Archived decisions

HAMPSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL

Decision Report

Decision Maker:

Executive Member - Environment

Date of Decision:

24 March 2009

Decision Title:

Environmental Service Providers 2009/10

Decision Reference:

588

Report From:

Director of Environment

Contact Name:

David Carman

Telephone:

023 8038 3402

E-mail:

[email protected]

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

1) Summary of Decision Area

1.1. Voluntary organisations have been invited to apply for grants to deliver environmental services. The grants support organisations in the delivery of activities that support Hampshire County Council's own aims and objectives for Enhancing our Quality of Place and Maximising Wellbeing.

2) Issues Covered in Report

    (i) Environmental Services Provider Grant Programme

    (ii) One Compact for Hampshire

3) Recommendations

    It is recommended that:

3.1 The 2009/10 Environmental Service Providers funding be awarded to the following applicants:

(i) Built Heritage £10,000

                Hampshire Buildings Preservation Trust Limited

        (ii) Coastal Archaeology £10,000

                Hampshire and Wight Trust for Maritime Archaeology

        (iii) Environmental Advice to Land Managers £15,000

                Hampshire Farming and Wildlife Advisory Group

        (iv) Historic Parks and Gardens £20,000

                Hampshire Gardens Trust

        (v) Schools Landscapes:

                      (a) Supporting Hampshire County Council Schools Landscape Programme £15,000

                      Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust

                (b) Supporting advice at a national level £19,000

                      Learning Through Landscapes

MAIN REPORT

1) Contextual Information

1.1 The Environmental Service Providers Grant Programme enables the Department to work with voluntary and community organisations and support the provision of particular services that are most effectively delivered by them. Voluntary organisations were able to apply for grants to deliver a range of environmental services. The grants support organisations in the delivery of activities that support Hampshire County Council's own aims and objectives for Maximising Well-being and Enhancing our Quality of Place.

1.2 The One Compact for Hampshire encourages the commitment to a three year programme of funding for voluntary and community organisations. Financial constraints mean that a commitment can only be made to the 2009-10 financial year. The same constraints also mean that the priorities for action and the level and distribution of funding will be reviewed during 2009-10. Environmental Service Providers have been informed that this review will be taking place.

2) Key Issues

2.1 Applications were received from all successful applicants in the previous year. Their satisfactory performance in the previous year ensures that the approval of their applications is supported by evidence of their abilities. One additional application, from the Shaw Trust, was received for the grant for supporting Hampshire County Council's Schools Landscape Programme. The Shaw Trust satisfies the criteria for charitable status, but its skills and experience are more related to practical grounds maintenance rather than providing broader environmental advice to schools and local communities. The application is therefore not supported. Details of the applications are set out in the attached appendix.

3) Option Analysis/Comparison

3.1 Not to provide an Environmental Service Provider Grant Programme. This option would be contrary to the terms of the One Compact for Hampshire which recommends 12 months notice of a decision to terminate or change the funding arrangements. This would be damaging to the reputation of the County Council.

4) Conclusions

4.1. Supporting the work of Environmental Service Providers through the awarding of grants secures the delivery of aspects of the County Council's own corporate aims and objectives. All the recommended applicants demonstrate in their applications the necessary skills and abilities to deliver the services required, backed up by direct experience of their delivery in the previous year.

5) Recommendation

Please see Executive Summary for recommendation.

1892Rpt/588/DC

CORPORATE OR LEGAL INFORMATION:

LINKS TO THE CORPORATE STRATEGY

Yes

No

Hampshire safer and more secure for all

Corporate Business plan link no (if appropriate)

Maximising well-being

Corporate Business plan link no (if appropriate)

Enhancing our quality of place

Corporate Business plan link no (if appropriate)

OTHER SIGNIFICANT LINKS:

Links to Previous member decisions:

Title

Ref

Date

Environmental Service Providers 2

Direct Links to Specific Legislation or Government Directives

Title

Date

Section 100 D - Local Government Act 1972 - background documents

 

    The following documents discuss facts or matters on which this report, or an important part of it, is based and have been relied upon to a material extent in the preparation of this report. (NB: the list excludes published works and any documents which disclose exempt or confidential information as defined in the Act.)

    Document

    Location

    Analysis of Submissions against Criteria

    Environment Department

    Hampshire House

    Eastleigh

COMPREHENSIVE RISK & IMPACT ASSESSMENT:

1) Equalities Impact Assessment:

a) No adverse impact has been identified in terms of race, creed or gender.

2) Impact on Crime and Disorder:

a) No adverse impact.

3) Climate Change:

a) How does what is being proposed impact on our carbon footprint / energy consumption?

        · No impact

b) How does what is being proposed consider the need to adapt to climate change, and be resilient to its longer term impacts?

        · Many of the activities undertaken by the Environmental Service Providers respond to the issue of climate change, through providing advice to land managers and the public on ways to adapt to a changing climate.