Hampshire County Council Policy and Resources Select Committee Meeting

Apologies were received from Councillor Graham Burgess and Councillor Derek Mellor attended the meeting 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 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.

No declarations were made.

The minutes of the last meeting were agreed and signed by the Chairman.

There were no deputations to this meeting.

The Chairman announced that Item 6 “County Council Priorities” on the agenda was being withdrawn and would be brought back to a future meeting.

This item was being deferred to a future meeting of the Committee.

The Committee considered four reports together from Chief Officers regarding the Revenue Savings Proposals for Corporate Services, Emergency Planning, Property and Health and Safety that had been developed as part of the Savings Programme to 2023 (SP2023) Programme Items 7 -10 respectively on the agenda).

Officers led Members through the four Savings Programme reports through the accompanying presentation.

Members heard that the last government spending review was for one year, making forward planning difficult. Forecasting indicated that government funding would not fully meet the financial pressures the County Council faced, therefore there would be a funding gap in April 2023 and the Council would need to make savings of £80 million to balance the budget. This was in addition to £45 million in savings from previous transformation programmes that were yet to be delivered. It was reported that an overarching ‘balancing the budget’ consultation had been undertaken in the summer of 2021 and further consultation would be undertaken on individual proposals at the appropriate time.

The Committee were made aware of the savings target for each of the four services and a breakdown was given for where proposed savings could be achieved. Members asked questions and commented on the proposals and learned that lobbying did continue with Central Government for funding. The Chairman thanked Officers for their hard work.

The Chairman put the recommendation to the vote and it was carried.

The Committee’s resolutions for each report are included under the respective minute item.

RESOLVED:

The Committee supported the Recommendations being proposed to the Executive Member for Policy and Resources in section 2 of the report. (To approve the submission of the proposed savings options contained in this

report and Appendix 1 to the Cabinet.)

Discussion combined under Minute number 17.

The Chairman put the recommendation to the vote and it was carried.

RESOLVED:

The Committee supported the Recommendations being proposed to the Executive Lead Member for Economy, Transport and Environment in section 2 of the report. (To approve the submission of the proposed savings options contained in this report and Appendix 1 to the Cabinet.)

Discussion combined under Minute number 17.

The Chairman put the recommendation to the vote and it was carried.

RESOLVED:

The Committee supported the Recommendations being proposed to the Executive Member for Commercial Strategy, Estates and Property in section 2 of the report. (To approve the submission of the proposed savings options contained in this report and Appendix 1 to the Cabinet.)

Discussion combined under Minute number 17.

The Chairman put the recommendation to the vote and it was carried.

RESOLVED:

The Committee supported the Recommendations being proposed to the Executive Member for Performance, Human Resources and Partnerships in section 2 of the report. (To approve the submission of the proposed savings options contained in this report and Appendix 1 to the Cabinet.)

The Committee considered the work programme and in doing so, requested that an item be included on antisocial behaviour/County Lines for the November meeting and an update on the Gigabit Broadband Voucher scheme for its meeting in March 2022.

RESOLVED:

The Committee agreed the work programme with the inclusion of the above-mentioned items.