Agenda and minutes

To receive any apologies for absence.

Apologies were received from Councillor Chris Carter and from Councillor Fred Birkett. Councillor Adam Carew was in attendance as the Conservative deputy 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 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.

Councillor Rod Cooper declared a personal interest as a member of the Basingstoke Canal Society. Councillor Jackie Branson declared a personal interest as a member of the Spring Arts and Heritage Centre Committee. Councillor Anna McNair Scott declared a personal interest as a trustee of the Henry Smith Charity.

To confirm the minutes of the previous meeting held on 18 September 2017.

The minutes of the meeting held on 18 September 2017 were agreed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

To receive any deputations notified under Standing Order 12.

No deputations were received.

To receive any announcements the Chairman may wish to make.

The Chairman announced that the 13 mile Writers Way Footpath, which had launched earlier in the year and runs through Alton, Selborne and Four Marks, had been recognised with a tourism project award by the British Guild of Travel Writers.

Members heard that the Hampshire Book Award had been awarded, as chosen by pupils from Hampshire secondary schools, to Helen Dennis for her novel River of Ink: Genesis. The Committee were also pleased to hear that over one million e-books had been downloaded via the Library Service  since 2010.

The Chairman announced that, from 25 November to 1 December, Winchester Discovery Centre was holding several events to mark its tenth anniversary and encouraged Members to attend.

The Chairman noted the recent visit to the Basingstoke Canal and thanked officers for facilitating this. Furthermore, the Chairman commented that she had visited the Cultural Trust’s Turner and the Sun exhibition at the Willis Museum in Basingstoke and noted that this had been excellent.

To consider a report of the Director of Culture, Communities and Business Services with grant applications from cultural and community organisations across Hampshire.

The Committee received the report of the Director of Culture, Communities and Business Services (Item 6 in the Minute Book) outlining grant applications from cultural and community organisations.

Some members expressed concern at the grant reductions proposed within the report and how this may impact upon the applicants. Members heard that the organisations had been contacted in advance and advised of the financial pressures on the County Council’s budget and that, as a result, the majority of applicants had amended their applications accordingly.  As part of this discussion, it was also emphasised that organisations needed to make an application to the grant scheme in order to be considered for any funding, showing how they would manage the 20% reduction in County Council grant funding over the next two financial years.

In response to Members’ questions, it was confirmed that a formula is used to calculate grant awards to Community Associations based upon the size of the applying organisation, the number of activities it facilitated, the number of volunteers, any partnership working and deprivation levels within the local area.

RESOLVED:

That the Culture and Communities Select Committee recommends to the Executive Member for Culture, Recreation and Countryside that he:

i)             Approves grants from the Culture and Recreation Investment Fund totalling £415,959, as set out in Appendix 2a.

ii)            Approves grants from the Community Investment Fund totalling £59,805, as set out in Appendix 2b.

iii)           Approves a grant of £100,000 to Energise Me for 2019/20.

iv)           Defers the decision regarding grant awards to Live Theatre Winchester, the Hampshire Playing Fields Association and the Phoenix Theatre and Arts Centre as outlined in Appendix 2a.

To receive a report and presentation from the Director of Culture, Communities and Business Services regarding the future management of the countryside estate.

The Committee received the report and presentation from the Director of Culture, Communities and Business Services (Item 7 in the Minute Book) considering future management options for the Countryside Estate.

Members were pleased to hear of the Countryside Service plans to transform its operational approach to become increasingly flexible and agile to adapt to changes in funding available following any potential loss of EU funding. This included exploring opportunities for sold services, investigating the possibility of implementing car parking charges, smarter use of existing income and some work looking at improving productivity and identifying how volunteer time is best used.

RESOLVED:

That the Culture and Communities Select Committee recommends to the

Executive Member for Culture, Recreation and Countryside that he:

i)             Approves the outline proposals for the future management of the Countryside Estate in seeking an increase in income, operational efficiencies and alternative management options.

ii)            Agrees to consider the relevant criteria for releasing sites from County Council management and/or ownership and those sites that meet the criteria at a future meeting.

iii)           Agrees to consider a business case for introducing car park charging at specified sites at a future meeting.

To receive a report and presentation from the Director of Culture, Communities and Business Services regarding the future management of the Basingstoke Canal.

The Committee received the report and presentation of the Director of Culture, Communities and Business Services (Item 8 in the Minute Book) outlining the future management model for the Basingstoke Canal.

Three options for the future management of the Canal were outlined to the Committee. Members heard that the preferred option of a transfer to the Canals and Rivers Trust requires further work to identify a feasible financial model. Options for increasing income streams will be explored alongside seeking investment in the Canal infrastructure.

It was confirmed that riparian Borough and District authorities make financial contributions to the Canal but that currently neither Surrey Heath or Runnymede authorities meet their financial contributions. Despite this, it was confirmed that the two authorities did contribute towards the Canal in other ways. It was reported that the contributing authorities had recently been contacted to ascertain their intention to continue to make financial contributions for the next three years.

RESOLVED:

That the Culture and Communities Select Committee recommends to the

Executive Member for Culture, Recreation and Countryside that he:

i)             Supports the request for capital funding to undertake maintenance works on Hampshire owned Canal assets with the aim of reducing the maintenance arrears.

ii)            Supports the reduction in revenue funding if it can be achieved without compromising the safe operation of the Canal.

iii)            Approves the business objectives and long term direction for the management of the Basingstoke Canal that includes:

·      Targeted investment in income generating opportunities on a sound business case basis.

·      To continue to work with Surrey County Council and the Canal and Rivers Trust to reach an agreement for the transfer of ownership and liability of the Basingstoke Canal.

To consider the Committee’s forthcoming Work Programme.

The Committee received the report of the Director of Transformation and Governance – Corporate Services (Item 9 in the Minute Book) which set out the Committee’s upcoming work programme.

Members requested that the Woodland Trust and the Wildlife Trust be contacted to explore the possibility of inviting them to make a presentation to the Committee at a future meeting.

RESOLVED:

That the Committee notes the Work Programme