Executive Minutes: 1 May 2012

Present:

E/139/5/12Minutes

RESOLVED that:

1. the public minutes E/128/3/12 to E/136/3/12 and E/138/3/12; and
2. the confidential minutes E/137/3/12

of the meeting held 6 March 2012 were confirmed and signed by the Leader as a correct record of those proceedings.

E/140/5/12 Declarations of Interest

1. Councillor M Tonkin declared a personal and prejudicial interest in item 5 on the agenda, Eden Business Park Phase 2 Review - Final Report, as he was the legal owner of two plots of land within the scope of the business park however he had no beneficial interest in the land.

E/141/5/12 Questions and Representations from the Public

There were no questions or representations from the public at this meeting.

Councillor M Tonkin declared his personal and prejudicial interest in the following item of business and withdrew from the room during consideration thereof.

E/142/5/12 Eden Business Park Phase 2 Review - Final Report

The Executive considered report CLS27/12 of the Chairman of the Review Group which asked the Executive to consider the recommendations of the Review Group and Scrutiny Co-ordinating Board for approval and implementation. As Chairman of the Scrutiny Review Group, Councillor Ms Wicks presented the report and answered questions from members of the Executive following which the Portfolio Holder for the Environment responded to the recommendations advising that some had already been actioned or were being progressed.

RESOLVED that:

1. a partial review of the core Strategy and/or preparation of an Employment Land Development Plan Document (DPD) be undertaken;
2. the road through Eden Business Park be completed to adoptable standards as soon as possible;
3. dialogue between EDC and the owners of the undeveloped land to complete the redevelopment of Eden Business park be re-opened as a priority;
4. completion of the traffic SATURN plan by CCC be required as soon as possible to assess the benefits and challenges of developing in all four locations identified in the Penrith Masterplan for EBP 2;
5. assessment be undertaken of all four areas of employment land as identified in the Penrith Masterplan AND still ruled in as a possible site in appraisal of the SATURN model;
6. full environmental assessment with clear terms of reference on all areas of employment land still ruled in as possible development sites be undertaken;
7. EDC be flexible in its approach to potential developers - industrial estate or business park however, it needs to be stressed that leisure/hospitality (ie hotel) and haulage uses must be zoned separately;
8. full appraisal of resources and capacity within EDC's Economic Development function and clarification of responsibilities within EDC be undertaken as a priority;
9. processes and procedures be put in place for dealing with inbound enquiries for employment land;
10. a marketing plan be developed to market Eden as a location for business;
11. the Council facilitates employer/Further Education, Higher Education discussions; and
12. the Review Group be reconvened once the SATURN model is available to actively take forward employment land assessments.

Reasons for decision

1. In order to note the work of the Review Group and to address bringing forward more employment land for the district and Penrith in particular.
2. To accord to the corporate priority of Economic Vitality and EV10, EV11 and EV14 strategic actions within the Corporate Plan.

Other options considered

None.

Councillor M Tonkin re-joined the meeting.

E/143/5/12 Update on Kirkby Stephen Tourist Information Centre

Members considered a verbal report from the Communities Director which advised the Executive that the Upper Eden Visitor Centre at Kirkby Stephen was now running as a community led project. Members were advised that both the three year lease and the Service Level Agreement had been signed and staff had been transferred across. An official opening would take place on 4 May and indications were that it was going well.

The Communities Director also reported that the Community had applied to, and been successful in getting funding through, Village SOS to assist with the development and viability of the centre. The funding would normally only be given to groups with a five year lease however they had been advised that funding could be drawn down if the Council provided a 'letter of comfort' saying that the lease could be extended at the end of three year period when it is reviewed.

RESOLVED that a letter of comfort be sent to enable the group to drawn down funding.

Reasons for decision

1. To enable the Community Group to drawn down funding to help with the development and viability of the Upper Eden Visitors Centre.

E/144/5/12 Exclusion of Press and Public

RESOLVED that in accordance with Regulation 21 of The Local Authorities (Executive Arrangements) (Access to Information) Regulations 2000, members of the public (including the press) be excluded from the meeting during transaction of the following item(s) of business on the grounds that (it/they) involve(s) the likely disclosure of confidential information or exempt information as defined in paragraphs 1 and 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972.

The following minute E/145/5/12 contains exempt information as described in the relevant paragraph of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972 and is excluded from this document by virtue of Section 100A of the Act. Below is a summary of these proceedings.

Temporary Staffing Arrangements in Planning Services (E/145/5/12) (Exclusion Paragraph Nos 1 and 3)

The Executive considered report CD35/12 of the Communities Director which informed members of temporary measures taken within Planning Services due to the sickness of a member of staff.

The recommendation in the report was agreed.

E/146/5/12 Date of Next Scheduled Meeting

The date of the next scheduled meeting of the Executive was confirmed as 22 May 2012.

The Leader also advised that a special meeting of the Executive would take place on 12 June to consider the new arrangements for Council Tax discounts.

The meeting closed at 6.45pm