Agenda and minutes

To receive any apologies for absence.

Apologies were received from Councillor Fairhurst. Apologies from Councillor Bolton and Glen, who observe Cabinet in their capacity as Chairmen of Select Committees, were also received.

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 the circumstances described in 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 Non-Pecuniary interest in a matter being considered at the meeting should consider whether such interest should be declared, and having regard to Part 5, Paragraph 2 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

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.

It was noted that with the agreement of the Chairman: Councillor Graham Burgess would speak on item 6 (Strategic Transport Infrastructure and Capital Funding Opportunities) and Councillor Jackie Porter would speak on item 8 (Annual Safeguarding Report – Children’s Services).

To receive any announcements the Chairman may wish to make.

The Chairman highlighted that a further terror attack had occurred in London during the morning commuter period, serving as a reminder of the situation facing the country and the pressure on the emergency services.

It was confirmed that the next meeting of Cabinet in October would receive a report on the proposed Transformation to 2019 efficiency programme, elements of which was due for consideration by individual executive members first. The Chairman noted that indications from the Government were that ideas and innovations to help achieve cost reduction would be welcomed.

To consider a report of the Director of Economy, Transport and Environment regarding strategic transport infrastructure and capital funding opportunities

[Councillor Reid declared a non pecuniary interest in this item by virtue of representing a division in the Basingstoke area]

[Councillor Mans declared a non pecuniary interest in this item by virtue of being a Director of the Solent LEP and the Enterprise M3 LEP]

Cabinet received a report of the Director of Economy Transport and Environment regarding Strategic Transport Infrastructure and Capital Funding Opportunities.

The key points of the report were introduced and the County Council’s success in attracting external funding and working in partnership was noted.

With the agreement of the Chairman, Councillor Burgess addressed the meeting. He introduced himself as one of the elected County Councillors for Gosport and expressed his concern that the Welborne development appeared to be disregarded in section seven of the report. He noted that this would incorporate new housing and an improvement to the motorway junction to the benefit of the wider area. In contrast, the Manydown development was not formally announced as a Garden Town. Councillor Burgess proposed therefore that Cabinet award Welborne priority one status for the Housing Infrastructure Fund (HIF) application.

The Director of Economy, Transport and Environment provided additional context to the application that was being proposed. Recognising the points made by Councillor Burgess and the significance of the Welborne development, he confirmed that for a number of reasons relating to the scale of the development opportunity and its deliverability, Manydown better met the strict HIF application requirements. The Director highlighted further developments in Botley and Hedge End, which could present future opportunities to secure infrastructure funding.

Cabinet were in agreement that infrastructure should be in place to underpin any housing development. It was noted that the South East of England, excluding London, receives a disproportionately low level of government funding compared with other parts of the country. The guidelines in place for the application for HIF funding were acknowledged and on this basis and given the position of each development, it was agreed that Manydown should be ranked first. With reference to disappointment that an inflexible requirement to give priority ranking to the bids wasn’t suited to a large authority area such as Hampshire, where there was more than one large housing proposal contributing to the Government’s housing ambitions, it was also proposed and agreed that Cabinet should write to the Secretary of State requesting that both bids receive consideration.

With an addition to reflect the agreement to write to the Secretary of State, the recommendations in the report were proposed and agreed. The Decision Record is attached.

To consider a report of the Director of Adults’ Health and Care regarding Adult Safeguarding

Cabinet received a report of the Director of Adults’ Health and Care regarding Adult Safeguarding.

The key areas in the report were introduced and outlined, with particular reference to the Hampshire Safeguarding Adults Board, PREVENT and activity within the department. The success in reducing the volume of inquiries was highlighted as was the high cost of managing and mitigating the risk associated with deprivation of liberty referrals.

Cabinet welcomed the report and discussed a number of points including the impact of a potential reduction in labour supply caused by BREXIT on safeguarding issues such as modern slavery. It was confirmed that the County Council worked with the police and the UK Border Agency to combat modern slavery and would continue to do so.

Members paid tribute to the work of the department, in particular in the complex and sensitive area of PREVENT.

The recommendations in the report were proposed and agreed. The decision record is attached.

To consider a report of the Director of Children’s Services presenting the annual safeguarding report

Cabinet received a report of the Director of Children’s Services providing an annual update on safeguarding.

In introduction to the report, the positive outcomes of the joint area inspection which had followed an Ofsted inspection were highlighted. The increase in the volume of safeguarding activity was noted and the factors behind this were set out.

With the agreement of the Chairman, Councillor Jackie Porter addressed the meeting. Councillor Porter drew Cabinet’s attention to the sections of the report relating to unaccompanied asylum seekers. She felt that there was detail relating to this that it would be beneficial to bring to the attention of all Members.

Councillor Porter’s comments were welcomed by the Director of Children’s Services and it was confirmed that a briefing for Members would be arranged on this fast moving area.

It was highlighted that all of Hampshire’s children’s homes were rated as good or outstanding and that the capacity of provision for children with complex needs had increased through the completion of a substantial investment in new homes. It was proposed and agreed that this success be formally acknowledged.

Cabinet welcomed the report, noting the importance of co-operation with partners such as schools and GPs for successful safeguarding outcomes. It was questioned why numbers of children missing from home had increased and confirmed that this arose from better levels of identification, working with the police. It was clarified that reducing the number of children in care was the result of positive work to lower demand and not resulting from a cut to service provision; every child who needed support would receive it.

With an amendment to acknowledge the success of and investment in care home provision by the County Council, the recommendations in the report were proposed and agreed. The decision record is attached.

To consider a report of the Director of Children’s Services regarding the Supporting (troubled) Families Programme

Cabinet received a report of the Director of Children’s Services regarding the Supporting (troubled) Families Programme (STFP).

The report was introduced and the positive impact of the STFP on the lives of individuals and on the community was set out. It was highlighted that the programme had so far exceeded targets and analysis revealed not only a financial saving through a reduction in other services, but also a wider quality of life improvement to those involved.

Cabinet welcomed the report, noting that the benefits of the STFP were felt by a much larger number of people in the community than the 271 families which had been directly supported.

The recommendations in the report were proposed and agreed. The decision record is attached.