COMMUNITY AND PARTNERSHIPS SCRUTINY COMMITTEE
2ND DECEMBER 2009
PRESENT:
The Chair (Councillor Shepherd)
The Vice-chair (Councillor K. Jones)
Councillors Bava, Gay, Harris, Hodgson, J.M. Hunt, Ranson, Seaton,
Sutherington and Youell
APOLOGIES: Councillors Campbell and Radford
23.
MINUTES
The minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 14th October 2009 were
confirmed and signed.
24.
DISCLOSURES OF PERSONAL INTEREST
By Councillor Shepherd - Personal Interest in Item 5 – Great Central Railway and in
items relating to Leicestershire County Council.
25.
DECLARATIONS - THE PARTY WHIP
No declarations of the existence of the Party Whip were made.
26.
GREAT CENTRAL RAILWAY
A report of the Director of Loughborough Regeneration was submitted (item 5 on
the agenda filed with these minutes). The report provided a progress report on the
implementation of the recommendations made by the Committee and agreed by
Cabinet in respect of the Great Central Railway.
At the request of the Committee, the Cabinet Lead Member, Councillor Harley
attended the meeting to assist with the consideration of the item.
The Director of Loughborough Regeneration attended the meeting to assist with the
consideration of the item.
RESOLVED that the Cabinet be advised of the comments and suggestions of
the Committee, in respect of the Great Central Railway as follows:
(i)
There was a huge opportunity to link the GCR with Taylor’s Bell Foundry as
a tourism opportunity for both and to assist an area of deprivation;
(ii)
With increased activity in the area of the Loughborough GCR station, public
transport should be adequate to meet demand and sufficient off street car
parking be made available;
Community and Partnerships Scrutiny Committee
Date 2nd December 2009
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(iii)
Investment was required to upgrade the Loughborough GCR Station.
Reasons
27.
1.
To increase the potential of tourism in the area and support an area of
deprivation.
2.
To mitigate the effects of possible congestion, as at the present time the
parking facilities in the area of the Loughborough GCR station were limited
and would be exacerbated by the imminent loss of parking facilities at a local
mosque.
3.
Such investment would improve the attractiveness of the station and increase
its value to tourism.
CHARNWOOD PROMOTIONS
A report of the Director of Leisure and Environment was submitted (item 6 on the
agenda filed with these minutes). The report provided the Committee with
information in respect of the work of Charnwood Promotions and Tourism in the
Borough.
At the request of the Committee, the Cabinet Lead Member, Councillor Lewis
attended the meeting to assist with the consideration of the item.
The Director of Leisure and Environment and the Head of Culture, Arts and
Heritage attended the meeting to assist with the consideration of the item.
RESOLVED
1.
that the Committee supports and endorses the actions currently being
undertaken by Charnwood Promotions;
2.
that officers be requested to write to Martin Peters, the Chair of
Leicestershire Promotions, requesting information in respect of the impact
the current economic situation has had on tourism in Charnwood and the
response be circulated to members of the Committee;
3.
that the Committee recommend to Charnwood Promotions that it make
every effort to disseminate information to the whole Borough.
4.
that Members and local organisations be encouraged to use the ‘Happening in
Charnwood’ website to promote local events throughout the Borough.
5.
that Members be invited to visit their local libraries, to ascertain what
tourism information was available.
Reasons
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28.
1.
The Committee acknowledged the strategies used by Charnwood
Promotions and the benefits of Partnership working.
2.
To ascertain the effects of the current economic situation on tourism in
Charnwood.
3.
To ensure that information in respect of tourism throughout the Borough
was inclusive.
4.
To make greater use of the website and ensure information was available to a
wider audience.
5.
To advise officers where the information was not available and ensure that
appropriate literature be made available in all areas of the Borough.
COMMUNICATIONS AND CONSULTATIONS TEAM
A report of the Director of Partnerships and Customer Services was submitted
(item 7 on the agenda filed with these minutes). The report informed the
Committee of how the Council was promoted in the press and other work
undertaken by the team and made reference to the Service Review currently taking
place for the Communications and Consultations Team.
At the request of the Committee, the Cabinet Lead Member, Councillor Lewis
attended the meeting to assist with the consideration of the item.
The Director of Partnerships and Customer Services attended the meeting to assist
with the consideration of the item.
RESOLVED
1.
that the use of twitter and other technology be examined as a means of
communication;
2.
that further consideration be given to the content of Charnwood News and
the balance in content between the work of the Council and other matters of
interest involving communities, groups and individuals through out the
Borough;
3.
that in respect of Charnwood News, further consideration be given to the
style of language used;
4.
that consideration be given to emailing news letters to Members and the
public outlining major press releases;
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5.
that the Service Review in respect of the Communications and Consultations
Team be submitted to the Committee for scrutiny, prior to its submission to
Cabinet.
Reasons
1.
2.
29.
Modern technology allowed for greater accessibility to Council information
by many members of the public. Such technology had no costs attached to it
and was successfully used by other Local Authorities and Government
Departments.
Further consideration should be given to the content of Charnwood News,
whether it should be solely a means of the Council communicating with
residents in respect of promoting its services, or should include community
news and publicise community events.
3.
To ensure that Charnwood News was produced in a style to encourage wide
readership.
4.
To provide information in respect of press releases to a wide audience in a
convenient manner.
5.
To give the Committee the opportunity to submit comments to Cabinet,
when the Cabinet considers the Service Review.
SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES ACT
A report of the Director of Partnerships and Customer Services was submitted
(item 8 on the agenda filed with these minutes). The report informed the
Committee of the Council’s use of the Sustainable Communities Act during the
preceding six months.
At the request of the Committee, the Cabinet Lead Member, Councillor Harley
attended the meeting to assist with the consideration of the item.
The Director of Partnerships and Customer Services attended the meeting to assist
with the consideration of the item.
RESOLVED to review the position again when the Secretary of State issues a
further invitation for proposals to be submitted to the LGA or when the
Amendment Bill is published, whichever is the sooner.
Reason
To continue to monitor the use of the Sustainable Communities Act by Charnwood
Borough Council.
30.
WORK PROGRAMME
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Date 2nd December 2009
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A report of the Acting Director of Programmes and Resources was submitted (item
9 on the agenda filed with these minutes).
RESOLVED that the Scrutiny Commission be informed that the Committee wishes
to proceed on the basis of the following work programme, which incorporates
decisions made at this meeting:
ISSUE
Olympics 2012
MEETING
20th January 2010
Reports from the Director of Leisure and
Environment and the Director of Loughborough
Regeneration to provide information in respect of the
Loughborough Eastern Gateway, the Cultural
Olympiad, what effects the Olympics would have on
the Borough and how the Council was preparing for
the event.
Invite Cabinet Lead Member
Invite an appropriate officer from Loughborough
University
Retail Business Update – Christmas 2009
20th January 2010
A report of the Director of Loughborough
Regeneration to review the Christmas period across
the Borough for the retail trade.
Invite Cabinet Lead Member
Invite A. McInness – Loughborough Town Team
Invite the Syston Town Centre Manager
Invite a representative of the Federation of Small
Businesses
Invite the Chair of the Market Traders Association.
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Date 2nd December 2009
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Community Safety Scrutiny – 6th Month
Scrutiny
10th March 2010
A report of the Director of Partnerships and
Customer Services, to include the new Community
Safety Partnership Plan and information in respect of
Beat 15, the Hastings and Peel Drive area, both data
and details of any displacement of crime.
Invite Cabinet Lead Member
Invite Inspector Tim McCabe
Equality and Diversity
10th March 2010
An update report of the Acting Director of
Programmes and Resources to include the Equality
Action Plan, following consideration of the matter at
the Committee’s meeting held on 14th October
2009.
Invite Cabinet Lead Member
Items still to be programmed:
Communication and Consultations Team Service Review – to consider the Service
Review prior to its submission to Cabinet.
Sustainable Communities Act - to review the position again when the Secretary of
State issues a further invitation for proposals to be submitted to the LGA or when
the Amendment Bill becomes law, whichever is the sooner.
Regular items:
Community Safety – every six months – last considered 14th October 2009
Reason
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To assist the Scrutiny Commission in respect of its role of managing scrutiny work
programmes across Committees and to enable planning for future meetings of the
Committee, reports to be prepared and attendances to be arranged.
NOTE:
1.
No reference may be made to these minutes at Council on 11th January
2010, unless notice to that effect is given to the Head of Democratic Services
by five members of the Council no later than five days following the
publication of the minutes in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 2(f).
2.
These minutes are subject to confirmation as a correct record at the next
meeting of the Committee to be held on 20th January 2010.
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Published 10th December 2009