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Hampshire County Council
Councillors: 78
Wards: 76
Committees: 49
Meetings (2025): 165
Meetings (2024): 156

Meeting

Transport and Environment Select Committee - Hampshire

Meeting Times
Scheduled Time
Start:
Friday, 4th November 2022
10:00 AM
End:
Friday, 4th November 2022
2:00 PM
Actual Time
Started:
Friday, 4th November 2022
12:00 AM
Finished:
Friday, 4th November 2022
12:00 AM
Meeting Status
Status:
Confirmed
Date:
04 Nov 2022
Location:
Ashburton Hall - HCC
Meeting Attendees
Councillor Debbie Curnow-Ford photo
Committee Member
Councillor Debbie Curnow-Ford

Conservative

Present, as expected

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Councillor Lulu Bowerman photo
Committee Member
Councillor Lulu Bowerman

Conservative

Apologies

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Councillor David Drew photo
Committee Member
Councillor David Drew

Conservative

Apologies

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Councillor Barry Dunning photo
Committee Member
Councillor Barry Dunning

Conservative

Present, as expected

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Councillor Michael Ford photo
Committee Member
Councillor Michael Ford

Conservative

Present, as expected

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Councillor Tim Groves photo
Committee Member
Councillor Tim Groves

Liberal Democrat

Present, as expected

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Councillor Rupert Kyrle photo
Liberal Democrats Spokesperson
Councillor Rupert Kyrle

Liberal Democrat

Present, as expected

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Councillor Stephen Parker photo
Committee Member
Councillor Stephen Parker

Conservative

Present, as expected

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Councillor Louise Parker-Jones photo
Independent Group Spokesperson
Councillor Louise Parker-Jones

Independent

Present, as expected

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Councillor Martin Tod photo
Committee Member
Councillor Martin Tod

Liberal Democrat

Present, as expected

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Councillor Rhydian Vaughan MBE photo
Committee Member
Councillor Rhydian Vaughan MBE

Conservative

Present, as expected

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Councillor Graham Burgess photo
Conservative Deputy
Councillor Graham Burgess

Conservative

Present, as substitute

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Councillor Zoe Huggins photo
Conservative Deputy
Councillor Zoe Huggins

Conservative

Present, as substitute

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Councillor Prad Bains photo
Independent Group Deputy
Councillor Prad Bains

Liberal Democrat

Not required

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Councillor Andy Tree photo
Independent Group Deputy
Councillor Andy Tree

Whitehill & Bordon Community Party

Not required

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Councillor Derek Mellor photo
Chairman
Councillor Derek Mellor

Conservative

Present, as expected

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Committee Member
Councillor Gary Hughes

Apologies

Councillor Malcolm Wade photo
Liberal Democrats Deputy
Councillor Malcolm Wade

Liberal Democrat

Not required

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Agenda
1 Apologies for absence
To receive any apologies for absence.
Minutes Apologies were received from Councillor’s Lulu Bowerman, David Drew, Gary Hughes and Hugh Lumby. Councillor’s Zoe Huggins and Graham Burgess attended as deputies for the meeting.
2 Declarations of interest
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.
Minutes 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.
3 Minutes of previous meeting
To confirm the minutes of the previous meeting
Attachments:
Minutes It was confirmed that Councillor Andy Tree attended the meeting as a deputy for Councillor Louise Parker-Jones. The minutes of the last meeting were then reviewed and agreed.
4 Deputations
To receive any deputations notified under Standing Order 12.
Minutes A deputation was received from Phil Gagg on behalf of Winchester Action on the Climate Crisis Transport Group, who welcomed the proposals within the Local Walking and Cycling Infrastructure Plans but requested that strategic tools being put in place going forward to look at how the modal shift could be changed.
5 Chairman's Announcements
To receive any announcements the Chairman may wish to make.
Minutes The Chairman confirmed that the 20mph Speed Limit Policy Task and Finish group review would report back to the January Select Committee meeting in light of the number of responses that had been received following an informal consultation.

There was also an update on the Solar Together initiative, which offered high-quality solar photovoltaic (PV) panels and battery storage to Hampshire residents. In the initial phase alone,  1,800 panels will had been installed by and an estimated 4,000 tonnes of carbon would be saved over 25 years (guaranteed system lifetime) which was the equivalent to more than 2,000 cars off the road. Registration for the second scheme closed at 12,910 for solar PV and 906 for retrofit battery storage, totalling 13,816, compared to 8,104 in the 2021 scheme.

The Chairman also congratulated the County Council’s Highways team for their success at the national Highways industry awards which took place on 18th October in London. Hampshire County Council along with their partner contractor Milestones, won the Environmental Sustainability Award as well as the Special Merit Award, both against stiff competition from other local authorities and private sector organisations.
6 SP23 Update
To receive a presentation from the Director of Economy, Transport and Environment and Senior Finance Business Partner with an update on SP23.
Attachments:
Minutes The Chairman introduced the item and thanked Stuart Jarvis, the Director for Economy, Transport and Environment and Sue Lapham, Senior Finance Business Partner for their contribution to the Select Committee ahead of their retirements at the end of the year.

The Select Committee received an update on SP23 savings, which summarised the significance of governement funding decisions, progress to date and traffic management enforcement.

The Select Committee learned that:

·         Reductions in the base budget enable savings to be sustainable going forward;

·         Inflation was an issue with ongoing projects but a contingency was in place to ensure they were completed;

·         Timescales around a national direction for waste services were still anticipated to change and it was agreed that work would continue with Districts and Boroughs;

·         There had been a very small reduction in staff numbers, which had been managed through the capital programme.
7 Passenger Transport SP23 Savings Proposals
To pre-scrutinise a report going to the Executive Lead Member for Transport and Environment Strategy on 7 November 2022 regarding the Passenger Transport Consultation carried out earlier in the year and how £800,000 savings on Hampshire County Council’s passenger transport budget could be achieved and implemented.
Attachments:
Minutes The Select Committee pre-scrutinised a report for the Executive Lead Member for Transport and Environment regarding the Passenger Transport consultation that had taken place earlier in 2022.

The Select Committee received a deputation from Councillor Rod Cooper who requested an extension to a local bus service whilst an alternative was found due to the reliance on the service by residents in attending medical appointments.

The officer summarised the report and during questions, Members learned the following:

·         A lot of work and engagement had been done with bus operators;

·         A large proportion of those who responded to the consultation said they would prefer to pay to travel than have services removed, but this was something that would need to be progressed nationally as required a change in legislation;

·         Conversations had already taken place with providers and funding partners following the consultation;

·         Dial-A-Ride didn’t historically do hospital appointments but there would be more flexibility as options were looked at going forward;

·         Inflation and the impacts of it would be monitored;

·         There was currently a significant shortfall in taxi and bus drivers, which also had an impact on services;

·         In response to Councillor Cooper’s concerns raised in his deputation, it was confirmed that there was a voluntary car scheme available, another bus service and there was also a Dial-A-Ride that could be booked for GP appointments up to six days in advance;

·         Patronage levels were still low in some areas and still slow to recover following Covid.

In debate, an additional recommendation was proposed by Councillor Martin Tod and seconded by Councillor Kyrle:

That, in the light of central government's failure to adequately fund local government and public transport, including funding for community transport, the Executive Lead Member for Transport & the Environment Strategy write to the Secretary of State for Transport, the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities and Hampshire's MPs highlighting the consequence of this failure to provide adequate funding, particularly its impact on the most vulnerable and ask for urgent action to address it.

This recommendation was put to the vote but not supported by the majority of the Select Committee.

A quorum of the Committee requested that the final recommendations be done as a recorded vote, which was taken forward by the Chairman.

RESOLVED

The Transport and Environment Select Committee supported the recommendations being proposed to the Executive Lead Member for Transport and Environment Strategy in paragraphs 2-10. of the report

Vote:

Councillor Graham Burgess: For

Councillor Curnow-Ford: For

Councillor Barry Dunning: For

Councillor Mike Ford: For

Councillor Tim Groves: Against

Councillor Zoe Huggins: For

Councillor Rupert Kyrle: Against

Councillor Derek Mellor: For

Councillor Stephen Parker: For

Councillor Louise Parker-Jones: Against

Councillor Martin Tod: Against

Councillor Rhydian Vaughan: For
8 Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plans - Update
To pre-scrutinise a report going to the Executive Lead Member for Transport and Environment Strategy on 7 November 2022 regarding newly developed Local Cycle and Walking Infrastructure Plans (LCWIPs) for the boroughs of Eastleigh, Fareham, Gosport, Havant, the Waterside part of New Forest district and the southern part of the Borough of Test Valley.
Attachments:
Minutes The Select Committee pre-scrutinised a report for the Executive Lead Member for Transport and Environment regarding newly developed Local Cycle and Walking Infrastructure Plans (LCWIPs) for the boroughs of Eastleigh, Fareham, Gosport, Havant, the Waterside part of New Forest district and the southern part of the Borough of Test Valley.

The report was summarised and it was highlighted that following an open public consultation, comments would continue to be monitored and incorporated as part of a live document.

Members learned:

·         The County would continue to work closely with Boroughs and Districts on implementation, particularly where work went across borders;

·         Planning tools were put in place for cyclists and officers were looking at developing standard design standards;

Officers were thanked for their work and readiness for implementation.

RESOLVED

The Transport and Environment Select Committee supported the recommendations being proposed to the Executive Lead Member for Transport and Environment Strategy in paragraphs 2.-10. of the report.
9 Work Programme
To review and approve the current work programme for the Economy, Transport and Environment Select Committee.
Attachments:
Minutes The Work Programme item was postponed until the next meeting.
Previous Meetings
Meeting

4th Nov 2022

Transport and Environment Select Committee

Meeting

3rd Oct 2022

Transport and Environment Select Committee

Meeting

19th Sep 2022 Postponed

Transport and Environment Select Committee

Meeting

18th Jul 2022

Transport and Environment Select Committee

Future Meetings
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