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, 26 NOVEMBER 2001 COMMENCING AT 9.30 AM

Present :

Mr D T Yates ( Chairman), Mr J R Adams, Mr A C Bartlett, Mrs T M Butchers, Mr J H Fleming, Mr C R Hancock, Mr C H Lillywhite, Mrs M J Lloyd, Mr R G Mazillius, Mr R C Richards, Mr D G Williams

Portfolio Holder :

Mr H Rees

Apologies :

Mrs D Gardiner, Mrs B Lawson, Mr A J Mellor

Also Present (Non-Voting) :

Mr J Effemey, Mrs S Smart

9. MINUTES

RESOLVED :
THAT the minutes of the meeting held on 22 October 2001 be confirmed.

10. URGENT BUSINESS - MEMBERSHIP OF THE CULTURAL STRATEGY TASK GROUP

The Chairman indicated that there was an item of urgent business which required consideration by the Committee prior to the next meeting. It was agreed that the matter should be considered after the last item on the days agenda when relevant officers would be in attendance.
RESOLVED :
THAT the item be considered at the end of the days agenda.

11. SERVICES PLANS AND PERFORMANCE INDICATORS

Members received the report of the Strategic Director of Corporate and Environment Services with regard to sections of Service Plans and Performance Indicators for areas which fell specifically within the Committee's Terms of Reference. Attached to the report were Service Plans covering Planning Policy, Countryside, Archaeology and details of the Councils' Economic Development activities delivered through the Isle of Wight Partnership. Wight Leisure developed their service in line with their approved marketing strategy and a copy of an Overview Marketing Strategy, 2002 - 2005 and had been circulated to members under separate cover. The Strategic Director for Financial Services circulated a copy of the Service Plans for Isle of Wight Tourism.
In considering the Service Plans for Economic Development, Members expressed concern at the lack of information regarding the organisational changes within the Isle of Wight Partnership (IWP) which compromised the ability for full information, in the standard service plan format, to be presented to the Select Committee. The Portfolio Holder for Economic Development, UK and EU, and Regional Issues explained how the IWP was established and as an independent company limited by guarantee its degree of accountability to the Council. Council representation had recently been decreased to two members on the Board of Directors. Discussions to determine the best way forward for the Council to deliver its economic development service in the future were ongoing. However, it was anticipated that full details of the recommended proposals would be reported to the Executive in December.
Members were referred to the Service Plans for Planning Policy, Countryside and Archaeology. The Archaeology department had undergone a period of change and restructure during the past year, and these were reported. The profile of the service had been raised significantly over the past year due, particularly, to the work of the newly appointed Head of Archaeology in increasing community involvement. Members were advised of the need to develop an Archaeology Management Strategy.
In relation to the Countryside Section, members were informed of a number of developments achieved over the past three years. In particular the re-establishment of the Countryside News within Wight Insight, the Urban Ranger for Ryde and the development of various Management and Action Plans for Countryside sites. Details of the dedicated tree protection service were reported together with information on the review of the TPO system currently being undertaken.
The Director reported the difficulty in setting Performance Indicators for Planning Policy and subsequently, comparisons with other organisations. The achievements accomplished by the department during the past 12 months were referred to. In addition, Members were made aware of the possible implications of the Government's forthcoming major Green Paper on the Planning Process. With regard to Village Design Statements, a proactive stance was being taken to drive the issue forward and a Village Design manual was to be produced.
Consideration was given to the Service Plan for Isle of Wight Tourism (IWT) which set out the services provided, how they linked in with statutory or locally adopted plans and a service SWOT analysis. Financial budget details and income source for the current year were noted. Tourism was a non-statutory service and therefore no national Performance Indicators were available. However, the IWT was participating in a benchmarking club co-ordinated by the Southern Tourist Board and it was anticipated that information from that would be available shortly. A number of IWT strategic objectives for 2001 were outlined and particular mention was made of the continued encouragement given by IWT of the regeneration programme in the Sandown Bay area.
Following a marketing and advertising audit of all Wight Leisure business activities the Marketing Strategy 2002 -2205 was produced which provided clear action plans for individual facilities and services to enable effective and efficient forward planning for Wight Leisure to meet its strategic objectives and business plan. Members were referred, in particular, to the local Performance Indicators, set out in the Strategy, where all targets had exceeded estimated figures. The revised strategic objectives were noted. Wight Leisure had recently become a member of the Association for Public Service Excellence (APSE) and through them the Performance Networks benchmarking scheme for Sports and Leisure Management. By the end of February comparisons of a number of PIs against other participating Authorities would be available, giving a local, regional and national picture of Wight Leisure's performance.
RESOLVED :
(i) THAT the Portfolio Holder for Economic Development, UK and EU, Regional Issues be requested to bring a report to the Select Committee, as soon as possible, detailing the proposals for the Council on the future delivery of Economic Development Services;
(ii) THAT the Planning Policy Task Group investigates the Tree Protection Service and makes recommendations to the Select Committee concerning its development;
(iii) THAT all Service Heads identify meaningful process and data benchmarks for inclusion in Service Plans next year;
(iv) THAT Service Heads and Strategic Directors be reminded that Select Committee reports should be produced and distributed with the agenda, in accordance to agreed deadlines.

12. REPORT OF THE STRATEGIC DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT

Isle of Wight Council Events Programme 2002/03
During the course of the debate both Mrs M Lloyd and Mr H Adams declared a non-pecuniary interest in the Council Events programme.
In November 2000, the overall annual event responsibility was transferred from Isle of Wight Tourism to Wight Leisure. Isle of Wight Tourism would continue to lead in marketing, press and public relations for strategic events while Wight Leisure would manage the delivery of the events programme and the budgets. The report of the Strategic Director of Education and Community Development provided a review of the 2001/02 Annual Events Programme, together with event statistics. In addition, details of proposals for the forthcoming year, including budget implications reflected to provide the support required to achieve the success of each event were outlined. Members noted that Wight Leisure had formulated an Events Strategy for 2002/03 which identified strategic aims for the overall events programme to achieve. A review and update of the ten individual event selection criteria had been undertaken. Few events would meet all ten criteria but, to justify investment, it was determined that any proposal should meet at least six.
Members noted that the Events Programme could be subjected to change due to unforseen circumstances. An example of which was the recent Foot and Mouth epidemic which had caused some cancellations within the 2001/02 programme.
Members were reminded that the Executive had recently approved proposals to stage the Island-wide Music Festival to celebrate the Queen's Golden Jubilee in June 2002. A brief oral report was provided of the progress to date.
RESOLVED :
(i) TO RECOMMEND TO THE EXECUTIVE
(a) THAT the revised strategic aims of the Events Programme be approved;
(b) THAT the 2002/3 programme be supported with the exception of the budget of �10K identified for Ryde Regatta Fireworks to be included within the budget for all carnivals and regattas.
(ii) THAT the events programme should be a 3 year rolling programme, reviewed annually with a 5 year forward overview to identify major national or local anniversaries or events.
Mr D Yates vacated the Chair and Mr J Fleming, the Vice-Chairman took the Chair.

13. URGENT BUSINESS - MEMBERSHIP OF CULTURAL STRATEGY TASK GROUP

The Director of Education and Community Development briefly outlined the terms of reference for the Cultural Strategy Task Group which raised issues cutting across the Education and Community Development Select Committee and the Economic Development, Planning Policy, Tourism and Leisure Services Select Committee. Two nominations to sit on the Task Group were being sought from each Select Committee.
RESOLVED ;
THAT Cllrs Adams and Williams be nominated to sit on the Cultural Strategy Task Group.

CHAIRMAN