MINUTES OF A MEETING OF THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, PLANNING, TOURISM AND LEISURE SERVICES SELECT COMMITTEE HELD AT COUNTY HALL, NEWPORT, ISLE OF WIGHT ON THURSDAY, 3 JUNE 2004 COMMENCING AT 9.30 AM

Present :

Mr C R Hancock (Chairman), Mr J R Adams, Mr J A Bowker, Miss H L Humby, Mrs M J Lloyd, Mr A J Mundy (deputising for Mr C Gauntlett), Mr K Pearson, Mr R C Richards, Mr D G Williams

Portfolio Holders :

Mrs T M Butchers, Mr J H Fleming, Mr H Rees

Also Present (non voting) :

Mr A C Bartlett, Mr R G Mazillius, Mrs M J Miller, Mrs J L Wareham

Apologies :

Mr C Gauntlett

5 MINUTES

The Minutes of the meeting held on Tuesday, 4 May 2004 were confirmed.

6 DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

There were no declarations at this stage.

7 FORWARD PLAN

The Select Committee considered the Council’s Forward Plan for the period of June 2004 to September 2004. The Chairman asked each Portfolio Holder to appraise the Select Committee of any forthcoming items.

The Portfolio Holder for Economic Development, UK and EU, Regional Issues advised the Committee that there may be some changed required regarding the Service Level Agreement between the Council and Isle of Wight Economic Partnership.

The Portfolio Holder for Tourism and Leisure advised the meeting that he had nothing further to report regarding forthcoming items on the forward plan. Although the Portfolio Holder advised the Committee that the Wight Leisure Project Board hoped to meet its scheduled timetable for completion.

The Portfolio Holder for Sustainable Development, Environment and Planning advised the meeting the Pan urban extension report may be considered by the Executive before the 14 July 2004 as originally timetabled.

During questioning members asked why the Sandown Bay Regeneration had been delayed. The Portfolio Holder advised Members that this had partly been to allow the new Head of Tourism to be involved in the development. There was a draft report scheduled to be considered by the Executive at its meeting on 14 July 2004.

8 QUARTERLY PERFORMANCE MANAGEMENT REPORT 4

The Chairman invited each Portfolio Holder to comment upon the services within their Portfolio.

The Portfolio Holder for Sustainable Development, Environment and Planning Policy provided the Select Committee with some figures on the yield of affordable housing.

The Portfolio Holder for Tourism and Leisure Services advised the meeting that the target measuring the number of visits to Council funded or managed sports and leisure facilities had suffered a 5% reduction. The Portfolio Holder suggested this may be related to some facilities requiring upgrading and refurbishment. The number of visits to Tourism Information Centres (TIC) had exceeded its target, however the location of the Ventnor TIC was still being closely monitored.

The Portfolio Holder for Economic Development, UK and EU, Regional Issues reported that discussions had been held with the Isle of Wight Economic Partnership regarding the PSA target of increasing the employment rates in the over 50’s age group.

In discussion members questioned why the Planning Best Value Inspection had been delayed until September 2004. The Portfolio Holder informed the meeting that this was outside of the Councils control. In addition it was noted that problems were being encountered with decreasing staffing levels and an increasing workload. A number of options were being considered to overcome these problems, including :

* Use of consultants to undertake some planning applications to alleviate backlog.

* Advertising for retired planning officers to work on a part time basis.

* Advertising internally for other Council Officers who may with to have a change in career.

Members questioned why the PSA target for over 50’s unemployment had been set at an unrealistic level. The figure of helping 120 long-term workless people back into employment were currently being re-evaluated and it was suspected that there were not 120 people who fitted into this group therefore the target could not be achieved.

With regard to the Pan Urban Extension Development, Members asked what progress had been made following the Select Committees meeting on the 4 May 2004 which had considered the draft Masterplan for Pan. At this meeting the Committee had recommended that a Transport Impact Assessment (TIA) be undertaken to assess the need to include a link road within the development to reduce traffic congestion in Newport. Concerns had also been raised that this had not been considered by the consultants. The Portfolio Holder advised Members that the link road had not been raised at any of the workshops and therefore had not been part of the Consultants brief. It was explained that a careful balance of housing needs versus a link road were being considered and TIA was being undertaken with Highways. The Portfolio Holder advised the meeting that the Highways Department should have been more involved at the beginning of the project.

The Tourism Destination Management System had been delayed due to some technical difficulties. The Select Committee were assured that the Tourism Industry were being kept updated and had been notified that the system would be available in December 2004.

9 WORKPLAN

Members considered the Select Committee Workplan for the forthcoming year which had been drafted following the Committees development day on 6 May 2004. Members supported the use of both formal and supported the use of alternative venues, other than County Hall, for informal meetings. Members agreed with the draft workplan with the addition of establishing a Task Group to consider the storage of caravans on the Island during the winter season. The Task Group must investigate current policies to determine if they were too restrictive. The Group was to report back to the Select Committee prior to the end of the winter season.

In addition at the Committees Development Day, Members had identified the value of ‘member champions’. This involved members of the Select Committee being tasked with supporting, shadowing and being involved with service areas within the Committees remit.

ACTION TO BE TAKEN BY THE HEAD OF SELECT COMMITTEE SUPPORT :

THAT the Select Committee Workplan be agreed and that all future Select Committee reports be commissioned through the appropriate Portfolio Holder.

ACTION TO BE TAKEN BY PORTFOLIO HOLDERS :

That the Portfolio Holders to note the Select Committees ‘Member Champions’ are :

Name of Member	Member Champion for :
Kenn Pearson	1. Public Parks, gardens and recreation grounds
	2. Economic Development
Conrad Gauntlett	Tourism
David Williams	Sandown Bay Regeneration
Heather Humby	1. Leisure Services
	2. Tourism
Henry Adams	1. Beaches
	2. Tourism
John Bowker	European Issues
Colin Richards	Planning Policy and Countryside Management
Margaret Lloyd	Forward Plan (to monitor)
Charlie Hancock	Economic Development

ACTION TO BE TAKEN BY SELECT COMMITTEE SUPPORT :

That a Task Group comprising Miss Humby, Mr Pearson, Mrs Lloyd and Mr Richards be established to investigate the storage of caravans on the Island.

CHAIRMAN