21. MINUTES
The Minutes of the meeting held on 2 September 2004 were agreed.
22. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
There were no declarations at this stage.
23.
FORWARD PLAN
The Lead Member for the Forward Plan advised Members that there
was one new entry regarding Funding for Community Events 2005/06.
24.
TOURISM
DEVELOPMENT PLAN – PROGRESS REPORT
The Portfolio Holder for Tourism and Leisure introduced the draft
Tourism Development Plan (TDP), which would be finalised within 6 months.
The draft TDP had been based on guidelines provided by the South
East Region Tourist Board. The specific challenge for the Island was to
identify alternatives for coaching holidays, build upon caravan and camping
facilities, development of out of season golfing breaks and car free holiday
opportunities. The TDP also supported
the future development and expansion of arts leisure and cultural facilities on
the Island.
The Island had been given Sub-Region status, which was only one of
six within the South East. Training and
skills funding had already been received as a result of the status and there
was the possibility of future funding from SEEDA.
Members discussed the public transport infrastructure, which
included the possible development of the Island’s airports incorporating
stronger links with Southampton. In
addition, questions were raised regarding the existing mix of hotel
accommodation and how this might be developed to provide for tourism in the future. Members were assured that the Local
Development Framework (LDF) would assist and support the TDP with this
objective.
There was concern regarding static caravan parks subsequently
becoming residential. Members were
advised that this was a national problem and it was believed that the Office of
the Deputy Prime Minister would provide legislation in due course.
The Select Committee asked if wind farms could adversely affect
tourism on the Island and were informed that any affect would be
localised. Additionally, Members
questioned whether ferry prices would adversely affect future plans for
tourism. The Head of Tourism indicated
that evidence arising from a recent consultation exercise showed that this was
not a particular concern for tourists.
ACTION TO BE TAKEN BY THE HEAD OF TOURISM
1. The Select Committee be provided with more
details in relation to the survey that had been sent out to hotels to include
how many hotels were involved and how many responses were received.
2. The annual tourism statistics be
circulated to the Select Committee.
3. That the Tourism Development Plan be supported, and the final plan include base line data in respect of visitor numbers, beds available, and future growth projections.
4. That the Tourism Development Plan include an investigation into the feasibility of expanding Island airports as part of the transport infrastructure.
25.
SERVICE PLANS 2005/06
The Select Committee received the Service Plans within their remit, which included Planning Services, Tourism, Community Development and Economic Development.
a) Planning Services
The Head of Planning Services advised the Committee that the two main priorities for Planning Services were the LDF and meeting Development Control targets for 2005/06. The main risks for the service were directly related to the two main priorities. IT systems and DIP would be in place by the end of 2004, the service was fully committed to GAGS and was currently working towards improved filtering for telephone enquiries.
Members were advised that it was too early to comment about the recent Best Value Planning Inspection Review and how the CPA score might be affected. The Audit Commission Round Table meeting had been arranged for 1 November 2004.
b) Tourism
The Portfolio Holder for Tourism and Leisure reiterated that the top priorities for Tourism related directly to the corporate objectives. It was anticipated that the short-term priorities would be achieved early in 2005. The new DMS system had initially proved problematic, but this had now been rectified.
The Committee noted that the Service Plan included a reorganisation of the service for 2005/06 to incorporate relocation to the Westridge Centre in Ryde. A decision regarding the accommodation move would be taken by the Executive in due course. The cost of the relocation would be offset by savings incurred by vacating other Council properties. The targeted budget savings had been achieved.
Members were advised that Tourism would be one of the last services to join the Corporate Call Centre, due to the different systems currently being used.
The Committee noted that the service was now more efficient, largely due to the new DMS and that there was nothing detrimental in the Service Plan which would affect the CPA score.
c)
Community Development and Leisure
The Portfolio Holder for Tourism and Leisure explained to Members that the Wight Leisure Project Board was within its remit and a report had been received by the Executive on 6 October 2004. However, there were some high risks involved with the Service Plan for 2005/06.
The Wight Leisure job evaluation exercise will cost in excess of £100K, but provision had been made within the 2004 budget. Members believed that other bids should be funded through an ‘invest to save’ bid.
Members asked if parking charges at the leisure centre sites were having a detrimental affect on income. The Head of Service agreed that some cancellations had been received, although it was too early to provide projected figures. Members had received complaints regarding the car parking charges and it was noted that the Island was already within the top quartile for leisure facility charges, the extra expense of parking charges could have a detrimental affect on Council leisure facilities.
ACTION TO
BE TAKEN BY THE PORTFOLIO HOLDER OF COMMUNITY AND LEISURE
1. Information regarding the current numbers of One Card users be circulated to Select Committee Members.
2. A comparison between the Council’s leisure facility charges and the private sector be circulated to Select Committee Members.
ACTION TO
BE TAKEN BY THE EXECUTIVE
The Select Committee recommends that the Council removes the new parking charges from the car parks adjacent to its sports and leisure facilities with immediate effect.
d)
Economic Development
A draft Service Plan was received from the Principal Economic Development Officer.
Members were advised that the Service Level Agreement with IWEP was subject to an annual review.
The Committee noted that Area Investment Framework was a business plan and would be utilised to access a range of funding sources.
Members asked about the acquisition of land for the Cowes Waterfront project and requested that further information be circulated to Select Committee Members via email.
ACTION TO
BE TAKEN BY THE PORTFOLIO HOLDER AND THE PRINCIPAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OFFICER
Further information regarding the acquisition of land for the Cowes Waterfront project be circulated via Outlook.
ACTION TO
BE TAKEN BY THE STRATEGIC DIRECTOR OF CORPORATE SERVICES AND THE HEAD OF POLICY
AND COMMUNICATIONS
The Select Committee recommends the continued development of an external funding service as a priority.
26. MEMBERS’ QUESTION TIME
Miss Humby asked about cancellations of One Card membership and
asked that the Select Committee look at the discrepancy in the Council’s
policy, which enabled visitors to Dinosaur Isle to receive a reimbursement for
parking charges. The Portfolio Holder
explained that officers had been asked to investigate a similar arrangement at
The Heights as a matter of urgency. A
copy of the question and reply given is contained in the Members’ Question
Register (MQ 29/04).
Mr Bowker asked if any progress had been made about the
acquisition of St John’s Wood Park for a nature reserve. The Portfolio Holder advised that he had
spoken to the officers concerned and a meeting inviting all interested parties
would be arranged to discuss the matter further.
Mr Bartlett asked for permission to read a statement to the Select
Committee concerning comments made at the Call-In meeting about Ventnor
Haven. The Chairman agreed, and Mr
Bartlett read his statement and requested that the Head of Select Committee and
Best Value Support contact the Head of Property Services and the Head of Legal
and Democratic Services to confirm that this had been done.
ACTION TO BE TAKEN BY THE HEAD OF SELECT COMMITTEE AND BEST VALUE
SUPPORT
The Head of Property Services and the Head of Legal and Democratic
Services be contacted to confirm that Mr Bartlett had read his statement to the
Select Committee.
CHAIRMAN