Archived decisions

8. DECLARATION OF INTEREST

Members were mindful that, where they believed they

had a personal or 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.

There were no declarations of interest.

9. MINUTES

The Minutes of the Committee held on 21 July 2009 were confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

10. CHAIRMAN'S COMMUNICATIONS

a. Agenda Format

The Chairman reported that she had requested that for future Committee agenda items should be split between matters for information and matters for consideration. The possibility of some of the future meetings being held outside Winchester combined with a visit to an appropriate facility was endorsed by Members.

b. Future Events

The Chairman reported that the following events had been arranged and she urged Members to attend them:

22 October 2009 Project Integra Annual Conference

27 October 2009 Members Briefing on Environment

30 November 2009 Committee's Budget Briefing

c. Partnership with Stagecoach

The Chairman reported that Councillor Hockley had recently helped to raise awareness of the partnership working between the County Council and Stagecoach by attending the launching of a new logo which was now being displayed on all Stagecoach buses operating in the County.

11. ENVIRONMENT AGENCY

Jim Barker of the Environment Agency gave a presentation on the work of the Agency. He outlined aspects of the Agency's work which included:

· Flood risk - 6.2% of Hampshire was within a flood plain and 28,154 properties were at risk of flooding. 25% of properties in the flood zones had signed up to flood warning direct, the service offered which gives advance warning of flooding via telephone, text, email, pager or fax. All households at risk of flooding were encouraged to register.

· Ecological Footprint - This was an indicator of how much land and sea was needed to provide the energy, food and materials needed in everyday lives and how much land was required to absorb waste. This was measured in global hectares per person which for Hampshire was 6.31 which hw compared with United States of America 6.6; United Kingdom average 5.4; Western Europe 5.1 and China 1.5. Hampshire consumed more than the United Kingdom average and there were plans to encourage residents to stop the increase in demand.

· Climate Change - There was time to adapt to climate change but there was a necessity to work with others to make sure that the country was prepared. Adaption and mitigation plans were at the heart of the work, current plans to manage flood risk and water resources incorporated future climate change. The United Kingdom would have hotter, drier summers and warmer, wetter winters which would impact on all aspects of the environment. It was envisaged that sea levels would rise one metre in the next hundred years.

· Water Resources - Water needed to be used more efficiently and demand needed to be lowered, reducing wastage, incorporating efficiency measures into buildings and metering were all ways in which this could be achieved. The current water usage was 162 litres per person and the target for 2030 was 105.

· Water Quality - The quality of water was fundamental to the environment, social and economic wellbeing and quality of life. Rivers provided a habitat for a diverse range of animal and [plant species and water was abstracted for use as drinking water, groundwater was relied on in Hampshire. For water quality to improve there needed to be adequate sewage and sewage treatment infrastructure provided alongside new development; a reduction in urban diffuse pollution and sustainable drainage systems built into new development and retrofitted to existing buildings.

· Waste - There was a need to produce less waste and for the value in waste produced to be recognised. There was a need to reduce the amount of waste thrown away and to reuse and recycle as much as possible. Hampshire led the way in England for diverting waste going to landfill with a commitment to reduce it to an absolute minimum. Everyone needed to reduce the amount of waste produced. Although preferable to sending waste to landfill sites recycling and energy from waste were not without environmental consequences. The Government's Waste Strategy 2007 introduced a legal target for recycling and composting household waste of at least 40% by 2010. Hampshire currently had a combined recycling rate of 39.9% and had set a target of 50% for 2010.

RESOLVED

That Jim Barker be thanked for his presentation and any comments on the Environment Agency draft fact sheet be sent to the Scrutiny Officer.

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12 ROAD INFRASTRUCTURE AND HOUSING GROWTH

The Executive Member for the Environment presented his response to the recommendations made by the Road Infrastructure and Housing Growth Review Panel (Item 5 in the Minute Book). He gave an outline of each response.

In response to recommendation A - That Hampshire County Council, district and borough councils, and Highways Agency establish a transport group to act as a county-wide forum for transport policy and planning issues, and to provide co-ordination to locally initiated transport assessments - concern was expressed about the level of partnership work with transport providers on strategic matters and information was sought on how district councils were involved in the process. He said that districts councils were involved but that he County needed to take a strategic view on the matter.

In response to recommendation D - That Hampshire County Council reviews its approach to securing section 106 developer financial contributions to ensure that the benefit to the community is maximised, to improve transparency, and to improve monitoring of the impact of payments - it was requested that a presentation be made to a future meeting of the Committee on community infrastructure levies and the impact these had on the County Council. On proposals for Member engagement in he development of the new Local Transport Plan it was agreed that he dates of meetings be circulated once confirmed. It was also requested that the Highways Agency give an overview of its work to a future meeting of the Committee.

RESOLVED:

That the Executive Member's response be noted and the review be removed from the Committee's work programme subject to the following.

· A presentation on Community Infrastructure Levies and what impact this would have on the County Council be made to a future meeting of the Committee.

· The date and location of the Member meetings on the Local Transport Plan be circulated together with a summary of what the Local Transport Plan was and how Members could get involved.

· The Highways Agency, as an LAA partner be requested to attend a future meeting of the Committee to give an overview of its work within the County.

13 TRANSPORT IN THE COMMUNITY

The Director of the Environment presented a report giving further information on the cost of the "Yellow Bus" scheme, transport forums and the Scottish approach to the bus subsidy scheme item 6 in the Minute Book. He gave details of the "Yellow Bus" scheme which was one of the home to school transport pilot schemes, its use and carbon reduction impact together with the cost to date and the budget forecast for 2010/11. The bus subsidy mechanism review was outlined which included information on a system used by a Scottish authority which used simple numeric scores for usage, value, social inclusion and employment and had been considered worthy of further development.. details were also given of the subsidy matrix which evaluated service against six criteria:

· Service usage

· Accessibility

· Social Inclusion (employment)

· Social inclusion (isolation)

· Financial

· Sustainability

Each element attracted a score of 0 to 5 and services could be ranked according to the overall score achieved and a maximum threshold could be set, with weightings to reflect urban or rural settings. Members requested further information on the bus subsidy mechanism and that the yellow bus scheme pilot be added to the work programme for consideration at a future meeting

RESOLVED:

That:

a. The report be noted.

b. The bus subsidy mechanism and yellow bus pilot

scheme be added to the Committee's work

programme.

c. The Transport in the Community Review be removed

from the Committee's work programme.

14. MINERALS PLAN

The Director of Environment gave a presentation on progress being mad with the Minerals Plan. He outlined the Hampshire Minerals and Waste Development Framework and the process which was technically complex, stressing the need to follow legislation and guidance, the risk of plans being "unsound" of subject to legal challenge and that the framework ensured control over minerals and waste planning. He gave details of the current position with the plans and the forward programme. There was a minimum two year work programme ahead with the framework being unlikely to be adopted until 2012. The core strategy revision and consultations were to be followed by minerals and waste site works and the complex partnership process was not completely in the council's control.

RESOLVED:

That the Committee receives a further update on progress with the Minerals Plan at its Meeting in October 2010.

15 FLOODING

The Chairman reported that arrangements had now been made for the light touch scrutiny on flooding to take place on 2 November 2009. She urged all Members to attend.

16. STREET LIGHTING

The Director of Environment presented an update on the trials of reduced street lighting and progress with the implementation with the recommendations of the review (Item 9 in the Minute Book).He said that the County Council was 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 which covered he investment, maintenance and operation of street lighting over 25 years. The procuring process was in conclusion with the preferred bidder being Tay Valley Lighting. Discussions were ongoing to fine tune the contract documents with a view to signing the contract in November 2009. and the contract commencing in February 2010

RESOLVED:

That the report be noted and should the contract commencement not occur before Mach 2010 alternative arrangements be presented to the Committee.

17. TRADE WASTE CONTROLS

The Director of Environment presented an update on trade waste controls. He outlined the background to the policy which was introduced in February 2008 to reduce trade waste and avoid cost. To date the controls had appeared successful with reduced volumes and avoided costs, there had been a positive impact on user experience and fly-tipping concerns had been unfounded. Over the last eighteen months tonnage had been reduced by 10.12% and costs reduced by 16.27%. On the question of builders passing their waste costs onto householders Members were advised that businesses were being encouraged/advised to recycle in an effort to avoid this.

RESOLVED:

That the report be noted and Trade Waste be removed from the work programme.

18. STATE OF HAMPSHIRE ROADS

The Director of Environment presented a report giving an update on the progress being made with the recommendations of the review (Item 11 in the Minute Book). He highlighted the progress being made in applying asset management to the road network to assist with the management and maintenance. He gave an outline of he network condition and network condition targets and trajectories; road condition; the road maintenance strategy; road conditions influencing factors - traffic volume and heavy goods vehicles and maintenance treatments. He said that the road network was under considerable pressure and was being constantly loaded and subject to the natural elements, and was therefore always in need of systematic repair regimes. The weather over the last few years had exacerbated the rate of deterioration and climate change impacts were likely to add to this challenge. These factors highlight the need for good asset management and investment strategies to ensure that the road network was sound. Road condition assessment and pavement management tools were helpful and being developed. These would facilitate a better understanding of the network condition and maintenance options and help guide investment to achieve the condition objectives that were required by the County Council.

RESOLVED:

That the report be noted and the State of Hampshire's Roads be removed from the work programme.

19. WORK PROGRAMME

The Chief Executive presented the Committee's

work programme (Item 12 in the Minute Book).

RESOLVED:

That the Committee's Work Programme be approved

subject to the issues raised at this meeting.

Members advise the Offices of any changes that they would wish to see to the agenda format.

Members send any comments they have on the Environment Agency Fact Sheet to the Scrutiny Officer.

A presentation on Community Infrastructure Levies and what impact this would have on the County Council be made to a future meeting of the Committee.

The date and location of the Member meetings on the Local Transport Plan be circulated together with a summary of what the Local Transport Plan was and how Members could get involved.

The Highways Agency, as an LAA partner be requested to attend a future meeting of the Committee to give an overview of its work within the County.

Road Infrastructure and Housing Growth be removed from the Work Programme.

The bus subsidy mechanism be added to the Committee's work programme.

The Transport in the Community Review be removed from the Committee's work programme.

The yellow bus scheme pilot be added to the Committee's work programme.

A further update on progress with the Minerals Plan be presented to the Committee in October 2010.

Should the Street Lighting contract commencement not occur before Mach 2010 alternative arrangements be presented to the Committee.

Trade Waste Controls be removed from the work programme.

The State of Hampshire's Roads be removed from the work programme.

The work programme be updated to reflect the recommendations of the Committee.