Agenda and minutes

To receive any apologies for absence.

Councillor Andrew Gibson attended as the Conservative substitute member.

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 previous meeting held on 5 November 2020.

The minutes of the last meeting were reviewed and agreed, with the correction that the meeting was held virtually and not at The Castle, Winchester.

To receive any deputations notified under Standing Order 12.

There we no deputations on this occasion.

To receive any announcements the Chairman may wish to make.

It was with much sadness that the Chairman announced the death of Councillor Keith Evans who was the Vice-Chairman of the Committee. Members gave tributes to Councillor Evans and expressed deepest sympathies to his family.

To pre-scrutinise the proposed revenue budget for Corporate Services for 2021/22 prior to the decision being taken by the Executive Member for Policy and Resources on 19 January 2021.

The Committee received a report of the Director of Corporate Resources – Corporate Services (Item 6 in the Minute Book) setting out the proposals for the 2021/22 revenue budget for Corporate Services in accordance with the Council’s Medium Term Financial Strategy (MTFS).

A presentation was provided to summarise the report. Members asked

questions for clarification and debated the proposed budget.

RESOLVED:

That the Committee supports the recommendations being proposed to the Executive Member for Policy and Resources

To pre-scrutinise the proposed revenue budget for Culture, Communities and Business Services  for 2021/22 prior to the decision being taken by the Executive Member Commercial Strategy, Human Resources and Performance on 19 January 2021.

The Committee received a report of the Director of Corporate Resources – Corporate Services (Item 7 in the Minute Book) setting out the proposals for the 2021/22 revenue budget for Culture, Communities and Business Services in accordance with the Council’s Medium Term Financial Strategy (MTFS).

A presentation was provided to summarise the report. Members asked

questions for clarification and debated the proposed budget.

Members discussed Rural Broadband and an update was given by the Director who advised that a report was due to be presented at its meeting in March. Members requested that Openreach be invited to this meeting.

RESOLVED:

That the Committee supports the recommendations being proposed to the Executive Member for Commercial Strategy, Human Resources and Performance.

To pre-scrutinise the proposed capital programme Culture, Communities and Business Services prior to the decision being taken by the Executive Member for Commercial Strategy, Human Resources and Performance on 19 January 2021.

The Committee considered a report of the Director of Culture, Communities and Business Services, Deputy Chief Executive  regarding the 2021/2022 to 2023/24 Capital Programme for the department (Item 8 in the Minute Book).

The Director presented the main points of the report and provided a breakdown of the capital programme spend during this time period. It was also reported that the County Council had been successful in receiving a £26.95m grant from Government for its Decarbonisation Schemes (Solar PV and window replacement) and that the results of two further bids totalling £5.6m were still awaited.

RESOLVED:

That the Committee supports the recommendations being proposed to the Executive Member for Commercial Strategy, Human Resources and Performance.

To consider a report of the Chief Executive providing strategic oversight of the County Council’s performance during the first half of 2020/21 against the Serving Hampshire Strategic Plan for 2017-2021.

The Committee considered a report of the Chief Executive on Serving Hampshire – 2020/21 Half Year Performance (Item 9 in the Minute Book).

The Committee were advised that the overall performance measured against Serving Hampshire had been assessed as good during Q1 and Q2. It was acknowledged that sustaining this performance, across a range of core public services, at a time of a major global pandemic represented an extraordinary achievement.

Members were advised that the Serving Hampshire Strategic Plan was due to be refreshed this year and work was underway to develop an updated Plan for 2021-2025. The revised Plan would include strategic priorities identified by the Hampshire 2050 Commission of Inquiry and proposed activity to support Hampshire’s recovery and restoration from the Covid-19 pandemic.

The Committee were made aware of the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman (LGSCO) regarding determination of an investigation against the County Council and it was noted that all the recommendations of the LGSCO contained in the report had now been completed.

RESOLVED:

The Committee noted:

a.    The County Council’s performance for 2020/21 to date;

b.    Progress to advance inclusion and diversity; and

c.    The determination of the LGSCO

To consider a report of the Director of Corporate Resources giving an update on the main IT activity over the past year and summaries the priorities ahead.

 The Committee considered a report of the Director of Corporate Resources giving an update on the main IT activity over the past year  (Item 10 in the Minute Book).

The Director summarised the main points of the report and the priorities ahead Members heard that IT activity has focussed on leading major transformational programmes including Hantsnet Modern, Office 365 and Telephony Replacement as well as supporting the development roadmap for the Shared Services partnership. The main initiatives being carried out were also highlighted, which included:

·         Remote working equipment

·         Office 365 mobile apps deployment

·         HCC Care home connectivity

It was noted that the Service Desk continued to provide a valued service throughout Covid-19 lockdown during a period of significant change for County Council staff. The Committee were appreciative of work undertaken during this time.

During discussion, a number of questions were answered including:

·         Implementation of HPSN3 for schools

·         Accreditation against national and international standards

RESOLVED:

That the report be noted

To consider the Committee’s forthcoming Work Programme.

The Committee considered a report of Director of Transformation and Governance  Corporate Services (Item 11 in the Minute Book) regarding the Work Programme.

During discussion, Members asked for the following matters to be brought to a future meeting:

·         Openreach

·         Hampshire Residents’ Forum

·         Crime and Disorder – child exploitation and County Lines

RESOLVED

That the Work Programme be agreed with the additional items shown above, timings to be confirmed: