Agendas, Minutes and Reports

Minutes

of the Meeting of the

Strategic Planning and

Economic Development

Policy and Scrutiny Panel

Monday 19th December 2005

held at the Town Hall, Weston-super-Mare, Somerset.

Meeting Commenced: 3.30 p.m. Meeting Concluded: 5.05 p.m.

Present: Councillors Elfan Ap Rees (Chairman), Clive Webb (Vice-Chairman), Peter Burden, Mark Canniford, John Clark, Andy Cole (substitute for Andy Wright) Glyn Duck

Apologies for absence: Councillors David Shopland and Andy Wright

Also in attendance: Councillors Mike Johnston, John Crockford-Hawley (Executive Member for Strategic Planning and Transport), Alan Hockridge (Leader of the Council and Executive Member for Economic Development)

SPE

Minutes of the Strategic Planning and Economic Development Policy and Scrutiny Panel, 19th December 2005 (Agenda Item 4.1)

Resolved: that the minutes of the meeting be confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

SPE

Report of the Executive Member for Economic Development (Agenda Item 6.7)

The Executive Member noted the request of the Chairman for an item on ‘the future role of Weston Tourism’ to be added to the Panel’s Work Plan. He commented that in general, Weston Tourism had worked well but considered that its present form should be reviewed. He added that he welcomed the Chairman’s, request and suggested that the request be expanded to include the matter of ‘Blue Skies’ across North Somerset.

The Chairman advised that the Executive Member’s suggestion would be taken into account when the Panel discussed its Work Plan.

The Executive Member referred to matters listed in his report, and tabled background/briefing papers on the following and advised that he would welcome comments at this meeting, or subsequently (a copy of each having been placed in the Minute Book):-

1. Notes of the meeting of the West of England Culture and Leisure Officers Association, 6th October 2005.

2. Benefits of Membership of the British Resorts Association (BRA).

3. Tropicana Update.

Discussion ensued, and the Executive Member responded to Members’ questions and queries as follows:-

1. Briefings arising from meetings of the LGA which it had been assumed were circulated to all Members of Council not just Executive Members.

The Executive Member undertook to extend the circulation of the briefing papers.

2. Meetings of Outside Bodies attended by the Executive Member,

The Chairman thanked Executive Member for the information provided. He asked the Executive Member if he would provide written reports to the Panel in respect of outside bodies meetings he attended which related to the Panel’s remit.

The Executive Member advised that he would be willing to report back on matters of interest.

Concluded: that the report be noted.

SPE

Report of the Executive Member for Strategic Planning and Economic Development (Agenda Item 6.8)

The Executive Member responded to Panel Members questions and queries on the following matters:-

1. Use of skateboard ramp in Locking Car Park.

A formal request had been received to install a skateboard ramp. The matter had not yet been progressed.

Bollards were being erected, and only those vehicles whose drivers had paid would be able to gain entry to the car park. Issues of challenging behaviour by young people were being addressed by the Police and CCTV.

2. Diary Commitments

The Executive Member referred to his diary commitments and the number of meetings attended. He expressed concern about the people’s expectations of the Executive Member, and commented that being busy did not necessarily equate with being effective.

The Chairman referred to the Regional Spatial Strategy (RSS) and expressed some concern about a document from the South West Regional Assembly which indicated that North Somerset should take additional housing but fewer jobs.

The Executive Member for Strategic Planning and the Leader of the Council advised that they would resist such an approach with vigour at the joint meeting of the West of England Partnership with the South West Regional Assembly which they were due to attend.

SPE

Work Plan (Agenda Items 6.1 and 6.2)

The Panel concurred with the proposal to add ‘Blue Skies’ to its Work Plan.

The Chairman reported on proposed amendments to the Work Plan to which the Panel concurred.

The representative of the Director of Development and Environment updated the Panel on the Safety Camera Partnership. The Annual Operational Plan had yet to be received, and it was now anticipated that the Partnership would be required to submit the Plan during February 2006. The officers undertook to check the exact date, so that the Panel would know when to review the Plan.

Concluded: that the Work Plan be agreed with the following updates:-

(1) The addition of Blue Skies under the heading Destination Management.

(2) Economic Development Strategy

Partners’ Contributions to the draft Economic Development Strategy and the updated Strategy – timescale changed to February 2000.

(3) Replacement Local Plan – Workshops (timescales)

Workshop 1 – Bristol International Airport – week commencing 23rd January 2006

Workshop 2 – Port-week commencing 6th February 2006

Workshop 3 – Weston ADF Recommendations – week commencing 10th or 17th February 2006

Workshop 4 – Remaining Replacement Local Plan Issues – by the end of April 2006

(4) Sub-Regional Spatial Strategy – change timescale to January 2006

(5) Feedback on Consultants’ Work, ADF for Weston – change timescale to February or March 2006

SPE

Working Party on Accident Statistics (Agenda Item 6.3)

The Chairman reported that officers were still trying to contact the Highways Agency for them to meet informally with the Working Party early in the New Year. The principal issue for discussion would be motorway accidents, which were taken into account as one of the Council’s performance indicators, despite the motorway being the responsibility of the Highways Agency not the Council.

SPE

Kewstoke Toll Road Speed Limit (Agenda Item 6.4)

The Panel considered this report which advised that the existing signposted speed limit of 25 miles per hour on Kewstoke Toll Road was not supported by a legal order, and could not be enforced by the Police. It order to introduce an enforceable limit, a legal order would need to be issued, for one of the standard speed limits of 20 or 30 miles per hour.

Members having regard to the details of the report, and the options set out, concurred that a 30 miles per hour speed limit was the only realistic option, and should be installed.

Concluded: that it be recommended to the Executive Member for Strategic Planning, that the existing speed limit of 25 miles per hour on the Kewstoke Toll Road, which is advisory and not enforceable, be replaced by a statutory speed limit of 30 miles per hour.

SPE

The European and External Funding Service (Agenda Item 6.5)

The Panel received a report and presentation, which provided an update on the work being undertaken by the European and External Funding Officer. The key points of the presentation were as follows:-

1. What is the Service?

i. Provides advice/information/signposting

ii. Representing North Somerset views at sub-regional and regional partnerships on funding and Europe

iii. Managing the support and advice to the voluntary and community sector in North Somerset – through an SLA

iv. Provision of web based services

2. European Information Service

i. North Somerset Council is a member of the South West UK Brussels Office

ii. Information updates on European policies, consultations and funds are circulated on a monthly basis though ‘Insight’

iii. Regional networking through the South West European Local Authority Network on issues such as Lisbon Agenda

3. European Achievements

i. North Somerset Council responded to LGA consultation on Lisbon Agenda and had one of its projects held up as best practice

ii. Linking with European partners to further best practice – Energy Officers in Amsterdam linking to NSC Energy Office

iii. 15 requests for European advice/information from internal colleagues from December 2004

iv. ESF Funding: Pathways to work completed June 2005

4. Funding Advice Service

i. Voluntary and Community Sector funding advice

· SLA with the Voluntary Centre to provide advice

· Provision of a web based grants each engine for community groups

ii Internal/NSC partners funding advice

· Provision of direct funding advice

· Monthly funding newsletters emailed internally

iii Business Funding Advice

· Referral system to Business West and Euro Information Centre

5. Funding Achievements - Voluntary and Community Sector

i. Service Level Agreement in place with the Volunteer Centre since December 2004

ii. Funding Support Worker recruited and in post by August 2005

iii. 70 groups received 1:1 funding advice

iv. 14 groups attended training sessions

v. 12 groups received out reach sessions

vi. 180 groups receive regular funding news

vii. 18 referrals from NSC to the service

6. Funding Achievements - Internal/NSC Partners Funding

i. Internal Funding Officer Group 2 meetings held to discuss funding information 15-20 officers attending

ii. FOG mailing list receive monthly funding newsletters – over 50 on the internal list

iii. Co-ordinator corporate bidding processes – new tracking system in place 8 funding bids tracked to date

iv. 30 projects being given funding advice to date

v. Review of the External Funding Policy about to begin £7,823,253 drawn down in external funding for projects between 2004-2007

7. Future Developments European Information Service

i. European Information page on the North Somerset Council web pages

ii. Develop stronger sub-regional working links

iii. Develop EU information champions across the Council to disseminate policy/funding information

8. Future Developments Funding Advice Service

i. Voluntary and Community sector funding advice service review of Service Level Agreement

ii. Centralised database of all external funding sources received by North Somerset Council

iii. Up-to-date External Funding Policy to align funding work with Community Strategy and Corporate Plan

The officers responded to Members’ questions and queries.

Concluded: that the report be referred to the Finance and Performance Policy and Scrutiny Panel.

SPE

Working Party on Section 106 Agreements – Oral Report

Councillor Clark reported that progress had been relatively slow because of the amount of work to be covered, and the recent unfortunate accident of Councillor Shopland, the other working party member.

Councillors Peter Burden and Glyn Duck volunteered to help Councillor Clark.

Concluded: that Councillors Peter Burden and Glyn Duck join with Councillor John Clark as Members of the Working Party on Section 106 Agreements.

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Chairman

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