Shrewsbury & Atcham
Borough Council

Agenda Item

Minute/Action

Action to be taken by:

54/06

PUBLIC QUESTION TIME

In accordance with the Council's Public Questions / Statements Scheme three questions were submitted to the Committee together with a request to make a statement from Robert Bullard of Darwin Street, Shrewsbury. The Chairman responded to each of the questions in turn.

Question 1. On what basis, to whom and with what remit, was £20,000 given for the working of the River Regeneration Partnership?

Answer: Cabinet on the 4th September 2006 considered a report by the Deputy Chief Executive requesting a funding budget for the River Regeneration Partnership to undertake initial research work to progress the regeneration of the river and agreed the following:

DECISION:

(a) That a sum of up to £20,000 be made available to the River Regeneration Partnership to progress its objectives to the regeneration of the river in Shrewsbury.
(b) That this sum of £20,000 be financed from the capital budget (River Strategy).
(c) That the sum of £20,000 be managed through Destination Shrewsbury and its officers and Board.
(d) That Cabinet nominate Councillor Mrs. Williams to sit on the Partnership and represent the Partnership at Destination Shrewsbury Board meetings (as appropriate).
(e) That a proper consultation process be undertaken by Destination Shrewsbury with the results reported back to Cabinet.

Reason:
(a) To progress this major initiative utilising the enthusiasm and expertise of interested members of the public.
(b) To address the issue of the development of the river within the Shrewsbury loop.

Question 2: Does the Council plan, or is it considering the possibility of a bridge from the Frankwell side of the river over to the West Mid Show Ground, and if so, what nature will it take?

Answer: Yes, consideration is being given to the installation of a bridge. It is early days but part of the proposals around Frankwell Town Park and better integration of the Show Ground into the town make reference to a new river crossing. No decision has been made as to the nature and it would of course be subject to funding and an engineering study.

Question 3: The objectives of the River Regeneration partnership refer to 'proactive' use of the river and other developments as well as 'maintaining and enhancing' the river in a sustainable way. Which of these objectives will be given greater weight, or how does the Council feel both of them can be met?

Answer: The Council does not see the two objectives as being incompatible. The Council is committed to making the borough a Centre of Environmental Excellence and a leading County Town in the West Midlands where people can enjoy an improving quality of life. Any developmental plans to encourage active use of the river will need to take account of its sensitive nature.

Mr Bullard made a statement to the Committee which is summarised below:

• Speaking on behalf of the Frankwell residents liaising with the West Mid Showground and made reference to points raised at a recent meeting he had attended.

• Getting closer to nature, the River Regeneration Partnership threatens the river, residents and visitors to the town.

• Concern regarding the Partnership Proposals in that the Council is trying to encroach on the sports ground at Frankwell and the threat to the flood plain.

• In respect of noise and river pollution, do not believe they are compatible. Urge to seek the views of fishermen and voluntary conservation groups and felt the work of the Partnership was undertaken in secret and was proactively supportive of developing of interests. Many of the townspeople are gobsmacked at the Council's plans and the Group feel that the membership of the River Regeneration Partnership should be reconsidered.

• Asked to reconsider objectives in line with conservation goals and looked forward to receiving a response.

The Chairman thanked Mr Bullard for his questions and statement. He agreed to put the points raised within the statement to the next meeting of the River Regeneration Partnership to seek to get clearer information into the public domain as to its objectives.

55/06

EXPLORING OPPORTUNITIES FOR SERVICE DEVELOPMENT

Consideration was given for service development to meet the needs of older people within the Borough in relation to the use of recreational facilities. A number of guest speakers addressed the meeting and several points were raised during the course of the Committee's deliberations.

Mr Harris and Mrs Roscoe addressed the Committee on behalf of the Senior Citizens Forum and enthusiastically spoke of the requirements for the development of recreational facilities for older people. Reference was made to public transport facilities and specific routes to the Sports Village. It was suggested that a route map be produced highlighting the various public transport routes. Mr Harris suggested that promotional details of the facilities offered at the Sports Village be published in the Forum's next quarterly newsletter. The publication of a questionnaire was also suggested to enable the Council to obtain a realistic snapshot of what facilities were required by members of the Forum.

Ms Collington spoke of the living well events promoted by Age Concern. She indicated that some of the biggest factors faced related to funding issues and transport facilities. The Committee were informed that the proposal to hold a number of health, leisure and fitness classes in one venue was ideal and suggested a timetable of classes be published.

The County Council's Assistant Director of Strategy and Business Support explained the County Council's strategy on the promotion of recreation facilities and indicated that recreation represented a great deal to many different groups of people. It was important to be socially inclusive to minimise the marginalisation of some groups of society.

The County Council's Assistant Director of Older People and Disability outlined the work undertaken in developing leisure services for older people. He drew the Committee's attention to the number of people who were dependent on residential care and highlighted the importance of engaging with all sectors of the community to enable people to lead full and active lives in their communities.

The Leisure and Community Development Manager welcomed the comments and confirmed that members of the Senior Citizens Forum would be warmly welcomed at the Sports Village. He indicated that the Council's Leisure Services Department would seek to work together in partnership to provide appropriate daytime leisure activities at the Sports Village.

The Portfolio Holder for Leisure welcomed the opportunity for the development of partnership working to enhance the provision of leisure services for older people.

The consideration of the development of recreational facilities enabled the Council to oversee what was required from specific service users and acknowledge the issues which had been identified such as cost, accessibility, transport facilities, greater options of membership and the need for different types of classes to be made available.

The Leisure and Community Development Manager made reference to a public consultation undertaken prior to the construction of the Sports Village. He also referred to the awaited publication of the PPG 17 Strategy on Recreational Facilities in the Borough which should provide the Council with a strategic steer and provide answers to a number of questions.

The Chairman thanked everyone for their valuable contributions to the debate and hoped the different bodies could work together to facilitate the future provision of needed recreational facilities and confirmed the comments would be taken on board in future policy development.

56/06

FEASIBILITY OF MUSIC / DANCE

The Cultural Services Manager presented her report on the feasibility of providing an additional Music / Dance practice / rehearsal facilities in the Borough other than the one being provided within the New Entertainment Venue.

A member referred to the demand for facilities of this type to be provided at affordable prices to engage all sectors of the community.

A member questioned whether the report could be extended to include user analysis of existing facilities within the Council's portfolio of assets. Following considerable discussion, members agreed it would be helpful to broaden the remit to look at private organisations and clubs and agreed that a scoping exercise be undertaken to identify facilities which are presently available.

1. That a scoping exercise of available facilities for Music / Dance practice / rehearsals in the Borough be undertaken by Ward Members, and once completed, the matter be programmed into the Work Plan for further consideration by the Overview Committee.

2. That should there be a significant increase in enquiries for music / dance rehearsal facilities, then a report would be brought back to Committee.

3. That following the opening of the New Entertainment Venue, Officers undertake further analysis of the need for an additional facility, the results of which shall be reported back to Committee.

Ward Members

Cultural Services Manager / Committee Services Officer

57/06

CUSTOMER SERVICES STRATEGY - ACTION PLAN

The ICT and Customer Services Manager presented the Customer Services Strategy Action Plan. Members were advised that the Strategy had been approved in March and served to put the customer at the heart of the Council and to promote and enhance the accessibility of services available to the public. He updated the Committee on a number of projects and reported that the new Parkright website had gone live and members of the Customer Services Team were handling general enquires in relation to Parkright.

That the Customer Services Action Plan be received.

58/06

PROCUREMENT STRATEGY

The Assistant Chief Executive (Monitoring Officer) presented a report on the Procurement Strategy. A number of members indicated that they had been unable to access the report which had been produced in the form of a Powerpoint presentation and requested assistance in accessing Powerpoint presentations.

That the Procurement Strategy be deferred to the next meeting and that the report be re-circulated to members.

Committee Services Officer

59/06

FIT FOR PURPOSE IN THE 21^ST CENTURY

Consideration was given to a report of the Assistant Chief Executive (Policy) on the final draft of the Shrewsbury 2020 policy paper setting out the long term objectives of the Council to 2020 and the overall culture of the organisation to deliver those objectives.

Concern was expressed on the future long term financial strategy to enable the successful delivery of many of the objectives. Members were advised that the paper was aspirational and the importance of the inclusion of the Council's long term goals and objectives in the policy paper.

That, subject to the amendments set out below, the final draft of the Shrewsbury 2020 policy paper be recommended to Council for consideration:

1. That the provision of Affordable Rented Housing be included as a key objective.

2. That key milestone measures be incorporated.

3. That Cabinet be asked to set out a funding strategy to enable the objectives to be met.

Committee Services Officer

60/06

DRAFT CORPORATE AND PERFORMANCE IMPROVEMENT PLAN

Consideration was given to the Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) set for the Council Priorities 2006 - 2010. The Assistant Chief Executive (Policy) asked members to consider the document and seek to identify additional KPIs for future consideration to effectively measure and monitor the Council's performance. A member raised concern over the targets in relation to affordable homes and planning applications and it was agreed that this would be reviewed in future.

That the Key Performance Indicators for the Council Priorities 2006 – 2010 be received and reviewed at a future meeting.

Committee Services Officer

61/06

CCTV WORKING GROUP

The Final Report of the CCTV Working Group on the Future Provision of CCTV was presented. Some members expressed concern that, given the limited time remaining at this meeting, full and proper consideration could not be given to the Working Group's findings.

That Cabinet be asked to defer the consideration of the Future Provision of CCTV to a later date to enable this Committee to fully consider the report

Committee Services Officer

62/06

WORK PROGRAMME UPDATE

The Chairman undertook to review the Committee's workplan and make the necessary amendments which would be circulated to the Committee.

That an updated Work Programme be circulated to the Committee.

Councillor Thurston

63/06

FORWARD PLAN

The Forward Plan for the period 1^st December 2006 to 31^st March 2007 outlining proposed future policy developments was received.

That the Forward Plan be noted.