Archived decisions

HAMPSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL

Decision Report

1. Executive Summary

1.1. This paper provides a progress report on work undertaken and significant achievements made in implementing the rural delivery strategy presented to Cabinet on 27 April 2009. As such it highlights activities across all departments of Hampshire County Council as well as external partnership projects aimed at meeting the objectives set by Cabinet.

1.2. It also seeks support for continuing efforts both within the organisation and through further partnership initiatives to sustain and develop this work.

2. Issues covered in the report

2.1. The report provides information upon the results of both strong corporate working established across the County Council, and productive external partnerships in this area.

2.2. Performance against the rural delivery strategy is assessed together with the six new projects supported through the dedicated rural funding identified for the current financial year. This is set within the context of external feedback received including through the Comprehensive Area Assessment (CAA) process.

2.3. The report provides examples and responses received relating to the impact and the value of the work undertaken to date. It also highlights areas that will require sustained effort and development in the future.

3. Contextual information

3.1. With over 85% of Hampshire's land area described as rural, it is crucial for Hampshire County Council to consider how it can best support its rural communities. It delivers a number of significant statutory and discretionary services in rural areas, ranging from schools, adult social care, libraries and rights of way, to waste management and strategic transport planning. Hampshire County Council wishes to ensure that in delivering a wide range of services for rural communities, both directly and in partnership with others, the essential issues are tackled in the right way. Particular attention is required in terms of access to services and specific issues or rural inequality and deprivation.

3.2. In July 2008 Cabinet agreed a vision for the County Council's role, which is to develop `rural communities that are resilient and sustainable socially, economically and environmentally".

3.3. In April 2009 Cabinet agreed themed action plans, led by Departments, which served to rural proof the delivery of key services. Cabinet also supported the development of new partnership approaches and projects to tackle the key issues faced by rural communities.

4. Development of targeted actions, projects and partnerships

4.1. In addition to the action plans approved by Cabinet in April 2009 the Executive Member for Rural Affairs, Human Resources and Skills Development approved £154,000 funding for 6 projects meeting the priorities agreed by Cabinet. These were approved in August 2009 with all projects requiring match funding to enable them to proceed. A summary of these projects together with their status is set out in Appendix 1. As part of this process £10,000 was allocated to a Community Challenge Fund to enable parish councils and community and voluntary groups to bring forward small scale projects for improvements in their communities. Funding was awarded to nine community-led projects, which are also detailed at Appendix 1.

4.2. There was strong interest in the County Council's rural initiatives at the Hampshire Senate partnership event in September 2009. At a rural workshop held during the event, delegates voiced their support for the commitment to rural affordable housing and that the views of rural communities are properly considered in strategic decision making. There will be an opportunity to address these, and wider rural issues, in the `place shaping' work that is proposed as part of the developing agenda of the Hampshire Senate. This will enable appropriate partnerships and joint working to be developed with Senate partners and may also offer an opportunity for the Hampshire Rural Forum to participate in, and actively support, such work.

4.3. Following the withdrawal of Defra funding for the Village Halls Advisor post, the County Council provided financial support to Community Action Hampshire to maintain the post for another year. Up to December 2009, 81 village halls had been supported. If funding is available for ongoing support for the Village Halls Adviser post at Community Action Hampshire then the role could be developed to increase self-help and local action in rural communities.

4.4. The Hampshire Rural Forum has been established bringing together leading cross-sector stakeholders and partnerships from across Hampshire. This Forum is addressing specific issues faced by rural communities and has already been working with the Fire and Rescue Service as well as providing evidence on the review of the Ambulance Service. The Forum is seeking to advise, support and influence decision makers on appropriate policies for Rural areas including those around economic development and rural affordable housing. The Forum is hosting a conference in the spring looking at rural life in the next decade with particular emphasis upon sustainable communities, volunteering, support for community infrastructure and intergenerational projects. Partners represented on the Forum will be making a major input to the conference.

5. Performance and impact

5.1. The April 2009 Cabinet report approved action plans containing 120 actions to be progressed corporately by all County Council Departments. The action plan was a means to "rural proof" the delivery of key services delivered in rural communities. As of late November 2009, approximately 90% of these actions were underway with a significant number on track (see Appendix 2). Cross departmental support for the corporate rural programme remains firm and the corporate coordination group is currently developing the focus for next year's work programme, developing both the priorities agreed by Cabinet and issues identified by the Audit Commission (see section 5.6).

5.2. Departmental leads report that cross Departmental working engendered by the corporate rural programme is achieving efficiencies in other areas of work. For example improved collaboration between Adult Services and the Environment Department's Passenger Transport is cutting duplication in transport provision and delivering savings and efficiencies.

"The move towards a much more cross-cutting style of working is making a big difference to our capacity to deliver on key work programmes, such as the rural agenda and the Hampshire Model of Personalisation.  One issue that keeps coming up again and again is the issue of poor access to transport in rural areas, particularly for older people and other vulnerable groups.  We are now working much more effectively in partnership with our colleagues in the Environment Department to look at how to improve transport information and advice and more effective provision." Richard Ellis - Deputy Director of Adult Services.

5.3. The six major funded projects referred to in 4.1 are testing new and innovative ways of delivering rural services. There are also nine community-led projects, helping deliver the County Council's objectives for rural service delivery. All funded projects have drawn in substantial amounts of external match funding. Of the funded projects it is estimated that £154,000 of County Council investment will help facilitate a combined investment of £670,000 in rural areas across the County. The £10,000 allocated to the nine community challenge fund projects proved particularly effective in helping lever in external resources, both financially and in kind. Programmes such as this are highly popular and cost effective in enabling communities to unlock resources at a local level.

5.4. In terms of the impact achieved so far the County Council has already received some very positive feedback with some of the responses associated with the support given shown in Appendix 3. In terms of the distribution of support the map in Appendix 4 shows the spread of grants, advice and projects undertaken or underway as of December 2009.

5.5. Hampshire County Council's rural delivery programme has been assessed in detail by the Government's Commission for Rural Communities (CRC) on behalf of the IdeA, which has written up the County Council's work as a best practice case study (see summary in Appendix 5). Additionally a senior advisor from the CRC facilitated a rural workshop at September's Senate partnership conference where attendance was amongst the strongest of the workshops convened.

5.6. The County Council's performance in terms of its support for rural communities was considered by the Audit Commission as part of the Comprehensive Area Assessment (CAA). Within the organisation assessment report the Audit Commission commented that "The Council is working hard to protect rural life and provide fair and equal access to services and facilities" (page 3) and this part of the report also recognises efforts that the County Council is making to support rural affordable housing in the development of its comprehensive rural delivery plan. Within the Area Assessment report itself the Audit Commission highlighted some of the ongoing challenges relating to transport, access to services, inequality, skills training and education for young people in rural areas. With particular reference to partnership working the Audit Commission identified the "need to look for significant larger scale joint services, cross sector management and pooled budgets... not only in delivering value for money but also in making access to services easier and less confusing for the public. This is a key area for improvement." (page 23).

5.7. It is clear that work undertaken so far has been recognised by the Audit Commission and that they see further challenges ahead for the organisation. The Audit Commission notes that "Work to address rural access issues in Hampshire is under way but there is no overall plan which all the organisations serving rural communities are signed up to. This is important in making sure that all people can easily access services." (Area Assessment, p6). The Audit Commission has indentified rural work as a priority for next year's inspection.

5.8. All the points raised by the Audit Commission align themselves to priorities already identified by Cabinet, and these will be the target for any ongoing work or investment.

5.9. In terms of the strategic framework and policy adopted by national government, Hampshire County Council has been, and continues to be, proactive in seeking to address the key issues faced by rural communities. Since its publication in 2004, the County Council has built on many of the priorities highlighted in the Government's Rural Strategy. Building on its leadership of the South East Rural Pathfinder, the County Council has developed a comprehensive programme to tackle the Government's three priorities for rural policy. These are economic and social regeneration, and supporting enterprise; tackling social exclusion and providing fair access to services and opportunities; and protecting the natural environment. The activity identified in this report represents a very significant effort to help address these issues.

6. Conclusion

6.1. Significant progress has been made against the delivery plan together with the separate funded rural partnership projects. The impact of this work is reflected in the feedback that is being received from organisations operating within rural communities. The profile and reputation of Hampshire County Council and its work in this area has developed very considerably and this has been recognised externally including within the Comprehensive Area Assessment report. The County Council has shown strong commitment to "rural proofing" its activities and in initiating productive partnership working. Future progress will hinge upon sustaining this activity and continuing to develop innovative ideas both internally and with all those organisations operating in, or supporting, our rural communities.

7. Recommendations

It is recommended that Cabinet:

7.1. Endorses progress achieved particularly the impact made within local rural communities in the delivery of the action plan and accompanying projects aimed at tackling the priorities set by Cabinet.

7.2. Fully supports the current partnership initiatives underway, the gearing of investment achieved, and the need to invest further in priority work.

7.3. Welcomes the positive external profile achieved by Hampshire County Council including comments provided by the Commission for Rural Communities (CRC) and the Audit Commission in the County Councils Comprehensive Area Assessment (CAA) report.

7.4. Supports the full engagement by Hampshire County Council in the proposed rural conference to be held in Spring 2010 and organised through the Hampshire Rural Forum.

Appendices

1. List of projects

2. Summary performance sheet on actions within the rural delivery plan

3. List of quotes/feedback

4. GIS map showing impact of rural funding across the county

5. IdeA case study summary

CORPORATE OR LEGAL INFORMATION:

Links to the Corporate Strategy

Other Significant Links

IMPACT ASSESSMENTS:

1. Equalities Impact Assessment:

a) Successful implementation will reduce inequalities by improving service delivery in rural areas and increase access to services. Please refer to full Equalities Impact Assessment.

2. Impact on Crime and Disorder:

a) None noted.

3. Climate Change:

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

More effective and efficient service delivery is expected to reduce the County Council's carbon footprint and energy consumption.

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

Adaptation to climate change is a key theme in this strategy.