Meeting documents
Regeneration and Planning Strategy Overview and Scrutiny Committee
Monday, 4th June 2007
Present
Chair
AT Jennings
Councillors
JR Cocker, Cllr GD Mitchell, SR Mountney, ED Prout
Deputy
DT Knowles (for Cllr JV Stapleton)
Index to Minutes
- Minute 1 - DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST/PARTY WHIP
- Minute 2 - MINUTES
- Minute 3 - APPOINTMENT OF VICE-CHAIR
- Minute 4 - SCRUTINY WORK PROGRAMME 2007-08
- Minute 5 - PERMANENT REGENERATION TEAM
- Minute 6 - REGENERATION DEPARTMENT YEAR END REPORT 2006 / 2007
- Minute 7 - CORPORATE SERVICES - STRATEGIC DEVELOPMENT DIVISION - YEAR END PERFORMANCE MONITORING REPORT
- Minute 8 - REGENERATION DEPARTMENT - FINANCIAL MONITORING
- Minute 9 - REGENERATION DEPARTMENT - CAPITAL PROGRAMME MONITORING
- Minute 10 - ACCEPTANCE OF TENDERS UNDER DELEGATED AUTHORITY
Minute 1 - DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST/PARTY WHIP
Minute Text :
Members were asked to consider whether they had personal or prejudicial interests in connection with any item(s) on this agenda and, if so, to declare them and state what they were.
Members were reminded that they should also declare, pursuant to paragraph 18 of the Overview and Scrutiny Procedure Rules, whether they were subject to a party whip in connection with any item(s) to be considered and, if so, to declare it and state the nature of the whipping arrangement. No declarations were made.
Minute 2 - MINUTES
Minute Text :
The Head of Legal and Member Services submitted the minutes of the meeting held on 7 March, 2007 which were received by the Council.
Minute Decision :
Resolved - That the minutes be received.
Minute 3 - APPOINTMENT OF VICE-CHAIR
Minute Text :
In accordance with minute 4 of Cabinet (16/5/07), the Committee was requested to appoint a Vice-Chair.
Minute Decision :
Resolved - That Councillor D Mitchell be appointed Vice-Chair of this Committee.
Minute 4 - SCRUTINY WORK PROGRAMME 2007-08
Minute Text :
The views of the Committee were requested concerning topics to be included in this year's scrutiny programme.
Councillor Mitchell suggested that the use of Section 106 agreements and planning gain should be considered as a means of financing infrastructure improvements, including those that would make Wirral more attractive to investors.
The Director of Corporate Services reported that a working party was currently looking at the principle of planning gain with a view to taking this matter forward. He reported that officers could plan a timetable around this work if the committee wished to identify it as an issue within its work programme.
The Chair reported that he had a number of potential topics which could form the basis for discussions with the party spokespersons and officers before asking the committee to formally agree its work programme.
Minute Decision :
Resolved - That a meeting involving the Chair, party spokespersons, and senior officers of this committee, be arranged to discuss the work programme for the coming year.
Minute 5 - PERMANENT REGENERATION TEAM
Minute Text :
The Director of Regeneration submitted a report advising the Committee of:
(i) the ending of significant, externally funded regeneration programmes in March and September 2008 and the significant implications of this for the wider regeneration of the Borough and more specifically the Council’s staff providing Regeneration services for Wirral;
(ii) the resources necessary to mainstream staff within the Regeneration Department on time limited contracts and additional resources required to enhance capacity to meet the needs of delivering the recently agreed Investment Strategy.
He reported that the cost of a permanent team was £777,000. The Council currently funded posts in the regeneration team to the value of £280,000 leaving a funding shortfall of £497,000 per annum. In addition, a further £420,000 would be required for the additional capacity to deliver the Investment of Strategy.
There was a discussion concerning issues raised at the investment strategy workshop sessions and members indicated their commitment to the development of these major regeneration schemes, and the proposed recommendations to take them forward.
Minute Decision :
Resolved -
(1) That the Committee notes the work commitments of the Strategy and Implementation section in the Regeneration Department in ensuring that the Council does not face any liabilities in the winding down of the current regeneration programmes and is able to maximise investment opportunities for the Borough in future years.
(2) That the Committee notes that the funding for staff within the Strategy and Implementation section is primarily provided through external grant funding which is due to cease on 31 March 2008 (30 September 2008 for the Endeavour Team).
(3) That the Committee agrees the principle of time limited posts within the Regeneration Department be mainstreamed and that additional capacity be created to help deliver the needs of the Investment Strategy.
(4) That this report be referred to Cabinet for consideration of the budgetary implications for 2008/09 budget.
(5) That a further report be brought to both this Committee and Cabinet outlining the proposed staffing structure in more detail.
Minute 6 - REGENERATION DEPARTMENT YEAR END REPORT 2006 / 2007
Minute Text :
The Director of Regeneration submitted a summary report outlining the progresss made by the his department over the last year. The report included: a commentary on the the work undertaken by the Strategy and Implementation Section (Wirral Waterfront, Neighbourhood Renewal, Woodchurch Neighbourhood Management, and Endeavour); the Departmental Year End Report 2006/07 (Appendix 1) detailing performance over the last year and settting out key objectives for the current year, and; the resource implications for the next and subsequent years.
Minute Decision :
Resolved - That the Committee note the performance of the Regeneration Department during 2006/07.
Minute 7 - CORPORATE SERVICES - STRATEGIC DEVELOPMENT DIVISION - YEAR END PERFORMANCE MONITORING REPORT
Minute Text :
The Director of Corporate Services submitted a report informing members of the year end performance of the Strategic Development Division within the Corporate Services Department.
Minute Decision :
Resolved - That the Committee note the year end performance for the Strategic Development Division.
Minute 8 - REGENERATION DEPARTMENT - FINANCIAL MONITORING
Minute Text :
The Director of Regeneration submitted a report highlighting the financial performance of his department.
Minute Decision :
Resolved - That the Committee note the content of the report.
Minute 9 - REGENERATION DEPARTMENT - CAPITAL PROGRAMME MONITORING
Minute Text :
The Director of Regeneration submitted a report comprising a regular update on his department's Capital Programme.
Minute Decision :
Resolved - That the Committee note the contents of this report.
Minute 10 - ACCEPTANCE OF TENDERS UNDER DELEGATED AUTHORITY
Minute Text :
The Director of Regeneration reported upon action taken under his delegated authority to accept tenders submitted by:
(i) Atkins Ltd - in respect of Public Realm & Covered Walkways Project
(ii) Capita Symonds – in respect of Hoylake Golf Resort – Technical Assessment Project
Minute Decision :
Resolved -
(1) That the Committee note the decision to accept the tenders submitted by Atkins Ltd and Capita Symonds under delegated authority and in accordance with Contract Procedure Rule 14.4, in respect of the project activities described in paragraphs 3.1 and 3.2 of this report.
(2) That the Committee note the additional costs necessary to facilitate the traffic survey in respect of the Public Realm & Covered Walkways Project, as identified in paragraph 4.1.of the report.
(Minutes Published: 7 June 2007)