To receive apologies for absence and any substitutes that may be notified.

None were received.

Members are reminded that they must not participate in the discussion or voting on any matter in which they have a Disclosable Pecuniary Interest and should leave the room prior to the commencement of the debate.

There were none disclosed.

To consider the minutes of the Enterprise and Growth Committee held on 2^nd July 2015.

RESOLVED:

That the Minutes of the meeting held on 2^nd July 2015 be approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

To receive any questions, statements and petitions of which members of the public have given notice.  Deadline for notification is 5.00pm on Monday 27^th July 2015.

There were no public questions.

To receive any questions, statements and petitions of which Members of the Council have given notice.  Deadline for notification is 5.00pm on Monday 27^th July 2015.

There were no questions from Members.

To receive an update from the Visitor Economy Team on the changes to the Council’s approach to supporting the tourism sector. With a brief update on the current work of the Council with the Destination Partnerships to implement the tourism strategies.

The Visitor Economy Manager thanked Members for their ongoing support and allowing her the opportunity to speak to them about the changes within the Visitor Economy Team and the new working practices these changes had brought about. She explained that the changes had happened more quickly than expected due to the necessity of financial savings being brought forward, with funding reductions expected in the 2016/17 budget being made a year early.

She continued that since becoming a Unitary Council in 2009, Shropshire Council had employed two dedicated Tourism Officers with time also allocated to the Visitor Economy Service Manager to work at a strategic level as part of the wider service.  From 1^st August 2015 the Tourism Officer posts would cease and would be replaced by the single post of Visitor Economy Development Officer. 

Members noted the importance of the tourism sector to the Shropshire economy, with 14,500 people employed in the industry, and highlighted in the Shropshire LEP and ESIF strategies as an investment priority.  The Visitor Economy Manager described the resilience of the tourism sector and the work already undertaken by the Council’s tourism section to develop robust strategies and build strong partnerships.  She continued that the growth structures and growth agenda plans were in place. 

The Visitor Economy Manager continued that she was concerned that the Visitor Economy Development Officer post concentrated on strategic aims rather than hands on involvement in the tourism sector, and as such was not in such a good position to react quickly to promotion opportunities as had happened with obtaining the funding to promote Much Wenlock during the Olympics.  She reported that the team were working with other partners to consider the best way to enable other organisations to take on this function.  A Member suggested greater Parish and Town Council involvement.  The Visitor Economy Manager agreed that this was one possibility and she was also looking to private businesses to take on some of the work. 

In answer to a Member’s question, the Visitor Economy Manager explained the role of the Visitor Economy Officer to concentrate on:

·         Developing the Council’s own tourism assets, such as the museum.  To include marketing and sponsorship; 

·         Providing strategic support to the sector;

·         Leading on commissioning for the Visitor Information Service;

·         Acting as conduit for large organisations such as Visit England and Visit Britain;

·         Working with the LEP Tourism Group to shape tourism priorities around European funds.

·         Day to day support with businesses.

In response to a Member’s query, the Visitor Economy Manger explained that she had concerns regarding the Council’s ability to develop large bids for European funding and seize investment opportunities when they arose at short notice.  The Chairman suggested that this may be a useful subject for a Task and Finish Group to consider.  Members expressed support for the establishment of a Tourism Task and Finish Group.

Members discussed increased partnership working with Telford and Wrekin Council, and the way in which visitors to the County did not perceive boundaries between the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 27.

A verbal update from the Programme Manager for Economic Growth on the progress of the implementation of the Economic Growth Redesign Task and Finish Group recommendations. 

The Head of Economic Growth and Development updated Members on the redesign of the Economic Growth section.  Members noted that two new posts of Business Relationship Manager and Physical Regeneration Manager were being created, with a flat structure of 12 posts beneath them.  The two management posts would be recruited first to enable those officers to participate in the interview process and team selection.  

The consultation process had included staff workshops, one to one interviews with staff and invitations to make written submissions.  The information gathered was being submitted to the Director and through him to the Chief Executive and Directors at their regular meetings. 

The Head of Economic Growth explained that prototype working arrangements were being trialled with formal reviews at 3 monthly periods.  In response to a Member’s question he stated that any problems identified in the prototype would be acted on immediately.   He added that the aim of the redesign, as had been identified by the Task and Finish Group, was to work more effectively and efficiently and was not about budget savings.

Members noted that the budget for the new website had been allocated and it would be the first task of the new team once they were established.

The Head of Economic Growth confirmed that he would provide regular updates to the Enterprise and Growth Scrutiny Committee on the progress of the implementation of the service redesign. 

To consider the report of the Planning Committee Task and Finish Group and make recommendations to the Portfolio Holder for Regulatory Services, Housing and Commissioning [Central]

The Planning Services Manager introduced the Planning Committee Task and Finish Group Report.  He explained that the review process had been undertaken during a time when the Planning Service had been under significant pressure.  The Task and Finish Group had concluded that it was not an appropriate time to make significant changes to the delivery of Planning Committees.  Members noted that the report recommended retaining the three Planning Committee model but with a further review in six months’ time once SAMDev had been adopted. 

The Planning Service Manager continued that the Task and Finish Group had concentrated on changes to practices which would improve consistency and efficiency and would ensure that processes were robust. 

Members noted that evidence had not been obtained from all interested parties but Members and Parish and Town Councils had been canvassed for their views and the Group had undertaken a site visit to Chester Council to observe its Planning Committee at work. 

Members discussed delegated decisions.  The Planning Service Manager confirmed that the 96% target rate set by the previous Planning Task and Finish group but it remained at 94%, which was lower than the neighbouring authorities of Herefordshire and Chester West.  The Planning Services Manager noted that some Parish and Town Councils saw the process of delegation as undemocratic, but stressed that whether or not an application was delegated or referred to Committee it had to be considered in the same way.  He continued that it was important that the right applications were placed on Planning Committee agendas for consideration and this would involve an element of trust between Officers and Members.  Members were referred to bullet point 4 in the recommendations, where the Group recommended that the process to decide which applications were delegated or considered by the Planning Committees had greater transparency. 

Referring to bullet point 5 in the recommendations, the Planning Service Manager noted that it was difficult to ensure that all reports were completely consistent but Officers had been provided with a report template and guidance on the focus for each section of the report.

Members discussed the provision for Member speaking on applications within their Wards.  A Member asked whether this recommendation 7 included changing the current system to allow the Committee Member to vote on applications within his or her Ward.  The Planning Service Manager confirmed that the Task and Finish Group were not recommending a change to this procedure.  The Chairman confirmed that both the Committee Member and Non-Committee Member would be allowed to speak for five minutes from the speaker’s table, and would be available to answer questions if required but would retire to the back of the room and not participate in the debate.  It was agreed that this recommendation would be re-worded for clarity.  The Planning Service Manager confirmed that this change would require an alteration to the Constitution.  Members suggested that both Planning Committee and Non-Committee Members should remain at the committee table but the Planning Service Manager explained that this was not  ...  view the full minutes text for item 29.

To consider the work programme.

Agreed:

                  i.        That the topic of Planning Enforcement and protection of Conservation Areas be added to the work programme.

                 ii.        That the examination of the relationship between the Planning Section and Licensing Section be added to the Work Programme.

Tuesday 22^nd September 2015

Members noted that the review of the Scrutiny Committees was still ongoing.

Agreed:  that the next meeting of the Enterprise and Growth Scrutiny Committee be held at 10am on 22^nd September 2015.