Archived decisions

p R.J. Baulk

a K.G. Chapman

p A.P. Collett

p Dr R.J. Ellis

p B.T. Gurden

P.A. Heath

a P.R.C. Hutcheson

p Jo Kelly

p Mrs. C.A. Leversha

p A.R. Ludlow

p A. Weeks

Action

66

APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE

Apologies for absence were reported on behalf of Councillors Chapman and Hutcheson; Councillor Chapman's absence was on account of his being engaged on Fire Authority business.

67

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 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. No such interests were declared on this occasion.

68

MINUTES

The Minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 16 October 2007 were confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

Arising:

Minutes 41 & 55 - HantsDirect Contact Centre

It was reported that a joint visit to the Contact Centre was being arranged for the Cabinet and Members of the Select Committee.

Chief Exec

(Emma Gordon/

Michelle Smith)

to confirm when arrangements finalised

69

CHAIRMAN'S COMMUNICATIONS

The Chairman had nothing to report on this occasion.

70

EXTERNAL FUNDING DATABASE

The Committee received a progress report from the Head of Economic Development (Item 5 in the Minute Book) on the External Funding Database. Councillor M.J. Woodhall, Executive Member for Economic Development, attended and enlarged on progress with updating the External Funding Database and Training. It was fair to say that some Departments, notably Environment and Recreation and Heritage, could be seen as exemplars of good practice and had been very successful in securing external funding. There was scope to extend their expertise to other Departments where other preoccupations and priorities had led to progress being less encouraging. There was also evidence of a good success rate with Developers' Contributions. Councillor Woodhall concluded by drawing attention to the fact that the rewards of securing additional external funding were great enough to justify the effort and commitment required to obtain it.

The Committee indicated that they would like to see a greater degree of engagement by all Departments in the task of securing external funding and updating the Database, and asked for more detailed information to be sent to them by the Head of Economic Development.

Reference was made to the opportunities afforded by the Brussels' Office, partnership working with Eastern Europe, and funds available from charitable organisations. It was noted that the Culture and Communities Select Committee proposed to scrutinise funding arrangements via the Arts Council for England.

The Committee thanked Councillor Woodhall for his input and asked for his support in pursuing the following approach.

RESOLVED:

That representations to be made to the Chief Executive, Corporate Management Team and Cabinet to secure full engagement and commitment by all Departments to maximising the opportunities afforded by External Funding, updating the External Funding Database and sharing skills and best practice in this important area of the County Council's activities.

Economic Development (Chloe Atkins) to send particulars to YYALL

Chief Executive (Emma Gordon and Debbie Vaughan) to coordinate a suitable item to CMT and Cabinet, with further input to be obtained from Head of Economic Development

71

IT PROGRESS AND UPDATE

The Committee considered the report of the Head of IT on various aspects of the County Council's IT strategy and performance (Item 6 in the Minute Book). The Head of IT gave his personal commitment to his Department being fully involved in the work on external funding and the relevant database, referred to in Minute 70 above. An update was awaited from Councillor Baulk as e-champion on his work looking at departmental IT groups; this was currently difficult to undertake due to ongoing amalgamation of software in the Children's Services and Adults Services Department (eg SWIFT).

The key areas identified by Members were :

· Improved efficiency and cost effectiveness by the integration of central/local IT services and the elimination of duplication


· Partnership working


· Provision of services to other Authorities


· Joint working with other agencies


· Security, a key issue with the sharing of information and IT systems with partners and other organisations. The County Council was working towards accreditation on Key National Standards for security ie staffing, encryption factors. It was noted that IT could provide evidence of progress against these standards.

RESOLVED:

That the Committee confirm that they would like a regular 6-monthly update from the Head of IT Services on the issues summarized above, and that Members be requested to forward to the Head of IT any other subject which they would like to be included in the next update report.

Head of IT Services to report back in July; Chief Exec (Emma Gordon) to update the work programme

72

REVENUE BUDGET 2008/09, 2009/10, 2010/11

The Committee considered the report of the County Treasurer on the Revenue Budget for Policy and Resources (Item 7 in the Minute Book). The County Treasurer gave an explanation of the budget process and formulation, and undertook to give Members a further explanation on the figures set out in paragraph 2.3.

Attention was drawn by Members to the proposed reinforcement of support for Scrutiny and Hampshire Action Teams, both the subjects of current reviews at present. Members referred to the costs of additional and external legal advice, but accepted that areas such as this would be reviewed as part of the Chief Executive's review of Corporate Services.

Reference was also made to the financial impact on the County Council of changes to the Student Support system as it transferred to Central Government. Some concerns were also expressed at the apparently uncontrollable and demand-led costs on the County Council posed by the Coroners' service. Members also asked for an explanation of the apparent contradiction between the additional cash limit and lower inflation referred to in appendix 3.

Members were not supportive of the proposal to use extra income generated from advertising in Hampshire Now to provide an extra edition - they felt the money should be used to improve service delivery.

RESOLVED:

That the following advice be offered to the Executive Member for Policy and Resources when he considers the revenue budget.

1. Consideration be given to using any extra income

generated from advertising in Hampshire Now to extend

or improve service delivery, rather than devoting it to an

extra edition - the additional money not to be ring fenced

but could be used for emergency communications

initiatives if need be

2. Consideration be given to ensuring that there is a sound

business case for all proposed extra legal staff supporting

children's services and adult services.

3. That any budget adjustments in the area of resourcing

scrutiny should be informed by the current review of

scrutiny arrangements.

County Treasurer (Bevis Ingram) to send a note of explanation to YYALL

County Treasurer ( Bevis Ingram) to do a note of explanation to YYALL

73

CAPITAL PROGRAMME 2008/09 TO 2010/11

The Committee considered a report of the County Treasurer on the Policy and Resources Capital Programme (Item 8 in the Minute Book).

RESOLVED:

That the Executive Member for Policy and Resources be advised. That the Capital Programme for 2008/09 to 2010/11, as set out in appendix 1, be approved for submission to the Cabinet

74

OVERALL BUDGETARY ISSUES

The Committee considered whether any comments needed to be made to the Leader and Cabinet on the County Council's overall budget, in the light of observations emerging of scrutiny of the budget by the Select Committees.

RESOLVED:

That the following advice be offered to the Leader and Cabinet

That the Culture and Communities Select Committee and Executive Member for Recreation and Heritage be supported in the proposition that the £90,000 costs of repairing the breach in the Basingstoke Canal be reimbursed to the Recreation and Heritage revenue budget in 2008/09.

That consideration be given to the particular concerns of the Children and Young People's Select Committee on the costs and staffing implications for the County Council of providing full-time education for permanently excluded children with effect from the 6^th day of their exclusion.

County Treasurer (Bevis Ingram)

Chief Exec

(Emma Gordon)

75

SCRUTINY REVIEW UPDATE AND REVIEW OF SCRUTINY ARRANGEMENTS

The Scrutiny Officer informed the Committee that the report on Scrutiny of Furniture Procurement and Replacement was being prepared and it was expected that it would be referred to the April meeting of the Committee

Chief Executive (Emma Gordon)

76

SCRUTINY WORK PROGRAMME

The Committee received and noted the report of the Chief Executive - Scrutiny Officer (Item 11 in the Minute Book) setting out the items currently contained within the Committee's Work Programme. This would be amplified to include any items already notified for scrutiny in 2008/09, together with other items for scrutiny suggested by Members. An onward programme for scrutiny would be submitted to the Committee at their April meeting.

Members asked that the Scrutiny Officer and County Treasurer should start looking at ways in which Local Area Agreements, partnerships and shared services could best be scrutinised. The Committee were reminded that the current review of scrutiny along with new legislation from the Government would inform work in this area.

Chief Executive (Emma Gordon)

Chief Executive

(Emma Gordon)

County Treasurer

(Bevis Ingram)