Agenda and minutes

To receive any apologies for absence.

All Members were present and no apologies were noted

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 Personal interest in a matter being considered at the meeting they considered whether such interest should be declared, and having regard to Part 5, Paragraph 5 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

The minutes of the previous meeting were reviewed and agreed.

To receive any deputations notified under Standing Order 12.

No requests to make a deputation had been received.

To receive any announcements the Chairman may wish to make.

The Chairman reported on a recent tragic accident at a Household Waste Recycling Centre and offered his condolences. He confirmed that the incident would be investigated thoroughly.

It was noted that uncertainty remained as to when the UK would leave the European Union and updated Cabinet on recent meetings that had been held with neighbouring Authorities, in particular relating to access to the port of Portsmouth.

A piece of research by the County Council’s Network on local government funding and spending was outlined. This recognised the pressures on the sector in a number of areas. The Chairman highlighted the differences in Band D Council Tax rates between Hampshire County Council and other upper-tier Authorities in the region.

The Chairman noted this would be both his and Councillor Kendal’s final Cabinet meetings as both would stand down from the Cabinet prior to the County Council AGM in May.  

To receive a report of the Director of Economy, Transport and Environment regarding the development of local industrial strategies for the two Hampshire LEP areas.

Cabinet considered a report of the Director of Environment, Transport and Economy regarding local industrial strategies.

The report was introduced and it was confirmed that the it was government policy for each Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) to develop a local industrial strategy, which amounts to a long term economic vision for the future. The key considerations being taken into account were outlined and it was detailed how this also connected with the Vision for Hampshire 2050 Commission of Inquiry. It was confirmed that both of the LEPs in the Hampshire area had indicated their support for the report.

Cabinet welcomed the report and expressed their support for the proposal that the two LEPs work together to ensure Hampshire wide co-ordination.

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

To receive a report of the Director of Adults’ Health and Care updating Cabinet on the key issues and activities related to system resilience.

[Councillor Reid declared a personal interest as the County Council’s representative on Hampshire Hospitals Foundation Trust]

Cabinet considered a report of the Director of Adults’ Health and Care regarding systems resilience and delayed transfers of care.

The report was introduced and the performance improvements were highlighted, in particular a 75 percent reduction in the delayed transfers of care. This was as a result of sustained effort to ensure systems flowed smoothly.

Cabinet members welcomed the performance improvements and recognised the need to continue to drive this forward. The benefit to the wider healthcare system was noted as the increase in capacity had enabled elective surgery programmes to be fully maintained. Further patient health benefits of having shorter stays in acute healthcare settings were also detailed.

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

To receive a report of the Chief Executive regarding the County Council’s preparations for Brexit.

Cabinet considered a report of the Chief Executive regarding the County Council’s preparations for Brexit.

The report was set out to Cabinet and it was explained that the situation continued to evolve at a national level and that the risk of the UK leaving the European Union without an exit deal remained.

Members commended the contingency and planning work that had been done in the context of the uncertainty. Particular concerns around traffic and access to the port of Portsmouth were raised and it was noted that the work being undertaken on the A31 would have wider benefits for traffic management regardless of Brexit.

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

Following conclusion of the Cabinet business, the outgoing Leader took the opportunity to pay tribute to Cabinet members past and present, to all County Councillors from across the political spectrum and to Council officers, noting the positive relationship between them and elected members. The Leader reflected on the key issues of devolution and transformation that had dominated recent years and welcomed the fact that Hampshire remained whole and continued to deliver high quality services.

On behalf of the Corporate Management Team and other officers, the Chief Executive thanked the Leader for his strong, clear and thoughtful leadership, in particular on the issues of devolution and transformation and wished him well for the future.  

On behalf of Cabinet, the deputy Leader thanked the Leader for his leadership and noted that he would be both missed and a difficult act to follow. The deputy Leader also noted that the Executive Member for Economic Development would also stand down from Cabinet and thanked him for his contribution to the financial management of the Council and contribution in a number of other roles over many years.