AT A MEETING of the ENVIRONMENT POLICY REVIEW COMMITTEE held at The Castle, Winchester on Thursday 25 May 2006.

PRESENT:

Also in attendance: Councillors J. K. Glen, T. G. Knight and J. K. West.

Councillor Jackie Porter for Item 111.

106. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors A. Carew and

David Simpson.

107. 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.

108. MINUTES

The Minutes of the meeting held on 20 April 2006 were confirmed by the Committee and signed by the Chairman.

Arising thereon:

Minute 105 - Environment Policy Review Committee - Forward Plan

The Director of Environment advised Members that the Environment Agency had been invited to the June meeting but to date no response had been received.

109. CHAIRMAN'S COMMUNICATIONS

Reported that Angela Koenig the Highway Agency's Area Performance Manager had accepted an invitation to attend the Environment Policy Review Committee's meeting on 25 July 2006 and all Members of the County Council would be invited to attend for this item. It was proposed that the item will be in two parts; the first, will be a presentation on the issues affecting Hampshire's Motorway and Trunk Road Network and the second part concentrating on strategic questions relating to the Motorway and Trunk Road network raised by Members. To enable best use to be made of the Highway Agency's time, it will be helpful if Members could submit questions to Colin Taylor, Chief Engineer, Hampshire Highways East at [email protected] by 30 June 2006. The intention is to provide a written answer to all questions raised but to select a sample of the more strategic questions to which the Highway Agency will respond at the meeting.

110. MEMBERS' QUESTIONS

No questions to the Executive Member for Environment : North Hampshire

and Spatial Strategy and the Executive Member for Environment :

South Hampshire and Resource Management had been received.

111. PASSENGER TRANSPORT BUDGET STRATEGY

The Committee received a presentation by the Head of Passenger Transport.

He highlighted key facts and figures relating to the decline in bus patronage

and the growth in car use nationally and in Hampshire. He reminded Members

of the commercial context in which bus services are provided and Local

Authorities restricted role in being able to determine the pattern of services.

The presentation focused on measures proposed to contain cost pressures

whilst maximising the extent to which access to services can be maintained.

Members noted that a series of District-based reviews, engaging with partners

and stakeholders were being carried out to achieve this and timetabled to

provide options for the 3 yearly re tendering exercise. Each option would be

assessed against its ability to provide access to facilities as outlined in the

Local Transport Plan regarding retail, health, leisure, work and education.

The presentation also introduced the possibility of introducing a new

mechanism for the assessment and monitoring of future bus subsidy support.

The presentation touched on two other key initiatives. A review of the

existing commercial taxi service in relation to home to school and social care

would assess the existing procurement practice, give a thorough understanding

of the supply market and should provide an enhanced service with greater

value for money and improve efficiency.

A review of Transport in the Community had been agreed as an additional area

for action in response to Member concerns raised at County Council and an

initial meeting had been held with the Chairman and that Member to scope

what the review might cover. Members would be involved in the work as it

progressed.

Members considered whether Hampshire County Council should purchase its

own fleet of vehicles to provide for its own service journeys and non

commercial services. . The Director of Environment advised that although

some Local Authorities provided this service it was not always successful or

cheaper than commercial operators.

It was noted that the reviews would look at service provision for all members

of the community and not just focus on older and disabled people. The Director

of Environment reported that Local Authorities had a statutory duty under the

Transport Act 2000 to consider the elderly and disabled in its decisions about

subsidised passenger transport services.

RESOLVED:

That the report having been presented, Members offered comments which were

noted by the Executive Member for Environment : South Hampshire and

Resource Management.

112. ENVIRONMENT POLICY REVIEW COMMITTEE -

FORWARD PLAN

The Committee received and noted a report of the Chief Executive and

Director of Environment (Item 8 in the Minute Book), as amended setting out

issues for future consideration.

The Chairman reported that with the agreement of County Council at its

meeting on 11 May 2006 to the revised Terms of Reference for the

Environment Policy Review Committee and the intention to construct a

prioritised programme of Task and Finish Thematic Reviews it will be

important to have at least a few such review topics ready to get going for the

autumn. In order to do the preparatory work for this there is a need to identify

any potential topics for possible thematic reviews in the autumn to spring

period. As already mentioned further work is being undertaken on possible

options with regard to Transport in the Community and any outcomes requiring

a Thematic Review role from Members in this area will be fed into the process.

Any other issues that Members can suggest as priorities are welcomed. Where

Members have ideas they will need to contact Share D'All so that she can

explore and understand the topic. Members will be needed who can take a lead

in working on the potential scope.