Archived decisions

316 APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Baulk, Dowden, Dunsdon, Gale, Gillett, Heath, House, Hughes, James, Kendal, Ludlow and Mrs Peskett .

317 DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

All Members who believed they had a personal or prejudicial interest in any matter to be considered at the meeting were asked to declare that interest and, having regard to the circumstances described in paragraphs 9, 10, 11 and 12 of the County Council's Code of Conduct, to consider whether to leave the meeting whilst the matter is discussed, save for exercising any right to speak in accordance with paragraph 12 of the Code. The declaration should be made at the time of the relevant debate.

318 MINUTES

The minutes of the meeting of the County Council held on 10 July 2008 were confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

319 DEPUTATIONS

The Council received a deputation from Liz Leffman of Knowle concerning distributor roads in Whiteley. The Leader of the Council accepted a petition from the deputation.

The Council received a deputation from Sarah Sibbald and Debbie Hands of Alresford about pedestrian safety at the Jacklyns Lane, West Street and The Dean crossroads in Alresford. The Leader of the Council accepted a petition from the deputation.

320 CHAIRMAN'S COMMUNICATIONS

The Chairman presented his report (Item 5 in the Minute Book) and expanded on the wide range of duties undertaken. He also took the opportunity to inform the Council that Councillor Gale was well on the road to recovery following his recent indisposition.

In conclusion he reported the recent passing of Lord Sandy Bruce-Lockhart, former chairman of both Kent County Council and the Local Government Association. The Leader of the Council paid tribute to the significant contribution the late Lord Bruce-Lockhart had made nationally to promote and support local government and the Council stood in silence as a mark of respect to his memory.

321 LEADER'S REPORT

The Leader began his report by highlighting the achievements of the County Council and particularly its staff since the previous meeting. Miles Hutchings, team manager in Gosport, and Christine Featherstone, an Occupational Therapy Assistant had each won prestigious "People Moving Business Awards 2008". These industry awards benchmarked excellence in mobile working and were run in association with Microsoft, the Chartered Management Institute and the Work Foundation. The Leader also reported that Hampshire's Young Musicians had received significant awards at the recent National Festival of Music and Youth. It was with particular pleasure that he further reported that, for 2008 and the second time in five years, the Hampshire Music Service had been awarded the National Music Council/Music Education Council Major Trophy. The County Council showed its appreciation of this exceptional achievement in the usual way and congratulated all involved. The Leader would be inviting Richard Howlett, the Head of the Hampshire Music Service, to the next meeting of the Council.

In relation to business support, the Leader reported that the Government was consulting as to new grant support arrangements for new businesses being provided on a sub-national, regional basis. Of the 21 sub-regions, Hampshire and the Isle of Wight was being treated as a whole, the first and possibly highly significant recognition by Government that the entity known as Hampshire and the Isle of Wight was a large and important part of the Local Government landscape in South East England.

The Leader concluded his report by updating the Council as to progress with partnership working on a countywide basis. Reflecting the principles of equality and parity and modelled upon the US Senate, the new local voluntary partnership body evolving from the Local Area Agreement (LAA) was being referred to as The Hampshire Senate by the Hampshire District Councils and the other partner organisations involved. Being funded by Central Government, the Senate was operating at no additional cost to the County Council. The government had made the County Council the accountable body for the LAA and consequently chairmanship of the Senate was an additional responsibility for the Leader of the Council. He had invited all District Council Leaders to join the Senate which, for the first time, gave them all a voice on the LAA. In addition to working together strategically and to improve services, the Senate would be working to achieve savings in back office functions through shared services, a benefit for all the Hampshire community. The Government had set stretching targets in the LAA and all parties were committed to improving services to the public.

322 QUESTIONS UNDER STANDING ORDER 20(b)(i)

On behalf of Councillor Kendal, Executive Member for Environment, Councillor Thornber, the Leader of the Council, answered a question from Councillor Price concerning arrangements for reporting street lighting faults.

323 PARTNERSHIP FOR URBAN SOUTH HAMPSHIRE OVERVIEW AND SCRUTINY COMMITTEE - DEPUTY

On the recommendation of the Leader of the Council it was

RESOLVED:

That approval be given to the appointment of Councillor Chapman as the County Council's deputy representative on the Partnership for Urban South Hampshire Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

324 ARC MANCHE/CHANNEL ARC; ASSEMBLY OF EUROPEAN REGIONS; ATLANTIC ARC COMMISSION

On the recommendation of the Leader of the Council it was

RESOLVED:

That Councillor Kendal be appointed to Arc Manche/Channel Arc, the Assembly of European Regions and the Atlantic Arc Commission in place of Councillor Woodhall.


325 ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF ENVIRONMENT MEMBER INTERVIEW PANEL

On the recommendation of the Leader it was

RESOLVED:

That approval be given to the suspension of Standing Order 41.10(a) to allow Councillor Davidovitz to take membership of this panel on 23 October 2008 in place of Councillor Perry.

326 SOUTHERN WATER FORUM, GOSPORT

On the recommendation of the Leader it was

RESOLVED:

To appoint Members (1:1:1) to represent the County Council on Gosport Borough Council's Southern Water Forum to discuss a range of water related issues concerning the borough and that Councillors Edgar, Gill and Wright be appointed.

327 STANDING CONFERENCE ON PROBLEMS ASSOCIATED WITH THE COAST (SCOPAC)

On the recommendation of the Leader it was

RESOLVED:

That Councillor Mrs Buckley be appointed the deputy representative of the County Council on SCOPAC

328 HAMPSHIRE SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITY STRATEGY, LOCAL AREA AGREEMENT (LAA) AND THE HAMPSHIRE SENATE

The Council considered the report of the Cabinet (Item 9 in the Minute Book) recommending adoption of the draft Hampshire Sustainable Community Strategy. The report also drew attention to the change to the management of the LAA arrangements with the Senate replacing the former LAA Board, as the Leader had reported earlier in the meeting.

There was a wide ranging debate culminating in consensus within the Council as to the thrust and aims of the draft strategy.

During discussion on the draft strategy a number of issues were raised of which the Leader of the Council took note: noise pollution; infrastructure deficit; equality of service provision; affordable housing; housing repairs and homelessness; NHS dental services; the implications of an aging population; biodiversity; climate change and carbon emissions. A specific revision to which the Leader agreed was the deletion of the words `...especially..' to `...misuse.' In the second line of Ambition A7 on page 43.

In relation to issues raised about the Senate, the Leader of the Council emphasised the innovative and evolutionary nature of the voluntary partnership between the County Council the Hampshire District Councils and the other major public service providers in the administrative county. He also highlighted that, for the first time, all district councils would be empowered so as to have their voices heard in relation to delivery of the LAA. He confirmed that Senate meetings would be in public and Members would be made aware of the business coming up to mirror, as far as possible, the way that they are given information currently about County Council meetings' agendas. The majority of Members supported the approach by way of the Senate.

RESOLVED:


a. That the draft Hampshire Sustainable Community Strategy be approved subject to the revision of A7 as described above and that the Chief Executive be authorised to agree the final text of the strategy after further consultation with the Leader of the Council in the light of the issues highlighted by Members in debate and outlined above;

b. That the County Council supports the approach to community leadership through the Hampshire Senate which will replace the Local Area Agreement Board.

329 RIVER HAMBLE GOVERNANCE ARRANGEMENTS

The Council considered and approved the report and recommendations of the Governance Committee concerning adjustments to the River Hamble's governance arrangements. The proposals had Cabinet support and had also been endorsed by the River Hamble Harbour Board and the Management Committee.

RESOLVED:

a. That approval be given to the proposals set out in paragraphs 2(a), (b) and (c) of the report of the Governance Committee and the terms of reference of the River Hamble Management Committee be amended accordingly;

b. That the revised proportionality table appended to these minutes be approved.

330 ROYAL NATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR BLIND PEOPLE - MOBILITY BENEFITS FOR BLIND RESIDENTS - NOTICE OF MOTION

At the request of the Leader of the Council, Standing Order 17.1 was suspended to allow consideration of a late Notice of Motion, the content of which had been the subject of an approach by the RNIB to the three political group leaders shortly before the Council meeting. Councillor Kelly presented the motion as follows which was seconded by Councillor Thornber and endorsed by Councillor Collett:

"That this Council Notes:

a. That blind people experience significant barriers to independent mobility

b. That blind people are often isolated and find it difficult to access basic services without mobility assistance

c. That many blind residents in this authority area find it difficult to access Shops, Supermarkets, Doctors, Dentists and Community facilities and centres

d. Our blind residents find it difficult to access many Council Services ranging from housing to voting without mobility support and face additional costs as a result, such as using taxis or private hire vehicles.

This Council Further Notes:

a. That blind people are not entitled to the higher rate mobility component of disability living allowance

b. Loss of usable sight clearly causes significant independent mobility problems and incurs significant additional and unmet costs

c. That blind people are in many parts of England excluded from social care support because their needs are not considered "critical" or "substantial"

This Council resolves:

a. To ask the Chief Executive and Leader of the Council to write to the Secretary of State for Work & Pensions, the Rt Hon. James Purnell MP, expressing these concerns

b. To ask the Chief Executive and Leader of the Council to write to Hampshire MPs asking that they sign up to EDM number 1982 and write to the Secretary of State expressing these concerns.

c. To support the Royal National Institute of Blind People's (RNIB) campaign on securing the higher rate mobility component of DLA for blind people."

The Council was unanimous in its support for the Motion and accordingly it was

RESOLVED:

That this Council Notes:

a. That blind people experience significant barriers to independent mobility

b. That blind people are often isolated and find it difficult to access basic services without mobility assistance

c. That many blind residents in this authority area find it difficult to access Shops, Supermarkets, Doctors, Dentists and Community facilities and centres

d. Our blind residents find it difficult to access many Council Services ranging from housing to voting without mobility support and face additional costs as a result, such as using taxis or private hire vehicles.

This Council Further Notes:

a. That blind people are not entitled to the higher rate mobility component of disability living allowance

b. Loss of usable sight clearly causes significant independent mobility problems and incurs significant additional and unmet costs

c. That blind people are in many parts of England excluded from social care support because their needs are not considered "critical" or "substantial"

This Council resolves:

a. To ask the Chief Executive and Leader of the Council to write to the Secretary of State for Work & Pensions, the Rt Hon. James Purnell MP, expressing these concerns

b. To ask the Chief Executive and Leader of the Council to write to Hampshire MPs asking that they sign up to EDM number 1982 and write to the Secretary of State expressing these concerns.

c. To support the Royal National Institute of Blind People's (RNIB) campaign on securing the higher rate mobility component of DLA for blind people.

331 HAMPSHIRE POLICE AUTHORITY

The Council received the report of the Hampshire Police Authority. No questions had been received pursuant to Standing Order 20(d).

332 HAMPSHIRE FIRE AND RESCUE AUTHORITY

On this occasion there was no report of the Authority and no questions had been received pursuant to Standing Order 20(e).

333 REPORT OF THE SELECT COMMITTEES

The Council received and noted the annual report of the Select Committees made pursuant to Part 1, Chapter 6, paragraph 6.5.4 of the Constitution.

334 REPORTS FOR INFORMATION

The Council received the reports of the following:


a. Cabinet/Leader - in presenting his report the Leader advised the Council that the Member briefing on the Corporate Manslaughter and Corporate Homicide Act 2007 had been brought forward to the morning of 22 October 2008.

b. Executive Lead Member for Children's Services (Education) and Executive Member for Children and Families;

c. Executive Member for Recreation, Heritage and Communities; Councillor Rice declared a personal interest in paragraph 378 (Hampshire Countryside Access Plan) by virtue of his membership of the New Forest National Park Authority as did Councillor Mrs Heron by virtue of her membership of the New Forest National Park Authority, and her equestrian and rights of way interests.

d. Executive Member for Adult Social Care; Councillor Mrs Buckley declared a personal interest in paragraph 379 (Extra Care Housing in Gosport) by virtue of her membership of the Chartered Institute of Housing.

e. Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee;

f. Standards Committee.