Agenda item

To receive an update on the Commission of Inquiry – Vision for Hampshire 2050 and associated Climate Change Strategy and Action Plan, and to explore linkages and opportunities for collaboration between the Health and Wellbeing Board and the Commission and Climate Change work programmes.

Representatives from the Hampshire 2050 Commission provided a summary of the Hampshire 2050 Commission of Inquiry (the Commission). Members heard:

The Commission was established by the former Leader of the County Council, Cllr Roy Perry in 2018 and ran throughout 2019. The purpose of the Commission was to consider submitted evidence, to deliberate upon key issues and to make recommendations on a Vision for Hampshire 2050 which will guide and contribute to the future prosperity, quality of life, and protection and enhancement of the character and environment of Hampshire

Fifteen Commissioners from a variety of backgrounds, but all with strong links to Hampshire, were appointed by Cllr Perry to consider a range of evidence provided across a number of strategic themes; Demographic and societal challenges, Economy, Work, Skills & Lifestyle, Environment and Quality of Place, Mobility and Rural Hampshire. 

Each strategic theme hearing was open to the public and was led by a respective service manager who sought supporting evidence, predominantly from experts and Partners (through, for example Member groups). Public opinion was also collected through both online ‘vox pop’ interviews and via an online survey.  In addition to the strategic theme hearings, it also became apparent throughout the process that an additional ‘cross-cutting’ theme hearing was required to consider areas of deprivation, which exists in pockets across Hampshire and so cannot be ignored, digital, as future digital skills will become embedded within social infrastructure and how youth and community engagement can feature in the process. 

After the strategic theme hearings, Commissioners then undertook two closed deliberation sessions to shape their conclusions and recommendations. The key output took the form of the Commissioners Summary report which included key values including Hampshire the Place, People and Communities, Diversity and Sustainability (to ensure that recommendations could be delivered in the long term), Leadership and Collaboration and Measures of Success and five key drivers for change; the changing climate (which was also identified as the most important priority), changing economy, changing population and society, changing technology and the changing environment (in its own right, in addition to the changing climate). 

The Commissioners’ Summary Report was provided to Members in the meeting and an electronic copy shared after the meeting.  The report was adopted together with a number of initial recommendations and actions (shared within the presentation) at an Extraordinary Full Council Meeting on 23 September 2019.  The Climate Change Strategy and Action Plan was then introduced emerging from both the Commission and the County Council’s declaration of a Climate Emergency in July 2019.

This high-profile work programme, currently in its early phase, will seek to embed Climate Change mitigation and resilience across the County Council’s strategies and policies across the next 2-5 years, develop partnerships, community and expert groups and provide leadership with exemplar projects and behavioral driven communications.  Cabinet are due to consider the proposed Hampshire wide target for mitigation of net zero carbon emissions by 2050, and a resilience target of 2 degrees Celsius on 6 January 2020. 

Synergies and overlapping themes with the Health and Wellbeing Board were highlighted in the report.  Full details of all of the Commission hearings including all hearing reports, the Commissioners Summary Report, evidence, public interview videos and survey responses can be found in the link below:

https://www.hants.gov.uk/visionforhampshire2050

In response to questions, Members heard:

It was encouraging and positive to see climate change being addressed though it means much more than a reduction in proportionality and percentage of emissions.  Balancing climate change while attracting business, reducing areas of deprivation, and ensuring social justice will remain a challenge.  The 2050 Commission will work with districts, leaders, and cross-party working groups to provide support and guidance with conflicting priorities.  Collaboration will continue with Public Health as well as linking with district forums to check for alignment in 6 months' time.  

For Hampshire residents, while public perception may not appear to be that of an emergency, the response is never quite ambitious enough with limited scope as a local authority.  Positive leadership will need to be communicated to help the public understand the shift, but national policy review and changes are also imperative.  

There is a great deal to be welcomed from the Commission of Inquiry and it is encouraging that success, for example, could be measured for wellbeing, rather than simply GDP.  While this important piece of work is being led by the County Council, the relationship with unitary authorities, care with inclusive language to encourage collaboration and partnerships will be key to success.  

RESOLVED: 

That the Health and Wellbeing Board:

·         Noted the Member endorsed values, principles and drivers for change detailed within the Commissioners’ Summary Report (set out in the Section titled Commissioners’ Summary Report)  

·         Noted the Member endorsed recommendations for further work (set out in the Section titled Extraordinary Full Council Meeting) 

·         Noted the arrangements being made for the onward delivery and implementation of the Commission (set out in the Section titled Climate Change Strategy and Action Plan); and 

·         Agreed to support and explore further work wherever practicable with the Commission and Climate Change work programmes through, but not limited to, the examples provided in the Section titled Synergies with the Hampshire Health and Wellbeing Strategy.