Minutes:
The Board welcomed Rachel Barker, Assistant Chief Executive,
who was in attendance to report on the Council’s interim response to the Hampshire
County Council (HCC) consultation on Balancing the Budget.
The proposed response from the Council would include the
following:
·
The Council supported HCC in making a case to
central government for an improved funding settlement
·
Support would be given to an increase in
commercial activity by the County Council
·
Emphasis would be given to the current work
being undertaken by the Council on its own savings programme/budget review and
note that it would not necessarily be looking to fund or carry out activities
previously delivered by HCC
·
The suggested approach to rely on other public
sector agencies to provide services would be opposed
·
Suggest that early engagement should be held
with district and borough councils, to ensure local circumstances and differences
are understood as part of the process
·
Request that a cautious approach be taken where
it had been assumed that voluntary and community sector organisations would
address needs in the future
The Board was then apprised of the response to service proposals
within the consultation, these included:
·
Countryside services and outdoor centres – the
Council supported exploring further commercialisation of facilities such as
Runways End, but would not wish to see costs transferred to other public sector
bodies.
·
Breaks for carers of disabled children – a
reduction in respite care could prove to be a false economy, ultimately putting
more pressure on wider related service providers
·
Adult social care services – the proposal to
stop all grants to voluntary organisations would be opposed by the Council at
this time
·
Public health – The Council would be responding
to the detailed consultation on public health which was also out for
consultation
·
School crossing patrols – cutting this service
could reduce safety and increase car use directly impacting the response to
climate change
·
Waste – early engagement with district and
borough councils would be suggested to understand the impacts of proposed
restrictions at Household Waste Recycling Centres
·
Transport – it was unclear where these savings
could be sought in public transport costs and further information would be
required to understand this better.
Ms Barker advised on a question within the consultation
regarding “local government reorganisation”, and it was noted that the Council,
in line with HCC, were not in favour of such a change and were supportive of
the current two tier arrangements. The Council would welcome further
discussions with HCC to reduce duplication of costs and services, increase
devolved decision making and funding, and pursue further enhanced and joint
working opportunities. Any reviews of local government should, ideally, wait
until the Levelling Up White Paper was released, and any proposals should be
developed in partnership between all layers of local government to ensure the
best outcomes for residents were achieved.
The Board discussed the presentation and in particular,
capacity building within the voluntary sector and school crossing patrols being
essential in most areas to ensure safety and encourage independence within
young people. Increasing commercialisation was also discussed and where this
could be implemented.
It was noted that Informal Cabinet would review the response at its meeting on 15th July, therefore, should Members have any further comments these should be shared with Ms Barker before the meeting. The response would then be finalised and submitted by the 18th July, 2021 deadline.