Hampshire County Council County Council Meeting

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Nick Adams-King, Jackie Branson, Peter Chegwyn, Alan Dowden, Liz Fairhurst, Keith House, Gary Hughes, Melville Kendal, Hugh Lumby, Rob Mocatta, Kim Taylor, Jacky Tustain and Seán Woodward.

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 5 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.

The Minutes of the Annual General Meeting of the County Council held on 19 May 2021 were confirmed as a correct record, subject to a correction to minute 66 to reflect that Councillor Patricia Stallard was nominated as the Vice-Chairman.

The Council received a deputation from Mr Mike Slinn, representing Abbots Barton residents regarding Andover Road in Winchester being kept open to traffic.

The Chairman made Members aware that with effect from the September Council Meeting, Prayers will recommence and will be introduced by Councillor Kirsty North, Executive Member for Performance, Human Resources and Inclusion and Diversity.

The Chairman reported on a number of awards and accolades the County Council had received:

·                The Adults Health and Care Learning and Development Team has achieved national accreditation status for their Positive Behaviour Support (PBS) training enabling  them to respond to situations in a timely manner, employ a consistent approach to PBS across the department and enable training provision to the external market, agency staff, carers and personal assistants, something they were previously unable to do.

·                The Economy, Transport and Environment Department was awarded ‘Department of the Year’, in particular:

ETE Apprentice of the Year – Kate Hopgood

ETE Breakthrough Award – Tina Teutscher

ETE Manager of the Year – Dawn Hoskins

ETE Rising Star Award - jointly awarded to Jessica Eades and Alyssa Vance Payne

·                Emma Noyce, Assistant Director in the Culture, Communities and Business Services Department, has been awarded a British Empire Medal in recognition of her role in how public libraries supported communities throughout the Covid-19 pandemic.

·                Throughout May, 15 libraries provided a safe social space for 47 ‘Ukraine Connections’ groups, attended by 600 people to enable Ukrainian guests and hosts to create networks with new volunteers, community associations, charitable organisations, district colleagues, and local associations or businesses.  

·                Hampshire Record Office is one of six landmark sites across the UK that have been awarded listed status to commemorate the Queen’s historic 70-year reign.  The building was opened by the Queen in 1993 and included pioneering techniques for the preservation of fragile archive documents while offering a welcoming and practical space for visitors.

·                The HC3S catering team at Endeavour Primary School, Andover was named Primary School Caterer of the Year and the team at The Hamble School won Secondary School Caterer of the Year at the recent national catering industry awards ceremony. In addition, the team at Endeavour also won in a new category ‘the Tilda Challenge’ to create a dish that had the perfect combination of vegetables and rice.

·                The Whitehill & Bordon Green Loop and Wayfinding project won both the Best Project and Best in Region award in the Southeast Region RTPI Planning Excellence Awards.  This project was recognised for its successful partnership approach - designed and delivered by Hampshire County Council, East Hampshire District Council, Whitehill & Bordon Regeneration Company, Urban Place Lab, Whitehill Town Council and Deadwater Valley Trust and provides a 7km loop of paths that encircles Whitehill & Bordon for use by walkers, runners, and cyclists. 

The Chairman also reported on several events that she had represented the County Council at:

·      Countywide Citizenship Ceremony in the presence of HM Lord-Lieutenant (27 May)

·      HRH Princess Alexandra opening the new Countess of Brecknock Hospice (21 June)

·      Hampshire Duke of Edinburgh's Award Gold Award Holders' Reception (1 July)

The Leader opened his report by joining the Chairman’s in congratulating teams and officers across the County Council for the awards and accolades they had received and was delighted to see their efforts recognised locally and nationally.

On 14^th June, the Leader was honoured to have participated in a flag-raising event in Winchester on the 40^th anniversary of the end of the Falklands Conflict to pay tribute to the 255 British servicemen and 3 Falkland Islanders who lost their lives, as well as all those who served in the Falklands campaign.  The event was followed by Armed Forces Week at the end of June, which gave the County Council the opportunity to demonstrate its continued support and gratitude to all members of the Armed Forces community in Hampshire.

Turning to economic prosperity, the Leader reported that in light of recent national events, he had decided not to take the County Deal prospectus to Cabinet until there was greater clarity on the most appropriate timeframes and practicalities for engagement with central Government.  The Leader was pleased to report on another project, the Solent Freeport, which was launched at the Solent Summit in June offering a major economic opportunity for Hampshire. Solent Freeport is one of eight Freeports  being established in England aiming to create additional economic activity near shipping ports and Southampton Airport by designating locations where imported goods are exempt from certain government tariffs and duties. The Freeport will also allow business rates growth raised at these locations to be retained locally and reinvested in the area.  Current estimates indicate that the Freeport will generate £1 billion in GVA and over 16,000 jobs directly in the Solent region.   The Leader also reported on the Solent LEP’s plans for the Freeport to become a centre of excellence in green skills and jobs, to ensure that local people, and especially local young people, will benefit most from the opportunities generated by the Freeport.

The Leader welcomed the County Council’s latest Annual Workforce Report, which was published this month and followed the launch of the County Council’s first organisation-wide Inclusion Strategy and Action Plan in September 2021.  The Leader commented on the importance of the County Council setting an example as an organisation that enables and promotes inclusion and diversity and was particularly pleased that the County Council met the necessary criteria to become a Level 2 Disability Confident Employer at the end of last year; recognition that will support the County Council’s activities to attract, develop and retain staff who have a disability.  The County’s Council’s efforts to ensure it is an inclusive and diverse employer is driven by staff at all levels, from the Chief Executive chairing the Inclusion, Diversity and Wellbeing Steering Group to officers involved in the various staff networks providing advice and challenge.  The Leader expressed his delight that Councillor Kirsty North had joined his Cabinet with the expanded Executive portfolio to include Inclusion and Diversity.to provide strong political impetus to progress the County Council’s ambitions, in collaboration with officers, partners, communities, and Members, to all play a role in helping to deliver this within the County Council.

The Leader made Members aware of two Member Champion positions, one for Mental Health, and the other for the Hampshire Music Service, which are voluntary roles:

Councillor Sarah Pankhurst will be the Council’s Mental Health Champion, taking over the role from Councillor Stallard. Councillor Pankhurst would be raising awareness of mental health across Hampshire and within the Council. She will identify opportunities to embed prevention and promotion of public mental health following the signing of the Mental Health Prevention Concordat by Hampshire County Council in 2019.  The role will include championing mental health and suicide prevention resources and training; promoting the “Five Ways to Wellbeing” as tools for protecting good mental health; challenging the stigma of mental health; and championing parity of esteem.

Councillor Fran Carpenter will be championing the work of the Hampshire Music Education Hub, and the important role that it places in the delivery of high-quality musical opportunities for children and young people across Hampshire.  From the moment a child engages with music through one of the many first-access opportunities, such as Beyond the Beat, Rock 2 the Beat, and Listen 2 Me, through to the impressive range of 60 youth music ensembles run by Hampshire County Council's Music Service, children and young people are becoming empowered to develop themselves musically, socially, mentally, and emotionally.  Councillor Carpenter would be championing the strong work that is being delivered in special schools, education centres and alternative provisions, whereby children and young people are given the opportunity to personally excel through musical opportunities. 

The Leader concluded his report by highlighting that it was Hampshire Day on Friday 15 July and hoped Members would take the opportunity to celebrate the beautiful county of Hampshire, its communities, and the organisation’s role in making it such a special place. 

Executive Members responded to the questions with the exception of question 3, for which a written answer would be supplied in accordance with Standing Order 16.1.5.

The Council considered the report of the Chief Executive.  In presenting the report, the Leader proposed an additional appointment, namely: that Councillor Judith Smyth from Portsmouth City Council be appointed as the Unitary Council Co-opted Employer Representative on the Hampshire Pension Fund Panel and Board for the municipal year 2022/23.

The Leader also proposed an adjustment to the County Council’s representation on the Assembly of European Unions to reflect that Councillor Phil North will be a deputy Member.

RESOLVED:

That the County Council approve the recommendations as published together with the additional appointment and the adjustment to its representation on an Outside Body, as detailed above.

The Council considered the report of Cabinet, and presented by the Leader.  The report detailed changes to the allocation of the responsibility for Executive Functions and as a consequence of those revisions, changes to the responsibility for Select Committee Functions.  A change of name for the Economy, Transport and Environment Select Committee to Transport and Environment Select Committee was also recommended.

RESOLVED:

That the County Council:

a)        Notes the changes to Executive Functions.

b)        Agrees that the responsibility for scrutiny of Economic Development should fall within the functions of the Policy and Resources Select Committee, and that the Economy, Transport and Environment Select Committee be renamed the Transport and Environment Select Committee.

c)         Delegate authority to the Monitoring Officer to amend the Constitution to give effect to the recommendation at b) of this report.

The Council considered the report of Cabinet, and presented by the Leader.  The report recommended an update to the Hampshire Minerals and Waste Development Scheme, which sets out a revised timetable for the partial update of the Hampshire Minerals and Waste Plan.

RESOLVED:

That the County Council Approves the Hampshire Minerals and Waste Development Scheme Update, which sets out a revised timetable for the partial update of the Hampshire Minerals and Waste Plan.

The Council considered the revised Notice of Motion (as published) proposed by Councillor Malcolm Wade and seconded by Councillor David Harrison, submitted in accordance with Standing Order 18.1.

No Amendments were proposed.

During the course of debate, Members noted the work being done to support County farms, both entrant farmers and existing tenant farmers by providing advice to help them with the significant amount of change in the industry, new technology, signposting to grant opportunities and helping them to build up their skills and businesses.  Members also and acknowledged the work local farmers were doing to .reduce carbon emissions, which was to be welcomed.  Education and promoting farming as a profession was important and Members noted the recent “Farm My Food” event involving 160 young people learning about agriculture and its processes, where their food comes from and the career path into farming.  It was also highlighted that Sparsholt College was aiming to be a Centre of Excellence for farming studies.   It was also highlighted that everyone can do their bit by buying locally and supporting the many food markets and outlets across Hampshire.

Concern was expressed about the impact on the future of farming in regard to  climate change, market fluctuations such as the price of fuel, cattle feed and so on, the pressure of increased food production and competing in an often unstable global market, together with the sale of agricultural land for other purposes and the challenges presented by the need to have nitrate mitigation systems in place.

In conclusion of the debate, the importance of having a sustainable agricultural sector was recognised.

The Leader confirmed the Administration supported the revised Motion.

The revised Motion was put to the vote and supported by the majority of Members present, and it was

RESOLVED:

That this Council will write to the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs expressing its concern about the financial state of the farming community and request greater financial support for farmers to be able to continue to produce food for the UK market at sustainable prices.

No questions had been received in accordance with Standing Order 16.3.

The Council received and noted the report as presented by Councillor Rhydian Vaughan in his capacity as Chairman of the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Authority.

The Council received and noted the Annual Report of the Policy and Resources Select Committee summarising the work caried out by the Council’s Select Committees during 2021/22.

The Council received and noted the Annual report of the Health and Adult Social Care Select Committee summarising the health scrutiny work carried out by the Committee during 2021/22.

The Council received and noted the report of the Health and Wellbeing Board for Hampshire reporting several changes to the membership of the Board taken under delegated authority by the Head of Law and Governance and Monitoring Officer, in consultation with the Chairman of the Health and Wellbeing Board.

-       Local Outbreak Engagement Board and Health Protection Board

-       Cabinet Sub-Committee – Economic Growth and Recovery

-       Health and Social Care System Resilience

-       Approval to Spend for 2022-2025: Holiday Activities and Food Programme (HAF)

-       Holiday Activity and Food (HAF) Grant Recommendations for Easter 2022

-       Approval to Spend request for Special Educational Needs (SEN) Discretionary Payments

-       Additional Specialist Provision for Hampshire