HAMPSHIRE SENATE

5 December 2012

HampshireCounty Council

Present:

Name / Organisation
Brigadier Neil Baverstock / Armed Services Representative
Geoff Bonner / Chief Executive, Hart District Council
Councillor Tony Briggs / Leader, Havant Borough Council
Councillor Ian Carr / Leader, TestValley Borough Council
Tim Colman / Regional Vice-Chairman, Federation of Small Businesses (Wessex Region)
Tony Curtis / Chief Executive, Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council
Councillor Peter Edgar / Gosport Borough Council’s representative
Gillian Finch / Hampshire Voluntary Sector Consortium
Debbie Fleming / Director, NHS Commissioning BoardWessex Local Area Team
Sandy Hopkins / Chief Executive, East Hampshire
District Council and Havant Borough
Council
Bob Jackson / New Forest District Council’s
representative
Julian Johnson / Chairman, New ForestNational Park
Authority
Ally Lee-Dudley / Voluntary Sector Consortium
Andrew Lloyd / Chief Executive, Rushmoor Borough Council
Andy Marsh / Deputy Chief Constable, Hampshire Constabulary
Councillor Peter Moyle / Leader, Rushmoor Borough Council
Councillor Roy Perry / Partnership Network
Councillor Clive Sanders / Leader, Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council
Andrew Smith / Chief Executive, Hampshire County Council
Roger Tetstall / Chief Executive, TestValley Borough Council
Councillor Ken Thornber / Leader, Hampshire County Council
Councillor Glynis Watts / Deputy Leader, East Hampshire District Council
Also in attendance:
Paul Archer / Director of Policy & Governance, Hampshire County Council (Item 6)
Daniel Fearnley / Broadband Manager, Hampshire County Council
Karen Murray / Director of CCBS & Strategic and Business Development
Suzie Southgate / Press Officer, Hampshire County Council
Debbie Vaughan / Senate Business Manager, Hampshire County Council
Carolyn Williamson / Director of Corporate Resources – Corporate Services, Hampshire County Council

Notes of the meeting:

123.Apologies

Apologies were received from:

Alison Barnes, Chief Executive of New Forest National Park Authority
Councillor Ken Crookes, Leader of Hart District Council – represented by
Geoff Bonner, Chief Executive
Geoff French, Chairman of Enterprise M3 LEP –represented by Tim Colman, Federation of Small Businesses (Wessex Region)
Councillor Michael Lane - Gosport Borough Council represented by Councillor Peter Edgar
Councillor Ken Moon, Leader of East Hampshire District Council – represented by Councillor Glynis Watts, Deputy Leader
Councillor Barry Rickman, Leader of New Forest District Council and Dave Yates, Chief Executive of New Forest District Council – represented by Bob Jackson, Executive Director

124.Chairman’s Announcements

The Chairman welcomed the following members to their first meeting of the Senate:
Debbie Fleming, Director, NHS Commissioning Board Wessex Local Area Team
Gillian Finch and Ally Lee-Dudley representing the Voluntary and Community Sector

125.Minutes of the last meeting

The Minutes of the meeting held on 19 September 2012 (Agenda Item 3) were agreed. There were no matters arising.

126.Impact of the Local Government Finance Act 2012

The Senate received a joint presentation from Carolyn Williamson, Director of Corporate Resources at Hampshire County Council and Bob Jackson, Executive Director at New Forest District Council on the impact of the Local Government Finance Act 2012.

The presentation provided an explanation of the key items in the Act, including:
- introduction of tax increment financing
- changes regarding business rates retention
- likely implications of the localisation of Council Tax support
- latest position regarding the Local Government Finance settlement
The Act will also makes some adjustments to council tax involving changes to the discounts that billing authorities may give for unoccupied properties and second homes, and the introduction of the empty homes premium.
In regard to the Local Government Finance settlement, it was reported that the settlement was unlikely to be announced by the Government until 24 December, covering the last two years of the current Comprehensive Spending Review (CSR) with a potential third year covering the financial year 2015/16. It was also reported that spending cuts could be equivalent to the first two years of the CSR, i.e. 25%.
The Senate noted that the full impact of what represents some significant changes was uncertain. It was anticipated that the forthcoming Local Government finance settlement would continue to present challenges for local authorities and their partners.
The Senate also noted that consultation had been undertaken with partners such as the voluntary sector to publicise the changes to as wide an audience as possible.

127.Hampshire Broadband Programme Update

The Senate considered a report from Karen Murray, Director of CCBS and Strategic and Business Development, supported by Daniel Fearnley, Broadband Manager at Hampshire County Council which provided an update on the Hampshire Broadband Programme. They highlighted the key points and reported that it is anticipated that up to 115,000 households and businesses in Hampshire (just over 20% of premises) will experience improved broadband as part of this programme.
The Senate noted that communication with stakeholders had generally been positive and regular e-communication to provide updates had been undertaken with those who had registered their details. The Senate were requested to encourage as many as people as possible to register their details.
During the course of discussions it was noted that organisations such as the National Farmers Union had stated how important superfast broadband is to the local farming community. Parish Councils could therefore help to encourage people to register their details. Fibre optic capabilities and the use of satellite was also discussed.
The role of LEPs was also highlighted in terms of making funding available where most needed. The Senate noted that regular meetings are held with both the Enterprise M3 and Solent LEPs to work proactively to achieve as good a broadband service as possible to as many people as possible..

128.Health Reforms and Transition Arrangements

The Senate considered a joint report from Paul Archer, Director of Governance and Policy at Hampshire County Council and Debbie Fleming, Director, NHS Commissioning Board Wessex Local Area Team updating the Senate further on the progress in relation to the proposals to reform the NHS in the Health and Social Care Act 2012.

The Senate noted that since the last update they received in July, good progress had been made in terms of establishing the Wessex Local Area Team of the NHS Commissioning Board, authorisation and funding allocations for the Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs), development of the transition plan for the transfer of public health and the development and commissioning of Local Healthwatch for Hampshire.
Debbie Fleming highlighted the importance of good collaboration between partners to ensure that all of the changes improve the outcomes for local people. The progress being made by the five geographically based Hampshire CCGs was encouraging and there was full recognition on the CCGs part of the need to work together. The biggest challenge for the future was how services change in order to meet the needs of an ageing population and again, to achieve the best possible outcomes.
During the course of discussion, it was noted that the first part of the ambition for the Health and Wellbeing Strategy, as set out in paragraph 7.5 of the report, would be improved by some fine tuning of the wording and this would be looked at.
It was noted that there was some confusion amongst partners about how the role of the new NHS Commissioning Board will work in practice and it was suggested that a Commissioning Factsheet be supplied to the Senate, together with the mandate from the Government to the NHS Commissioning Board for the period April 2013 to March 2015 as useful background information.

Finally the importance of the role of the Health and Wellbeing Board in the future was highlighted, as this multi-partner Board would collectively be considering the needs of local communities.

129.Drugs Paraphernalia
The Senate considered a report from Councillor Peter Moyle, Leader of Rushmoor Borough Council regarding concerns about the availability of drug paraphernalia on sale in retail outlets across Hampshire and the extent to which this encourages drug usage.
In presenting the report, Councillor Moyle requested the agreement of the Senate to call upon the Local Government Association to review the current situation nationally and, if appropriate, make representation to the Government for greater legislative control of specialised drug paraphernalia.
During the course of discussion, the Senate expressed their support for the action requested and noted that partnership work between Hampshire Police, Hampshire Trading Standards and local authorities was ongoing to stop the sale of inappropriate goods. The Senate also expressed the view that the Community Safety Partnerships be invited to comment on the paper.
Resolved:
a)That the Senate calls upon the LGA to review the current situation nationally and, if appropriate, make representation to Government for greater legislative control of specialised drug paraphernalia; and
b)That a glossary of terms be prepared to support a letter to the LGA, to be signed by the Chairman on behalf of the Senate.

130Any Other Business

Deputy Chief Constable Andy Marsh highlighted two campaigns that had been launched to remind drivers about the dangers and consequences of drink driving, and to raise awareness about domestic abuse which increases by around 8% during the festive period.

131.Date, time and venue of next meeting

The next meeting of the Senate would be a Plenary Briefing scheduled for Wednesday 13 February 2013 at 10.00am in the MitchellRoom, Elizabeth II Court, The Castle, Winchester.

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