92.
MINUTES
RESOLVED :
THAT the Minutes of the meeting of the Executive held on 17 December 2003 be confirmed.
93.
DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
There were no declarations received at this stage.
94.
SANDOWN
BAY REGENERATION STRATEGY
The Executive received a detailed presentation by Arup and partners on the proposals for a strategy for the regeneration of the Sandown Bay area.
In recent years Sandown Bay and
surrounding area had been in decline in common with many other seaside resorts
nationally. The area remained central to the Island’s economy and was of sufficient importance for
the Island to consider ways of improving and upgrading the bay and neighbouring
area.
A number of key
themes and issues were addressed in the following four locations:
·
Culver Parade –
Yaverland
·
Sandown Pier and
Esplanade
·
Battery Gardens, The
Heights and Los Altos Park
·
Shanklin Esplanade including the spa site
These included moving away from piecemeal development towards consistent development with a strategic approach, the need for improved transport infrastructure and links across the whole area, the upgrading and expanding of exiting facilities to satisfy a more diverse, changing and demanding market and new visitor experiences including a growth of wet weather facilities.
A number of local members addressed the Executive in support of the Strategy following wide-ranging consultation. The Executive believed the regeneration programme was an ambitious and much needed project, however concern was expressed over the ability to attract the necessary funding, both from government agencies and from the commercial sector. The consultants advised that developers and operators for the proposals would be attracted, if as part of the vision for Sandown Bay, a larger critical mass of development could be achieved than had been possible under the current Unitary Development Plan.
The Strategic Director
for Environment Services and the consultants advised on the relative merits of
Supplementary Planning Guidance and the forthcoming Local Development Framework
in implementing the Strategy.
Members and Officers
and the Consultants expressed the need for public funding for infrastructure
and enabling works to provide the platform for private sector development. The Strategic Director for Environment
Services advised that funding from the South East Development Agency would
follow the Area Investment Framework, previously agreed by the Council. First priority for funding from this source
was the Cowes Waterfront and Medina Valley.
The timing of the action plan for the Sandown Bay Regeneration Strategy,
which would be presented in a future report, would need to reflect this
position.
RESOLVED :
(i) THAT the Sandown Bay Regeneration Strategy as produced by Arup and partners be endorsed
(ii)
To receive a further report
in April 2004 detailing proposals for the implementation of the Sandown Bay
Regeneration Strategy
95.
COUNCIL TAX BASE 2004/5
Consideration was given to setting the Council Tax base for the 2004/05 financial year
i.e. the number of equivalent Band D properties on which the Council Tax and
Police Authority precepts were calculated.
This was a statutory requirement and needed to be completed and notification
given to the Police Authority by 31 January 2004.
Following the publication of the report further advice had been received from the ODPM that superseded the previous recommendation made by the Executive at its meeting on 3 December 2003, that determination of the level of discount received on second homes and empty properties was a function of the Executive and not a decision that Full Council could take. An amendment was proposed and seconded allowed the Executive to decide on the level of discount while recommending to Full Council the level of the Council Tax Base.
The level of discount on second homes could be set at any rate between 50% and 10%. The Council would be able to retain all additional revenue raised through reducing this level of discount. The level of discount on empty property could be set to any rate between 50% and zero, but any increased revenues after the first year would accrue to the Government and not to the Council.
The Executive were advised that it would be necessary to adjust the Tax Base for anticipated non-collection of Council Tax and for changes in the valuation list, new properties and deletions from the list. It was anticipated that this would require a 1.3% reduction across the whole and parts of the area.
RESOLVED :
(i)
THAT the Executive
determines that with effect from 1 April 2004 the discount under the Local
Government Finance Act 1992 section 11A in respect of dwellings falling into
classes A and B as defined in Statutory Instrument 2003 No.3011 shall be
reduced to 10%
(ii)
THAT the Executive
determines that with effect from 1 April 2004 the discount under the Local
Government Finance Act 1992 section 11A in respect of dwellings falling into
class C as defined in Statutory Instrument 2003 No.3011 shall be reduced to 0%
(iii)
That the Executive
recommends that Full Council set the
Tax Base for the financial year 2004/05, incorporating options (i) and (ii)
above, and including a reduction of 1.3% in respect of projected non collection
and changes in the valuation list.
(iv)
That the Portfolio
Holder for Social Services and Housing and the Head of Housing Services,
through the Local Government Association and SEEDA make a submission to Central
Government to pursue policies to achieve equitable action to make more
affordable homes available.
96.
CHANGES TO THE CURRENT FORWARD PLAN
The Portfolio Holder for Economic Development, UK & EU, and Regional Issues informed the Executive that an item would be added to the Forward Plan concerning the Service Level Agreement for the Isle of Wight Economic Partnership.
CHAIRMAN