MINUTES OF A MEETING OF THE RESOURCES SELECT COMMITTEE HELD AT COUNTY HALL, NEWPORT, ISLE OF WIGHT ON MONDAY, 5 JULY 2004 COMMENCING AT 9.30 AM

 

Present :

 

Mrs M J Lloyd (Chairman), Mr P D Joyce, Mrs B Lawson, Mr R G Mazillus (deputising for Mr M J Cunningham), Mrs M J Miller, Mr V J Morey, Mr K Pearson, Mr I R Stephens, Mr D T Yates

 

Apologies :

 

Mr M J Cunningham

 

Portfolio Holder :

 

Mr R R Barry

 

Also Present (non voting) :

 

Mr A C Bartlett, Mr J A Bowker, Mrs T M Butchers, Mr J H Fleming, Mr P Harris, Mr R C Richards

 

8.                    MINUTES

 

RESOLVED :

 

THAT the minutes of the meeting held on 7 June 2004 be confirmed.

 

9.                    DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

 

Mr R G Mazillius Declared a personal interest in Minute 12 as a family member was a director of a consultants firm who had been employed by the Council.

 

10.                URGENT BUSINESS

 

The Chairman advised the meeting that the delegated decision taken by the Portfolio Holder for Resources regarding the proposed development of a hotel in Ryde had originally been subject to a Call-In, however the Chairman had agreed to take the item as urgent business.

 

Development of a New Hotel Adjacent to the Ice Rink on Ryde Esplanade

 

The Chairman invited Members who had raised concerns regarding the decision to outline their reasons for their objections. These included :

 

·         That the decision had been taken under the Portfolio Holders delegated powers and not by the full Executive.

·         The report contained no information on traffic implications.

·         There was not sufficient detail regarding the loss of car parking spaces and how these would be replaced.

·         Insufficient detail on the option that the lessee could buy the properties ground rental

·         Concerns regarding the hotel paying rent annually in arrears.

·         Little evidence of consultation with local members and other Portfolio Holders regarding the development.

 

In response to the concerns outlined, Members were advised the following :

 

·         That all the relevant Portfolio Holders and local Ryde Members had been involved in consultation and had indicated their support for development.

·         It was clarified that the rent would be paid in advance and that payment annually in arrears referred to the bonus the Council would receive from the hotel at the end of the financial year.

·         It was considered that the traffic impact would be minimal

·         Car parking spaces would be replaced at the expense of the hotel.

 

Further concerns were raised regarding the Councils process of granting contracts that were subject to planning permission.

 

11.                EXCLUSION OF PUBLIC AND PRESS

 

RESOLVED :

 

THAT under Section 100(A)(4) of the Local Government Act 1972 the public and press be excluded from the meeting for the following item of business namely Minute item no 10 on the grounds that there was likely to be disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraph 9 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act.

 

            The press re-entered the room.

 

12.                In discussion members raised concerns that there was insufficient detail contained in the report, in particular information relating to consultation and terms of the lease. Further concerns were raised regarding the interpretation of those decisions that could be taken under a Portfolio Holders delegated powers and those that required consideration by the Executive. It was explained that the Council’s Constitution provided guidance that only issues of strategic importance would be considered by the Executive. Members indicated that they believed this decision would impact upon a number of portfolios and as such should have been considered to be strategically important.

 

The Portfolio Holder indicated that on the evidence that he had heard at this meeting he was not persuaded to ask the Executive to reconsider the decision on the proposed development.

 

ACTION TO BE TAKEN BY THE HEAD OF LEGAL AND DEMOCRATIC SERVICES :

 

(a)        That issues of strategic importance, that are crosscutting and involve other Portfolios be considered by the full Executive in order to ensure clarity and transparency

 

ACTION TO BE TAKEN BY THE PORTFOLIO HOLDER FOR RESOURCES :

 

(b)   That the Select Committee invite the Portfolio Holder to take the report to the Executive due to the decisions strategic importance which cuts across 5 Portfolios.

 

13.              FORWARD PLAN

 

No comments were made.

 

12.                USE OF CONSULTANTS

 

Members were reminded that at the Select Committees Development Day in May 2004, it was agreed that a review on the use of consultants be undertaken. The reviews primary objective would be to set out corporate guidelines for when consultants should be employed. The review would be brought back to the Select Committee in October 2004.

 

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

 

That the review on the use of consultants include :

 

Guidelines for when consultants should be used

Consider public perception

Mechanism to share information about consultants across the Council (via website)

Who should make the decision when consultants are used?

 

13.                MEMBERS’ QUESTION TIME

 

A question was put to the Chairman as follows :

 

Mrs M J Miller regarding declarations of interest (MQ 22/04)

 

A Copy of the question and reply given are contained in the Members' Question Register.

 

 

 

 

 

CHAIRMAN