MINUTES OF A MEETING OF THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, PLANNING, TOURISM AND LEISURE SERVICES SELECT COMMITTEE HELD AT COUNTY HALL, NEWPORT, ISLE OF WIGHT ON TUESDAY, 16 DECEMBER 2003 COMMENCING AT 9.30 AM
Present :
Mr C R Hancock (Chairman), Mr J R Adams, Mr A C Bartlett, Mr J A Bowker, Mrs B Lawson, Mrs M J Lloyd, Mr R G Mazillius (deputising form Mr K Pearson), Mr A J Mellor, Mr R C Richards, Mr A Taylor (deputising for Mr A J Mundy), Mr D G Williams
Portfolio Holders :
Mr J F Fleming, Mr H Rees
Apologies :
Mr T M Butchers, Mr J F Howe, Mr A J Mundy, Mr K Pearson, Mr J Whittaker
Also Present (non-voting) :
Mr M J Cunningham, Mrs M A Jarman
51. MINUTES
RESOLVED :
THAT the Minutes of the meeting held on 24 November 2003 be confirmed.
52. BUDGET MONITORING REPORT AS AT END OF NOVEMBER 2003
The Select Committee received the report of the Chief Financial Officer which presented the budget and spending position on both revenue and capital for the services within the Committee’s remit as at the end of November 2003.
Members questioned the budget virement within the Capital expenditure. The Committee were advised that the virements would either be met by underspends elsewhere in the budget or by the deferral of a capital project. Further details of these arrangements would be sent to the Committee in due course.
RESOLVED :
(a) THAT the Committee ask that the appropriately informed and professionally qualified officers to answer questions on budgets at all future meetings.
(b) THAT the Chief Financial Officer investigate rationalising island harbour budgets in order to facilitate easier scrutiny and monitoring of these budgets.
53. REPORT ON THE ISLE OF WIGHT ECONOMIC PARTNERSHIP ACTIVITIES
Consideration was given to the report of the Head of Corporate Policy and Communications which provided the Select Committee with information on the Isle of Wight Economic Partnership activities for the period of July 2003 to September 2003.
With regard to the Rural Development Programme the Select Committee were advised that the amount of £400,000 which had been awarded to the Island had now been withdrawn. Members were assured that the existing commitments to projects would still be met, however the development of future projects may be delayed.
The Partnership had been working with partners to re evaluate the marketing of the Island. It was considered that the establishment of an Isle of Wight brand would attract business sector investment to the Island. A number of organisations had given their support to this development. It was hoped that a draft proposal for branding would be considered by summer 2004.
Members asked a number of questions in relation to the following areas :
The Leader+ Programme
The development of the Area Investment Framework (AIF)
The Markets Town Initiative
Cowes Waterfront
The Select Committee requested that details of the number of jobs created by the Leader+ Programme be circulated to the Committee together with the AIF.
RESOLVED :
(a) THAT the Select Committee note the report and expressed their thanks to the Isle of Wight Economic Partnership for their valued work to date
(b) THAT the Select Committee receive an update report from the Isle of Wight Economic Partnership in 3 months time.
54. UPDATE ON THE REGENERATION OF COWES
Members received a brief update on the current position on the development of Cowes Waterfront. The Supplementary Planning Guidance (SPG) for the development had been approved by the Executive on the 30 July 2003. Since the adoption of the SPG, SEEDA had purchased the whole of the GKN Northworks site and part of the Three Gates Road site. SEEDA were currently seeking interest from consultants to prepare a master plan for the GKN site in the context of East Cowes Town centre and Red Funnel land. The development of the master plan was expected to take approximately 7 months.
The Select Committee were advised a claim for a judicial review of the SPG had been received and was being rebutted as it was not considered to be well founded. A court hearing date for the judicial review had not been set therefore the possible delay to the project development was unknown.
RESOLVED :
(a) THAT the Select Committee review the progress of the new branding exercise prior to its consideration by the Executive
(b) THAT the Select Committee Support continued efforts to recruit qualified planning staff to deliver the Council’s Policy Planning Framework and other projects in an exceptable timescale.
55.
MEMBERS QUESTION TIME
Mr R Mazillius asked a question in relation to the Local Development Framework (LDF). The Chairman considered that the LDF should be considered at a future meeting of the Select Committee.
CHAIRMAN