Hampshire County Council Hampshire 2050, Corporate Services and Resources Select Committee Meeting

Apologies were received from Councillors Tanya Park and Bill Withers. Councillors Jackie Porter and Stephen Parker respectively attended the meeting in their place.

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.

Councillor Crawford declared an interest as a Committee Member of the West End Centre and Councillor Parker declared an interest as a family member volunteers at one of the centres, both managed by the Hampshire Cultural Trust (Item 6 on the agenda).

The minutes of the last meeting held on 13 July 2023 were reviewed, agreed and subsequently signed by the Chairman.

A deputation was received from Alan Lovell, Chairman of the Hampshire Cultural Trust regarding Item 6 on the agenda relating to future grant funding.

The Chairman advised the Committee that due to a technical error in the original agenda publication, the Savings Programme for Corporate Services (Item 7) was not showing. He agreed that this item be included on the agenda for today’s meeting.

A deputation was heard from Alan Lovell, Chair of the Hampshire Cultural Trust on Item 6 relating to grant funding to the Trust.

The Committee then considered Items 6 and 7 on the agenda together, which was led by a joint presentation from the Directors of Corporate Operations, People and Organisation and Hampshire 2050.

Officers presented both reports and Members were informed that the County Council expected to face a budget gap of at least £132m after taking account of annual Council tax increases at the maximum permitted level of 4.99% and additional grant funding expected to be provided by the government in 2024/25.

The Committee acknowledged that the reduction in funding to the County Council presented a difficult set of circumstances. They were advised that both Members and Officers continued to lobby Government to seek a fairer funding formula and legislative change for some services to help to close the gap.

Members continued to recognise the importance of continuing the constructive relationship it has with the Hampshire Cultural Trust as it undertook the necessary transformation to be less reliant on local authority revenue funding.

In considering proposals regarding revenue grants and one-off competitive grants, the Committee suggested a proposal to ensure that officers look at grant funding in the round across both the County Council and its various grant streams as well as across the various tiers of government that operate in our area. Officers agreed that this scope was within the current proposals and recommendations as set out in the report for this to happen.

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

RESOLVED:

That the Hampshire 2050, Corporate Services and Resources Select Committee supports the recommendations being proposed to the Leader and Executive Member for Hampshire 2050 and Corporate Services in paragraph 2 of the attached report.

Discussion combined under Minute number 24.

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

RESOLVED:

That the Hampshire 2050, Corporate Services and Resources Select Committee supports the recommendations being proposed to the Leader and Executive Member for Hampshire 2050 and Corporate Services in paragraph 2 of the attached report.

The Committee considered the Work Programme (Item 8 in the Minute Book).

During discussion. Members noted that no slot had been identified for the budget monitoring reports. Timings would be identified with the Director of Corporate Operations and included in a future work programme.

RESOLVED:

That the work programme be agreed.