Agenda and minutes

Growth and Prosperity Overview and Scrutiny Panel - Monday 26 October 2009 2.00 pm, PROVISIONAL

Venue: Council House, Next to the Civic Centre

Contact: Helen Rickman, Democratic Support Officer  Email: helen.rickman@plymouth.gov.uk

Items
No. Item

22.

DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

Members will be asked to make any declarations of interest in respect of items on this agenda.

Minutes:

There were no declarations of interest in accordance with the code of conduct.

23.

MINUTES pdf icon PDF 17 KB

To confirm the minutes of the last meeting held on 28 September 2009.

Minutes:

Resolved that the minutes of the meeting held on 28 September 09 be confirmed as a correct record subject to minute12 being changed; Councillor Coker confirmed that he had worked with a representative from the Job CentrePlus on the DRC Board.

 

In response to questions raised, the Business Manager for Development and Regeneration reported that –

 

(i)

with reference to minute 15 (3) Hoe Foreshore, the Department for Community Services will take on the health & safety management arrangement for West Hoe;

 

(ii)

with reference to minute 19 (ii) Tracking Resolutions, Destination Southwest would be an item on the next agenda. The Business Manager is to brief the Director/Assistant Director for Development & Regeneration on the issues surrounding funding and representation and will arrange for either a) attendance at the next meeting or b) a written response.

 

24.

CHAIR'S URGENT BUSINESS

To receive reports on business which, in the opinion of the Chair, should be brought forward for urgent consideration.

Minutes:

The Panel was introduced to Anthony Payne, the new Director for Development and Regeneration, and were informed that he had previously worked for a regional development agency. Mr Payne had been in post for three weeks.

25.

BID VETO pdf icon PDF 6 KB

The Panel will be provided with a report on the Business Improvement District (BID) Power to VETO.

Minutes:

The City Centre Project Officer provided the Panel with information on the Business Improvement District (BID) and informed the Panel that –

 

(i)

the BID was established in Plymouth in 2005 and had dramatically improved the city centre;

 

(ii)

issues of cleanliness, security and overall standards had been addressed;

 

(iii)

retail crime was down by 23%;

 

(iv)

marketing had been focused upon;

 

(v)

strategic projects, such as Plymouth Summer Festival, had been successful;

 

(vi)

resources had been invested in the Western Approach and Theatre Royal car parks;

 

(vii)

the Council had the power to veto the Business Improvement District;

 

(viii)

89% of retailers voted in favour for the renewal of Plymouth’s BID;

 

In response to questions raised it was reported that –

 

(ix)

9% of retailers voted against the BID;

 

(x)

marketing was greatly focused upon;

 

(xi)

the results achieved for Plymouth’s BID was the biggest and best mandate ever achieved;

 

Resolved that in view of the excellent results achieved by the BID to date, the City Council be recommended not to exercise the power of veto with regard to the renewed BID.

26.

EASTERN CORRIDOR BRIEFING

The Panel will be provided with an update on the Eastern Corridor.

Minutes:

The Major Schemes Project Manager and the Portfolio holder for Transport provided the Panel with an update on the Eastern Corridor.

 

Resolved that the next briefing would be scheduled for Jan 25 2010.

27.

CARBON REDUCTION COMMITMENT

The Panel will be provided with a presentation on the Carbon Reduction Commitment.

Minutes:

The Sustainable Development Officer and the Carbon Reduction Manager provided the Panel with information on the Carbon Reduction Commitment Scheme.

 

The Panel was informed that –

 

(i)

the Carbon Reduction Commitment (CRC) Energy Efficiency Scheme was introduced by the Climate Change Act 2008 and Plymouth City Council had signed up to it;

 

(ii)

the Carbon Reduction Commitment was the UK’s mandatory climate change and emissions saving scheme and would start on 1 April 2010;

 

(iii)

this scheme would apply to any organisation that used more than 6 Gigawatts of half hourly recorded electricity use in 2008/09;

 

(iv)

participants would be set reduction targets; if these targets were met, payments would be repaid; there would also be a reward initiative;

 

(v)

waste and transport were currently excluded from calculations;

 

(vi)

in 2008/09 the Council (including schools) used 15,034,028 kwh between January and December 2008;

 

(vii)

for 2008/09 Plymouth City Council’s carbon footprint (less waste and transport) was calculated as 29,549 tCO2;

 

(viii)

the Carbon Reduction Commitment was listed as a corporate improvement priority in this year’s corporate plan;

 

(ix)

by 2010/11 the Council should see a reduction of at least 16% in  its corporate carbon footprint.

 

In response to questions raised it was reported that –

 

(x)

a gigawatt was a million million watts;

 

(xi)

credit in terms of co2 emissions could be used as a commodity;

 

(xii)

the Carbon Reduction Commitment does not include co2 emissions of transport or waste;

 

(xiii)

the Carbon Reduction Commitment was not budgeted for in the Council’s financial year, however Salix would provide interest free loans;

 

(xiv)

it was not known how many European partners had signed up to the Carbon Reduction Commitment however the Carbon Reduction Manager would investigate and provide a response;

 

Resolved that the Carbon Reduction Commitment be added to the March agenda in order to inform the Panel of progress, and to clarify the leadership and ownership within Plymouth City Council management arrangements.

 

28.

HOE FORESHORE MANAGEMENT

The Panel will be provided with an update on How Foreshore Management.

Minutes:

The Panel was informed that the Department for Community Services had been identified as the new management arrangement for West Hoe and that a new risk assessment would take place for this section of the Hoe.

 

The next site visit will take place on 30 October 09 and officers will be asked to provide clarity on the timing of the West Pier risk assessment and the action being taken regarding the safety of the diving board.

 

29.

APPOINTMENT OF CO-OPTED REPRESENTATIVES

The Panel will consider the appointment of a co-opted representative.

Minutes:

Resolved that this item be referred to the next business meeting.

30.

APPOINTMENT OF SUBSTITUTE MEMBER TO THE OVERVIEW AND SCRUTINY MANAGEMENT BOARD pdf icon PDF 11 KB

The Panel will be asked to note the arrangements for the appointment of a substitute member to a meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny Management Board.

Minutes:

Resolved that the Vice Chair would liaise with Councillors Wheeler and Nelder in order to appoint a Labour substitute member to the Overview and Scrutiny Management Board.

31.

SKATEBOARDING REVIEW

Minutes:

Councillor Reynolds gave his apologies for the first meeting.

 

Resolved that clarification to be sought on whether it is acceptable for 3 members to form the Panel.

 

32.

EXEMPT BUSINESS

To consider passing a resolution under Section 100A (4) of the Local Government Act 1972 to exclude the press and public from the meeting for the following item(s) of business on the grounds that it (they) involve(s) the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraph(s) of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act, as amended by the Freedom of Information Act 2000.

Minutes:

There were no items of exempt business.