MINUTES OF A MEETING OF THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, PLANNING, TOURISM AND LEISURE SERVICES SELECT COMMITTEE HELD AT COUNTY HALL, NEWPORT, ISLE OF WIGHT ON FRIDAY, 6 FEBRUARY 2004 COMMENCING AT 9.30 AM

Present :

Mr C R Hancock (Chairman), Mr J R Adams, Mr A C Bartlett, Mr J A Bowker, Mr J F Howe, Mrs B Lawson, Mr R G Mazillius, Mr A J Mundy, Mr R C Richards, Mr D G Williams

Portfolio Holders :

Mr J H Fleming, Mr H Rees

Also Present (non-voting) :

Mr C Chapman, Mr R G Mazillius, Mrs M J Miller, Mr V J Morey, Mrs S A Smart

Apologies :

Mr J Whittaker

62. MINUTES

RESOLVED :

THAT the Minutes of the meeting held on Thursday, 8 January 2004 be confirmed.

63 AMENDMENTS TO WORK PROGRAMME

The Select Committee were advised that at its meeting on 28 January 2004, the Executive had resolved not to proceed with the externalisation of Wight Leisure. It had also resolved to develop and deliver through a project group, within a 12 month period long term service development proposals for leisure services. This report asked the Select Committee to receive information and make recommendations on the work of the Project Group.

In the absence of the Head of Legal and Democratic Services, the Chief Executive Officer presented the report. During discussion members were advised that the composition of the project group had not yet been decided although it was hoped that the Project Groups first meeting would be held within the next four weeks. For the purposes of clear scrutiny it was clarified that Members of the Select Committee would not be invited to sit on the group.

With regard to the Action Plan it was asked that it be ensured that there was adequate involvement of the appropriate officers. In particular the involvement of the Managing Director of Wight Leisure. The Chief Executive Officer indicated he would review Officers involvement.

RESOLVED :

(a) THAT the Select Committee add the following terms of reference to the Committee work programme

(i) As an exercise in policy development, to receive information about the work of the Project Group and make recommendations to the Executive to assist the work of that Group in the development and delivery of leisure services

(ii) As an exercise in scrutiny, to receive information from those responsible for implementing the Action Plan at Appendix 1 to this report in order to make recommendations as to whether sufficient steps had been taken to achieve the objectives of that Plan.

(b) THAT the Project Group report to the Select Committee on a bi-monthly basis

63 BUDGET CONSULTATION

The Chief Financial Officer reported on the 2004/05 revised budget and 2005/06 forecast. Members were advised that the Council had received an improved Formula Spending Share for 2004/05 however this fell short of providing the level of financing required for a standstill budget. The Select Committee were also advised that since the publication of this report the Revenue Support Grant figure had been reduced by £180,000, therefore the increase in Council tax had risen from 5.9 % to approximately 6.25 %.

The Select Committee debated the bids currently under consideration. Members referred to the Planning bid of £150,000 which indicated it was now being met by a Planning Delivery Grant (PDG). During questioning it was clarified that the success of the PDG would not be known until the end of February 2004. Concern was raised that this information was misleading and Members asked whether contingencies were in place if the grant was not awarded. It was replied that this area would be revisited in the event of the grant bid failing.

Members questioned a number of bids under consideration including both the replacement of Medina Café with a vending machine and the Heights Bar/Café restructuring. The Managing Director of Wight Leisure advised the Select Committee that both these areas had staffing implications which had not yet been determined.

The Select Committee referred to potential efficiency savings by Tourist Information Centres totalling £20,000. It was advised that a majority of these savings had been achieved through natural wastage.

Savings on road trains were considered. The Managing Director of Wight Leisure explained that currently the Ryde and Sandown road trains ran at a deficit of £10,000 and £8,000 respectively. The Shanklin Train ran at a profit of £7,000. It was noted that given time these savings could be made through re-pricing and by changing the routes that the trains currently made. Some success had already been made by the re-routing of trains.

With regard to the closure of the Waterside Café it was suggested that the lease be put out to tender. The Select Committee were advised that there had been an expression of interest in this area.

Members expressed concern regarding potential savings in the Countryside Management team. The Strategic Director of Environment Services advised the Committee that ways to raise the opportunity of revenue income were being investigated.

RESOLVED :

THAT the Budget Consultation report be noted.

64 REVIEW OF THE ISLE OF WIGHT COUNCIL EVENTS PROGRAMME

The Select Committee received a presentation from Wight Leisure which provided an overview of the 2003/04 Annual Events Programme.

The presentation set out the background of the Events Programme which had been delivered since 1996. It was a three year rolling programme with a five year forward overview. Wight Leisure provided 5 different levels of support to events which ranged from managing, delivering and supporting all aspects of the event to only offering financial support. The budget to manage the 2003 programme had been £352,274, however the cost of delivering the programme was more than this. It was noted that Wight Leisure currently generated £295,000 to offset the total cost of the programme. It was estimated that the spend into the economy generated by the events programme was £6.1 million.

Members referred to the budget consultation proposals which outlined a number of service cuts within Wight Leisure. Due to these proposals the 2004 Programme only committed to delivering the Councils five strategic events. Budget proposals detailed reductions of £50,000 to the events programme and £25,000 of the Cowes Week marquee.

The Select Committee considered the potential savings of £25,000 of the marquee. Members generally considered the marquee to be an important attraction during Cowes week and believed other avenues of savings should be considered.

RESOLVED :

(a) THAT a spend to save bid be investigated for the purchase of a marquee for Council events and the select Committee Support measures to save £25,000 required (£10,000 Community Fund and £15,000 efficiency savings unless alternative solutions can be found)

(b) THAT the Executive be made fully aware of the adverse effect on tourism and the general Island economy of any reduction in the events budget.

65 REVIEW OF EXTERNAL FUNDING SERVICE

Following consideration of the external funding service at its meeting in October 2003 the Select Committee had requested that a further report be brought back to the Select Committee with further details about the service and the results it had achieved.

The Select Committee asked a number of questions on the applications that had been supported by the External Funding Team through feedback, attendance at development meetings or bid writing. The estimated total value approved for the Island was £3,898,000.

Members congratulated all officers involved in supporting the bids.

RESOLVED :

THAT the report be noted.

66 ISLE OF WIGHT COUNCIL FORWARD PLAN – FEBRUARY 2004 – MAY 2004

RESOLVED :

THAT the Forward Plan be noted.

67 MEMBERS QUESTION TIME

Mr A C Bartlett asked a question in relation to the District Auditor Statement regarding the Isle of Wight Rock Festival (MQ 9/04)

A copy of the question and reply given are contained in the Public Question Register.

CHAIRMAN