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, 27 JANUARY 2003 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, Mr A J Mundy, Mr K Pearson, Mr R C Richards, Mr D G Williams


Apologies :

 

Mr C R Hancock, Mrs M J Lloyd


Portfolio Holders :

 

Mrs M A Jarman, Mrs B Lawson, Mr H Rees


Also Present (Non Voting) :

 

Miss H L Humby, Mr P D Joyce, Mr R G Mazillius, Mrs S A Smart



 

 56.      MINUTES


RESOLVED :

 

THAT the Minutes of the meeting held on 13 December 2002 be confirmed.

 

57.      LOCAL GOVERNMENT FINANCE SETTLEMENT, BUDGET FOR 2003-04 AND FORWARD PLAN FOR 2004-06


The Select Committee received the report of the Strategic Director of Finance and Information and County Treasurer which set out the draft budget proposals for 2003-04 as considered by the Executive on the 15 January 2003. During discussion, members raised questions regarding Appendix 4, and the proposed service reductions in the parks and beaches budget. Members asked that the appropriate officer be called to the meeting to answer questions regarding the detail of the budget.


RESOLVED :

 

THAT consideration of the item be deferred for the appropriate officer to be called to attend the meeting.

 

58.      MUSIC FESTIVAL 2002 LAUNCH EVENT - MONITORING OFFICER


RESOLVED :

 

THAT the report be deferred to the next meeting of the Select Committee to allow members an opportunity to ask questions of the Monitoring Officer.

 

59.      WIGHT LEISURE EXTERNALISATION UPDATE


The Chairman of the Select Committee reported on the latest progress with regard to the externalisation of Wight Leisure. As Members were aware informal meetings of the Committee had taken place throughout last year to consider the details of the externalisation process.


RESOLVED :

 

THAT the Select Committee accept the latest position.

 

60.      EXCLUSION OF PUBLIC AND PRESS


RESOLVED :

 

THAT under Section 100(A)(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the public and press be excluded from the meeting for item minute 60, on the grounds that there was likely to be disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraphs 1 and 11 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act.

 

61.      SERVICE LEVEL AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE COUNCIL AND THE ISLE OF WITH ECONOMIC PARTNERSHIP


The Select Committee received the report of the Head of Paid Service which set out the proposed terms and conditions of the draft Service Level Agreement (SLA) between the Council and the Isle of Wight Economic Partnership (IWEP). It was noted that the SLA was a 3 year agreement although the nature of the Council’s support was subject to annual review.


Members considered in detail the draft SLA. During the discussion it was noted that the IWEP were required to deliver the Ambassadors Scheme, it was thought that this responsibility had been passed to the IWEP a year ago and that £14,000 had been set aside from last years budget from the Scheme. Mindful of this the Select Committee considered that £14,000 should be deducted from the budget paid by the Council to the partnership for 2003/04.


With regard to the delivery of regeneration programmes, the Committee considered that they should be provided with the costs involved with both delivery and administering and a list of beneficiaries to the regeneration programmes.


Members were advised that the partnership had requested clause 10.2 be removed, the Council was seeking legal advice.


RESOLVED TO RECOMMEND TO THE EXECUTIVE :

 

           (a)       THAT the draft agreement be approved subject to the following :

 

                      (i)        That the £14,000 set aside from last years budget for the Ambassadors Scheme be deducted from the budget paid to the IWEP for 2003/04

 

                      (ii)       That reports on the economic development and regeneration programmes delivered by the IWEP also be made to the Select Committee on a quarterly basis

 

                      (iii)       That clause 5.1.1 be amended to make specific reference to the IWEP providing a quarterly financial report to the Select Committee

 

                      (iv)      That clause 3.3.2 be removed from the agreement

 

                      (v)       That the Chairman and Vice Chairman have an input on behalf of the Select Committee into the Final negotiations regarding Clause 10.2.


The press were re-admitted to the meeting.

 

62.      LOCAL GOVERNMENT FINANCE SETTLEMENT, BUDGET FOR 2033/04 AND FORWARD PLAN FOR 2004/06


The Head of Community Development had been called to the meeting to answer questions with regard to the proposed services reductions within the parks and beaches budget. In discussion questions were raised regarding the implication of the proposal to reduce the current beach cleaning budget by £75,000. The Select Committee were advised that if approved the beach cleaning standards would be reduced to a Environmental Protection Act (EPA) minimum. The reduction would also require negotiation with the Council’s current beach cleaning contractors. In addition strong concerns were raised regarding the proposals to discontinue beach lifeguards


Members were strongly apposed to these service reductions. It was considered essential that Island tourism be fully supported by the Council. The Head of Community Development advised Members that a marketing agency had confirmed that beaches and countryside were the Islands main attractions to visitors..


The Select Committee were advised that it was likely that it would be the Tourism Information Centre (TIC) in Sandown that would be closed under the proposed budget cuts. This had been decided on a geographical basis to ensure that there were other available TIC’s within a reasonable distance. This was not supported by the Committee. It was considered that alternative opening hours of all island TIC’s should be investigated.


Consideration was given to the proposals to cut decorative lighting in Ryde, Sandown, Shanklin and Ventnor. It was believed that this was also a essential part of maintaining tourism on the Island.


RESOLVED TO RECOMMEND TO THE EXECUTIVE :

 

           (a)       THAT in light of the importance of tourism to the Island that the service reductions for Parks and Beaches and Tourism contained in the draft budget were not supported by the Select Committee.

 

           (b)       THAT Officers be requested to review these budgets to seek efficiency savings

 

           (c)       THAT the Directors be asked to seek overall budget efficiency savings.

 

63.      FORWARD PLAN


RESOLVED :

 

THAT the report be accepted.

 

64.      MEMBERS’ QUESTION TIME


Mrs T Butchers raised an oral question in relation to the appointment of a consultant to act as a new Head of Tourism. The Head of Community Development explained that the post was being financed from the monies that had been saved since the previous Head of Tourism had left the position.


Mrs T Butchers asked a oral question in relation to the opening hours of the Tourism Hotline. The Head of Community Development agreed to circulate a briefing note to Members.

 

 

 

CHAIRMAN