Archived decisions

AT A MEETING of the CABINET of HAMPSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL held at The Castle, Winchester on 24 November 2008.

Chairman:

p Councillor T.K. Thornber, CBE

Councillors:

p

Mrs P.G. Banks

p

M.J. Kendal

p

Dr. R.J. Ellis

p

D.A. Kirk

p

J.K. Glen

p

R. Perry

p

Felicity Hindson, MBE

p

Mrs M.D. Snaith

       

Also present with the agreement of the Chairman: Councillors M.F. Cartwright; K.G. Chapman; B.D. Dash; K. Evans; Mrs C.A. Leversha; Mrs A.M. McNair-Scott and Mrs P.A. West.

466. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
Councillor A.P. Collett's apologies were noted.

467. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

    Members were mindful that where they believed they had a personal or prejudicial interest in any matter considered at the meeting declared that interest at the time of the relevant debate and, having regard to the circumstances described in paragraphs 9, 10, 11 and 12 of the County Council's Code of Conduct, considered 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.

468. CONFIRMATION OF MINUTES

The minutes of the meeting held on 27 October 2008 were confirmed as a correct record, subject to the following clarifications in respect of minute 459 (New Forest National Park Plan):-

    (a) Councillor Perry is a resident of Wellow (rather than Romsey);

      (b) Councillor Dash declared his interest as a `local resident of the
      New Forest' (rather than as residing within the National Park
      boundary).

469. CHAIRMAN'S COMMUNICATIONS

    The Chairman welcomed Chanin Lloyd and KateTydeman who are journalism students at the University of Winchester. Chanin and Kate were present to observe the meeting as part of their course work.

470. SOUTH COAST STREET LIGHTING PRIVATE FINANCE INITIATIVE (PFI)

The Cabinet considered the report of the Director of Environment (Item 5 in the Minute book) that sought approval of changes to the Outline Business Case service specification for the South Coast Street Lighting PFI scheme and authority to complete the procurement within the financial and technical framework agreed by Cabinet.

      The Director of Environment summarised the key issues detailed in the report, asking the Cabinet to note the economic case for investment along with the financial and procurement parameters. Discussions with bidders were drawing to a conclusion and the Director of Environment reported that the originally anticipated increase in energy consumption costs (up to £1.2million of per annum at current prices, paragraph 4.2) would likely be brought down to zero on the basis of the revised specification recommended to Cabinet. The Director also explained elements of the service specification, including potentially being able to monitor and adjust lights remotely from a control room, rather than by a site visit to each streetlight to alter the dimming level.

      During the course of a detailed discussion, the Cabinet welcomed the prospect of a reduction in the County Council's carbon footprint where appropriate and the prospect of town centre locations, major traffic routes and higher crime areas receiving brighter lighting. The Cabinet concurred that it did not support lights being turned off after midnight given public views on this option.

      The Cabinet agreed to pursue the installation of remote monitoring equipment if this proved affordable and the share of risk was acceptable, given the much greater flexibility over lighting levels this will offer over the 25 year life of the contract. However this technology is not yet fully proven. Further details will emerge in the final stage of the procurement.


      The Cabinet adopted the recommendations set out in the report. The decision record is attached to these Minutes as Appendix 1.

471. HAMPSHIRE JOINT STRATEGIC NEEDS ASSESSMENT

    The Cabinet considered the report of the Director of Public Health (Item 6 in the Minute book) that sought approval of the Joint Strategic Needs Assessment (JSNA).

    During the ensuing discussion, the Cabinet broadly welcomed the thrust of data outlined in the Executive Summary which confirmed that, overall, the health indicators in Hampshire are very good and compare favourably with the rest of England. Notwithstanding this, the Cabinet noted that there were a number of health and deprivation inequalities across the county which they would wish to see tackled. The Cabinet expressed particular interest in relation to life style issues such as alcohol consumption, smoking and diet, while also noting the difficulties that some Hampshire residents had in accessing NHS dental care. The Cabinet also noted that while the Index of Multiple Deprivation (IMD) provided a helpful, comparative measure of deprivation by locality, it would not always be able to identify where small pockets of deprivation existed within a larger area, e.g. not all of Hampshire's deprived children live in area that are themselves considered to be deprived.

    Members commended the Hampshire Joint Strategic Needs Assessment's Executive Summary to all members of the County Council while also noting that the County Council's Commission of Inquiry into Personalisation (looking at future services for adults in need of support and care) was due to publish its final report on 25 November 2008.

    The Cabinet agreed the recommendations set out in the report together with the additional resolutions that a further report be submitted to a future Cabinet meeting outlining the action being taken in respect of the inequalities identified in the JSNA and that the Executive Summary be sent to all Members. The decision record is attached to these Minutes as Appendix 2.

472. DRIVING SUCCESS: HAMPSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL'S
PERFORMANCE MANAGEMENT FRAMEWORK

The Cabinet considered the report of the Chief Executive (Item 7 in the Minute book) that sought endorsement for the corporate Performance Management Framework and its underpinning principles, along with the emerging Corporate Improvement Plan. The Head of Improvement expanded on the main points in the report and answered Members' detailed questions.

During the course of the ensuing discussion, the Cabinet emphasised the value and importance that they placed upon the contribution that the County Council's Select Committees could make in respect of performance monitoring. The Cabinet therefore wished Select Committees to be formally recognised as having a performance monitoring role in Appendices 1 and 2. They also expressed the importance of the County Council being aware of the environmental implications of its decisions and accordingly undertake efforts to reduce its carbon footprint.


The Cabinet welcomed the report and fully endorsed the revised approach, adopting the recommendations set out in the report. The decision record is attached to these Minutes as Appendix 3.

473. ANNUAL EQUALITY & DIVERSITY REPORT AND AGREEMENT OF
THE EQUALITY SCHEME

The Cabinet considered the report of the Chief Executive (Item 8 in the Minute book) that proposed external validation of the County Council's Equality Standard level 3 self assessment and agreement of the revised Equality Scheme and Improvement Plan. The Strategic Equalities and Diversity Manager highlighted key elements of the report and circulated a `bullet point' summary for Members to consider.

During the course of the ensuing discussion, the Cabinet indicated their agreement to the new approach and vision being adopted in respect of equality and diversity (based upon the `Rights Respect and Responsibility' ethos.) Once the Equality Standards level 3 self assessment had been externally validated, the Cabinet expressed a desire for County Council officers to seek to encourage other agencies and suppliers that the County Council did business with to adopt similar aspirations.

The Cabinet adopted the recommendations set out in the report, confirming that they would wish all decisions to take account of the impact on diverse communities. The decision record is attached to these Minutes as Appendix 4.

474. CONSULTATION ON THE HAMPSHIRE FIRE AND RESCUE SERVICE PLAN 2009-2012

The Cabinet considered the report of the Chief Executive (Item 9 in the Minute book) that sought agreement to the County Council's proposed response to the Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service's consultation on their Service Plan 2009-2012.

During the ensuing discussion, the Cabinet paid tribute to the Fire and Rescue Service for its commitment to partnership working and willingness to engage collaboratively, particularly in relation to the Local Area Agreement (LAA). In considering the proposed response to the consultation (Appendix 1 to the report), the Cabinet requested deletion of the paragraph on `vulnerable people' which was covered in the paragraph on working in partnership.


The Cabinet adopted the recommendations set out in the report, subject to an amendment to reflect their views as detailed above. The decision record is attached to these Minutes as Appendix 5.

                  Appendix 1

HAMPSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL

Record of an Executive Decision:

Decision Maker:

Cabinet

Date of Decision:

24 November 2008

Decision Title:

South Coast Street Lighting Private Finance Initiative

Decision Reference:

298

Report From:

Director of Environment

Contact name:

Trevor Wallis

Tel:

023 9244 6510

Email:

[email protected]

1) Summary:

    The following decisions were made:

 

    1.1. That changes to the Outline Business Case service specification set out in the report be approved, including:

      (i) to replace lighting in most locations with white light fluorescent lamps;

      (ii) in low crime, residential areas, to replace lighting on a `1 for 1' basis with lighting levels at or below the low pressure sodium lamps currently in place;

      (iii) to specify the installation of remote monitoring equipment on all street lighting columns, with discretion to switch to fixed dimming equipment if the early phases of commissioning show that performance is unsatisfactory and that this cannot be resolved; and

      (iv) in low crime, residential areas, lamps to normally be dimmed at 12 midnight by 25% in the first instance.

 

    1.2. That the Director of Environment, in consultation with the Executive Member for Policy and Resources and the Executive Member for Environment, be authorised to agree the final specification to be included in the call for final tenders and to conclude the procurement, provided it remains within the financial limits previously approved by Cabinet in March 2007, to be contained within the overall operational budgets of the Environment Department.

 

2) Reasons for the decision:

    2.1. The Council is procuring the replacement of a substantial part of its street lighting stock through a joint Private Finance Initiative with West Sussex County Council and Southampton City Council.

    2.2. The two bidders have submitted their detailed submissions which includes pricing against the standard bid specified by the partners and a number of variant options. The Councils need to set out their final specifications in order to proceed to the call for final tenders.

    2.3. During the process of this procurement, the carbon impacts of the original specification have been reviewed and the decision above will result in any energy increase being contained, whilst improving safety through a higher standard of lighting in town centres, main traffic routes and in higher crime locations.

 

3) Other options considered and rejected:

 

    3.1. Option 1: To retain the specification set out in the Business Case.

      (i) Risk Assessment: This would have increased energy usage by up to 30%, which would have both carbon and financial impacts.

 

    3.2. Option 2: Not to specify remote monitoring.

      (i) Risk Assessment: The technology is untested on a large scale, and this option would reduce the risk of lights failing to dim. However the scale of procurement will help to bring forward this emerging technology which will give the Council continuous flexibility over dimming levels.

 

    3.3. Option 3: Not to include a switch back to fixed dimming if the first phase of lighting installed with remote monitoring is too problematic.

      (i) Risk Assessment: This would increase pressure on the contractor to resolve problems but ultimately a satisfactory performance level may not be achieved within a reasonable time period. If problems with dimming continued throughout and beyond the core investment period of five years, this could impact on public perceptions. However the energy consumption risk would remain the contractor's.

 

4) Conflicts of Interest:

    4.1. Conflicts of interest declared by the decision-maker:

      None.

 

    4.2. Conflicts of interest declared by other Executive Members consulted:

      None.

 

5) Dispensation granted by the Standards Committee:

    None.

 

6) Any reasons for the matter being dealt with if urgent :

    None.

 

7) Statement from the Decision Maker:

 

Approved by:

--------------------------------------------------

Date: 24 November 2008

Chairman of the Cabinet
Councillor T.K. Thornber, CBE

  

                  Appendix 2

HAMPSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL

Record of an Executive Decision:

Decision Maker:

Cabinet

Date of Decision:

24 November 2008

Decision Title:

Hampshire Joint Strategic Needs Assessment

Decision Reference:

357

Report From:

Director of Public Health

Contact name:

Jean Bradlow

Tel:

01962 847127

Email:

[email protected]

1) Summary

    The following decision was made:

 

    1.1. That Cabinet approve the Hampshire County Council/Hampshire Primary Care Trust (PCT) Joint Strategic Needs Assessment.

1.2 That a report be submitted to a future meeting of the Cabinet, on particular themed and location specific activity being taken to address the inequalities that have been identified.

    1.3 That the Executive Summary of the full report be sent to all Members of the County Council.

2) Reasons for the decision

    2.1. It is a statutory requirement set out in the Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007 that each upper-tier local authority and its PCT must publish a Joint Strategic Needs Assessment (JSNA), which looks at the health and social care needs of its population.

    2.2. The JSNA has been signed off by the three accountable Directors, as set out in the 2007 Act: the Director of Adult Services, Director of Children's Services and Director of Public Health.

    2.3. Hampshire's Cabinet and the Board of Hampshire PCT are asked to approve the JSNA, as it is a direction-setting document designed to inform the Sustainable Community Strategy, the Local Area Agreement (LAA), the refresh of the Children & Young People's Plan, the PCT Strategy and joint commissioning and well-being strategies.

 

3) Other options considered and rejected:

 

    Not applicable, as this is a statutory requirement and the data has been compiled using the stipulated core dataset requirements of the Department of Health.

 

4) Conflicts of Interest:

    4.1. Conflicts of interest declared by the decision-maker:

      None

 

    4.2. Conflicts of interest declared by other Executive Members consulted:

      None

 

5) Dispensation granted by the Standards Committee:

    None

 

6) Any reasons for the matter being dealt with if urgent :

    None

 

7) Statement from the Decision Maker:

 

Approved by:

--------------------------------------------------

Date: 24 November 2008

Chairman of the Cabinet

Councillor T K Thornber, CBE

  

              Appendix 3

HAMPSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL

Record of an Executive Decision:

Decision Maker:

Cabinet

Date of Decision:

24 November 2008

Decision Title:

Driving Success: Hampshire County Council's Performance Management Framework

Decision Reference:

403

Report From:

Chief Executive's

Contact name:

Gary Smith

Tel:

Ext 7402

  

1) Summary

1.1 The County Council is focussed on building on its already high base to ensure that the right improvement infrastructure is in place to drive forward innovation, value for money and improved community outcomes. The Council believes it is improving strongly and wants to ensure appropriate arrangements are in place to sustain this through the challenges ahead.

1.2 The attached `Driving Success' report concentrates on two main aspects of the corporate infrastructure to drive improvement. It outlines a refreshed corporate Performance Management Framework for the authority and it sets out a new Corporate Improvement Plan. Taken together these establish the infrastructure to monitor and manage service improvement and risk, whilst focussing on those key issues that need to be addressed over the months ahead.

1.3 The revised corporate Performance Management Framework and new Corporate Improvement Plan will be embedded in the Political and managerial infrastructure of the Council.

    The following decisions were made:

 

    1. That the corporate Performance Management Framework and underpinning principles be endorsed as set out in the report.

 

    2. That the emerging Corporate Improvement Plan be endorsed and that the Head of Improvement be requested to finalise the plan with the Leader and Chief Executive.

 

2) Reasons for the decision

    1. The proposals in this report strengthen the Council's corporate improvement infrastructure to sustain and drive forward continued high performance.

    2. These proposals support all three Corporate Strategy priorities

 

    3) Other options considered and rejected:

 

    1. The attached paper is the culmination of several workshops and many discussions - there are no other options being put forward

 

    4) Conflicts of Interest:

    1. Conflicts of interest declared by the decision-maker:

    None

 

    2. Conflicts of interest declared by other Executive Members consulted:

      None

 

5) Dispensation granted by the Standards Committee:

    None

 

6) Any reasons for the matter being dealt with if urgent :

    None

 

7) Statement from the Decision Maker:

 

Approved by:

--------------------------------------------------

Date: 24 November 2008

Chairman of the Cabinet

Councillor T.K. Thornber, CBE

  

                Appendix 4

HAMPSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL

Record of an Executive Decision:

Decision Maker:

Cabinet

Date of Decision:

24 November 2008

Decision Title:

Annual Equality & Diversity report and agreement of the Equality Scheme

Decision Reference:

299

Report From:

Chief Executive

Contact name:

Jane Goodwin

Tel:

01962 847789

Email:

[email protected]

1) Summary

    The following decisions were made:

 

    1.1. Cabinet agreed that the Council should proceed and seek external validation of the Equality Standard level 3 self assessment

    1.2. Cabinet agreed the revised Equality Scheme and Improvement Plan .

    1.3. Cabinet requested that all decisions take account of their impact on diverse communities.

 

2) Reasons for the decision

    These are the reasons for this decision being made, including any links to the corporate strategy.

    2.1. External scrutiny of our self assessment will validate the Council's approach to equality & diversity and put us in a good position to show improvement for the CAA.

    2.2. The Equality Scheme and Improvement Plan are an essential part of level 3 achievement

    2.3. The scheme will assist the Council to meet its statutory duties and prepare for forthcoming legal changes.

    2.4. This decision will support the Corporate Priorities in particular it sets out steps that will assist the Council break down barriers and improve choice for all - a key corporate value which underpins the priorities.

 

3) Other options considered and rejected:

 

    3.1. Option 1: agree the decision recommendations

    3.2. a) Risk Assessment: External scrutiny of our self assessment will validate the Council's approach to equality & diversity and put us in a good position to show improvement for the CAA. The Equality Scheme and Improvement Plan are an essential part of level 3 achievement

 

    3.3. Option 2: Not agree the recommendations

    3.4. Risk Assessment: If the recommendations are not agreed then the Council's performance on equality and diversity would not meet the expected standard.

4) Conflicts of Interest:

    4.1. Conflicts of interest declared by the decision-maker:

      None

 

    4.2. Conflicts of interest declared by other Executive Members consulted:

      None

 

5) Dispensation granted by the Standards Committee:

    None

 

6) Any reasons for the matter being dealt with if urgent :

    None

 

7) Statement from the Decision Maker:

 

Approved by:

--------------------------------------------------

Date: 24 November 2008

Chairman of the Cabinet

Councillor T.K. Thornber, CBE

  

                    Appendix 5

HAMPSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL

Record of an Executive Decision:

Decision Maker:

Cabinet

Date of Decision:

24 November 2008

Decision Title:

Consultation on the Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service Plan 2009 - 2012

Decision Reference:

369

Report From:

Chief Executive

Contact name:

Paddy Hillary

Tel:

01962 847391

Email:

[email protected]

1) Summary

    The following decision was made:

 

    That the County Council's response to the Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service's consultation on their Service Plan 2009-2012 be agreed, subject to the views expressed by the Cabinet being taken into account.

 

2) Reasons for the decision

    2.1. The consultation on the Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service Plan 2009 - 2012 was published on 22 September 2008.

    2.2. The Service Plan details Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service' strategy, including new Corporate Objectives and Priorities, for reducing  risk to our communities and achieving our vision of making Hampshire safer.  The Service Plan may impact upon the County Council.

 

3) Conflicts of Interest:

    3.1. Conflicts of interest declared by the decision-maker:

      None

 

    3.2. Conflicts of interest declared by other Executive Members consulted:

      None

 

4) Dispensation granted by the Standards Committee:

    None

 

5) Any reasons for the matter being dealt with if urgent:

    None

 

6) Statement from the Decision Maker:

    The deadline for responding to this consultation is 12 December 2008.

Approved by:

--------------------------------------------------

Date:

24 November 2008

Chairman of the Cabinet

Councillor T. K. Thornber, CBE