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, 25 NOVEMBER 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 C R Hancock, Mr J F Howe, Mr C H Lillywhite, Mrs M J Lloyd, Mr A J Mundy, Mr K Pearson, Mr D G Williams
Apologies :
Mrs B Lawson, Mr R C Richards
Portfolio Holder :
Mr H Rees
Also Present (Non Voting) :
Mr M J Cunningham, Mr E Fox, Mrs M J Miller
44. MINUTES
RESOLVED :
THAT the Minutes of the meeting held on 19 November be confirmed.
45. URGENT BUSINESS
The Chairman agreed to two items of urgent business as they required consideration prior to the next meeting.
(a) ISLE OF WIGHT ECONOMIC PARTNERSHIP - SERVICE LEVEL AGREEMENT
Concern was raised at the delay of the draft contract between the Council and the Isle of Wight Economic Partnership (IWEP). The Head of Legal and Democratic Services explained that the contract had fallen behind the intended timescale. The Council had recently received comments back from IWEP and once these issues had been resolved it was hoped that the contract would be finalised by January 2003.
RESOLVED :
THAT the position be noted.
(b) ISLE OF WIGHT MUSIC FESTIVAL
The Chairman had received a letter from Mr A Mundy CC raising concerns that the final accounts for the Music Festival had not been published and that sponsorship money for the event was still awaited. The Chairman informed Mr A Mundy that the Head of Legal and Democratic Services was undertaking a review of the festival which would address all the concerns raised. A report would be brought back to the Select Committee once the review had been completed.
RESOLVED :
THAT the position be noted.
46. BUDGET MONITORING REPORT AS AT END OF OCTOBER 2002
The Select Committee received the report of the Strategic Director of Finance and Information and County Treasurer which set out the current budget and spending position on both revenue and capital for the services within the Committee’s remit. Members noted that there were no significant variances or pressures.
In discussion the Select Committee asked for clarification regarding ownership and responsibility for Island children’s play areas. The Head of Community Development and Tourism confirmed that he would circulate an inventory to all Members detailing maintenance responsibilities and costs.
RESOLVED :
THAT the report be noted.
47. UPDATE ON THE EXTERNALISATION OF TOURISM SERVICES
The Head of Community Development and Tourism reminded Members that the Select Committee had considered the issue of the externalisation of Tourism Services at its meeting on 23 September 2002. Members were advised that since this meeting a sub committee of the IW Tourism Partnership had been formed comprising of three members from the Island Tourist Industry Association (ITIA) and three members of the Council, these included :
David Groocock (Chairman)
Simon Dabell (Vice Chairman)
Sandy Stritton
Mrs M Jarman CC
Mr H Rees CC
Mr D Williams CC
The sub groups objective was to identify the services most suitable for externalisation. The group hoped to conclude its discussions by February 2003 and would therefore be able to report back to the Select Committee in March 2003.
The next stage was to agree a final model to deliver the service, some of the options had been considered at the Committee’s meeting in September 2002. In discussion members identified that many areas relating to tourism and regionalisation were subject to confidentiality and guidance was needed to ascertain the parameters of confidentiality in order to keep members of the Select Committee as informed as possible.
In discussion it was raised that an Acting Head of Tourism was soon to be appointed, the actual management arrangements would not be certain until the externalisation service delivery model had been decided upon.
RESOLVED :
THAT the report be noted.
48. UPDATE ON THE REGENERATION OF COWES
The Select Committee considered the report of the Strategic Director of Corporate and Environment Services which updated members as to the progress of Project Cowes. In partnership the Council together with the Isle of Wight Economic Partnership (IWEP) and South East England Development Agency (SEEDA) had appointed consultants to produce development framework for Cowes, East Cowes and the Medina Valley. The consultants had undertaken initial appraisal of issues with landowners and statutory bodies and were currently undertaking further analysis of employment needs and opportunities to formulate the framework.
Members were informed that the first round of public consultation had been launched on 20 November and would be on view until the 2 December 2002 in various locations and a questionnaire issued. Following the consultation a development framework would be produced by the end of 2002 for further consultation. It was noted that following further consultation the development framework was intended to become supplementary planning Guidance (SPG). In discussion the relationship between the emerging development framework and the Unitary Development Plan (UPD) was raised. It was clarified that the UDP remained the principle policy document as the Statutory Development Plan and that any SPG, including the development framework for Project Cowes, had to be consistent and in accordance with the adopted UDP.
RESOLVED :
THAT the position be noted.
49. BEST VALUE REVIEW OF PLANNING SERVICES
Consideration was given to the scope for the Best Value Review of Planning Services. Members were advised that the review would be structured at three levels and that the review would be conducted against a set of criteria which had been identified in a recent Audit Commission summary.
The Head of Planning Services informed Members that two separate training days for all Councillors were being arranged for early in the new year. This would give all members an overview of the development control process and procedures.
RESOLVED :
THAT the scope of the Planning Services Best Value Review be approved.
50. UPDATE ON FEASIBILITY PROJECT FOR ‘STREETSTUFF’ WHEELED EXTREME SPORTS CENTRE
The Select Committee gave consideration to the report of the Managing Director of Wight Leisure which updated members on the results of the first phase of the feasibility project into an indoor/outdoor skate park facility for the Island.
The first phase of the project had indicated that there was a need for the type of facility outlined in the feasibility project. It was hoped that it would help support the smaller skate parks across the island. Issues of sustainability were considered. With regard to the location, the project had so far highlighted Sandown or Ryde as main areas for consideration. Members were advised that if located in Ryde it may attract young people from the Portsmouth area. In discussion the Select Committee considered that transportation to the park was a main area of concern. It was believed that the cost of travelling by public transport to Ryde from different areas across the Island would be costly. Mindful of this, Members considered that Newport would be a more appropriate location, as the Islands central hub. Wight Leisure indicated they would take into consideration issues of transportation surrounding any proposed centre.
RESOLVED :
THAT the Committee note the first phase of the project.
CHAIRMAN