Councillors:

p

R. J. Baulk

p

P. R. C. Hutcheson

p

K. G. Chapman

p

Jo Kelly

p

A. P. Collett

p

A. R. Ludlow

p

Dr. R. J. Ellis

p

R. C. McIntosh

p

B. T. Gurden

p

A. Weeks

15.

DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

Action

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

16.

MINUTES

The Minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 4 December 2006 were confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman subject to the following:

On Minute 14(a): Add action - "Start a dialogue with the Hampshire district councils regarding scrutiny processes and topics."

Matters arising:

On Minute 14(a) it was reported that the Children and Young People's Policy Review Committee (PRC) would now start the dialogue with the Learning and Skills Council regarding the 14-19 curriculum.

On Minute 14(b): Members requested clarification of the statement: "but were assured that all local authorities with Hampshire now operated the same scheme". It was confirmed that Hampshire's local authorities all collect the same items for recycling but that their approach to doing so varied from one local authority to the other.

17.

CHAIRMAN'S COMMUNICATIONS

The Chairman reported concerns about the effectiveness of the management of budget scrutiny this year. Work with officers was underway to make proposals for how this could be managed to ensure PRCs' timely input next year.

However, the Chairman also reported that all PRCs had been given the opportunity to input to the budget this year prior to decisions being made in Cabinet and Full Council.

Officers to report on options for consideration vis a vis scrutiny of the County Council's budget 2008/09

The Chairman reported on the success of the whole Council briefing day on 24 January 2007 at which the County Treasurer had explained the construction of the County Council's budget.

The Chairman reported his attendance at a recent Hampshire and Isle of Wight Local Government Association event which had provided an interesting insight into the Government's agenda for change in local government.

18.

REVENUE BUDGET 2007/08 AND CAPITAL PROGRAMME 2007/08 TO 2010/11

The Committee considered the Revenue Budget and Capital Programme reports of the County Treasurer as follows:

a)

Policy and Resources -- considered and approved by the Executive Member on 25 January 2007.

b)

Recreation and Heritage - considered and approved by the Executive Member on 18 January 2007.

c)

Children Services - considered and approved by the Executive Members on 18 January 2007.

d)

Environment - considered and approved by the Executive Member on 16 January 2007.

e)

Adult Social Care - considered and approved by the Executive Member on 19 January 2007.

The reports are contained in the Minute Book marked Items 5(a) to 5(e) respectively.

The County Treasurer outlined the proposed budgets and capital programmes in each case and the Committee, in scrutinising the reports, drew particular attention to a number of issues, details of which are set out below for forwarding to the Executive as the Committee's response to its scrutiny of the County Council's proposed spending plans for 2007/08 and its future Capital Programme.

With particular reference to maximising community use of community facilities, the Committee would await the response of the Cabinet to its recommendation before deciding how to proceed as to reviewing this issue. The matter had cross-cutting potential given its corporate relevance and its relevance to the Children and Young People Policy Review Committee and the Culture and Communities Policy Review Committee.

PRC's views to be forwarded to the Cabinet.

In terms of budget issues generally, the Committee identified the following areas where they considered that action should be taken:

1)

the County Treasurer to report back to the Committee regarding shortfalls against income targets for gypsy sites and County farms in the Policy and Resources budget (page B75);

County Treasurer to report

2)

in relation to Hantsdirect, the Committee considered that the proposal could require pre-scrutiny. The Committee was aware that a briefing for all members of the County Council on the Contact Centre was arranged for 28 February 2007 after which the Committee would decide how best to proceed with this issue by way of scrutiny. The Committee, at this stage, asked to receive information on Hantsdirect in quarterly budget reports.

Quarterly budget monitoring reports to be made to this Committee

3)

the Committee asked to receive the efficiency plan to achieve £100,000 saving across departments through rationalising IT and other equipment, in particular printers, photocopiers and managed PCs. The Committee wished to know how this would be achieved.

Plan to be supplied to the Committee

4)

the Committee requested simple budget monitoring information, preferring graphs, to be submitted to each Policy Review Committee on a quarterly basis so that any major trends and variances could be identified and scrutinised.

Quarterly budget monitoring report in simple diagrammatic form to be presented to each PRC

5)

The Committee asked about Project Augur in Gosport. An update on this topic to be scheduled at a future PRC meeting.

Chief Executive

In relation to museums' expenditure, Councillor Gurden declared a personal interest as a member of the Museums and Libraries Advisory Council for the South East.

Chief Executive to record

RESOLVED:

a)

That the Cabinet be asked to confirm that it is content that the current use of Hampshire's schools and other community buildings maximises income and access, particularly for community groups.

b)

That consideration be given to a review of the proposals in the Children's Services Revenue Budget to withdraw funding from rural studies centres and attempts to identify compensatory savings from other sources;

c)

That the Executive Members for Adult Social Care and Children's Services are congratulated for their management of their budgets when the Hampshire grant per head of population is significantly below the national average (£96 against £151).

19.

YOUNG CARERS' BUDGET

The Committee considered the report of the County Treasurer (Item 6 in the Minute Book). The Committee had concerns about the levels of spending on young carers directly and the use of resources to support the Children's Services Budget given the level of financial support from the Government for young carers. The Committee considered that this issue should be referred to the Children and Young People PRC for consideration.

Refer for consideration by C&YPPRC.

20.

FURNITURE REPLACEMENT

The Committee considered the report of the Director of Property, Business and Regulatory Services (Item 7 in the Minute Book) in response to questions raised previously by the Committee. Whilst noting the report, the Committee

RESOLVED:

That a scrutiny working group be appointed to examine furniture procurement costs together with the County Council's furniture purchasing and recycling policies and report, the working group to comprise Councillors Leversha, Bailey, Baulk and McIntosh .

Working Group to be convened.

21.

INSURANCE ARRANGEMENTS

The Committee considered the report of the Chief Executive (Item 8 in the Minute Book) submitted pursuant to the Committee's request at its meeting in December 2006 concerning the County Council's self-insurance arrangements and value for money. Further information concerning claims would be circulated to members as soon as it was available.

Claims data to be prepared and circulated to P&RPRC members

22.

REPORTS FOR FUTURE CONSIDERATION

The Committee noted that reports on the following would be brought to future meetings as follows:

· IT Costs and Contracts - April 2007

· Consultants - April 2007

· White Paper - "Strong and Prosperous Communities" - Community Call for Action - Scoping and next steps - April 2007

· Human Resources update - July 2007:

The Committee asked for information to be included as to the identification of training needs and provision of training programmes which were both relevant and timely for staff.

Director of Human Resources

· Risk Management - July 2007

23.

STREET LIGHTING SCRUTINY WORKING GROUP

The Committee considered the report of the Chief Executive (Item 10 in the Minute Book) and

RESOLVED:

That the proposal of the Environment and Transport Policy Review Committee to establish a scrutiny working group to contribute towards the shaping of key aspects of the service changes being proposed as outlined in paragraph 5 of the report be endorsed.

E&TPSC to progress