Archived decisions

Contact: Linda Tartaglia-Kershaw, ext 6815

email: [email protected]

1. Summary

1.1 Since 1997 the County Council has provided funds to support the provision of services which support it in the delivery of both statutory and discretionary environmental programmes. These payments are subject to individual annual service agreements, and arrangements to provide services in 2006/07 are now due to be made.

1.2 The proposed funding for environmental service providers was subject to a review in November 2005. Savings were identified where projects had come to their natural conclusion and where alternative methods of securing the support more efficiently and effectively through collaboration were identified. A 10.5% saving on the environmental service providers budget for 2005/06 was identified as part of that review, which is to be met by withdrawing from the funding contribution to the Hampshire Wildlife Trust community officer post and the specific funding towards a dedicated Forest of Bere officer post.

1.3 The proposed funding for each provider is cash limited at the 2003/04 budget allocation.

2. Introduction

2.1 The Environment Department has worked closely with specialist Hampshire organisations and independent Hampshire Trusts for many years to deliver the County Council's environmental policies, aims and objectives, and more specifically direct services to support the Department's wider environmental programmes. The Trusts influence a wide range of environmental activities in Hampshire with their breadth of membership and specialist skills.

2.2 The service secured from the individual organisations can be divided into the following categories:

(i) Provide a direct service to enable and support the Department in conducting its statutory function

Hampshire Biodiversity Information Centre*

Hampshire Wildlife Trust

Hampshire Gardens Trust*

South Downs Joint Committee (previously East Hampshire Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty Joint Advisory Committee)

Hampshire Ornithological Society

Butterfly Conservation Society.

(ii) Provide support to corporate statutory functions with strong links to the Environment Department

Learning Through Landscapes Trust*.

(iii) Supporting organisations that are linked to and support the Environment Department service areas

British Trust for Conservation Volunteers

Hampshire Buildings Preservation Trust jointly with the Bursledon Brickworks Trust*

Forest of Eversley Partnership*.

Those organisations marked * were set up by Hampshire County Council.

2.3 The service to be delivered by each organisation, with respect to the funding contribution received from the County Council, is set out in a service level agreement (SLA) with specified aims and primary objectives. The way the service is delivered ranges from agreed days per year dedicated to specific activities to a broader influencing role. Reports on activities undertaken to deliver the SLA objectives are provided by the organisations for monitoring purposes. Performance targets are included where appropriate to assist in the monitoring of the services delivered.

2.4 Monitoring of the services delivered over the last financial year has demonstrated excellent value for money and the provision of high quality services which are achieving the targets, aims and objectives set out in the SLAs.

2.5 A schedule is attached as Appendix 1 setting out a departmental breakdown of the County Council's funding contribution to each organisation over the last six years.

2.6 Information from the individual organisation's annual reports, where available, on funding from other bodies is set out in Appendix 2 to provide a wider context for the County Council's funding contribution.

2.7 A summary of the support provided by each Environmental Service provider for 2006/07 is set out in Appendix 3.

3. Future Arrangements

3.1 The County Council is currently reviewing the County Council's One Compact Funding Code for the voluntary and community sector. The guidelines are expected to be published in the coming year. It is anticipated that for future years the method of securing services from voluntary and community organisations will change. During the current year the method of securing services for the Environment Department environmental service providers will be reviewed in the light of the forthcoming guidelines and a report brought to the Executive Members for Environment with recommendations as to the new arrangements.

4. Impact Assessments

4.1 Assessment of the Race Relations (Amendment) Act has been considered in this response but no adverse impact has been identified in terms of race, creed or gender.

Recommendations

1. That approval be given to the allocation of £196,000 revenue funding for the provision of environmental services for 2006/07 to support the County Council's objectives.

2. That the County Council enter into agreements with the following voluntary sector and other bodies providing services and support to the County Council's environmental objectives:

£

British Trust for Conservation Volunteers 23,000

Hampshire Buildings Preservation Trust 15,000

South Downs Joint Committee 30,000

Forest of Eversley Partnership 15,000

The Hampshire and Surrey Farming Wildlife Advisory Group 15,000

Hampshire Gardens Trust 15,000

Hampshire and Wight Trust for Maritime Archaeology 19,000

Learning Through Landscapes Trust 22,000

Hampshire Wildlife Trust 15,000

Hampshire Biodiversity Information Centre 21,000

Butterfly Conservation Society 3,000

Hampshire Ornithological Society 3,000

Total £ 196,000

876Rpt/LT-K