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 OCTOBER 2003 COMMENCING AT 9.30 AM

Present :

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

Portfolio Holders :

Mr J H Fleming, Mr H Rees

Apologies :

Mrs T M Butchers, Mrs M J Lloyd, Mr J Whittaker

Also Present (non voting) :

Mrs M A Jarman, Mrs S A Smart

 38.      MINUTES

RESOLVED :

THAT the Minutes of the meeting held on the 29 September 2003 be confirmed.

39.      PUBLIC QUESTION TIME

Mr J Wortham asked an oral question regarding the externalisation of Wight Leisure. The Chairman replied appropriately. It was agreed that the Chief Executive Officer provide a written reply.

40.      ‘BOOK 2' ISLAND PROGRESS REPORT

The Select Committee received the report of the Island 2000 Trust which provided an update on its activity from Autumn 2000 to Spring 2003. The Trust had been created by the Council in 1997 as a beginning of a bid to the Millennium Commission.

Members discussed ‘Book 2' which detailed the trusts activities and successes since Autumn 2000. Mention was made to the cost of its publication, the Director of the Trust considered ‘Book 2' to be an investment and a good advertisement which could attract additional funding.

The Director of the Trust explained that its core funding expired in March 2004. Due to the nature of its work, Members were advised that the Trusts projects were consistently planned beyond its core funding.

The Select Committee supported the work of the trust and thanked the Director for attending the meeting.

RESOLVED :

THAT the Select Committee support the continued relationship between the Island 2000 Trust and the Council and acknowledge the Trusts achievements over the past 5 years.

41.      SERVICE PLANS

           (a)       Community Development and Tourism Service Plan

Members asked whether TIC’s were realising their full potential. The Head of Community Development and Tourism advised the Committee that consideration was being given to extending the role of TIC’s to engage the wider public. It was noted that this would need to be developed along side the Great Access to Greater Services (GAGS) agenda.

The target to increase the Islands number of blue flag beaches was raised. It was hoped that Colewell Beach would achieve this target. In addition the Committee referred to the draft target of achieving a green flag for one of the parks on the Island. Members were informed that the green flag was a new initiative which required parks to fulfil a set criteria. The Head of Service had not yet decided which park would be targeted to achieve this status.

The Select Committee referred to the expected reduction of tourism brochure requests. It was explained that this reduction related to the implementation of the Destination Management System (DMS) which would increase the number of internet requests.

RESOLVED :

THAT the Service Plan be noted.

           (b)       

Corporate Policy and Communications

Members considered the resource bids within the Committees remit. In Particular the Head of Corporate Policy and Communications referred to the bid from the Isle of Wight Economic Partnership of £100,000 in 2004/05 this had increased from its original bid of £50,000. Details of what this funding would provide were received, these included:

                       *          Continued delivery of the Ambassadors Scheme

                       *          Promotion of Tourism

                       *          Support of the Area Investment Framework

It was requested that further details of the IWEP growth bid be circulated to the Select Committee.

.

During discussion concern was raised regarding the total cost of growth bids across all council services and how it would impact upon the Islands Council Tax. Members were advised that all Service Heads had recently met to conduct an initial prioritisation of growth bids; the total cost had so far been reduced from approximately £15 million to £2 million.

RESOLVED :

                      (a)       THAT the Service Plan be noted.

                      (b)       THAT the Select Committees concerns regarding the growth bids be noted.

42.      REVIEW OF EXTERNAL FUNDING SERVICE

Consideration was given to the report of the Head of Corporate Policy and Communications which provided an update of the External Funding Service. The Service had been established in November 2002 following the Economic Development Best Value Report.

The Head of Corporate Policy and Communications highlighted the key achievements of the service in 2003 :

           *          Funding Support website established on the Council’s Internet site.

           *          Development of the E-mail circular which detailed the latest news and contacts

           *          Internal funding contacts from the Council had been designated to receive and disseminate information

           *          Support had been provided for a variety of applications to a total value of £5.6 million.

The Committee were advised that a number of the application bids had yet to be confirmed, therefore it was requested that a further report be brought back to the Committee once the success of these bids was known. During discussion Members questioned how the bids for funding would be spent and over what timescale. It was requested that this information be included in future reports.

RESOLVED :

           (a)       THAT there be a greater detail with the application bid list

           (b)       THAT a further report be brought back to the Select Committee in 3-6 months when applications have been approved.

           (c)       THAT future reports provide details of match funding.

43.      LOCAL STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP

The Select Committee received the report of the Head of Corporate Policy and Communications which provided an update on the Local Strategic Partnership which had been requested at the Select Committee’s Development Day on the 24 March 2003.

The Partnership had been launched on the 18 January 2002 as a part of a new Government Initiative which required all areas of the Country to have a vision for their future. The Strategy would promote or improve the economic, social and environmental well-being of the area and contribute to sustainable development within the United Kingdom.

The Strategy for the Island was called “The Island Futures Community Strategy”, members of the strategy included representatives from the public, private, voluntary, youth and community sector. During 2003 the partnership had adopted a revised structure clarifying the role of partners and had adopted a constitution which included both terms of reference and codes of conduct.

The Partnership were currently reviewing the Community Strategy to identify which aspirations had been achieved, any outstanding items would form the basis of an action plan. This work was being done through a series of workshops based on the seven themes of the Community Strategy, the workshops involved key partners, the community and other organisations and agencies.

During discussion Members requested details on the membership of the Executive of the Local Strategic Partnership together with details of the seven key themes of the Community Strategy.

RESOLVED :

THAT the report be noted.

44.      ISLE OF WIGHT COUNCIL FORWARD PLAN - NOVEMBER 2003 TO FEBRUARY 2004

RESOLVED :

THAT the Forward Plan be noted.

CHAIRMAN