Agenda and minutes

To receive any apologies for absence received.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Geoff Hockley, Councillor Bill Withers and Councillor Edward Heron. The conservative substitute member Councillor Jan Warwick had been invited but had also given apologies.

Councillor Rob Humby, Executive Member for Environment and Transport, had a standing invitation to attend to observe, and had given apologies.

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 Economy Transport & Environment Select Committee meeting held on 19 January 2017 were reviewed and agreed.

To receive any deputations notified under Standing Order 12.

No deputations were received on this occasion.

To receive any announcements the Chairman may wish to make.

The Chairman thanked the previous Chairman and Vice Chairman of the Economy Transport and Environment Select Committee, and welcomed new Members on the committee. The Chairman spoke of her intended approach to Chairing the committee, and invited all Members present to introduce themselves and any relevant background or experience.

To receive a presentation on scrutiny, and the terms of reference of the Economy Transport & Environment Select Committee.

The Select Committee received a presentation from a Legal Services Officer and the Democratic and Member Services Officer supporting the committee, on behalf of the Director of Transformation and Governance (see Item 6 in the Minute Book), providing an introduction to the scrutiny function at Hampshire County Council.

Members requested further information on the topics this Select Committee had previously scrutinised. It was agreed to circulate further details to Members following the meeting.

RESOLVED:

The Economy Transport and Environment Select Committee note the content of the presentation.

To receive a presentation from the Director of Economy Transport and Environment regarding the service areas within the remit of this Select Committee.

The Select Committee received a presentation from the Director of the Economy Transport and Environment Department (see Item 7 in the Minute Book) regarding the functions and services provided by that department and within the remit of this Select Committee.

Members heard that:

·         A review was due to be undertaken of the 20mph pilot schemes. The outcomes of this review could be shared with the Select Committee, prior to any decisions being taken by the Executive Member for Environment and Transport

·         One of the key challenges for this administration was to consider the next generation of waste management infrastructure

·         72% of the Department’s revenue spend was through contracts, which had already been retendered, extended or re-negotiated recently. This made it challenging to identify areas to provide the 19% revenue savings required under the ‘transformation to 2019’ programme

·         It was planned to invest in technology to make services more efficient e.g. remote monitoring to reduce the need for inspections, use of analytics to predict maintenance need etc

·         Due to the funding available, current spend on highways maintenance was less than what was needed to maintain the current condition of the highways. This would be an issue across the country, due to reductions in local government grant

·         The flooding experienced a few years ago had caused an estimated £36 million of damage to the highways. Funding had been received from central government in response but only for £18 million, leaving the shortfall to be met from the operational maintenance budgets, causing further pressure on lower priority repairs work programmes.

RESOLVED:

The Economy Transport and Environment Select Committee note the content of the presentation.

To consider the proposed work programme of topics for consideration by this Select Committee in future.

The Select Committee considered the proposed work programme of topics for consideration by this Select Committee (see Item 8 in the Minute Book). The Chairman reported that the intention was to start with a light work programme, to allow space for new topics to be suggested.

However, under the previous administration a Task and Finish Group had been planned to look into Road Safety. This topic had arisen at the recent Policy & Resources Select Committee meeting, and been referred to this Select Committee for further investigation. Therefore, the Chairman proposed to bring the draft terms of reference for this piece of work to the Select Committee’s next meeting for approval. It was agreed that in the meantime, this be circulated to committee members so that they could consider whether to put themselves forward to be on this group.

It was noted that the focus of the next scheduled meeting in September 2017 would be outline proposals for savings under the ‘transformation to 2019’ programme for the Economy Transport and Environment Department.

The Chairman highlighted that the previous Select Committee Members had also planned to hold a Task & Finish Group to consider the future of the Parish Lengthsmen Scheme. It was agreed that it was not necessary to take this up at this time, as no immediate changes to the scheme were planned. It was suggested that information about the scheme be circulated to Members for information, for the benefit of new Members.

Cllr Kyrle requested the topic of Waste be considered by the Select Committee in future. He declared an interest as he sat on the Project Integra Board for Eastleigh Borough Council.

Cllr Kyrle also requested the topic of air pollution/air quality.

Cllr Tod requested the review of the 20mph schemes come to the Select Committee.

Cllr Tod also requested a longer term item to review the Walking and Cycling strategies that were brought in in 2016.

It was noted that a Member Briefing was scheduled on the new highway contract.

Cllr Bennison requested an update on fly tipping be considered in future.

Cllr Mellor suggested consideration of a policy structure for community funded traffic measures e.g. parishes wishing to fund highways schemes from their precept.

Cllr Simpson queried the process followed in awarding the new highway contract to Skanska, as an element (Vehicle Fleet) had been sub contracted to Hampshire Transport Management. The Chairman suggested that an issue relating to contracts should be referred to the Policy & Resources Select Committee.

Cllr Kyrle suggested a topic of the impact of brexit on the Hampshire economy.

Cllr Hughes requested further investigation of the impact of managing a declining highway asset.

The Chairman agreed to consider the suggestions made in consultation with officers, and update the work programme ready for the next meeting.

RESOLVED:

That the Work Programme is agreed, subject to any amendments made at this meeting.