MINUTES OF A MEETING OF THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, PLANNING, TOURISM AND LEISURE SERVICES SELECT COMMITTEE HELD AT COUNTY HALL, NEWPORT, ISLE OF WIGHT ON MONDAY, 22 JULY 2002 COMMENCING AT 9.30 AM

Present :

Mr J H Fleming (Chairman), Mr J R Adams, Mr A C Bartlett, Mrs T M Butchers, Mr J F Howe, Mr C H Lillywhite, Mrs M J Lloyd, Mr A J Mundy, Mr K Pearson, Mr R C Richards, Mr D G Williams

Apologies :

Mr C R Hancock

Portfolio Holder :

Mrs M A Jarman, Mrs B Lawson

Also Present (Non Voting) :

Mr M J Cunningham

 20.      MINUTES

RESOLVED :

THAT the Minutes of the meeting held on 24 June 2002 be confirmed.

21.      TREE PRESERVATION ORDERS : ORDER STATUS REPORT

Members received the report of the Strategic Director of Corporate and Environment Services, which presented the findings of the recent Tree Preservation Order (TPO) Review Project which had begun in early 2001. This had been supported by the work of the Planning Policy Task Group. There had been many longstanding historic problems associated with existing TPO records and the review detailed the problems and potential solutions.

Members were advised that in 2000 the Countryside section had been given a grant of £35,000 to start the review project. In that time the section purchased software to enable all the current TPO’s to be placed on a database.

The Select Committee were advised that the to enable the TPO’s to be brought up to date and offer adequate protection to trees, greater resources would be required. The Strategic Director outlined the proposed changes to the staff structure which would create three new posts and establish the existing temporary administrative post as a permanent full time one. Benefits of the new staffing structure would be :

Improved consultation process covering all applications for works

Improved service response time, meeting statutory targets

Implementation of TPO Review, enhancing protection for important trees

Creation of a sustainable Tree Warden service

In discussion Members supported the proposed changes and agreed there was a need for greater staffing levels to support the TPO service. Clarification was sought regarding the Tree Warden Service, it was indicated that the service was currently run on a informal basis but it was hoped that given more resources formal meetings would be arranged with Wardens.

RESOLVED :

           (a)       THAT the Select Committee support the report and endorse the proposals

           (b)       THAT the Senior Countryside Officer investigate options and costs for accommodating the Protected Tree Service and report back to the Select Committee.

22.      MEDINA THEATRE TERMS AND CONDITIONS

The Select Committee received the report of the Managing Director of Wight Leisure which outlined Medina Theatre’s new terms and conditions of hire. The purpose of the report was to make clear, Wight Leisure’s duty to hirers and the hirers duty to Wight Leisure.

RESOLVED :

                       THAT the Select Committee support the revised Medina Theatre terms and conditions as attached as Appendix 1.

23.      BUDGET MONITORING REPORT AS AT END OF JUNE 2002

The Strategic Director presented his report which set out the budget and spending position on both revenue and capital for the services within the Select Committee’s remit. There were no significant variances to report. The Managing Director of Wight Leisure provided information on the capital programme spend to date and an update regarding capital projects overall within Wight Leisure’s remit.

RESOLVED :

THAT the report be noted.

24.      FORWARD PLAN

RESOLVED :

THAT the Forward Plan for the period July to October 2002 be noted.

                                                                                  CHAIRMAN