14. MINUTES
The Minutes of the meeting held on 1 July 2004 were confirmed.
15. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
Mrs M J Lloyd declared a personal interest in Minute 20 as her daughter was employed by Wight Leisure.
16.
PUBLIC QUESTION TIME
A Question was put to the Chairman as follows :
Mr Page asked a oral question in relation to charging for the Isle of Wight Tourism Guide.
17.
FORWARD PLAN
The Portfolio Holder for Sustainable Development, Environment and Planning Policy advised the meeting of three forthcoming decisions. Firstly the adoption of Supplementary Planning Guidance for Affordable Housing. Secondly to adopt as SPG a Community Safety Design. Finally to approve SPG on Wind Farms and Wind Turbines.
The Portfolio Holder for Tourism and Leisure would shortly be taking a delegated decision in relation to the ban of smoking in Wight Leisure facilities.
18.
QUARTERLY PERFORMANCE MANAGEMENT REPORT AND ISLE OF WIGHT
ECONOMIC PARTNERSHIP ACTIVITIES
(During the discussion Mr R G Mazillius declared a personal interest as his son was a Director of a firm who made Planning Applications to the Council)
Due to the
close links between the two reports the Committee agreed that these should be
considered jointly.
Members were advised that a risk assessment score
on the QPMR had now been applied to each area to watch.
With regard to the IWEP activities, Members
asked how the East Cowes Project was progressing. It was noted that this was
now in the master planning phase.
Concern was raised that Local Members had
not been invited to meet the Chief Executive of SEEDA when she had visited the
areas of Ryde and East Cowes. Apologies were accepted for this omission and
Members were advised that efforts would be made to improve communication.
Concern was raised regarding PSA target 11, relating to job creation for the over 50’s. It was noted that this target was still being reviewed due to a discrepancy in the measurement criteria. However work on this target was able to continue during this period of review. It was noted that if all PSA Targets were 100% successful over the next 2 years, a total of £500,000 would be awarded.
The Portfolio Holder for Sustainable Development, Environment and Planning Policy provided an update regarding the shortage of Planning Officers. It was noted that six trainees were now in post, and at different stages of a three year course.
Members questioned why the Key Performance Indicator (KPI) for Major Planning Applications was not being met. It was noted that there had been a backlog of 15 outstanding major applications which had effected performance. In addition it was advised that major developments in the Cowes Waterfront would be beginning to make applications in 9-12 months time which would exacerbate the problem. Mindful of these pressures, It was asked how this backlog could be addressed. The following measures had been put in place to address this issue :
· Restructuring within the Planning Team, to ensure maximum efficiency.
· Pre-planning application meetings - to include all necessary outside agencies, which often caused delays. These meetings would flag up any problems in the early stages of major applications.
Some consultants would be used in the development of the Local Development Framework (LDF) to assist with technical details and the intensive time table for the delivery of the LDF. Members were assured that every effort was being made to improve performance.
The Select Committee asked whether there was any evidence to suggest that the new car parking charges at some leisure facilities had impacted on the sale of the one card. It was noted that many questions had been reaised at the centres and a few people had not renewed their One Cards or had cancelled due to media reports.
Questions were asked regarding the lack of expenditure in the capital budget for Tourism and Leisure. It was noted that expenditure in these areas tended to happen in the period October to March prior to the next summer seasons so not to interfere with the current season.
ACTION
REQUIRED BY THE PORTFOLIO HOLDER FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, UK AND EU, REGIONAL
ISSUES
That any future visits from SEEDA senior
executives to the Island involve local members.
That the discrepancies associated with PSA target
11 be resolved as quickly as possible and be accurately recorded in the next
QPMR.
That details of the unemployment figures on
the Island be investigated.
ACTION REQUIRED BY THE PORTFOLIO HOLDER FOR
SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT, ENVIRONMENT AND PLANNING POLICY :
An advert be placed in the County Press
asking interested retired or ex Planning Officers to do some part time work for
the Council
That the actual number of affordable housing
units together with the percentage be shown in the next QPMR.
19.
THE 2004 ISLE OF WIGHT MUSIC FESTIVAL
Consideration was given to the report of the Portfolio Holder for Tourism and Leisure which presented the outcome of the 2004 two week Music Festival.
The Portfolio Holder reported that 105,000 people had attended the 3 day festival, although it was noted that this figure did not represent individuals because people would have attended all 3 days. The Select Committee congratulated those involved on the success of the 3 day Nokia festival. Members raised the following issues which could be further improved upon for next year :
· Inadequate number of toilets
· Congested on Saturday night
· Access and size of disabled viewing stage.
It was noted that many of the problems arising from last years Nokia festival had been addressed however the dramatic increase of attendance this year had limited the effects of these improvements.
It was emphasised that the event was arranged and run by the SOLO agency and therefore the Council were only able to influence through discussion these areas of concern.
Consideration was given to the two week festival which surrounded the 3 day Nokia event. There was some support for the 2 week event, however some of the events had not been successful, it was suggested that there were too many events which reduced the success. During the discussion it was suggested that a 1 week music festival would be more successful. Due to the many issues involved the Select Committee considered agreed that the Councils events team review the future of the 2 week event.
ACTION
REQUIRED BY THE PORTFOLI O HOLDER FOR TOURISM AND LEISURE AND THE HEAD OF
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
The Select
Committee recommends that the 2 week festival be continued in 2005 but the
events team review this for the 2006 festival.
ACTION REQUIRED BY
THE PORTFOLIO HOLDER FOR TOURISM AND LEISURE :
The Committee
note the income generated and positive contribution this event makes to island
tourism.
The Portfolio Holder must influence SOLO to
ensure that in future years that the door stewards, employed by it, are made
fully aware of the problems associated with access to the event for disabled
people and request the Portfolio Holder to liaise directly with SOLO to review
the size and usage of the disabled viewing platform.
The financial costs of the 2 week festival
excluding the 3 day event be circulated to the Committee.
20.
PROGRESS REPORT ONTHEWORK OF THE WIGHT LEISURE PROJECT
BOARD
(Mrs M J Lloyd left the meeting room for this item)
The Select Committee received the joint report of the Portfolio Holder for Tourism and Leisure and the Chair of the Project Board which set out the Boards progress to date. The Select Committee had last considered the work of the Board at its meeting on 1 July 2004 and at a further briefing on 21 July, prior to the board reporting to the Executives meeting on 28 July 2004.
At the Executives meeting the Board had been asked to make further recommendations on the future delivery and methods of delivery for all services. The Boards final report was due to be considered by the Executive in October 2004.
During discussion members requested that a copy of the events criteria be circulated to the Committee. Members asked that further more detailed information, relating to staffing and structure be presented to the Committee as soon as it was available.
ACTION REQUIRED BY THE PORTFOLIO HOLDER FOR TOURISM AND LEISURE :
That the Boards action be endorsed by the Select Committee.
A copy of the events criteria be circulated
to the Committee.
That the
Committee be advised of further detailed information relating to staffing
costs, structure and job evaluations as soon as it becomes available.
The financial costs of the 2 week festival excluding the 3 day event be circulated to the Committee
CHAIRMAN