AT A MEETING of the CABINET of HAMPSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL held at The Castle, Winchester on 26 February 2007.

Chairman:

p Councillor T.K. Thornber, CBE

Councillors:

Also present: Councillor M.F. Cartwright; K.G. Chapman; A.P. Collett; B.D. Dash; Mrs C.A. Leversha; R.C. McIntosh;

237. APOLOGIES

No apologies were received.

238. 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.

239. MINUTES

The minutes of the meeting held on 9 February 2007 were confirmed as a correct record subject to clarification of the conditions for the grant of £95,000 from the Policy and Resources special grants budget for field study centres (minute 234 refers). The grant from the Policy and Resources budget for one year only was: to enable the centres to market themselves as self standing business units in a more dynamic way to schools; to engage expertise and work with other departments including Environment and Recreation and Heritage, as well as Children's Services; and to allow time for discussions with the Schools Forum about the use of the schools budget in further support, or not, of the centres.

240. CHAIRMAN'S COMMUNICATIONS
There were no communications.

241. CORPORATE ASSESSMENT - SELF-ASSESSMENT

The Cabinet considered the report of the Chief Executive (Item 5a in the Minute Book) in respect of the Corporate Assessment for 2007, which is an essential component of the overall Comprehensive Performance Assessment (CPA). Version 3.3 of the self-assessment document, which is to be submitted to the Audit Commission, was considered in detail. The self-assessment is an important document and although the Cabinet put forward their initial views and comments, it was agreed that the document would be considered again on Monday 12 March 2007 in order to agree a final version following incorporation of the comments made. This would meet the Audit Commission's submission deadline of 19 March 2007. In the meantime, Councillor Davidovitz, Executive Member for Performance, Efficiency and Communications would co-ordinate Members comments and liaise with officers in order for the document to revised.

The Cabinet adopted the recommendations set out in the report subject to further consideration of the final self-assessment document on 12 March 2007. A copy of the decision sheet is attached to these minutes as Appendix 1.

242. JOINT AREA REVIEW (JAR) STATUS REPORT

The Cabinet considered the report of the Director of Children's Services (Item 5b in the Minute Book) detailing the key activities being undertaken in response to the Joint Area Review (JAR), which contributes to the Corporate Assessment (reported above). The Head of Performance and Planning for Children's Services amplified the key areas of the report and particularly emphasised the point that the JAR is an assessment of the quality of all services across the county that support the development of children and young people in regard to the five core outcomes of Every Child Matters. For accuracy, it was noted that in paragraph 4.4 the inspectors will be accompanied on their visits by young people who live in Hampshire and who are trained as Care Action Team assessors.

During the course of the ensuing discussion, Members detailed questions were answered. In considering the report's appendix and in particular the reference made to the Children and Young People's Partnership Management Board (CYPPMB), the Cabinet felt it was important to clarify that in terms of governance it is the Children and Young People's Standing Conference that makes decisions and allocates resources.

The Cabinet adopted the recommendation set out in the report. A copy of the decision sheet is attached to these minutes as Appendix 2.

243. BARKER REVIEW OF LAND USE PLANNING - COUNTY COUNCIL RESPONSE, AND

RESPONSE TO "CHANGES TO PLANNING OBLIGATIONS: A PLANNING-GAIN SUPPLEMENT CONSULTATION", DEPARTMENT FOR COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Due to the strong link between the reports of the Director of Environment (Items 6 and 7 in the Minute Book), the Cabinet considered the reports in tandem.

Item 6 outlined the main features of the recommendations in the final report by economist Kate Barker on the Review of Land Use Planning. The Deputy Director of Environment reported that there was a lot to welcome in this final review report which included evidence that some of the points made by the County Council in response to the interim report had been taken on board, such as the need for timely investment in infrastructure. However, a number of the report's recommendations lacked detail and hence did not provide any real indication of how they might work in practice.

During the course of the ensuing discussion the Cabinet expressed concern about the proposal to set up an independent "Planning Commission" to improve the decision-making framework for major infrastructure projects, and agreed that a cautionary approach should be taken in respect of the proposal to review green belt boundaries. The Cabinet were also interested to note that the recommendation to speed up the final stages of planning decisions by using a tariff system was at variance with what appears to be the Government's intention to proceed with a Planning-gain Supplement (as detailed in Item 7 on the agenda).

Item 7 outlined Government proposals to change the planning obligations system by which developer contributions are secured in order to fund the infrastructure and facilities required to support new development in line with the Government's proposals for a Planning-gain Supplement (PGS). The consultation document has been published by the Department for Communities and Local Government and is further to an initial consultation document which the Cabinet responded to in February 2006.

During the course of the ensuing discussion, the Cabinet were mindful that as it is still unclear as to how several aspects of the new system would operate such as the taxation rate, the level of funds to be repatriated and what mechanism will be used to allocate funds in a two-tier area, a risk-averse approach was agreed. This approach would seek to keep as much as possible within the planning obligations system via S106 agreements whilst pursuing a tariff-based approach where appropriate.

The Cabinet adopted the recommendations set out in the reports. A copy of the decision sheets are attached to these minutes as Appendix 3 and 4 respectively.

245. EXCLUSION OF THE PRESS AND PUB LIC

RESOLVED

That the public be excluded from the meeting during the following item of business, as it is likely, in view of the nature of the business to be transacted or the nature of the proceedings, that if members of the public were present during that item there would be disclosure to them of exempt information within Paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972, and further that in all the circumstances of the case, the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information, for the reasons set out in the report.

246. AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND KEY WORKER STRATEGY

Councillor Felicity Hindson declared a personal interest as a member of the A2 Winchester Housing Association, although this particular Housing Association was not mentioned in the report.

The Cabinet considered the exempt report of the Director of Property, Business and Regulatory Services (Item 9 in the Minute Book) updating Members on progress made over the first year of the Affordable Key Worker Housing Strategy and making recommendations on the next steps.

In conclusion of a full discussion during which Members detailed questions were answered, the Cabinet adopted the recommendations set out in the report. A copy of the decision sheet is attached to these minutes as Appendix 5.

Contact: Chris Lawrence-Pietroni, ext 7385, email: [email protected]

1. Summary

1.1 The following decision was made:

That Cabinet agreed the third draft of the 2007 self-assessment subject to revisions and further consideration of the final document on 12 March 2007, prior to submission to the Audit Commission.

2. Reason

2.1 The self-assessment is required for the 2007 Corporate Assessment.

3. Other options considered and rejected

3.1 Not applicable as the self-assessment is an essential component of the CPA refresh.

4. Conflicts of interest declared by the decision maker or other Executive Member consulted - none

5. Dispensation granted by the Standards Committee - not applicable

6. Reason(s) for the matter being dealt with if urgent - not applicable

Approved by: Date:
Councillor T.K. Thornber, CBE - Chairman

Contact: Alison Alexander, ext 6172, e-mail: [email protected]

1. Summary

1.1 The following decision was made:

a) That members endorse and offer support for the work taking place with
partners, including the Primary Care Trust, the voluntary sector and the
Learning and Skills Council in the three additional areas of investigation:
health inequalities, 14 - 19 and young carers.

2. Reason

2.1 This decision supports the following Hampshire County Council priority:

"Making Hampshire safer and more secure for all"

"Maximising well-being"

2.2 The decision supports the following Aims of the Children Act:

All aims of the Children's Act

3. Other Options considered and rejected

3.1 No other options considered

4. Conflicts of Interest declared by the decision maker or other Executive Member consulted - None

5. Dispensation granted by the Standards Committee - Not applicable

6. Reason(s) for the matter being dealt with if urgent - Not applicable

Approved by: Date:
Councillor T.K. Thornber, C.B.E. - Chairman

Contact: Les Herbert, ext 6768 email: [email protected]

1. Summary

1.1 The following decision is sought:

That the County Council responds to the Government's consultation on the Kate Barker Final Report on the basis of the commentary in the supporting report.

2. Reason

2.1 The planning system is an important mechanism for enhancing quality of place. This decision seeks to influence the outcome of the Government's deliberations on Kate Barker's recommendations by submitting Hampshire County Council's views.

3. Other Options Considered and Rejected

3.1 Decline to provide a response.

4. Conflicts of Interest Declared by the Decision Maker or Other Executive Member Consulted - None.

5. Dispensation granted by the Standards Committee - None.

6. Reason(s) for the Matter being dealt with if Urgent - None.

Approved by: ....................................... Date: ..............................
Councillor T K Thornber CBE - Chairman

1202Decn/LH

Contact: Karin Taylor, ext 7362 email: [email protected]

1. Summary

1.1 The following decision is sought:

That the County Council responds to the Government's consultation on changes to planning obligations on the basis of the advice in the supporting report.

2. Reason

2.1 It is in the County Council's interest to enhance quality of place by securing a process which delivers timely funding to provide infrastructure and facilities required in consequence of new development.

3. Other Options Considered and Rejected

3.1 Decline to provide a response.

4. Conflicts of Interest Declared by the Decision Maker or Other Executive Member Consulted - None.

5. Dispensation granted by the Standards Committee - None.

6. Reason(s) for the Matter being dealt with if Urgent - None.

Approved by: ..................................... Date: ...................................
Councillor T K Thornber, CBE - Chairman

1196Decn/KT

Contact: Andrew Smith Ext: 7826 email: [email protected]

Tony Davison Ext: 6952 email: [email protected]

Councillor T.K. Thornber, CBE - Chairman

CAB0207A