Shrewsbury & Atcham
Borough Council

Decision Number and Matter

Councillor Mrs. Chebsey

Minute 07/05 – Environmental Centre of Excellence – Personal interest as Dr. Richard Davies was known to her personally .

Councillor Freestone

Minute 06/05 – Visitor and Tourism Strategy / Public Conveniences Provision – Declaration that she was not a member of the Abbey Foregate Improvement Group though her name had been included in the paper produced by the group which was being considered by the Committee.

Councillor J. M. Williams

Minute 06/05 – Visitor and Tourism Strategy / Public Conveniences Provision – Personal interest as a member of the Abbey Foregate Improvement Group.

Minute/Action

Action to be taken by:

05/05

(Councillor Evans spoke on this item.)

Mr. Tony Corcoran, the District Auditor and Relationship Manager for Shrewsbury and Atcham Borough Council and Mr. Erik Bagnall, the Audit Manager from the Audit Commission office in Shrewsbury addressed the Committee on the Annual Audit and Inspection Letter for Shrewsbury and Atcham Borough Council prepared by the Audit Commission in respect of this Council’s performance and the way forward for the Council in implementing the Action Plan arising from the CPA inspection.

An updated CPA Action Plan (January 2005) prepared by the Assistant Chief Executive was circulated at the meeting.

Mr. Corcoran congratulated the Council on its significant achievement of being assessed as excellent in its Comprehensive Performance Assessment. The excellent rating meant that the Council would not be subject to a full inspection in future but one that would concentrate on the identified improvement priority areas. The priority areas identified for strengthening were partnership working, diversity and social inclusion.

It was acknowledged that much work had already been undertaken by this Committee to address the need for improvements in partnership working.

Financial pressures and the need to achieve savings through to 2007/08 impacting on the Council’s ability to maintain a balanced budget were highlighted.

It was also stressed that effective financial monitoring arrangements would be required for the provision of the New Entertainment Venue to avoid escalating costs.

Some members expressed concern at the effect that budget balancing could have on the future standard of service delivery.

(a) That this Committee records its thanks to Mr. Tony Corcoran and Mr. Erik Bagnall of the Audit Commission for their presentation.

(b) That this Council’s excellent rating in the Comprehensive Performance Assessment be welcomed.

(c) That at future meetings this Committee reviews progress on work to strengthen performance in those areas highlighted by the Audit Commission as requiring improvement.

Assistant Chief Executive

06/05

At the invitation of the Committee, Mr. John Quallington of the Abbey Foregate Improvement Group addressed the meeting on the case for Abbey Foregate being established as the main tourist coach drop-off point for visitors accessing the town and the appropriate services required to be provided at the location.

Members discussed points relating to the suitability of the location, current coach drop-off arrangements, the various means by which visitors could be transported into the town centre, the way in which appropriate information and toilet facilities could be provided, the environmental issues involved and the opportunity to relocate the lorry park.

(a) That the following recommendation be submitted to Cabinet for consideration:

That, not precluding any other future proposals and solutions, Shrewsbury is promoted as a ‘First Division’ National Heritage destination and that Abbey Foregate be signed as the primary entry point into the town and established as the main tourist coach drop-off point for visitors accessing the town.

(b) That a paper be prepared for submission to the Cabinet, together with the report of the Abbey Foregate Improvement Group, setting out the points raised at the meeting which were considered to be important factors in support of the above recommendation.

Committee Services Officer

Committee Services Officer/ Chairman

07/05

Further to Minute 01/05, consideration was given to the draft terms of reference for the Environmental Centre of Excellence Working Group.

That the following terms of reference for the Environmental Centre of Excellence Working Group be approved:

To develop a package of proposed initiatives and methodology to take forward the first phase in establishing and promoting Shrewsbury as an environmental centre of excellence.

17^th November 2005

6

Assistant Chief Executive (Andy Goldsmith)

Public Amenities Manager (Derek Caddy)

Sustainability Officer (James Thompson)

Principal Environmental Health Officer (David Spode)

Enlist the services of professionals with appropriate expertise in preparing a Council wide action plan to achieve the status of environmental centre of excellence, to incorporate the following:

• That the Council makes a corporate commitment to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by a rolling average of 2% or more year on year from a 2004/05 basline in order to put the Council on a path to achieving a 60% cut by 2050, in line with the recommendations of the Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution.
• That the Council publicise the positive action being taken to achieve these goals and lead and encourage, as appropriate, residents, businesses, transport providers and the voluntary sector in achieving similar reductions.
• That the Council encourages a significant increase in the rate of take up of energy efficiency measures in existing housing stock, through better access to information about grants and subsidies. Encourage excellent standards of insulation and the inclusion of sustainable design techniques and building materials where most appropriate in new buildings.
• That the Council seeks to reduce harmful emissions from Council vehicles using a range of methods, including piloting the use of biofuels.

Working Group members and support officers.

08/05

The Forward Plan for the period 1^st February 2005 to 31^st May 2005 outlining proposed future policy developments was received.

That, in relation to the Food Law Enforcement Service Plan 2005-2006 due to be submitted to Cabinet on 4^th April 2005, the Environmental Health Manager be asked to attend the next meeting of this Committee to report on food inspection arrangements.

Committee Services Officer