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

Apologies had been received from Councillors Burgess, House, Kendal, Park, and Parker-Jones. Councillor Pankhurst attended as the Independent deputy and Councillor Harrison attended as the Liberal Democrat deputy.

Councillors Parker and Joy had confirmed they were unable to deputise at this meeting for the Conservative group.

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 were reviewed and agreed.

No deputations were received.

The Chairman had no announcements to make at this point.

The Committee received a report from the Director of Adults’ Health and Care providing an update on the work of the Hampshire Community Safety Strategy Group (HCSSG) during 2023 in ensuring effective collaborative arrangements to address strategic community safety priorities.

Members noted that the HCSSG was chaired by the Director of Adults’ Health and Care and is attended by a wide range of senior representatives from community safety partner agencies. The HCSSG prepared a Community Safety Agreement based on a strategic assessment of the County, with strategic priorities related to current and emerging risks and vulnerabilities. The HCSSG oversees county level collaborative arrangements for addressing these priorities and how the responsible authorities under community safety legislation might work together to reduce crime and disorder or combat substance misuse.

The committee heard details of the actions and initiatives being undertaken to tackle the current priorities:

·         Priority 1: Exploitation, serious violence and drug related harm through organised crime.

·         Priority 2: Intimidation and violence against women and girls.

·         Priority 3: Hate related offences and violent extremism.

·         Priority 4: Promoting community wellbeing and cohesion.

In response to questions members found that:

·         The remit of priority 3 extended to the LGBT community.

·         A number of preventative measures in relation to priority 1 were undertaken within Hampshire’s schools, however there was an ongoing difficulty in relation to increasing the reporting levels due to the similar demands on schools in a number of areas such as extremism.

·         Work continues to be developed to reduce knife crime, targeted in Basingstoke and working with the Police and Crime Commissioner in relation to County Lines.

·         The Police work very closely with other agencies within Hampshire in relation to mental health concerns which are leading to violence and domestic abuse.

·         Proactive work is undertaken ahead of events which frequently lead to an increase in violence against women and girls, such as football competitions.

RESOLVED:

That the Select Committee noted the progress on the work of the Hampshire

Community Safety Strategy Group (HCSSG), including their role in providing

oversight and assurance of collaborative arrangements at the Hampshire

county-level to address community safety priorities.

The Committee received a report and presentation from the Director of Hampshire 2050 providing their annual update on progress made in relation to combatting climate change for pre-scrutiny ahead of submission to Cabinet.

Members received an update on the new priorities and focus for Hampshire County Council in relation to climate change alongside the current baseline emissions. Members also noted an update on key programmes within the strategic framework and engagement activities.

Officers set out the move from a climate change action plan to focussing on a strategic framework, explaining that the creation of the Hampshire 2050 directorate provided an opportunity to review the existing internal arrangements for delivery. The action plan now part of business as usual and in many cases forms part of directorate reporting processes while the strategic framework has been established as the focus of the climate change activity that will deliver the biggest impacts.

The committee noted that the various initiatives which form the strategic framework alongside the areas of focus for the future, including improving the delivery of the outward-facing elements of the strategic framework and focusing on supporting residents through behaviour change and building resilience.

In response to questions members found that:

·         There is lobbying nationally in relation to the expense of retrofitting rented or graded buildings.

·         HCC is working with organisations that provide trustworthy information and signposting in relation to actions residents can take on energy and the funding available

·         Housing associations are actively engaged with in regards to retrofitting, however district councils are better placed then the County Council on this issue.

·         HCC supports schemes which have been vetted for legitimacy and Trading Standards monitor for scams in relation to climate change.

·         The infrastructure in relation to electronic vehicles is being carefully considered, to ensure there is adequate and timely provision and that the future proofed technologies are the ones invested in.

·         There are assessments of Council’s progress on climate change undertaken by external organisations, but the results are compiled from Freedom of Information requests and their methodology can be flawed. Attempts to engage with these organisations have been made.

·         HCC continues to focus on preventing coastal erosion, improving flood resilience and mitigating the impact of extreme weather on highways and farming.

·         HCC continues to strive to increase engagement with young people within the county in relation to climate change.

·         The local transport plan was key to reducing car usage, but that this had to be balanced with financial constraints.

Members concluded their discussion by agreeing that climate change was a key issue facing the council and their regular updates on the issue were essential for ensuring that it remained at the forefront of the council’s activity.

RESOLVED:

That the Hampshire 2050, Corporate Services and Resources Select

Committee supports the recommendation being proposed to the Cabinet in paragraph 2 of the report.

The Committee received a report from the Director of Hampshire 2050 recommending the initiation of a Task & Finish Working Group to scrutinise the directorate’s savings proposal subject to Stage 2 consultation.

RESOLVED:

That the Hampshire 2050, Corporate Services and Resources Select Committee:

a. Set up a Task and Finish Working Group to oversee and scrutinise the approach and outcomes of the County Council’s stage 2 consultation relating to specific Hampshire 2050 Directorate savings proposals;

b. Agree the Terms of Reference for the Working Group as set out in Appendix 1 to the report.

c. Agree the membership of the Working Group as follows

·         Conservative group

o   Cllr Cooper

o   Cllr Huggins

o   Cllr Latham

o   Cllr Penman

o   Cllr Philpott

·         Liberal Democrat group

o   Cllr Collett

o   Cllr Park

·         Labour group

o   Cllr Crawford

The Director of People and Organisation presented the Committee’s work programme.

RESOLVED:

That the Hampshire 2050, Corporate Services and Resources Select Committee discussed and agreed potential items for the work programme that can be prioritised and allocated by the Chairman of the Hampshire 2050, Corporate Services and Resources Select Committee in consultation with the Directors of Corporate Operations, Hampshire 2050 and People and Organisation.