Agenda and minutes

Cabinet - Monday 8 July 2024 10.00 am

Venue: Ashburton Hall - HCC. View directions

Contact: Members Services: Email: members.services@hants.gov.uk 

Media

Items
No. Item

195.

Apologies for absence

To receive any apologies for absence.

Minutes:

All Members were present and no apologies were noted.

196.

Declarations of interest

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.

Minutes:

197.

Minutes of previous meeting pdf icon PDF 316 KB

To confirm the minutes of the previous meeting.

Minutes:

The minutes of the meeting held on 16 April were agreed.

 

198.

Chairman's Announcements

To receive any announcements the Chairman may wish to make.

Minutes:

The Chairman made the following announcements:

 

-       Congratulated MPs following the recent General Election and looked forward to working with them in the coming months and years.

-       Confirmed the revised decision timetable, delayed to September and October 2024, following the Future Services consultations earlier in the year.

-       Highlighted the excellent work of officers in: Adults Health and Care on delayed discharge; Finance on submitting year end accounts on time again this year; Property Services on design and delivery of two new primary schools opening in 2025, plus work on another starting soon.

-       Congratulated Nicola Waight and Tim Lawton who had both been recognised by Industry bodies for their sector expertise and influence. 

-       Paid tribute to Sir Howard Bernstein, who had passed away the previous month.  He had worked closely with the County Council on its devolution ambitions. Between 2021 and 2023.  On behalf of the County Council he expressed condolences to Sir Howard’s family and friends.

-       The Hampshire Prosperity Partnership Board held its first meeting on 11 June. The Board received confirmation that an award of £3.8 million from the Department for Education ensured Hampshire’s Skills Bootcamp training would be available for a further year.

-       2024-25 is the Hampshire 2050 Partnership’s Year of Health and Wellbeing and the Hampshire Health and Wellbeing Board had endorsed three priority areas for the Hampshire 2050 Partnership to focus on: physical activity, mental health and childhood obesity.

-       Hampshire County Council’s Fostering Service had launched a new campaign to find more loving homes for children in care.  In Hamsphire a child comes into foster car every 12 hours, leading to an ongoing need across the county.

 

199.

Deputations

To receive any deputations notified under Standing Order 12.

Minutes:

There were no deputations on this occasion.

 

200.

Driving Towards Economic Strength pdf icon PDF 2 MB

To consider an update report of the Director of Hampshire 2050 on the state of Hampshire’s economy and to highlight latest developments on sub-national economic policy making, recognising the importance of a strong and prosperous economy on wider long-term outcomes across the county.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Cabinet received an update report of the Director of Hampshire 2050 on the state of Hampshire’s economy and to highlight latest developments on sub-national economic policy making, recognising the importance of a strong and prosperous economy on wider long-term outcomes across the county.

 

In presenting the report, the Director emphasized the significant investment activity across Hampshire as set out in the report, and the successful integration of former LEP functions including establishing the Prosperity Board, and taking over responsibility for strategic programmes for business support, careers advice and skills provision.

 

Cabinet heard that the high inflation had driven uncertainty and for the first time in three years inflation was back to 2%, having been as high as 11% around 18 months previously. The Bank of England had maintained interest rates at 5.25%.  Hampshire is now leading economic recovery and growth across the area and will ensure it’s in the best place to exploit factors around the county’s infrastructure and skills base.  The well-established economic strategy, approved in 2023, will be developed over the next six months to reflect the geography of the area including cross regional work.

 

The recommendations in the report were considered and agreed. A decision record is attached to these minutes.

 

201.

Hampshire Minerals and Waste Plan: Partial Update - Submission pdf icon PDF 281 KB

To consider a report of the Director of Hampshire 2050 on the Hampshire Minerals and Waste Plan: Partial Update – Submission Plan, for recommendation to County Council.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Cabinet considered a report of the Director of Hampshire 2050 on the Hampshire Minerals and Waste Plan: Partial Update – Submission Plan, for recommendation to County Council.  The Director explained that a Regulation 19 consultation had been undertaken following agreement by Cabinet in December 2023.  The summary of over 800 responses is included within the report.  Some updates have been made which are generally minor points of clarification only and do not change the policies and principles within the Plan.

 

The Chairman invited a local resident, Mrs Perry, to address Cabinet.  She expressed concern around the inclusion of Ashley Manor Farm in the Plan, following refusal of applications for the site in the past.  She outlined a number of considerations including potential loss of high quality agricultural land, increased traffic, and light and noise pollution.

 

At the invitation of the Chairman, Councillors Jackie Porter and Malcolm Wallace addressed Cabinet:

 

Councillor Porter spoke about crude oil extraction and a recent supreme court decision, and she was encouraged that the Plan made reference to the changes.  Additionally, she expressed concern around the approach for safeguarding waste sites, the use of rural farms for recycling sites, and measures required to actively protect air quality.

 

Councillor Wallace made reference to the supreme court ruling on oil extraction affecting the Plan going forward.  He expressed concern on the environmental impact of burning fossil fuels, in particular the release of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere and its contribution to global warming.  He referenced a recent supreme court ruling regarding environmental impact assessments and asked for assurances it had been taken into account.

 

Regarding sites within the Plan which remained despite being subject to refused applications, Cabinet heard that reasons for the refusal had been reviewed closely to understand whether the refusal was due to the scheme that had been put forward by the applicant or whether they go to the heart of the allocation and therefore challenge the principle of the development.  It concluded that the allocations were still sound from a principles point of view and issues raised could be overcome by alternative schemes.  These were captured in the development considerations where appropriate and would need to be addressed by any future planning application.

 

It was noted that the oil and gas policy was currently compliant, and wording would be reviewed following the outcome of the Finch vs Surrey County Council case to ensure it remained suitable.

 

The recommendations in the report were considered and agreed. A decision record is attached to these minutes.

 

202.

Annual Corporate Performance and Productivity Assurance report 2024 pdf icon PDF 134 KB

To consider a report of the Director of People and Organisation providing assurance of the County Council’s performance in delivering the Serving Hampshire Strategic Plan priorities and wider organisational performance.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Cabinet considered a report of the Director of People and Organisation providing assurance of the County Council’s performance in delivering the Serving Hampshire Strategic Plan priorities and wider organisational performance.

 

It was noted that this was the first of the new approach to performance reporting and provided assurance to Cabinet that performance had been reported, scrutinised and overseen through appropriate governance arrangements over the year.  Cabinet heard that the new performance assurance framework recognised that there was a wealth of information already produced for various means, that demonstrated the strength of performance of the organisation.  The holistic framework takes account and focusses on the particular themes that link to the strategic priorities of the organisation, and around the most significant areas that the Council may be inspected on and therefore provided with and independently assurance of performance.

 

Responding to a question about the purpose of the Productivity Plan requested by Government, the Director expressed an expectation that it would enable the sharing of best practice and a flavour into Government of how local authorities approached particular challenges.

 

The recommendations in the report were considered and agreed. A decision record is attached to these minutes.

 

203.

Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman determinations 2023/24 pdf icon PDF 161 KB

To receive a report of the Director of People and Organisation regarding complaints received and investigated by the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman during 2023-24.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Cabinet received a report of the Director of People and Organisation regarding complaints received and investigated by the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman during 2023-24

 

At the invitation of the Chairman, Councillor Jackie Porter addressed Cabinet and expressed concern that the financial redress in relation to complaints around SEN and EHCPs had reduced, therefore the benefit to residents had reduced. She asked how performance in this area could be improved further.

 

Cabinet heard that the Select Committee had a good discussion on the matter and noted the Council’s strong performance.  A large number of complaints related to Children’s Services and SEN and it was noted that Children’s Services engaged with parents quickly following determinations to review practices and seek to make improvements.

 

The recommendations in the report were considered and agreed. A decision record is attached to these minutes.

 

204.

Health and Social Care System Resilience 2023/24 pdf icon PDF 322 KB

To consider a report of the Director of Adults’ Health and Care on the activities undertaken to maintain system resilience in the discharge of Hampshire residents from hospital settings.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Cabinet received a report of the Director of Adults’ Health and Care on the activities undertaken to maintain system resilience in the discharge of Hampshire residents from hospital settings.  In introduction, the Director reported that the service had maintained high, positive performance, despite demand continuing to increase whilst financial resources decreased.  The service continued to improve efficiency and optimise the service to ensure suitable outcomes for residents and their families. 

 

At the invitation of the Chairman, Councillor Jackie Porter addressed Cabinet and welcomed the report, acknowledging the impact of the NHS changes on the service.

 

Cabinet heard that pressures normally seen during the winter months were now year round, with holiday periods such as August bank holiday weekend being particularly challenging.  It was heard that a higher percentage of residents leaving hospital required ongoing support, with higher numbers of older, frailer people needing higher levels of support from the County Council. 

 

The recommendations in the report were considered and agreed. A decision record is attached to these minutes.

 

205.

Responsibility for Executive Functions pdf icon PDF 147 KB

To receive a report of the Director of People and Organisation on the revised Executive arrangements.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Cabinet received a report of the Director of People and Organisation on the revised Executive arrangements

 

The recommendations in the report were considered and agreed. A decision record is attached to these minutes.

 

206.

End of Year Financial Report 2023-24 pdf icon PDF 993 KB

To consider a report of the Director of Corporate Operations providing a summary of the 2023/24 financial outturn for the County Council, capital expenditure and funding for 2023/24 and proposed revisions to the 2024/25 capital programme.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Cabinet considered a report of the Director of Corporate Operations providing a summary of the 2023/24 financial outturn for the County Council, capital expenditure and funding for 2023/24 and proposed revisions to the 2024/25 capital programme.

 

At the invitation of the Chairman, Councillor Jackie Porter addressed Cabinet and asked how the £123m deficit would be met to ensure the Council avoid a section 114 notice.  She also commented on the school transport costs and sought to work collaboratively on ways to reduce and to discuss with schools how they could help. Finally, she asked that funding remained for countryside services.

 

Cabinet heard that the funding deficit relating to home to school transport was an issue for all education authorities.  The County Council had consistently lobbied government about funding for schools, SEND, transport and highways and would continue the ask to the new Government. Means-testing of eligibility for home to school transport would allow the Council to remove significant cost but required legislative changes.  It was noted that lobbying for longer term financial settlements, rather than for a single year, from Government also continued.

 

The recommendations in the report were considered and agreed. A decision record is attached to these minutes.