Councillor A E Breckons in the Chair; Councillors S J Anderson, W N Ferguson, C G Hallam-Baker, J G Hutchinson, D McClymont, R J Patterson, F I Simpson, J E Smith and W G R Weeks.
IN ATTENDANCE :
Councillor A R Bowlas
244 APOLOGIES
There were no apologies for absence.
245 WELCOME
The Chair welcomed members of the Berwick Chamber of Trade and Commerce, the Berwick Civic Society and the media to the meeting.
246 1. DECLARATION OF INTEREST 1
There were no declarations of interest.
247 2. MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF OVERVIEW AND SCRUTINY COMMITTEE HELD ON DATE 1
DECISION: To approve as a correct record the Minutes of the Meeting of Overview and Scrutiny Committee held on 22nd June 2004.
248 3. CONSIDERATION OF THE COMMISSIONING AND FUTURE USE OF THE ROGER TYM BERWICK TOWN ASSESSMENT 1
There was a wide ranging discussion covering a variety of main themes, namely:
a) Planning
Key issues identified were
• Changes in planning legislation currently underway, which will involve increased emphasis on sustainability and community involvement in development proposals
• Local Development Framework – consultation being undertaken on new framework which will replace the Local Plan in due course
• The planning process is governed by legislation, and decision-making is guided and constrained by this legislation
• GONE and the ODPM can call-in or override planning decisions taken by the Borough Council
b) Progress on Recommendations
These include:
• Market Towns Initiative officer for Berwick (including Tweedmouth/Spittal/Scremerston) now in place
• Initial discussions towards setting up a development trust in Berwick underway with stakeholders, including the Chamber of Trade and Commerce, invited to take part
• Business Improvement District (BID) scheme at early stages of development, with support of Chamber of Trade and Commerce and other local business organisations
• Initiative to market empty properties better and bring them back into reuse, sometimes for activities other than retail, underway: eg. development in former Youngman’s building. A budget bid for resources to further this activity is being put forward.
• Encouragement for new businesses with development of Business Incubation Centre in Walkergate, and proposals for permanent farm shop to allow small producers to retail their products beyond the monthly Farmers’ Market
c) Heritage Issues
In particular:
• The need to make wider use of Berwick’s history and heritage
• The need to enhance Berwick town centre as a cultural centre with improved art and heritage provision to attract visitors
• Encouragement of good design to preserve the integrity of the town centre
d) Retail Issues
• Town centre retailers need footfall in the town centre to be preserved to remain viable. Independents cannot survive without Council help
• Many of those using town centre shops are visitors, and many residents do not use the town centre to do their weekly shop
• The report’s recommendation for increased retail and leisure activity in the town centre in the early evening during the summer months has not yet been acted upon
e) Car Parking
• Castlegate is to see improvements in car parking, to make it safer for car users and pedestrians
• People are being encouraged to use public transport/bikes rather than cars
• Signage still needs to be improved
• Car parking working group may be reconvened
f) Consultation
• Chamber of Trade and Commerce consider consultation inadequate/after the event. Members were concerned to ensure this would improve with regard to future use of the report.
• All those consulted received executive summary of report, but full copies were only sent to Members of the Corporate Services and Regeneration Committee which commissioned the study.
• CS&R accepted the report at their meeting of 14th April 2004 and agreed to implement a series of actions in line with the conclusions set out within the executive summary.
• The recommendations of the report, accepted by the Council and the Chamber of Trade, should now be a starting point to develop the town centre of Berwick.
RECOMMENDATION: As a result of our findings we believe there needs to be much more emphasis on consultation in this area of the Council’s work, and that all stakeholders should be invited to participate in future initiatives resulting from this report.
Proposed by Councillor W N Ferguson; Seconded by Councillor D McClymont and agreed.
[Note: The Chief Executive left the meeting during discussion of the item detailed above and did not return. Councillors D McClymont, J E Smith and W G R Weeks, Shona Alexander and all members of the public and press left the meeting following discussion of the item detailed above and did not return.]
249 4. PROGRESS REPORTS ON MATTERS IDENTIFIED THROUGH THE WORK PROGRAMME 3
i) Performance Management sub-group
DECISIONS: (i) To note the Council Performance Plan Quarterly Update report; and (ii) to agree that the Performance Management sub-group meet to receive updates on the performance of services which have not yet reported, and to invite service heads of any area which is causing concern to attend the next meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee.
ii) NHS Sub-group
DECISIONS: (i) To note the report on the meeting of the NHS sub-group held on 29th June 2004; and (ii) to produce a protocol for communicating complaints and concerns from members of the public to the relevant NHS body
iii) Disability Discrimination Act
DECISIONS: (i) To agree the final form of the report and commend its recommendations to the relevant policy committee.
250 5. ANNUAL WORK PLAN 8
i) Mobile phone masts
DECISIONS: (i)To agree that information on mobile phone masts be accessed, but that the issue will not be included on the Overview and Scrutiny Annual Work Plan; (ii) To set up a meeting between the Chair of Overview and Scrutiny and the Chairs of the Policy (Environment) and Policy (Corporate Services and Regeneration) Committees to identify areas of work to be undertaken in the course of the year; and (iii) To include the Leisure Connection/Swan Centre to the work programme.
251 6. BUSINESS FOR NEXT MEETING 9
DECISIONS: (i) To report on policy areas which may be included in the Annual Work Plan.
