Hampshire County Council County Council Meeting

Apologies were received from Councillors Prad Bains, Debbie Curnow-Ford, Alan Dowden, Jonathan Glen, Zoe Huggins, Gavin James, Mark Kemp-Gee, Rob Mocatta, Jackie Porter, Roger Price and Seán Woodward.

The Chief Executive, as the Proper Officer, called for nominations. Councillor Keith Mans, seconded by Councillor Rob Humby proposed that Councillor Marge Harvey be elected Chairman of the Council until the Annual General Meeting of the Council in 2023. No other nominations were received therefore the proposition was put to the vote and carried.

ORDERED:

That Councillor Marge Harvey be elected Chairman of the County Council until the Annual General Meeting in 2023. Councillor made the declaration of Acceptance of Office and took the chair.

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.

The Minutes of the meeting of the County Council held on 17 February 2021 were confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman. There were no matters arising.

The Chairman invited nominations for the position of Vice-Chairman of the Council. Councillor Keith Mans, seconded by Councillor Rob Humby proposed Councillor Patricia Stallard. No other nominations were received therefore the proposition was put to the vote and carried.

ORDERED:

That Councillor Patricia Stallard be appointed as Vice-Chairman of the County Council until the Annual General Meeting in 2023. Councillor Stallard made the declaration of Acceptance of Office.

The Incoming Chairman, Councillor Marge Harvey thanked all Members for supporting her appointment, thanked Councillor Melville Kendal for his chairmanship and thanked officers for their diligence and hard work to support residents over the last two-years during what had been very difficult times.  Having spent time on the Queen Alexandra Hospital Committee, the Chairman confirmed that her theme for her Chairmanship year would be to promote health by supporting the County Council and its residents through the County Council’s policies to make Hampshire a happy and healthier place to live.

Turning to her announcements, it was with much sadness that the Chairman reported that former County Councillor and Honorary Alderman Sharyn Wheale had passed away.  Councillors Elaine Still, Adrian Collett, Steve Forster, Stephen Parker and Jackie Branson paid tribute and the Council observed a minute’s silence as a mark of respect.

The Chairman reported on a number of awards the County Council had received and officers meriting special mention:

-           Anne Dudley, Catering Manager who had won the Care Catering Award 2022

-           Steve Crocker, Director of Children’s Services who had been appointed President of the Association of Directors of Children’s Services for 2022/23

-           Hampshire Property Services who received a regional award from the Royal Institute of British Architects for Barton Farm Primary School in Winchester, and is also being considered for a national award.

-           Hampshire Libraries’ ‘Bringing the library to you’ campaign which kept Hampshire communities connected with their libraries during lockdown had won the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals (CLIP) Marketing Excellence Award 2021

-           Lepe Country Park had won the DEFRA ‘Bees Needs’ Champion Award

During April, Hampshire Libraries commenced 15 weekly Ukraine Connection drop-in sessions across a number of locations attended by guest and host families and volunteers together with local and partner services and organisations, which had been well received by participants.

Lastly, the Chairman announced that on 14 June 2022 the County Council would commemorate the 40^th Anniversary of the end of the Falklands 74 day conflict.  Hampshire continues to have strong links with the Armed Forces and many military personnel from Hampshire were involved in the conflict.  This would provide an opportunity to thank them and to remember those who were wounded and injured, either physically or mentally, together with the 255 military personnel who lost their lives.  Armed Forces Week would also provide an opportunity to reflect and thank the wider Armed Forces community.

The Outgoing Leader, Councillor Keith Mans congratulated Councillors Marge Harvey and Patricia Stallard on being appointed Chairman and Vice-Chairman of the Council respectively, and expressed his condolences to the family of former County Councillor and Honorary Alderman Sharyn Wheale.

Since the last full Council Meeting, the organisation had moved to a new phase of the pandemic, namely ‘living with Covid’ which gave individuals more responsibility regarding the precautions they take.  The organisation was also progressing carefully towards a post pandemic working environment.

Despite the challenges of the pandemic over the last two years, Councillor Mans reported on an impressive list of Awards to the County Council:

2022 Awards:

RIBA South Regional Award: Barton Farm Primary School.

Civic Trust Award: Barton Farm Primary School.

SPACES Awards and Civic Building of the Year Shortlisted: Hamilton SEMH School Reading, Petersfield Museum.

SPACES Year Book: Cornerstone Primary School, Hamilton SEMH School Reading,  Jermyn's House, Petersfield Museum.

2021 Awards:

AJ Architecture Awards Shortlist: Barton Farm Primary School

Civic Trust Award: The Lookout, Lepe

Civic Trust Awards Regional Finalist: Oakmoor School.

LABC Building Excellence Awards National winner  for the Best Public or Community Building: Stoneham Park Primary School.

People and Place Awards Shortlisted: Stoneham Park Primary School.

RIBA South Awards Regional Shortlisted: Oakmoor School.

SPACES Awards Highly Commended: Barton Farm Primary School.

SPACES Awards and Civic Building of the Year Shortlisted: Barton Farm Primary School, Endeavour Primary School, Netley Chapel

SPACES Year Book: Oakmoor School, Queen Elizabeth Country Park, Sir George Staunton Country Park, Stoneham Park Primary Academy, Winchester Theatre Royal

Structural Timber Awards Shortlisted: Stoneham Park Primary Academy

More recently, the County Council has also welcomed in excess of 1500 refugees from Ukraine; a similar number to Surrey and Kent County Councils with the three Councils being the leading recipient counties in the country.

Turning to the County Deal, a revised prospectus had been prepared to inform further discussions with District and Borough Councils looking at governance, and follows a meeting Councillor Mans and the four Hampshire Unitary Council Leaders had with MP Neil O’Brien last month.

Councillor Mans broadened his remarks by looking over the last 10 years and reflecting on the continuing difficulties faced by all County and Unitary Councils regarding the challenge of meeting their statutory responsibilities for Social Care and Special Educational Needs with the funding provided by central Government, which had not kept pace with service demand.  This had led to the necessary refocussing of resources away from discretionary services in order to meet the funding shortfall.  Disappointingly, the new social care national insurance levy had not helped to meet the shortfall.  It was hoped this position would change in the future and that the Government would allow Councils to find further sources of income other than the Council Tax if there was a continuance of capping Council Tax at a figure well below inflation.

Finally Councillor Mans expressed his thanks to Councillor Melville Kendal for the work he had done as Chairman of the County Council over the last two years and Councillor Mans paid tribute to all the officers led by the County Council’s Chief Executive, Carolyn Williamson and her predecessors for the work they do.

The Chairman called for nominations for the position of Leader of the County Council pursuant to Part 1, Chapter 9 of the Constitution. Councillor Keith Mans, seconded by Councillor Roz Chadd proposed Councillor Rob Humby. In the absence of any other nominations the proposition was put to the vote and carried. Councillor Rob Humby was duly elected Leader until the Annual General Meeting of the Council in 2025.

Councillor Humby took the opportunity to thank the Outgoing Leader for his outstanding public service, and to Mrs Rosalie Mans for her support during what had been, at times, three turbulent years of Councillor Mans leadership.  In particular Councillor Humby referred to the assured and dignified manner in which Councillor Mans steered the County Council through the upheaval and uncertainty of the Covid-19 pandemic, working constructively and collaboratively with partner organisations with the needs of residents and communities uppermost in his mind, and the work Councillor Mans has done to spearhead the development of a devolution deal for Pan-Hampshire, again drawing on a collaborative approach with local partners and those in Whitehall, recognising the significant benefits and opportunities that devolution presents.  Councillor Humby concluded by extending very best wishes to Councillor Mans and Mrs Mans for their Golden Wedding Anniversary in August.

Councillor Mans will continue to represent Brockenhurst Division for the remainder of this term of office as a County Councillor.

The Leader confirmed the members of his Cabinet as follows:

-           Councillor Rob Humby – Leader and Executive Member for Policy & Resources and Economic Development

-           Councillor Roz Chadd – Deputy Leader and Executive Lead Member for Children’s Services

-           Councillor Edward Heron – Executive Lead Member for Transport and Environment Strategy

-           Councillor Nick Adams-King – Executive Member for Highways Operations

-           Councillor Jan Warwick – Executive Member for Climate Change and Sustainability

-           Councillor Liz Fairhurst – Executive Member for Adult Services and Public Health

-           Councillor Steve Forster – Executive Member for Commercial Strategy, Estates and Property

-           Councillor Russell Oppenheimer – Executive Member for Recreation, Heritage and Rural Affairs

-           Councillor Kirsty North – Executive Member for Performance, Human Resources and Inclusion & Diversity

The Incoming Leader, Councillor Rob Humby opened his report by referring to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine and the full support of the County Council for the Government’s Homes for Ukraine Scheme, working with district and borough councils, health and fire services partners to provide support to Ukrainian refugees arriving in Hampshire.  Furthermore, the Leader’s Community Grants was now open to assist town and parish councils, charities and voluntary and community organisations with their work to help Ukrainian guests living in Hampshire.

The Leader was pleased to report that Ukraine Connections groups are successfully being held in Hampshire Libraries and that the County Council would be introducing a scheme to provide bus passes to help Ukrainian guests over the summer.  The County Council is working closely with bus operators who would be contributing to the costs of putting in place a practical and effective scheme.

The Leader was delighted that celebrations to mark Her Majesty The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee were fully underway, which had commenced by welcoming His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales to Winchester in March to view the new ‘Licoricia of Winchester’ statue as part of an inter-faith and cultural event for people to come together as a community.  The County Council is pleased to be supporting Her Majesty The Queen’s Green Canopy initiative with many tree planting projects taking place across the county, which would not only contribute to the County Council’s target of planting one million trees by 2050, but would also leave a lasting environmental legacy for future generations to enjoy.  Many more events would be taking place during the forthcoming extended Bank Holiday weekend providing families, friends and communities the opportunity to enjoy this special time.

The Leader reported that it was an honour and a privilege to be elected as the new Leader of Hampshire County Council and confirmed that his vision for Hampshire was aligned with the Hampshire 2050 work started by former County Councillor and Honorary Alderman, Roy Perry, and continued by Councillor Keith Mans during their time as Leaders of the County Council.  The Leader highlighted that a strong economy is essential to support excellent public services, to provide high quality and inclusive employment and business opportunities, and to enhance the quality of life for people in Hampshire.  Furthermore, the Leader confirmed his belief that Hampshire’s natural and historic environment is the most valued asset and an essential component of the county’s current and future prosperity.  A robust economy and stunning landscape are key factors of Hampshire being an attractive place for people to live, work, study and visit, therefore enabling a thriving economy and supporting a thriving environment were connected parts in bringing about prosperity to communities in Hampshire.

The Leader confirmed that he would be retaining economic development, which would be part of his Policy & Resources portfolio to demonstrate the importance of ensuring that the County Council’s economic activities have the needs of Hampshire’s people and places at their heart.

The Leader confirmed that he intended to work positively and constructively with all of the County Council’s partners, including local communities to seize every opportunity to work for the benefit of people and places in Hampshire; work that he was pleased to confirm was already underway to formally establish local place-based Regeneration and Growth Partnerships with district and borough councils and unitary partners, as agreed by Cabinet in March.

The Leader concluded by recognising the very difficult times that people and public services are currently experiencing, which included significant demand for all of the County Council’s services but especially children’s and adult services, which were experiencing significant financial pressure.  The Leader would therefore be striving to not only continue but to enhance the excellent work of the County Council and looked forward to working with all Members of the County Council.

There were no deputations on this occasion.

It was agreed that the questions submitted in accordance with Standing Order 16.1.1, as published, would be dealt with by way of a written response to all Members in accordance with Standing Order 16.1.5.

The Chairman confirmed that the updated report was being considered as a matter of urgency in accordance with Section1972 100B of the Local Government Act 1972 to enable appointments to be made in line with constitutional requirements.

The Council considered the report of the Chief Executive concerning various matters relating to political proportionality and appointments, which required the approval of the County Council as detailed below.

That the County Council approves the Proportionality Table at Appendix 1 to these Minutes.

That the County Council approves the appointment of Chairmen and Vice-Chairmen of County Council Committees and Panels as set out in Appendix 2 to these Minutes.

That the County Council approves the appointment of Rhydian Vaughan MBE (Chairman), Debbie Curnow-Ford, David Harrison, Zoe Huggins, Gary Hughes, Keith Mans, Derek Mellor and Roger Price as its full quota of eight members to the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Authority.

That the County Council approves the appointments detailed in Appendix 3 to these Minutes.

The Council considered the report of the Chief Executive regarding a proposed change to the arrangements for the composition of a Member panel for the purpose of interviews and recommendations to the County Council for the appointment of Independent Remuneration Panel Members (IRP) and Independent Persons.

RESOLVED:

That the County Council delegates authority to the Monitoring Officer, in consultation with the relevant Group Leader of any political group represented on the Conduct Advisory Panel, to vary membership from such group on the Panel for the purpose of interviews and recommendations to the County Council of IRP Members and Independent Persons.

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

There was no report of the Authority on this occasion.