority of the Year. The judges had-commented that Becky Whale and Gary Smith from the Chief Executive's Policy Unit had shown "an impressive grasp of a complex subject and provided a vivid insight into the decision making process, coupled with a brilliant defence of the public sector."

The Leader reported that the County Council had received the final annual audit and inspection letter from the Audit Commission in which Hampshire had received the top rating - four stars - in the Commission's comprehensive performance assessment at the end of 2005. The letter highlighted how the County Council, which it described as "having a strong track record of improvement in its priority services" continued to improve its performance particularly in regard to "maximising life opportunities". The assessment had been more stringent than ever and the Leader reported his satisfaction that the Council's hard work and careful planning was paying off. The Audit Commission recognised that Hampshire's council tax was among the lowest in the country whilst the services provided were among the best. In that context, the Leader also reported that at the beginning of January 2006 he and the County Treasurer had taken the fight for a fair deal for County Council taxpayers to Government given that the County Council's grant settlement had been wholly inadequate. The Leader had made it quite clear that if the Government wanted to give £38m to the Midlands and other areas of the country in two years' time, that should come from the central exchequer.

In conclusion, the Leader drew to the Council's attention that the Cabinet would formally consider a response to the Department of Health's consultation document on the configuration of the NHS Ambulance Trusts in England at its meeting on 20 March 2006. All members of the Council would be sent the Officers' report on the matter in advance of that meeting and there was an open invitation for members to attend the meeting or to comment to the Cabinet if they wished.

With the leave of the Council, Councillor A. G. Dowden presented T-shirts to the Chairman and Leader which he had been given by a Japanese Youth Orchestra whilst he was in Australia in the context of the possibility of developing links between young musicians in Japan and the Hampshire County Music Service.

86 QUESTIONS UNDER STANDING ORDER 20(b)

Councillor Thornber, Leader of the Council, answered a question from Councillor Dowden about the Adult Services budget and the County Council's performance rating.

Councillor Kirk, Executive Member with special responsibility for Education, answered a question from Councillor Wright concerning heating issues at Brune Park Community College, Gosport.

Councillor Thornber, Leader of the Council, answered a question from Councillor Mrs. Peskett about the membership of Local Authority based steering groups being set up by the Youth Offending Team Management Board.

Councillor Glen, Executive Member for Environment: North Hampshire and Spatial Strategy, answered a question from Councillor Carew about progress with the accessibility pilot study for Whitehill and Bordon.

Councillor Thornber, Leader of the Council, answered a question from Councillor Dowden about the budget and the need to close residential homes.

Councillor Felicity Hindson, Executive (Lead) Member for Children's Services, answered a question from Councillor Mrs. Peskett about looked-after children sent into custody and Councillors' role as "Corporate Parents".

In responding to the question, the Leader of the Council indicated his intention that a seminar for all members be arranged covering issues concerning youth offending and young people in custody

87 SOUTH EAST ENGLAND REGIONAL ASSEMBLY

RESOLVED:

That Councillor D. A. Kirk be appointed the County Council's deputy representative in place of Councillor P. R. C. Hutcheson.

88 LOCAL GOVERNMENT ASSOCIATION URBAN COMMISSION

RESOLVED:

That Councillor J. K. Glen be appointed the County Council's representative in place of Councillor T. G. Knight.

89 REVENUE BUDGET AND PRECEPT 2006/07 AND CAPITAL PROGRAMME 2006/07 TO 2009/10

The Council considered the report of the Leader/Cabinet (Item 8 in the Minute Book) and the Draft Revenue Budget and Capital Programme. In introducing the report the Leader put the following amendment which was seconded by Councillor M. J. Woodhall:

"That it be an amendment to recommendation b) of item 8A on the revenue budget and precept for 2006/07

a) Addition to budget

· that balances be increased by £1,000,000 as a central contingency against additional pressures arising on adult services in 2005/06 and 2006/07

b) Financed by

· use of the resources devolved from Environment that were to be allocated for Hampshire Action Teams (£780,000)

· a freeze on the 2.7% increase in members' allowances (£30,000)

· corporate savings (£190,000)"

Councillor A. P. Collett, seconded by Councillor B. D. Dash, moved the following amendment:

"That it be an amendment to recommendation b) of item 8A on the revenue budget and precept for 2006/07

a) Additions to budget

b) These additions would be financed by

					£'000
reductions in corporate communications and publication costs throughout the County Council					2,000
reduction in the grant equalisation reserve					4,500
				6,500"

As chairman of the Winchester Detached Youth Work Project Councillor Porter declared a personal prejudicial interest in the amendment proposed by Councillor Collett and left the meeting whilst it was discussed.

Councillor Jo Kelly, seconded by Councillor D. F. Wright, moved the following amendment:

"That it be an amendment to recommendation b) of item 8A on the revenue budget and precept for 2006/07

a) To add £250,000 to the adult services budget

To provide some additional support to enable older persons to remain in their own homes. The purpose of this addition is to give extra support to both the client and their personal carers. This could be achieved by moderating some of the planned withdrawal of day centre provision to retain at least one visit per week to a day centre for those older people whose carers would benefit. In turn this would delay the carers own need for future social care.

b) To add £250,000 to the public transport budget:

· to review and co-ordinate the use of vehicles managed by social services, community transport, dial-a-ride, neighbourhood care transport etc, with the aim of improving availability and usage by more effective communication

· to provide some additional support to replace the withdrawal of commercial services upon which low paid workers rely for getting to and from work

c) These additions will be financed by:

· reduction of £500,000 in balances"

There was a wide-ranging debate and consensus on a significant number of the issues which the proposed budget sought to address. In summing up the Leader of the Council, Councillor T. K. Thornber, was minded to recommend the Council to adopt the amendment put forward by the Labour Group save that the £0.5m reduction in balances should in total be added to the Adult Services budget with work to be done, without any financial allocation, to consider the public transport issues raised in the amendment.

The Leader of the Council called for a recorded vote on the initial amendment put forward by the Conservative Group and the requisite number of members stood in support.

Those in favour of the Conservative amendment:

Councillors: Allgood, Bailey, Banks, Baulk, Beagley, Blampied, Broadhurst, Bryant, Buckley, Cartwright, Chapman, Chegwyn, Clarke, Collett, Cooper, Dash, Davidovitz, Devereux, Dowden, Dunsdon, Edgar, Edwards, Ellis, Evans, A., Frankum, Gale, Gill, Glen, Gurden, Heath, Heron, Hindson, Hughes, Hutcheson, Kelly, Kemp-Gee, Kendal, Kimber, Kirk, Knight, Leversha, Mason, Maxwell, McIntosh, McNair Scott, Neal, Payne, Peskett, Porter, Reid, Rice, Roling, Simpson, Snaith, Still, Thornber, Tucker, Weeks, Wheale, Woodhall, Woodward, Wright.

Total 62

Those against the Conservative amendment:

None

Abstentions:

Councillors: West, J. K., and West, Mrs. P. A.

Councillor A. P. Collett, Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group, called for a recorded vote on the Liberal Democrat amendment and the requisite number of members stood in support.

Those in favour of the Liberal Democrat amendment:

Councillors: Bailey, Blampied, Broadhurst, Buckley, Chegwyn, Collett, Cooper, Dash, Dowden, Dunsdon, Gill, Gurden, House, Hughes, Mason, Payne, Peskett, Roling, Simpson, Weeks.

Total: 20

Those against the Liberal Democrat amendment:

Councillors: Allgood, Banks, Baulk, Beagley, Bryant, Cartwright, Chapman, Clarke, Edgar, Ellis, Evans, A., Gale, Glen, Heath, Heron, Hindson, Hutcheson, Kemp-Gee, Kendal, Kimber, Kirk, Knight, Leversha, Maxwell, McIntosh, McNair Scott, Neal, Reid, Rice, Snaith, Still, Thornber, Tucker, Wheale, Woodhall, Woodward.

Total: 36

Abstentions:

Councillors: Edwards, Frankum, Kelly, West, J. K., West, Mrs. P. A., Wright

Total: 6

Accordingly the Liberal Democrat amendment was lost.

The Council then considered the Labour Group amendment revised as proposed by the Leader of the Council and this was agreed as was the subsequent substantive motion.

In reaching their decision, the Council took into account the County Treasurer's report under Section 25 of the Local Government Act 2003, a copy of which is set out as Appendix 1 to the report of the Leader/Cabinet.

RESOLVED:

a) That the revenue budget for 2006/07 (as set out in the draft budget book) be approved save that balances be increased by £1,000,000 as a central contingency against additional pressures arising on adult services in 2005/06 and 2006/07 financed by

· use of the resources devolved from Environment that were to be allocated for Hampshire Action Teams (£780,000)

· a freeze on the 2.7% increase in members' allowances (£30,000)

· corporate savings (£190,000)

and that, from balances, £0.5m be added to the revenue budget, i.e. on a recurring basis, to the adult services budget to provide some additional support to enable older persons to remain in their own homes so as to give extra support to both the client and their personal carers. (This could be achieved by moderating some of the planned withdrawal of day centre provision to retain at least one visit per week to a day centre for those older people whose carers would benefit. In turn this would delay the carers own need for future social care) and that, in relation to the public transport budget, a member/officer working group be established:

· to review and co-ordinate the use of vehicles managed by social services, community transport, dial-a-ride, neighbourhood care transport etc, with the aim of improving availability and usage by more effective communication

· to provide some additional support to replace the withdrawal of commercial services upon which low paid workers rely for getting to and from work;

b) That the provisional budget for 2007/08 (as set out in the draft budget book) be approved

c) That the total budget requirement for the general expenses of the County Council for the year beginning 1 April 2006 be £568,360,000

d) That the County Council's band D average council tax for the year beginning

1 April 2006 be £910.62

e) That the County Council's council tax for the year beginning 1 April 2006 for properties in each tax band be:

f) That precepts be issued totalling £ 444,717,358.55 on the billing authorities in Hampshire, requiring the payment, in such instalments and on such dates set by them and previously notified to the County Council, in proportion to the taxbase of each billing authority's area as determined by them and as set out below:

g) That the annual investment strategy be approved (Appendix 2)

h) That the prudential indicators (Appendix 3) be approved.

i) That the Cabinet be authorised to determine any further use of unsupported borrowing within the County Council's agreed prudential framework for capital finance.

j) That approval of the capital programme for Adult Services for 2006/07 to 2009/10 be deferred pending agreement by the Cabinet of solutions for the outstanding financing shortfalls arising from the existing schemes for improvements to residential homes for older people, the proposed replacement day centre for older people in the Hythe and Dibden area, and the SWIFT social care IT system.

k) That the remainder of the capital programme for 2006/07 be approved as set out in the draft capital programme circulated separately, subject to the conditions set out in section B.3 of the County Council's Financial Procedures and, where appropriate, to the approval of the Executive Member for Policy and Resources to proposals by Executive Members to retain more than a 25% share of capital receipts.

l) That the remainder of the capital programmes for 2007/08 to 2009/10 be approved as set out in the draft capital programme for the purpose of undertaking design work (including the preparation of feasibility and design project appraisals).

m) That expenditure on preliminary design and planning work for major transport schemes be permitted when they have achieved a place in the County Council's Local Transport Plan, subject to the cost being met within existing Government allocations.

n) That authority be given to incur expenditure on land purchases as follows:-

(i) up to the sum specified in respect of sites still required for the schemes included in the capital programme for the period 2006/07 to 2009/10 provided that the relevant scheme has been the subject of a feasibility study or design project appraisal approved by the relevant Executive Member, and

(ii) up to the amount included in the 2006/07 programme in respect of advance and advantageous land purchases.

90 LOCAL TRANSPORT PLAN 2006/11

The County Council considered the report of the Cabinet/Leader recommending approval of the draft Local Transport Plan 2006/11. The plan built on the provisional plan, the assessment of which by the Government had resulted in a planning total of some £6.8m less than the £69.5m previously announced. The Council noted that there would be opportunities to consider matters of detail, and

RESOLVED:

That approval be given to the Local Transport Plan 2006/11 in accordance with the recommendation of the Cabinet/Leader.

91 MEMBERS' ALLOWANCES SCHEME 2006/07

The Council considered the report of the Governance Committee recommending proposals for the Members' Allowances Scheme 2006/07. The Council noted that the basis on which the budget 2006/07 had been approved earlier in the meeting required an amendment to recommendations 1, 5, 6 and 7 of the Governance Committee's report. The amendment, which was approved by the Council, was to delete the words in recommendations 1, 5, 6 and 7 "be increased by 2.7% for 2006/07 as shown in Appendix 1" and for these to be replaced by the words "continue at 2005/06 levels for 2006/07". It was accordingly:

RESOLVED:

1. That all basic and special responsibility allowances for members of the County Council continue at 2005/06 levels for 2006/07;

2. That the formula linking the basic allowance and special responsibility allowances, as recommended by the Independent Remuneration Panel, be not reinstated;

3. That the Chairman, Vice-Chairman and Minority Groups' Spokespersons of the Regulatory Committee receive allowances equal to those paid to the Chairmen, Vice-Chairmen and Minority Group Spokespersons of the Policy Review Committees;

4. That the Chairman and Vice-Chairman of the Governance Committee receive a special responsibility allowance equal to that of the Chairman and Vice-Chairman of the Standards Committee;

5. That the basic allowance for co-opted members of the Children's Services Policy Review Committee continue at 2005/06 levels for 2006/07;

6. That the basic allowance for Independent Members of the Standards Committee continue at 2005/06 levels for 2006/07;

7. That the basic allowance for Independent Remuneration Panel members continue at 2005/06 levels for 2006/07;

8. That the Independent Remuneration Panel, when considering the Members' Allowances Scheme for 2007/08 be asked to consider reinstating the percentage increase link to the annual National Local Government staff pay award rather than the Retail Price Index.

92 APPOINTMENT OF INDEPENDENT MEMBERS TO STANDARDS COMMITTEE AND INDEPENDENT REMUNERATION PANEL

The Council considered and approved the report of the Head of Corporate and Legal Services and Monitoring Officer recommending the appointment of Independent persons to the County Council's Standards Committee and its Independent Remuneration Panel. This followed public advertisement and interviews conducted by Standards Committee members.

RESOLVED:

1. That Mr. G. A. L. Ellis and Mr. M. C. James be appointed as the two independent members to serve on the County Council's Standards Committee for a period of four years expiring in February 2010; and that Mr. R. Humble be identified as first reserve.

2. That Dr. E. P. C. Waterman-Roberts, Mr. M. H. M. Quick and Mr. P. J. Humphreys be appointed to serve on the Independent Remuneration Panel for a period of four years expiring in February 2010; and that Mr. M. C. James, Mr. R. Humble and Mr. C. J. H. White be identified as reserves.

3. That Dr. E. P. C. Waterman- Roberts be appointed Chairman of the Independent Remuneration Panel for a period of four years expiring in February 2010.

93 HAMPSHIRE POLICE AUTHORITY

The Council received the report of the Hampshire Police Authority. No questions had been submitted pursuant to Standing Order 20(d).

94 HAMPSHIRE FIRE AND RESCUE AUTHORITY

The Council received the report of the Hampshire Fire and Rescue Authority. No questions had been received pursuant to Standing Order 20(e).

95 REPORTS FOR INFORMATION

The Council received the reports of the following:

· The Cabinet/Leader;

· Executive Member for Environment: South Hampshire and Resource Management;

· Health, Overview and Scrutiny Committee;

· Executive (Lead) Member for Children's Services and Executive Member with Special Responsibility for Education.

The meeting ended at 6.25 p.m.