Agenda and minutes

To receive any apologies for absence.

Apologies were received from Councillors Fred Birkett, Adam Carew, Roland Dibbs, Geoff Hockley, Rob Mocatta, Kirsty North and David Simpson and from Honorary Alderman Marilyn Tucker.

All Members who believe they have a Disclosable Pecuniary Interest in any matter to be considered at the meeting must declare that interest and, having regard to Part 3 Paragraph 1.5 of the County Council's Members’ Code of Conduct, leave the meeting while the matter is discussed, save for exercising any right to speak in accordance with Paragraph 1.6 of the Code.  Furthermore all Members with a Personal Interest in a matter being considered at the meeting should consider, having regard to Part 5, Paragraph 4 of the Code, whether such interest should be declared, and having regard to Part 5, Paragraph 5 of the Code, consider whether it is appropriate to leave the meeting while the matter is discussed, save for exercising any right to speak in accordance with the Code.

Members were mindful that where they believed they had a Disclosable Pecuniary Interest in any matter considered at the meeting they must declare that interest at the time of the relevant debate and, having regard to the circumstances described in Part 3, Paragraph 1.5 of the County Council's Members' Code of Conduct, leave the meeting while the matter was discussed, save for exercising any right to speak in accordance with Paragraph 1.6 of the Code. Furthermore Members were mindful that where they believed they had a Non-Pecuniary interest in a matter being considered at the meeting they considered whether such interest should be declared, and having regard to Part 5, Paragraph 2 of the Code, considered whether it was appropriate to leave the meeting whilst the matter was discussed, save for exercising any right to speak in accordance with the Code.

To confirm the Minutes of the meeting held on 20 September 2018.

The Minutes of the Meeting held on 20 September 2018 were agreed and signed by the Chairman.

Matters Arising: In respect of Minute 91, Councillor Irish requested a position update on two questions for which a written answer was to be provided.

To receive such announcements as the Chairman may wish to make to the Council.

The list of engagements carried out by the Chairman and Vice-Chairman since the last Council Meeting had been circulated, which reported on the wide range of duties undertaken to represent and promote the County Council and its strong community leadership role.

The Chairman welcomed Honorary Aldermen Keith Chapman, Prynette Dickens, Roger Kimber, Sharyn Wheale and Michael Woodhall to the meeting.

The Chairman highlighted the hosting of a reception to recognise members of staff who had reached 25 years of service; the hosting of a ‘Wear It Pink’ tea party to raise awareness for Breast Cancer Now; the Staff Remembrance Service to commemorate the Centenary of the end of the First World War; attendance at the ‘Music Through the Ages of WWI and WW2’ Hampshire Music Service Concert at the Royal Victoria Country Park and at the Peace and Reconciliation Concert at Romsey Abbey; the visit of HRH The Countess of Wessex to open the stored Royal Victoria Chapel and the launch of the Interfaith Calendar.

The Chairman had pleasure in leading the Council’s thanks to Karen Murray, Director of Culture, Communities & Business Services who was retiring from the County Council following over 40 years of dedicated service.  Members and officers joined the Chairman in a standing ovation.

The Chairman also raised awareness of the Christmas Carol Concert on 13 December, tickets for which were selling fast.

The Chairman’s full report is appended to these Minutes.

To receive such reports as the Leader of the Council may wish to bring before the Council.

The Leader reported on a number of Remembrance events across the county to mark the centenary of the end of World War I that were attended by many Members of the Council including events in Members’ own Divisions.  The County Youth Orchestra also repeated their performance of Mozart’s Requiem in Winchester’s twin town of Giessen and was joined by a German choir, which the Leader had pleasure in attending.

The Leader had recently attended the NCAS conference in Manchester and the CCN conference in Guildford.  At both conferences the point was made very clear that upper tier councils were facing huge funding pressures with escalating social care costs and children’s care costs increasing at the fastest rate. The County Council, like many other Councils, were experiencing pressures in this regard and the Leader had made representations to the Prime Minister, corresponded with Treasury ministers and had face to face meetings with the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) including the Secretary of State. 

The recent meeting of the Hampshire Partnership had updated partners on the work of the Hampshire Commission 2050 and all Members were encouraged to follow the work of the Commission and make representations. The Policy & Resources Select Committee had received a report and the work of the Commission is available on the County Council’s website.  Meetings are open to all to attend.

In regard to Brexit, the Leader advised Members that there would be a detailed report to Cabinet to assess the implications of Brexit for Hampshire and what measures should be taken locally to deal with potential eventualities.

The Leader reported that he was in dialogue with the Leaders of the Isle of Wight Council, Portsmouth City Council and Southampton City Council  to continue to foster close co-operation and partnership working.  Regular meetings were being set up, including with the Police and Crime Commissioner for Hampshire. 
 
On the theme of close co-operation, the Leader confirmed that in its response to the Government consultation on LEPs, the County Council has proposed that either the Solent and EM3 LEP should merge or if that was not achieved, that they work more closely together.

The Leader took the opportunity to comment on access to information for County Councillors and in particular, the use of and access to exempt reports.  The Leader assured Members that he was committed to ensuring that all elected Members should have the fullest access to information that can be achieved within the constraints of the law and good governance.  The Leader drew Members attention to the Council’s responsibilities which can concern highly sensitive and confidential information about vulnerable service users, as well as various forms of commercial confidentiality.  The introduction of the General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR) earlier in the year had accentuated the Council’s responsibilities and highlighted that no Councillor has an automatic right of access to any information simply by dint of being an elected Member.  The application of exemptions to reports were rare and the evidence of concerns being raised  ...  view the full minutes text for item 111.

To receive a deputation from Charlotte Fisher, regarding a pedestrian crossing on Worthy Road, Winchester.

The Council received a deputation as detailed on the Summons and received a petition.

To deal with questions pursuant to Standing Order 16.1.1.  Where a member has submitted more than one question, their second and subsequent questions will not be answered until all members’ first questions have been dealt with.

Executive Members responded to questions submitted in accordance with Standing Order 16.1.1 as published with the exception of questions 10 and 11 for which a written answer would be provided in accordance with Standing Order 16.1.5.

There are no appointments on this occasion.

There were no appointments on this occasion.

To consider a report of Cabinet setting out the mid-year treasury management activity.

The Council considered the report of the Cabinet (Item 9 in the Minute Book) setting out the treasury management mid-year position. In presenting the report, the Executive Member for Economic Development highlighted key areas of the report which demonstrated the Council was in a healthy position.

The Council’s debate focused mainly on the approach to risk in regard to borrowing, return on investments, both short and long term and investment in pooled funds as a way of managing risk against yield.  The performance of some investments was compared to that of district councils.  The Executive Member highlighted the importance of comparing the County Council against its peer group rather than district councils.

In conclusion, the Leader gave his assurance to the council and Hampshire residents and taxpayers that the Council takes careful and prudent advice from its officers and financial consultants, and the Council would not engage in speculative investment deals.

RESOLVED:

That the County Council noted the mid-year report on treasury management activity.

To consider a report of the Executive Member for Environment and Transport, recommending to the County Council that an update to the Hampshire Minerals and Waste Plan (2013) is not required at this time, but that a further review takes place in 2020.

The Council considered the report of the Executive Member for Environment and Transport detailing the outcome of a review of the Hampshire and Minerals Waste Plan in line with the National Planning Policy Framework (2018).

In presenting the report, the Executive Member confirmed that a review of the Plan had concluded that an update was not required at this time with a  recommendation that a further review be undertaken in 2020. The County Council would continue to engage with partners as an ongoing process.  The recommendations would be put to the constituent partners including Portsmouth and Southampton City Councils and the New Forest and the South Downs National Park Authorities for approval and when that process has concluded the findings of the review will be published which is anticipated early in the new year.

The debate focused on a number of factors that might impact the Plan such as the production and management of recycled material, for which it was noted there was sufficient capacity within the Plan, the use of silica sand, which was being looked into, and the rate of extractions at quarries in relation to lorry movements for which conditions often apply.

RESOLVED:

That the County Council agreed:

a)         That an update to the Hampshire Minerals & Waste Plan (2013) is not required at this time, but that a further Review takes place in 2020.

b)         That a summary of the review process and the decisions be consolidated and published as a publicly available report, to be entitled the ‘2018 Review of the Hampshire Minerals & Waste Plan’.

c)         That a programme of on-going engagement with interested parties

commences following publication of the ‘2018 Review’ and prior to the further Review in 2020.

d)         That authority is delegated to the Director of Economy, Transport and

Environment, in consultation with he Executive Member for Environment and Transport, to update the Minerals & Waste Development Scheme to reflect the decisions of the County Council.

To consider the following Notice of Motion, submitted in accordance with Standing Order 18.1.

Notice of Motion submitted by Councillor Gavin James, seconded by Councillor Martin Tod:

Council notes that it is now more than two years since the Referendum and the Government still has no coherent Brexit plan that has the support of a majority in Parliament.  Since the vote in 2016:

a)      The performance of the UK economy has fallen behind. It is now the slowest  growing economy in Europe with productivity slipping further and competitiveness reliant on the declining value of the Pound;

b)      Hampshire residents – particularly those on lower incomes - are being hit hard by rising inflation and squeezed pay rates;

c)       Confidence among investors and established businesses is ebbing with jobs moving away from the UK;

d)      Many non-UK EU nationals resident in the county have had their lives, and those of their UK-national families, destabilised by the uncertainty of Brexit. On top of the social impacts, local businesses and, above all the NHS are losing vital staff; 

e)      New investment, which Hampshire relies on for future prosperity, is being jeopardised and new job opportunities are being lost;

Council believes that a ‘hard’ or ‘no deal’ Brexit will seriously harm the long-term prosperity of all Hampshire residents.  With only 20 weeks to go before the UK leaves, it is vitally important that Hampshire County Council speaks up on their residents’ behalf.

Council calls on the government to abandon plans for a hard Brexit and to give the people of Hampshire a vote on the final deal, along with the opportunity to vote on keeping the irreplaceable benefits Britons currently enjoy by staying in the European Union.”

The following Motion had been submitted in accordance with Standing Order 18.1 as proposed by Councillor Gavin James:

“Council notes that it is now more than two years since the Referendum and the Government still has no coherent Brexit plan that has the support of a majority in Parliament.  

Since the vote in 2016: 

a)    The performance of the UK economy has fallen behind. It is now the
        slowest growing economy in Europe with productivity slipping further and
        competitiveness reliant on the declining value of the Pound;

b)     Hampshire residents – particularly those on lower incomes - are being hit hard by rising inflation and squeezed pay rates;

c)     Confidence among investors and established businesses is ebbing with jobs moving away from the UK;

d)     Many non-UK EU nationals resident in the county have had their lives,  and those of their UK-national families, destabilised by the uncertainty of Brexit. On top of the social impacts, local businesses and, above all the NHS are losing vital staff; 

e)     New investment, which Hampshire relies on for future prosperity, is being jeopardised and new job opportunities are being lost;

Council believes that a ‘hard’ or ‘no deal’ Brexit will seriously harm the long-term prosperity of all Hampshire residents.  With only 20 weeks to go before the UK leaves, it is vitally important that Hampshire County Council speaks up on their residents’ behalf. 

Council calls on the government to abandon plans for a hard Brexit and to give the people of Hampshire a vote on the final deal, along with the opportunity to vote on keeping the irreplaceable benefits Britons currently enjoy by staying in the European Union.”

The Chairman invited the proposer of the Motion, Councillor Gavin James to move the Motion in accordance with Standing Order 18.4.  The Motion was seconded by Councillor Martin Tod.

In accordance with Standing Order 18.4 Councillor Roy Perry proposed that the Motion be referred to the Executive for consideration.  The proposal was seconded by Councillor Keith Mans.

In accordance with Standing Order 18.4, the proposal to refer the Motion to the Executive was put to the vote.  In accordance with Standing Order 22.3 Councillor Keith House requested a recorded vote, which was supported by 10 other Members present in the Chamber.

The outcome of the recorded vote was as follows:

FOR: 49

Councillors Martin Boiles, Ray Bolton, Jackie Branson, Ann Briggs, Zilliah Brooks, Graham Burgess, Fran Carpenter, Christopher Carter, Roz Chadd, Charles Choudhary, Rod Cooper, Peter Edgar, Keith Evans, Liz Fairhurst, Steve Forster, Andrew Gibson, Jonathan Glen, Judith Grajewski, Marge Harvey, Pal Hayre, Edward Heron, Gary Hughes, Rob Humby, Roger Huxstep, Andrew Joy, David Keast, Mark Kemp-Gee, Mel Kendal, Peter Latham, Keith Mans, Alexis McEvoy, Anna McNair Scott, Derek Mellor, Floss Mitchell, Russell Oppenheimer, Neville Penman, Roy Perry, Stephen Philpott, Lance Quantrill, Stephen Reid, Patricia Stallard, Robert Taylor, Tom Thacker, Michael Thierry, Rhydian Vaughan, Jan Warwick, Michael White, Bill Withers and SeánWoodward.

AGAINST: 19

Councillors  ...  view the full minutes text for item 117.

To deal with any questions which have been submitted pursuant to Standing Order 16.3 concerning the discharge of the Hampshire Fire and Rescue Authority’s functions.

No questions had been received in accordance with Standing Order 16.3.

To receive a report from the Authority.

The Council received and noted the report of the Hampshire Fire and Rescue Authority as presented by Councillor Chris Carter in his capacity as Chairman of the Fire Authority.

To receive for information the reports of the following:

i)     Annual Safeguarding Report – Children’s Services

ii)    Annual Safeguarding Report – Adults’ Services

iii)   Air Quality

i)       Early Years Provision

i)     Level 2 Community Sexual Health and Influenza Immunisation Services