Community and Economy Committee Minutes - 6 March 2008

Present:

Before the meeting began the Chairman welcomed Councillor Mrs M E Wilcox back to the Committee after her short illness.

Cec/89/3/08   Apologies for Absence

An apology for absence was received from Councillor A K Morgan.

Cec/90/3/08   Minutes

Minutes Cec/66/1/08 to Cec/85/1/08 of the meeting of this Committee held on 3 January 2008 were approved as a correct record of those proceedings with the following amendments:

Cec/68/1/08 - Councillor A K Morgan declared a personal interest in item 10 on the agenda (Parishing Penrith) due to his membership of the CALC - not Carlton - Executive.

Cec/73/1/08 - A vote was taken on the amended motion and it was RESOLVED (with Councillor N Hughes against parts 1 and 2) that:

1. The current position for Penrith as set out in the report be noted and the approach to progress the vitality of the town be endorsed.
2. The Council's role as that of demonstrating 'community leadership' in bringing partners together be approved.
3. A meeting of partners be convened to consider the issues raised in this report and agree a way forward.
4. A Council Member be appointed to oversee and take forward the initiatives set out in the report on the Vitality of Penrith.

Cec/91/3/08   Declarations of Interest

There were no interests declared at this point in the meeting.

Cec/92/3/08   Changes to Cumbria Rural Enterprise Agency

The Committee considered report PP13/08 of the Director of Policy and Performance which advised Members of the proposed merger between Cumbria Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI) and Cumbria Rural Enterprise Agency (CREA).

Motion by Councillor R V Turner
Seconded by Councillor S J Simpson

And RESOLVED that:

1. Members approve in principle the proposed merger of CREA and CCCI.
2. The Director of Policy and Performance and the Director of Corporate and Legal Services, in consultation with the Director of Finance and the Chair and Vice Chair of the Committee, be authorised to approve and conclude the terms of the merger on behalf of the Council and sign any documents to give effect to the new arrangements.

Reason for decision

Under the climate of business simplification it has been recognised that delivery in Cumbria cannot remain as it is.  The proposed merger is seen as a natural progression to improve business support in the County, and would enable, for example, the other Enterprise/Development Agencies to come onboard.

Cec/93/3/08   Arrangements for Economic Development in Cumbria

The Committee considered report PP14/08 of the Director of Policy and Performance which set out proposals for new arrangements to deliver economic regeneration in Cumbria and sought in principle support to progress plans for the Eden and South Lakeland area.

Motion by Councillor R V Turner
Seconded by Councillor T C Ladhams

And RESOLVED that:

1. The proposals under development to restructure economic development delivery in Cumbria be noted and Members express in principle support for them.
2. The proposal that Eden and South Lakeland form one of four delivery strands be noted and Members express in principle support for that to be developed.
3. Authority be delegated to officers to continue discussions with Cumbria County Council, South Lakeland District Council and other organisations to progress the proposals and bring further details for consideration by a future meeting of this committee.

Reason for decision

The proposal to restructure economic development delivery across Cumbria has received wide support. It has implications for the way economic development is delivered in Eden. Members are informed of the proposals in this report and endorsement is sought to progress discussions further at a local level.

Cec/94/3/08   Penrith Market Town Initiative Burrowgate Public Realm Scheme

The Committee considered report PP15/08 of the Director of Policy and Performance which advised Members of the progress on the Penrith MTI including progress on the facelift scheme which Eden District Council has allocated �25,000 to support in match funding.

The report also requests the reallocation of that funding, made available from the Regeneration Opportunity Pot and funded from second homes monies to support regeneration, to provide match funding for a public realm improvement scheme in Burrowgate.

Motion by Councillor S J Simpson
Seconded by Councillor R V Turner

And RESOLVED that:

1. The development of the Burrowgate Public Realm Scheme be noted.
2. �25,000 be reallocated from the Regeneration Opportunity Pot to the Public Realm Scheme from the Facelift Scheme to draw down match funding from the North West Development Agency.
3. The Resources Committee be requested to approve the carry forward of the funding if the scheme is not complete by 31 March 2008.

Reason for decision

This report updates Members on progress made on one project within the Penrith Market Towns' Initiative - The Burrowgate Public Realm Scheme.

Cec/95/3/08   Revision of Housing Renewal Policy 2008-2009

The Committee considered report TS9-08 of the Director of Technical Services which asked Members to consider and approve amendments to the Housing Renewal Policy.

Before consideration of the item, the Director of Technical Services drew Members attention to an error in the table in paragraph 2.4 of the report.  The funding for Empty Properties should read �40,000 (not �60,000) and the funding for Decent Homes should read �120,000 (not �100,000).

Motion by Councillor R V Turner
Seconded by Councillor S J Simpson

And RESOLVED that:

The Housing Renewal Policy be amended (as set out at Appendix A - PDF: 17Kb / 1 page).

Reasons for decision

Amendments to the Housing Renewal Policy are recommended to address the following issues:

1. To bring back into use empty properties into the private rented sector or to be managed by a housing association.
2. Assist vulnerable homeowners in bringing their property up to a Decent Homes Standard.
3. Encourage landlords to join the Council's Accreditation Scheme.
4. That private rented properties are managed effectively and are maintained in a decent condition.
5. That the Council meets its energy targets and that vulnerable people are brought out of fuel poverty.
6. The conditions attached to some of these grants means that the Council is able to nominate tenants from the Council's housing register.
7. All grants except energy efficiency will be repayable to the Council on sale of the property within a specified time.

Cec/96/3/08   Homelessness Funding

The Committee considered report TS8-08 of the Director of Technical Services which advised Members of the Council's funding allocation from the Homelessness Directorate for the period 2008/09 and made recommendations on how the funding may be used, in the context of targets set by the Department of Communities and Local Government to prevent and tackle homelessness.

Motion by Councillor S J Simpson
Seconded by Councillor R V Turner

And RESOLVED that:

1. The continuation of the Homelessness Prevention Service based at Eden Housing Association be supported for a further period of one year.
2. The proposal to fund the homeless prevention initiatives (attached to these minutes at Appendix B - PDF: 26Kb / 3 pages) be supported.

Reason for decision

It is proposed that the CLG homelessness grant continues to be spent on the projects and initiatives that are having a positive impact on homelessness statistics, with the addition of two new projects for 2008/09. This will enable the Council to meet the targets set by the CLG, as well as continuing to develop good practice in the field of homelessness and its prevention.

Cec/97/3/08   Grants to Organisations

The Committee considered report TS10-08 of the Director of Technical Services which asked Members to decide on applications for financial assistance received for determination by the Committee.

Motion by Councillor T C Ladhams
Seconded by Councillor R V Turner

And RESOLVED that Kirkby Stephen Hockey Club be awarded a grant of �420.

Motion by Councillor R V Turner
Seconded by Councillor T C Ladhams

And RESOLVED that Alston Moor Fitness Club be awarded a grant of �650.

Motion by Councillor J M Smith
Seconded by Councillor R V Turner

And RESOLVED that Eden Community Outdoors be awarded a grant of up to �650.

Motion by Councillor Mrs J Lowis
Seconded by Councillor S J Simpson

And RESOLVED that Greystoke Swimming Pool Committee be awarded a grant of �503.

Reasons for decision

1. The applications received from Kirkby Stephen Hockey Club, Alston Moor Fitness Club, Eden Community Outdoors and Greystoke Swimming Pool Committee adhere to current policy for award of grants to organisations.
2. The applications recommended for support are within the pre-determined budget limit set for this meeting.

Cec/98/3/08   Exclusion of Press and Public

RESOLVED that in accordance with Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, members of the public (including the press) be excluded from the meeting during discussion of the following items of business on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act.

Cec/99/3/08   Minutes

Minutes Cec/86/1/08 to Cec/88/1/08 of the meeting of this Committee held on 3 January 2008 were approved as a correct record of those proceedings with the following amendments:

That Councillor A K Morgan, not Councillor Mrs M E Wilcox, be given in the list of attendees.

Cec/100/3/08   Contract Management

The Committee considered report TS7-08 of the Director of Technical Services which provided details of an improved contract management procedure to enable Members to determine appropriate matters in connection with the contracts under their jurisdiction.

Motion by Councillor R V Turner
Seconded by Councillor S J Simpson

And RESOLVED that, in respect of those contracts which relate to this Committee's areas of responsibility:

1. The recently awarded tenders be endorsed;
2. The position with contracts in progress be noted;
3. The list of contracts awaiting audit of final account be noted;
4. The list of contracts where the audited final accounts are reported be approved;
5. The list of contracts where it was not appropriate to conclude the audit of the final account be approved.

Reasons for Decision

1. This report has been prepared specifically to assist Members in their monitoring and management of contracts and to ensure that reports are placed before Members as required in the Accounting and Audit Rules.
2. It is considered to be the most accurate source of information on which to assess the Council's overall position on live contracts.

The meeting closed at 7.21pm