AT A MEETING of the CABINET of HAMPSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL held at The Castle, Winchester on 16^th November 2007.

Present:

Councillors:

p T.K. Thornber, CBE (Chairman)

Also in attendance with agreement of the Chairman: Councillors M.F. Cartwright;

A.P. Collett; R.J. Ellis and Jo Kelly.

345 APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Mrs Banks and Kirk who were representing the County Council at the Standing Conference of the Children and Young Persons' Partnership.

346 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 save for exercising any right to speak in accordance with paragraph 12 of the Code.

347 CLIMATE CHANGE COMMISSION

The Cabinet considered the report of the Director of Environment (Item 3 in the Minute Book) following publication of the findings of the Climate Change Commission. The Commission had been established by the Leader of the Council following his announcement of this intention at the meeting of the County Council in November 2006. The report outlined the work of the Commission and drew together its conclusions into several overarching topic areas.

The Cabinet placed on record their thanks and appreciation of the work of the Commission. The Cabinet supported the thrust of the recommended response to the Commission's conclusions, whilst noting that a number of the suggested actions would require commitment by partner organisations including resource commitment. Climate change was considered to be amongst the most significant challenges facing not only the County Council but society at large today. The Cabinet was mindful that its potential impact touched every aspect of life ranging from temperature extremes and the effects of that on water supply and conservation, agriculture, work patterns and the built estate, to rising sea levels and the effects of that on flood plains, the coast and sea defences. There were serious concerns in relation to ecological issues.

The Cabinet considered the County Council should build upon the work of the Commission and establish itself in the vanguard, both locally and nationally, to influence both the management of the implications of climate change and also prevention and efforts to reduce the impact of climate change. Through the Sustainable Community Strategy and the Local Area Agreement the County Council had the opportunity to assist communities to become more sustainable and to engage with the community at grassroots level. Members were particularly mindful of their partnership with the Hampshire Association of Local Councils in this respect. At the same time the County Council should, itself, do everything in its power to ensure that, across its wide range of activities and operations, consideration was given to the implications of climate change at every opportunity.

The Cabinet concluded, therefore, that paragraph 4.4(i) of the report should be enhanced to clarify the County Council's intention to assist communities to become more sustainable and an appropriate additional recommendation made to the Council and that, at paragraph 4.6, an additional sub-paragraph should be added as follows: "(iv) the County Council will build climate change amelioration into its building repairs programme, will work to maximise the use of sustainable fuels by its fleet of vehicles and will take steps to conserve energy resources at every available opportunity".

RESOLVED:

That it be a RECOMMENDATION to the County Council:


(i) That the report and conclusions of the Commission of Inquiry be noted and that the Council records its thanks to the Commissioners for their work to date on this important matter;

(ii) That the following policy be adopted:

The County Council, through its own operations and in partnership with others, will seek to ensure a resilient, sustainable Hampshire by placing climate change considerations at the heart of its decision making processes, its policy development, and its operational activities;

(iii) That the actions set out in paragraph 4 of the report be approved as the basis of an Action Plan for the County Council in 2008/09, subject to resource availability and agreement of Partners where required;

(iv) That the Commission of Inquiry be asked to reconvene on a regular but infrequent basis in the future to monitor progress, review the changing state of knowledge and advise the County Council further on relevant considerations.

(v) That a Member of the Cabinet be appointed to champion Climate Change matters across the County Council's activities and operations.

(vi) That the County Council will work closely with its partners in the Local Area Agreement to help the towns, villages and settlements of Hampshire to become more sustainable communities.

Contact: Stuart Jarvis, ext 6124 email: [email protected]

1. Summary

1.1 The following decisions were made:

That it be a recommendation to the County Council:

(i) That the report and conclusions of the Commission of Inquiry be noted and that the Council records its thanks to the Commissioners for their work to date on this important matter;

(ii) That the following policy be adopted:

The County Council, through its own operations and in partnership with others, will seek to ensure a resilient, sustainable Hampshire by placing climate change considerations at the heart of its decision making processes, its policy development, and its operational activities;

(iii) That the actions set out in paragraph 4 of the report as amended be approved as the basis of an Action Plan for the County Council in 2008/09, subject to resource availability and agreement of Partners where required;

(iv) That the Commission of Inquiry be asked to reconvene on a regular but infrequent basis in the future to monitor progress, review the changing state of knowledge and advise the County Council further on relevant considerations.

(vii) That a Member of the Cabinet be appointed to champion Climate Change matters across the County Council's activities and operations.

(viii) That the County Council will work closely with its partners in the Local Area Agreement to help the towns, villages and settlements of Hampshire to become more sustainable communities.

2. Reason

2.1 Climate change represents a direct threat to both long term prosperity and aspects of the environment of Hampshire and is therefore a key risk in the effective delivery of the Vision: "Within a decade Hampshire will prosper without risking our environment". The conclusions of the Commission would, if carried out, ensure that the County Council remains in a strong position to fulfil its corporate aims and Vision, and help prepare Hampshire for Climate Change.

3. Other Options Considered and Rejected

3.1 Not acting in response to the Commission of Inquiry conclusions.

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

9414Decn/SJ