Hampshire County Council Policy and Resources Select Committee Meeting

Apologies were received from Councillor Mocatta. Councillor Parker attended as the Conservative substitute.

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 last meeting held on 27 October 2022 were agreed and signed by the Chairman.

There were no deputations on this occasion.

The Chairman welcomed Councillor Parker and Councillor Steve Forster as the Executive Member for Commercial Strategy, Estates and Property to the meeting.

The Committee considered a report of the Director of Adults’ Health and Care giving an update on the work of the Hampshire Community Safety Strategy

Group (HSSG) (Item 6 in the Minute Book). Accompanying this report, Members also received presentations on Restorative Justice.

The Director highlighted the main points of the report. Members were advised that the County Agreement had been updated with revised strategic assessment and updated priorities on:

• Exploitation, serious violence and drug related harm through organised crime

• Intimidation violence and abuse of women and girls

• Hate related offences and violent extremism

• Promoting community wellbeing and cohesion

Members noted that throughout 2022, the Group had received assurance reports from sponsors on the partnership arrangements supporting these priorities and looked holistically at the emerging risks and opportunities for enhanced collaboration. This included sharing local responses to a number of related national initiatives including:

• the introduction of a new statutory duty on serious violence

• the response to the national strategy for violence against women and girls

• the response to the new 10 year drugs plan to cut crime and save lives:  “From Harm to Hope”

• The establishment of the new Probation services

The Committee then received detailed presentations on the work of partners relating to restorative justice as follows:

• Restorative Justice in the Youth Justice System – Hampshire Youth Offending Team

• Restorative Justice for Adult Offenders – Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner for Hampshire and the Isle of Wight

• Community Payback - Probation Service

A number of detailed questions were answered on:

·         How reoffending rates are measured for children

·         impact of their crimes on the community

·         potential of increasing the number of partners involved in the community payback scheme

The Committee thanked officers for their time in giving very informative and interesting presentations.

RESOLVED:

1.    That the Policy and Resources Select Committee notes the progress on the work of the Hampshire Community Safety Strategy Group (HCSSG), including the role in providing oversight and assurance of collaborative arrangements at the Hampshire county-level to address community safety priorities.

2.      That the presentations on Restorative Justice be noted.

The Committee considered a report and presentation giving an update on the County Council’s Apprenticeship Levy Programme (Item 7 in the Minute Book).

During the presentation, Members were advised that since the Programme’s introduction in 2017, 1780 Apprenticeship starts had been generated by the County Council, all funded by the Levy. Of this number, 1173 starts had been in corporate departments and 607 in maintained schools. The Committee was also made aware of the following future highlights:

·         Hampshire Apprenticeship Academy – inc. the further development of Higher and Degree Level programmes (in partnership and direct)

·         Hampshire Leadership Network – mapping Leadership & Management offer

·         Talent programme – including Supported Apprenticeship

·         Extended transfer scheme – aligned to Economic Strategy

It was noted that Hampshire County Council continued to operate a strong Apprenticeship Levy programme which was having a tangible impact on the business. It represented a significant investment by the County Council in the Hampshire economy and the skills needs of employer.

RESOLVED:

That the contents of the report and presentation be noted.

The Committee considered a report of the Chief Executive seeking approval of a scrutiny protocol and the allocation of available resources to each Select Committee (Item 8 in the Minute Book).

Members were given details of the proposal to establish a protocol, which would provide a framework for the operation of Select Committees, including guidance on selecting topics for scrutiny, the operation of working groups and the operation of call-In powers. It would also contribute to the good governance of the County Council and aid future agenda planning.

During discussion, it was felt that as these were new arrangements, a review be undertaken on an annual basis to ensure that the protocol was operating as intended.

RESOLVED:

1.    That the Scrutiny Protocol set out in Appendix 1 be approved.

2.    That the resource envelope available to each Select Committee set out in paragraph 16 and the principle that each Select Committee should autonomously operate within that envelope be approved.

3.      That it be approved that a review be undertaken on an annual basis to ensure that the protocol and allocation of resources is working as intended.

The Committee received the current work programme for review and approval  

(Item 9 in the Minute Book).

The Committee were content with the work programme and no amendments were suggested.

RESOLVED:

That the current work programme be agreed.