Archived decisions

Contact: Alison Quant, tel 01962 845099 email: [email protected]

1. Summary

1.1 On 12 July 2007 full Council considered and approved proposals for a formal joint committee arrangement between the County Council, Southampton and Portsmouth City Councils, and East Hampshire, Eastleigh, Fareham, Gosport, Havant, New Forest, Test Valley and Winchester District/Borough Councils ("the PUSH Authorities"). This new arrangement replaced the former voluntary Partnership for Urban South Hampshire (PUSH), and was intended to deliver accountability and transparency of decision-making, and allows for the partnership to play a fully effective part in the development of South Hampshire.

1.2 The Joint Committee was given delegated authority to discharge such functions of the Executive as are necessary to implement the Business Plan for PUSH, subject to the Plan being approved annually by the County Council. The Council appointed the Leader of the Council as its representative on the Joint Committee.

1.3 The first Business Plan 2008-11 was approved by the Joint Committee for recommendation to partner authorities at their meeting on 18 March 2008. This report summarises the Plan, available in the Members' Rooms, and seeks approval to recommend the Business Plan to the County Council at its meeting on 10 July 2008 and to enter a Multi Area Agreement intended to facilitate the delivery of outcomes.

1.4 The Business Plan sets out the outcomes the Partnership is seeking and identifies the supporting actions and resources required to deliver the strategy for South Hampshire through provision of employment, housing, infrastructure and facilities to meet social and community needs, whilst protecting the environment and developing sustainable communities. The MAA provides a mechanism for securing greater Government and stakeholder commitment to the implementation of key aspects of the Business Plan.

2. Recommendations

That Cabinet recommends to the County Council that:

(i) the PUSH Business Plan 2008-11 be approved; and

(ii) the Leader be authorised to sign a Hampshire Multi Area Agreement provided it is consistent with the remit of the Joint Committees, this Business Plan and the wider interests of the rest of Hampshire.

3. Introduction

3.1 The PUSH Joint Agreement identifies the Business Plan as the key document defining the scope and detail of activity that the Partnership undertakes and the powers and functions exercised by the Joint Committee. Delivery of the South Hampshire Strategy is a responsibility shared by all South Hampshire local authorities and other agencies and partners operating in the sub-region. The Business Plan sets out the activities to be undertaken by partners on a collaborative basis and at a strategic level to contribute towards delivery of the sub-regional strategy. The Business Plan also indicates, where relevant, how other activity complements PUSH core actions.

3.2 The Plan does not set out a detailed budget for PUSH's activities, but summarises the headline information. The financial picture is incomplete as decisions are awaited from funding partners, notably the South East England Development Agency (SEEDA) about the resources to be allocated to PUSH. The Plan indicates some of the areas where external funding is sought. Part of the funding for PUSH activity comes from authorities' contributions to the core budget, which has been set in the Plan at £300,000 for 2008/09 and assumed at similar levels in future years, rising with inflation.

3.3 Arising from work over the last four years the Partners have developed a robust strategy for improving economic growth across the sub-region. Under the draft South East Plan, South Hampshire is currently charged with delivering 80,000 new homes by 2026 - with final Government decisions on housing numbers expected in July 2008. Working with Transport for South Hampshire (a sister Joint Committee made up of Hampshire County Council, Portsmouth City Council and Southampton City Council - the strategic transport authorities) the transport infrastructure necessary to support sustainable housing and economic growth has been identified and funding bids to Government have been made. More recently, member authorities have begun working together on matters as diverse as policies on sustainability, affordable housing and green infrastructure.

3.4 The Partnership's ambition for sustainable economic growth will only be realised if the member authorities work together and with others - ranging from infrastructure providers, private companies or Government Departments - to implement an integrated programme of activity. The PUSH Business Plan is intended to map out that programme of activity and provide a basis for project managing the different strands of activity necessary to realise our ambitions.

3.5 PUSH is also attracting a growing amount of Government funding to support the delivery of economic growth and, to underpin that, the new communities envisaged in the draft South East Plan. As the Partnership becomes accountable for this significant spend, so the Business Plan will provide a framework for managing those budgets and ensuring that they are allocated to the correct priorities. It will also provide the PUSH partners with a sound basis for securing additional funding.

3.6 Finally, the Business Plan offers a basis for PUSH to be accountable to its own Overview and Scrutiny Committee, Government and other funders, and to local communities.

4. The Business Plan

4.1 The Business Plan was approved by the PUSH Joint Committee in March for recommendation to member authorities to formally adopt it. It is a key document for the partnership. It serves both to set out how the sub-regional strategy for South Hampshire is to be delivered, and specifies the actions to be implemented by PUSH. The Plan is made up of nine chapters. Chapter one summarises the PUSH vision and the outcomes the Partnership seeks. At the core of the Plan are seven chapters, with associated appendices, the latter setting out detailed action plans:

(i) Chapter 2 considers economic development and, at Appendix 2, outlines the key projects and actions necessary to support County Council ambitions for economic growth. As with all chapters, it is underpinned by detailed research, much of which is available through the PUSH website (www.push.gov.uk).

(ii) Chapter 3 outlines the transport infrastructure required to support the level of economic and housing growth anticipated, with once again detailed actions planned in Appendix 3.

(iii) Chapter 4 recognises the importance of the other infrastructure necessary to build sustainable communities, be that water and sewage infrastructure or schools and hospitals. It also identifies important steps necessary to secure sustainable growth. Appendix 4 outlines planned actions.

(iv) Chapter 5 sets out the housing and planning policies necessary to underpin the Partnership's ambitions, including the proposed housing allocations in response to the draft South East Plan. Appendix 5 sets out actions.

(v) Chapter 6 outlines the newest theme for PUSH, that of ensuring the creation of quality places which offer a high quality of life by incorporating culture into planning and development. The emerging draft action plan is at Appendix 6.

(vi) Chapter 7 considers future governance arrangements for PUSH, which will continue to evolve over the coming months and years, and Chapter 8 outlines how the deliver of the planned actions is to be financed (see Section 5 below). Finally, Chapter 9 considers risk.

4.2 The Business Plan as a whole remains work in progress, and that is certainly true for the individual appendices and the actions, projects and programmes they outline. Each continues to be informed by a range of studies (many of which are identified in the Plan) and the Partnership will keep the Plan under regular review.

4.3 At the invitation of the Government, partners have been exploring whether to enter into a Multi-Area Agreement with Government Departments and other key players such as SEEDA. The Agreement would articulate key deliverables, funding and the necessary commitments Government needs to make to support delivery of the South Hampshire Strategy. In addition to securing commitment from other Government agencies which impact on delivery, such an arrangement offers the partners potential freedoms and flexibilities.

5. Consultation

5.1 PUSH has consulted a range of stakeholders on drafts of the Business Plan. These include all PUSH local authorities, Transport for South Hampshire, SEEDA, Business Links, Job Centre Plus, the Learning and Skills Council, the South East England Regional Assembly (SEERA), the Government Office for the South East (GOSE), the Environment Agency and representatives from other service providers. The Business Plan (and the report made to the PUSH Joint Committee) has also been considered by the PUSH Overview and Scrutiny Committee (on 20 March).

6. Financial/Resource Implications

6.1 The County Council's financial contribution to PUSH in 2008/09 is £84,000, subscriptions being determined by an established population-based formula. In addition a number of staff across the County Council are contributing to the work streams.

7. Impact Assessments

7.1 There are no impacts on equalities, crime and disorder or sustainability arising from this report.

8. Conclusion

8.1 The Business Plan sets out how the partners' ambitions for the sustainable development of South Hampshire will be realised. It is still work in progress and uncertainties remain regarding the level of funding contributions from other partners, notably SEEDA and external project funding to be secured. Nonetheless it provides a clear statement of outcomes, activities and resource requirements and can be recommended for approval by the partners. A Multi Area Agreement focusing on the delivery of the economic and transport ambitions should help to secure Government and partner commitment, and provide further clarity to all partners.

1707Rpt/AQ