Councillor RJ Patterson in the Chair; Councillors AR Bowlas, GM Elliott, E I Hunter, CM Liddell-Grainger, JD Lockie, LW Robson and JE Smith.
IN ATTENDANCE :
Councillors GE Miller and JMF Nesbit.
225 APOLOGIES
Apologies for absence were received on behalf of Councillors DGR Buckle, GP Horsburgh and A Hughes.
226 TEMPORARY SENIOR DEMOCRATIC SERVICES OFFICER
The Chairman welcomed Gillian Simmons, due to take up the post of Temporary Senior Democratic Services Officer on 27th September 2004, to the meeting.
Mrs. Simmons was due to succeed John McLuckie, who had been seconded to the post of – CPA Project Team Leader (leading the post-CPA action and improvement planning process), and would be responsible for the administration of Planning, Overview and Scrutiny and Town Committees.
227 1. DECLARATION OF INTEREST 1
[Notes : (i) Councillors JD Lockie and LW Robson declared a non-prejudicial interest in Item 3: Draft Interim Planning Policy Statement – Housing 2004 (specifically the section entitled “Conversions of Agricultural and other rural buildings”); and (ii) the Chief Executive declared a prejudicial interest in Item 16: Update on Berwick Incubation Centre Development.]
228 2. MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF POLICY (CORPORATE SERVICES AND REGENERATION) COMMITTEE HELD ON 28TH JULY 2004 1
DECISION: To approve as a correct record the Minutes of the Meeting of the Policy (Corporate Services and Regeneration) Committee held on 28th July 2004.
DECISION: (i) To agree the format and content of the Draft Interim Planning Policy Statement – Housing 2004; (ii) to agree the preferred Options as recommended by the Local Development Framework Sub-Committee; and (iii) to agree the timetable for public consultation and adoption of the Interim Planning Policy Statement – Housing 2004.
230 4. DRAFT BERWICK-UPON-TWEED URBAN HOUSING CAPACITY STUDY 2
DECISIONS: (i) To note the contents of the Draft Berwick-upon-Tweed Urban Housing Capacity Study and the methodology employed in its preparation; and (ii) to agree the Estimated True Urban Capacity as the basis for consultations with interested parties as the means of completing Stage 6 of the Study, thereby validating its findings.
231 5. NORTHUMBERLAND COAST AREA OF OUTSTANDING NATURAL BEAUTY MANAGEMENT PLAN 2004-2009 7
DECISIONS: : (i) To note that the Northumberland Coast AONB Partnership intends to adopt the Northumberland Coast Area of Outstanding Beauty Management Plan 2004 – 2009; and (ii) to welcome the adoption of the Plan and to work to secure its successful implementation within the Partnership.
232 6. REVIEW OF REGENERATION STRATEGY 8
DECISIONS: (i) To note the progress made within the Borough in terms of regeneration as established with the Changing Perceptions strategy; and (ii) to agree to the proposal that the Community Strategy defines the regeneration priorities for the Borough and that the Regeneration Manager be tasked with preparing an Economic Development plan to commence in the 2005/06 financial year.
233 7. RATE RELIEF UNDER SECTIONS 43 AND 47 OF THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT FINANCE ACT 1988 15
DECISION: To grant mandatory relief but to refuse the request for discretionary relief, as set out in the report.
234 8. BUDGETARY CONTROL FOR POLICY (CORPORATE SERVICES AND REGENERATION) COMMITTEE TO THE END OF JUNE 2004 15
DECISIONS: (i) That the spending position is noted; (ii) that the virement is noted Camping and Caravan Sites Income and Economic Development for £8,000 in 2004/05 to meet the Council’s contribution towards the Local Compact; (iii) that a contribution to the Art Council of £3,000 is agreed, to be met by virement in 2004/05 and added back into the base budget from 2005/06; (iv) that the virement to meet the increased cost of job evaluation analyst is noted; and (v) the change to the Museum budget is noted.
235 9. BUDGETARY CONTROL REPORT : CAPITAL PROGRAMME EXPENDITURE 2004/05 19
DECISION: : To note the budgetary control report to the 30th June 2004.
236 10. BUDGET CONSULTATION EXERCISE – PROGRESS OF FUNDAMENTAL BUDGET REVIEW WORKING GROUP (FBRWG)/PLANNING FINANCIAL ISSUES 20
DECISIONS: (i) That the Head of Finance (Accountancy and Audit) consults with Chair of FBRWG, the Chair of this Committee and the Chief Executive to resolve any conflicting responses from Members on the content of the budget consultation exercise; and (ii) to note that a report entitled “Planning Financial Issues” will be taken to this committee in October.
237 11. PROGRESS REPORT ON CULTURE AND ARTS WORKING GROUP 22
DECISION: To receive this report for information.
238 12. PROGRESS REPORT ON THE NORTH ROAD INDUSTRIAL ESTATE 23
DECISIONS: (i) To receive this progress report and approve the revised workplan; and (ii) to agree to receive a further progress report on this matter at Committee in January 2005.
239 13. SERVICE PLANS 25
DECISION: To note this report and accept that a full set of service plans for 2005/06 will be submitted to the last cycle of this municipal year’s Policy Committees.
240 14. REGIONAL SPATIAL STRATEGY 28*
DECISION: To agree that this report should form the basis of the Council’s formal submission to the North East Assembly in response to their draft Regional Spatial Strategy consultation documents.
[Note: The version of this report included in the agenda had been replaced by an updated version produced following further discussions between officers and representatives of the Association of North East Councils.]
241 15. EXCLUSION OF PRESS AND PUBLIC 30
DECISION:
To exclude under Section 100 A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the press and the public from the Meeting during consideration of the following item on the grounds that it was likely to involve the disclosure of exempt information as defined in Part I of Schedule 12A of the Act:
Minute 243 : Paragraph 7: Information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (other than the authority).
242 16. UPDATE ON BERWICK INCUBATION CENTRE DEVELOPMENT 31
DECISION: To agree that the Regeneration Manager takes forward the development of a Joint Venture agreement with the stated partners and under the advice of the Borough Solicitor in order to achieve the successful creation of a new Business Incubation Centre.
[Note: Having declared an interest, the Chief Executive left the meeting before consideration of the item set out above and did not return.]
