Hampshire County Council Universal Services - Countryside and Regulatory Services Select Committee Meeting

Apologies were received from Councillors Lulu Bowerman, Steven Broomfield, Peter Chegwyn and Dominic Hiscock. Councillors Ann Briggs and Michael Thierry attended as deputies.

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 Personal 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 Countryside, Culture and Communities Select Committee meeting held on 7 December 2022 were agreed as a correct record.

There were no deputations for the meeting.

There were no formal announcements.

The Select Committee considered a report from the Director of Universal Services (item 6 in the minute book), which highlighted the findings of the Income Generation Task and Finish Working Group.

The officer summarised the report and it was noted that the baseline income from the four outdoor centres had been £3.27 million rather than the £3 million quoted in paragraph 24, which was a welcomed increase.

During questions the Members noted that:

·         No proposals had been received on Titchfield Haven during the moratorium period, which was due to end in June;

·         Further work was due to be done on developing the relationship with Ancestry and the digitalising of archives;

·         Planning permission restraints affected the ability to expand at some outdoor centres, particularly those in the New Forest;

·         Whilst some outdoor centres could accommodate some public use, there was a lot of investment required to make them more suitable for public use;

·         Manydown Country Park continued to be developed, but would fall under the Hampshire 2050 Directorate remit;

Councillor Russell Oppenheimer, the Executive Member for Countryside and Regulatory Services confirmed to Committee that Cabinet was also more widely looking at income generation and a lot had been achieved so far, meaning that many areas were self-funding and in a strong position.

The Task & Finish Group and supporting officers were thanked for their investment and input into the working group.

RESOLVED

The Universal Services – Countryside and Regulatory Services Select

Committee endorsed the findings of the Income Generation Task and Finish

Working Group.

The Select Committee discussed the work programme and allocated upcoming items accordingly:

-       Basingstoke canal and future management would go on the Select Committee agenda for July 2023;

-       The Byways Open to All Traffic (BOAT) 5yr strategy would go on the Select Committee agenda for September 2023;

-       Facilities management and operational delivery would go on the Select Committee agenda for November 2023

Potential future items included working alongside the Portal Trust, Registration Services and Calshot Outdoor Centre following the completion of the current work being undertaken on maintenance and improvements.

It was also noted that an additional meeting may be set up for the end of July to look at Titchfield Haven following the end of the moratorium period, but this would be monitored by officers.