Archived decisions

ITEM 3

AT A MEETING of the RECREATION AND HERITAGE POLICY REVIEW COMMITTEE of the COUNTY COUNCIL held at The Castle, Winchester on 18 May 2006.

PRESENT:

Councillors:

p K. Chapman (Chairman)

Also in attendance: Executive Member for Recreation and Heritage, Councillor Mrs. M.D. Snaith and Councillor Mrs C. Bailey.

72 APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE

Apologies were received from Councillor Elaine Still.

73 DECLARATION 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 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 such interests were declared.

74 MINUTES

The Minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 23 March 2006 were confirmed by the Committee and signed by the Chairman.

75 CHAIRMAN'S COMMUNICATIONS

The Chairman reported on a successful countryside open day which had been held at Sparsholt College, when the Rights of Way Online Mapping System had been launched; he mentioned the re-opening of Danebury Hill Fort after restoration works and referred to the effective partnership with other local organisations; and he reminded Members of the tour to Recreation and Heritage sites being held on 8 June. He reported that another meeting had been held with Surrey County Council about the Basingstoke Canal and their involvement at Member level in the Joint Management Committee arrangements.

76 DEPUTATIONS

No deputations had been notified under Standing Order 21.

77 POLICY FOR THE MANAGEMENT OF TRAFFIC ON HAMPSHIRE'S PUBLIC RIGHTS OF WAY NETWORK AND THE USE OF TRAFFIC REGULATION ORDERS

The Committee considered the report of the Director of Recreation and Heritage (Item 6 in the Minute Book); the Director elaborated on the proposed policy and responded to detailed questions. Members highlighted the following key areas in the operation of the policy once it was adopted:

· The need for effective enforcement of traffic regulation orders, if necessary involving the Police.


· The need for a paper on the wider impact of vehicles in the countryside, going beyond the scope of the present report on the use of traffic regulation orders.


· The long term costs of management and reinstatement if damage to rights of way by motor vehicles represented a rising trend.


Members also raised several questions of detail to which the Director of Recreation and Heritage undertook to forward replies, for example, about the impact of motor cycles on rights of way; the possible use of the County Council's accredited community safety officers to assist with enforcement of traffic regulation orders; and the need for signage appropriate to rural areas to make clear the status of rights of way. In general terms Members felt the report had been the subject of full consultation with user groups and the policy represented a response where the restrictions in traffic regulation orders were proportionate to the problems encountered.

RESOLVED:


(a) That the Policy Review Committee supports the proposed policy set out in paragraph 3 of the report, setting out the County Council's approach to the management of traffic on public paths and the use of Traffic Regulation Orders, and recommends to the Executive Member for Recreation and Heritage that the proposed policy be adopted.


(b) That a further report be submitted to the Committee in due course on the wider impact of vehicles in the countryside.

78 NEW SCRUTINY ARRANGEMENTS AND TERMS OF REFERENCE FOR THE CULTURE AND COMMUNITIES POLICY REVIEW COMMITTEE

The Committee considered the report of the Director of Recreation and Heritage (Item 7 in the Minute Book) and confirmed their intention to put forward the scrutiny inquiry of the Library and Information Service, based on the terms of reference already agreed, as their priority in the County Council's new scrutiny structure. They also agreed that they would like to investigate further their relationships with the principal arts organisations operating in the County and funded by the County Council, and to that end set up a small working group to define the scope and method of member involvement in reviewing arts grants, which would need to be done on a consistent and equitable basis.

RESOLVED:

(a) That the scrutiny inquiry into the Library and Information Service be confirmed as the Committee's priority to be put forward for consideration as part of the County Council's overall scrutiny programme, and that the previously stated terms of reference set out in paragraph 1.2 of the report be endorsed.


(b) That a small group of Members, comprising Councillors Chapman, Chegwyn and Wright, with support from the identified officers, be requested to consider further the scope and method of any scrutiny activity relating to the County Council's relationship with the 18 main arts organisations operating in Hampshire and receiving funds from the County Council.

79 REVIEW OF RECREATION AND HERITAGE OBJECTIVES AND PLANS FOR THE FUTURE

The Committee considered a presentation by the Director of Recreation and Heritage (copy set out as Item 8 in the Minute Book)

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