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, 24 NOVEMBER 2003 COMMENCING AT 9.30 AM

Present :

Mr C R Hancock (Chairman), Mr A C Bartlett, Mr J A Bowker, Mr J F Howe, Mrs B Lawson, Mrs M J Lloyd, Mr A J Mundy, Mr K Pearson, Mr R C Richards, Mr J Whittaker, Mr D G Williams

Apologies :

Mr J R Adams

Portfolio Holder :

Mrs T M Butchers, Mr J H Fleming

Also Present (non-voting) :

Miss H L Humby, Mrs M A Jarman, Mr R G Mazillius

 45.      MINUTES

RESOLVED :

THAT the Minutes of the meeting held on the 27 October 2003 be confirmed.

46.      OGLANDER ROMAN TRUST

The Chairman welcomed representatives of the Trust to the meeting. The Trust provided the Select Committee with a brief history of the Brading Roman Villa and of the work undertaken by the Oglander Roman Trust. The independent charitable trust had been established in 1996 and was currently working towards providing a new cover building to preserve the villa. Heritage lottery funding had committed a grant to meet 75% of the £2.8 million project costs and the trust had been successful in finding significant match funding however they still required further funding of approximately £50-60,000. Cash flow difficulties were also being encountered. The Trust stated that they would welcome the Council’s financial support in obtaining the remaining money as the Villa would be a centre of Educational, historical and cultural significance. The Trust suggested a number of ways in which the Council may wish to support the project, these included :

           *          Reimbursement of the Council’s Planning and Building Regulation fees

           *          A cash donation

           *          Improved signage and access to the Roman Villa

           *          Assist the Trust with immediate cash flow difficulties

In discussion members expressed their support for the project. The Select Committee expressed their congratulations and thanks to the Trust for all their hard work and dedication.

RESOLVED :

           (a)       THAT the Council’s Museum Service explore ways in which the Council could assist the Roman Trust

           (b)       THAT the Council’s Engineering Service department explore ways to improve signage and access around Brading Roman Villa

           (c)       THAT the Council’s Funder Finder assist the Trust to explore further funding options

RESOLVED TO RECOMMEND TO THE EXECUTIVE :

           (d)       THAT the Council provide an ‘interest free loan’ to enable the Trustees to overcome any cast flow difficulties they had experienced

           (e)       THAT the Committee recommend the Council make a donation of at least £7,000 equal to the costs of the Planning and Building Regulations the Trust had already paid to the Council.

47.      WIGHT LEISURE EXTERNALISATION

The Select Committee received the report of the Head of Legal and Democratic Services which outlined the progress to date of the investigation of the Wight Leisure Externalisation process which had been requested by the Executive at its meeting on the 4 June 2003.

Members were advised that the reports original timetable of targets had not been adhered to and a set of revised dates for the delivery of the report had been compiled. The Committee expressed its disappointment that the report had been delayed. The Head of Legal and Democratic Services explained that a combination of factors involving the professional and personal lives of those involved in the process had caused the delay and expressed his apologies to the Select Committee

In discussion the Select Committee requested that the report be circulated to all members of the Committee as soon as it was made available. In addition, in its role of scrutiny, Members asked that the report be considered by the Committee prior to its consideration by the Executive.

RESOLVED :

           (a)       THAT the Select Committee request that the final report be brought to the Committee prior to the Executive

           (b)       THAT the report be circulated to the Select Committee as soon as it was available.

48.      MEMBERS QUESTION TIME

Mr Mundy asked when could Northwood House Trustees expect to receive a costed business plan for the propose occupation of the House by departments of the Council. Mr Mundy was advised that a key meeting on the 2 December 2003 would result either in the swift production of the business plan or a recognition that insufficient funds are available to deliver such a plan.

49.      TOURISM DEVELOPMENT PLAN - UPDATE

At its meeting on the 26 August 2003 the Select Committee had requested that regular updates be provided on the development of the Tourism Development Plan.

The Head of Community Development and Tourism advised members that since the Committees meeting in August 2003, a themed workshop had been held on the 17 October 2003 which had focussed on evaluating the effectiveness of the actions in the current Community Strategy regarding the development of tourism.

The Workshop had identified five major areas :

           *          The Tourism Market

           *          The product and infrastructure of the Island which supported tourism

           *          The link between tourism and leisure activities

           *          How tourism was organised on the Island

           *          The quality of the tourism product

Members referred to ‘branding the island’. The Head of Community Development and Tourism confirmed that work was being undertaken with the Isle of Wight Economic Partnership to develop this further. The Committee discussed the importance of developing tourism corporately. Members were assured that the Islands infrastructure was being considered alongside the development of tourism. It was considered vital that the TDP be developed to work together with the Council strategies, In particular the Islands Transport Plan.

In discussion members referred to the Council’s Forward Plan which listed two tourism reports due to be considered by the Executive in the forthcoming months. It was requested that the reports relating to Partnership Arrangements with Tourism South East and New Policies for Tourism relating to membership scheme, be brought to the Select Committee prior to consideration by the Executive.

RESOLVED :

THAT the report be noted.

50.      ISLE OF WIGHT COUNCILS FORWARD PLAN - DECEMBER 2003 TO MARCH 2004

RESOLVED :

THAT the report be noted.

CHAIRMAN