Archived decisions

R.J. Baulk

p A. Broadhurst

p P.J. Chegwyn

p P. Edgar

a E.F. Gale MBE

p R.J. Kimber

p P.K. Mason

p J.J. Maxwell

a R.H. Price

A.W. Rice TD

P D.F. Wright

Action

100

APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE

Apologies for absence were submitted on behalf of Councillors E.F. Gale and Roger Price; Councillor Price's absence was on account of his being engaged on Fire and Rescue Authority duties elsewhere.

101

DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

Members were mindful that, where they believed they had a personal or a 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. The declaration to be made at the time of the relevant debate.

No such interests were declared on this occasion

102

MINUTES

The Minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 9 October, 2008 were confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

103

CHAIRMAN'S COMMUNICATIONS

The Chairman had no communications on this occasion.

104

REVENUE BUDGET 2009/10 ONWARDS

The Committee considered the report of the County Treasurer and Director of Recreation and Heritage (Item 5 in the Minute Book) on the revenue budget for the coming year onwards. They also had before them (Item 5(x) in the Minute Book) a presentation giving a general financial overview for the County Council and a more detailed explanation of the Recreation and Heritage budget. The main issues highlighted by members during debate were:

· The relationship between efficiency savings and redeployment of resources within the budget in the context of no growth.

· The prospect of reduced levels of income due to the general financial situation.

· The need for constant innovation in order to provide services in different and more effective ways.

· The proposal that the materials fund for libraries should revert to its previous levels following the one-off increase of £350,000 in 2008/09.

· The fact that Hampshire had managed its services in such a way that it had not faced the prospect of wholesale reductions and closures which had happened in other authorities.

· The need for constant and critical review of services and staffing levels to ensure that they met changing public aspirations.

Director of Recreation and Heritage

Chief Exec

(Martin Combs)

The Committee asked for a regular update on the financial situation and particularly levels of income to be submitted to them during the year.

The Committee agreed to recommend the Executive Member for Recreation, Heritage and Communities to approve the budget for submission to the Leader and Cabinet, on the basis set out in Paragraph 3 of the report.

105

CAPITAL PROGRAMME 2009/10 ONWARDS

The Committee considered the report of the County Treasurer and Director of Recreation and Heritage (Item 6 in the Minute Book) on the capital programme for Recreation and Heritage for the coming year onwards. They noted the challenge posed by rapidly shrinking capital receipts as a result of financial situation and the decline in the property market, which meant that the capital programme for the next two years would have to be spread over three.

The Committee agreed to recommend the Executive Member for Recreation, Heritage and Communities to approve the Capital Programme for 2009/10 to 2011/12 for submission to the Leader and Cabinet, on the basis set out in the report.

County Treasurer

Following consideration of these two financial items, the Committee asked that their appreciation should be recorded to Bevis Ingram and Ron Meekings for the very clear and helpful explanations they had given of the revenue budget and capital programme reports.

All to note

106

CHARITABLE OUTDOOR CENTRES - FINAL REPORT

The Committee considered the report of the Chief Executive's Scrutiny Officer (Item 7 in the Minute Book) on the outcome of the further review undertaken relating to charitable outdoor and field study centres. Committee Members, and the Executive Member for Recreation, Heritage and Communities, commended the report, accepted the logic of its approach and endorsed the score card method as a means of evaluating centres' effectiveness. It was therefore

RESOLVED:

1. That the Executive Member for Recreation, Heritage and Communities be recommended to adopt the proposed score sheet as principled and practical input to inform funding decisions with respect to charitable outdoor centres.

2. That the County Council considers adopting a version of the score sheet in assessing the County Council's own centres to provide a simple, consistent input into decisions/discussions on their potential viability, and the value each adds to the County Council's portfolio of outdoor and field study centres.

3. That all charitable outdoor centres be expected to have a business model that aims to cover costs from revenue, but where additional funding is needed to subsidise the centre, they are encouraged to seek funding from a variety of sources in addition to the County Council. In this context it was also recommended that the County Council provides access to specialist expertise in support of centres broadening their funding base, thus reducing risk associated with high dependence on a small number of grant-giving agencies.

Chief Executive (Martin Combs)

107

HARD TO REACH GROUPS

The Chairman reported that the Group had held its first sessions with witnesses, and had another two sessions programmed for 29 January and 10 February to which a variety of further relevant witnesses had been invited. Other members of the Committee would be very welcome to attend.

Chief Exec

(Martin Combs)

Councillor Chapman

108

LIBRARY AND INFORMATION SERVICE

The Chairman reported that the recommendations from the review were being implemented, and in addition the Library and Information Service was putting forward and consulting on a forward looking strategy.

Director of Recreation and Heritage (Nicola Horsey)

109

FORWARD LOOKING WORK PROGRAMME

The Committee received and noted the report of the Chief Executive's Scrutiny Officer (Item 10 in the Minute Book) on the way ahead for scrutiny topics, subject to the addition of an item on financial and income monitoring as suggested in Minute 104.

Chief Exec (Martin Combs)