34. 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.

35. MINUTES

The Minutes of the Committee held on 5 April 2007 were

confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

36. CHAIRMAN'S COMMUNICATIONS

The Chairman reported that following a review of job

allocations in Democratic Services Lindsey Hawke-Davies

would be moving on to other duties and that this was her last

Committee. Members warmly thanked her for all her hard

work and support and wished well in her new role.

37. PRE SCRUTINY INFORMATION - DEPARTMENT

DECISION LISTS

(i) Bus Subsidy 2007/08 Savings Plan

The Scrutiny Officer circulated a report (Item 5 in the

Minute Book) on Bus Subsidy 2007/08 Savings Plan, an item

which had been selected from the Environment Department's

decision list and identified as of potential interest to Members

to pre scrutinise.

The Committee considered the report of the Director of

Environment, to be submitted to the Executive Member for

Environment at his meeting on 24 July 2007.

Members noted that having reviewed options for reductions

against passenger transport, highways maintenance and

discretionary environmental services, it was considered

advantageous to manage the impact of the budget restrictions

by looking at savings through a review of passenger transport

services. Members further noted that Officers had considered

accessibility and value for money and had taken an overview

to try to reduce the impact on the travelling public. Due to

budget pressures savings had to be identified.

Members made the following comments on the services

proposed for withdrawal:

· Stagecoach Services 1, 2 and 3 via Frimley Park Hospital. Hospital visiting times are until 8.30pm, most people visit relatives and friends on a Sunday and the bus service stops at 7.15pm. There is no other bus service via the Hospital and no account has been taken of where the journeys start and finish. Would like the service to be included.

· Bus Service 39 is part of the Quality Bus Partnership and it is now proposed to withdraw the service which does not make sense.

· Generally concerned about withdrawal of Sunday services affecting hospital visiting.

· The Transport in the Community Review Group is reviewing transport so why the decision now.

· Opposed to proposals based on accessibility.

· Felt that the Executive Member for Environment should look at the proposals more closely and put pressure on the Bus Companies.

Members noted that the Bus Companies faced increasing cost

pressures with increasing fuel prices, labour and insurance

and the Director of Environment advised that prices would

need to be negotiated. However some Members felt that the

Bus Companies already received too much subsidy.

RESOLVED:

That the report on the Bus Subsidy Savings Plan be received

and the comments of Members be noted by the Executive

Member for Environment for his decision day on 24 July

2007.

(ii) Vehicles in the Countryside

The Scrutiny Officer circulated a report (Item 5 in the Minute

Book) on Vehicles in the Countryside, an item which had

been selected from the Recreation and Heritage

Department's decision list and identified as of potential

interest to Members to pre scrutinise, jointly with the Culture

and Communities Select Committee.

Members considered that a half day Briefing Session

for all Members should be held as soon as possible with a

view to including the item in the Committee's work

programme.

RESOLVED:

That the briefing note on the background to the Vehicles in

the Countryside decision be noted and that a half day

Briefing Session be arranged on the item, prior to inclusion in

the Committee's work programme as a joint scrutiny.

38. OVERVIEW - BEST VALUE PERFORMANCE

INDICATORS

The Scrutiny Officer presented the Best Value Performance

Indicators for the year end for consideration.(Item 7 in the

Minute Book).

Members considered the indicators whose direction of travel

was downward or in the 4^th quartile.

Household Waste Management Indicators BV82ci

`Percentage of Household Waste' and BV82cii `Number of

tonnes' both relate to the amount of waste through facilities

and were relatively minor drops in variations. BV82ai

` Recycling' shows an increase in the percentage of

household waste being recycled which reflects the forward

progression of the current situation, and impacts on the

amount of waste delivered to the incinerators.

BV82bi `Composting': as householders were encouraged to do

their own composting themselves and this distinguished

Hampshire from other authorities and impacted on the quartile.

District Councils charged for kerbside green waste collection.

BV99ai `Road Casualties' performance is influenced by

Hampshire being one of the largest counties in England with a

road network of 9,500 km and the numbers being absolute

figures rather than percentages.

BV165 `Pedestrian signal controlled crossings with facilities

for disabled people' relates to very specific design guidance

which is expected to be met in time through normal

maintenance regimes, thus resolving problems with crossings.

BV2006 `Plan Making Milestones': Officers considered that

this is a one off decline in performance and unlikely to be

repeated.

BV2156 `Repairs to Street Lighting' concerns major fault

repairs where problems to do with sourcing replacement items

were bring resolved.

RESOLVED:

That the end of year report on Best Value Performance

Indicators be noted.

39. STATE OF HAMPSHIRE'S ROADS

The Committee considered a briefing paper by the Director of

Environment (Item 7 in the Minute Book) providing Members

with information on highway issues for possible inclusion in

the scrutiny programme. Members noted that the

briefing paper would form part of a presentation to the

Hampshire Action Teams. It was agreed that a short scrutiny

would be undertaken, in the shape of a and a half day workshop

to which all Members would be invited later in the year.

RESOLVED:

That the topic of the State of Hampshire's Roads be accepted

into the Committee's work programme and a short scrutiny

undertaken later in the year

40. SCRUTINY OUTCOMES - FOLLOW UP AND

FEEDBACK

The Committee considered the report of the Scrutiny Officer

(item 8 in the Minute Book) on the responses received from

the Executive Member for Environment on the scrutiny

recommendations on motorway diversion routes, the bus

subsidy mechanism and street lighting. A letter from

Councillor Kendal responding to the Motorway Diversion

Route Proposals and the Bus Subsidy Criteria was circulated

to all Members of the Committee.

RESOLVED:

That the responses be accepted.

41. THE COMMITTEE'S WORK PROGRAMME

The Committee considered the report of the Scrutiny Officer

(Item9 in the Minute Book) on the work programme

developed describing the Committee's programme of work

for the year 2007-2008.

RESOLVED:

That the work programme be updated in the light of the

meetings discussion and be accepted as a basis for review

during the year.

Action

Becky Rawnson to arrange for Vehicles in the Countryside to be included in the Briefing Session.

The Scrutiny Officer makes preparations for a brief scrutiny of this topic.

The Scrutiny Officer to update the work programme.