26. 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.

27. MINUTES

The Minutes of the Committee held on 15 January 2007 were

confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

28. CHAIRMAN'S COMMUNICATIONS

The Chairman reported that Richard Read, Head of

Planning and Development in the Environment Department is

looking for up to 6 Environment and Transportation Policy

Review Committee Members to sit on a Panel chaired by

Councillor Kendal. It is proposed that the Panel would meet

6 times a year over 2 years, to assist with the oversight of the

Minerals and Waste Plan implementation. Members are asked

to contact Richard Read direct.

29. ENVIRONMENT AGENCY PRESENTATION : STATE

OF THE ENVIRONMENT

James Humphrys, Area Manager for Hampshire and Isle of

Wight at the Environment Agency gave a presentation

on the State of the Environment. He outlined the

environmental issues namely; new growth and linked to this

issue flood risk, water resource, water quality and waste.

Water demand would be addressed by water metering, water

efficient products and new reservoirs. In relation to waste, the

hierarchy is - reduction, re-use, recycle.

Energy from waste could be used to provide heat where

appropriate. Overall we need to co-fire and treat waste as

resource In relation to energy - efficient buildings and

changing transport behaviour were key. Members queried the

sustainability of ever higher recycling.

Members noted that the Director of Environment would be

undertaking a material flow planning work this year which

would provide answers on the financial and carbon efficiency

of different forms of disposal. Members considered that fly

tipping was a major issue and noted that specific measures

would be undertaken to take this issue forward.

Other issues in need of further discussion were climate change

and biodiversity.

RESOLVED:

That the Environment Agency be thanked for such an

informative presentation.

30. ITEMS FOR SCRUTINY INFORMATION

(a) Decision List

(i) Establishment of a Transport Delivery Agency for South

Hampshire.

The Scrutiny Officer circulated a report (Item 6 (a) in the

Minute Book) on the Establishment of a Transport Delivery

Agency for South Hampshire, an item which had been

selected from the Environment Departments decision list

which may be of interest to Members to pre scrutinise.

RESOLVED:

That the Establishment of a Transport Delivery Agency for

South Hampshire is brought to the attention of the Transport

in the Community Scrutiny Review Group to incorporate in

its work.

(ii) Adoption of the Hampshire Minerals and Waste

Development Framework - Core Planning Strategy

The Scrutiny Officer circulated a report (Item 6 (a) in the

Minute Book) on the Adoption of the Hampshire Minerals

and Waste Development Framework - Core Planning

Strategy, an item selected from the Environment Department

decision list which may be of interest to Members to pre

scrutinise.

RESOLVED:

That the implementation of the Hampshire Minerals and

Waste Development Framework - Core Planning Strategy be

included in the Policy Review Committee's scrutiny work

programme for 2008 through the review of the annual

monitoring report.

(b) Items for Information

(i) Carbon Offsetting

Members considered the consultation document

from the Department of Environment and Rural Affairs

(DEFRA) on Carbon Offsetting which had been circulated

to Members to allow them sufficient time to consider it

prior to the meeting.

Members considered that there were a lot of concerns relating

to this issue but declined to contribute to the consultation.

RESOLVED:

That the consultation document on Carbon Offsetting be

noted.

(ii) Water Metering in areas of water stress

Members considered the consultation document from the

Department of Environment and Rural Affairs (DEFRA)

on Water Metering in areas of water stress which had been

circulated to Members to allow them sufficient time to

consider it prior to the meeting.

Members considered that water metering in principle was an

excellent initiative but that arrangements must be made to be

considerate to those people who were unable to pay.

Members were asked to submit any further comments to the

Scrutiny Officer direct to support the submission of comments

to the national consultation.

RESOLVED:

That the Committee's views are collected by the Scrutiny

Officer for submission to DEFRA.

31. TOPICS FOR CONSIDERATION

The Scrutiny Officer presented a report advising Members of

3 possible scrutiny topics for consideration.(Item 7 in the

Minute Book).

(a) Speed and Traffic Management

RESOLVED:

That in light of the newness of actions being taken in relation

to Hampshire's policy on speed, Speed and Traffic

Management be deferred as a possible topic for scrutiny until

the first quarter of 2008, by which time information regarding

progress on implementation will be available and could

inform a small scale policy review.

(b) Climate Change

Members noted that Channel 4 had aired a programme called

The Great Global Warming Swindle which the Environment

Department hoped to show to all Members.

RESOLVED:

That in the light of the setting up of the commission of

inquiry into climate change, Climate Change be deferred as a

possible topic for scrutiny, calling for an update from the

Commission later in the year and reconsideration at that stage

of the merits of including the topic in the Policy Review

Group work programme for 2008.

(c) Lyndhurst By-Pass

RESOLVED:

That Lyndhurst By-Pass be included as a scrutiny topic in the

Committee's 2007 work programme.

32. SCRUTINY FEEDBACK

The Committee considered the report of the Scrutiny Officer

(Item 8 in the Minute Book) providing Members with

feedback on progress and outcomes on the Transport in the

Community and Street Lighting scrutinies.

The Chairman reported receipt of a letter from the Executive

Member for Environment responding to the Street Lighting

scrutiny recommendations and asked that a copy of the

letter's Appendix be circulated to all Members as well as

those taking part in the scrutiny, for information.

RESOLVED:

That the recommendations of the scrutiny group examining

street lighting be received and the response of the Executive

Member for Environment to the recommendations be

circulated.

33. LEAD SCRUTINEER ROLE

The Chairman asked Members for their views about

adopting a Lead Scrutineer role, as outlined in the County

Council's draft operating Protocols for Policy Review

Committees. The Committee declined to adopt the role,

having considered potential areas of interest circulated in

advance. It was acknowledged that Councillor Dr. R. J. Ellis

would be acting as Lead Scrutineer for the Health and

Overview Scrutiny Committee in respect of the Countryside

matters and that he would feed into the Environment and

Transportation Policy Review Committee as appropriate.

RESOLVED :

That the Committee's decision to decline the invitation to

nominate a Member to the Lead Scrutineer role be noted.

Action