Agenda and minutes

There were no declarations of interest.

To approve as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 9 November 2015.

The minutes of the meeting held on 9 November 2015 were confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

There were no questions from members of the public.

To receive any petitions and deputations provided that no such petition or deputation is in relation to:

·         Matters relating to individual Council Officers, or

·         Matters relating to current or pending legal proceedings

There were no petitions or deputations.

To receive the report of the Cabinet Member for Culture and Leisure.

PLEASE NOTE:  This report will be published as a supplement to the agenda when it is available.

The Chair welcomed Councillor Lise Noakes (Cabinet Member for Culture and Leisure), Councillor Paul James (Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Economy) and Mr Jason Smith (Chief Executive of Marketing Gloucester Limited) to the meeting.

Members were presented with a report which set out how Gloucester City Council currently monitors the performance and effectiveness of Marketing Gloucester. 

Councillor Noakes advised that changes to performance reporting would be implemented in 2016 noting that the MGL Board regularly considered performance monitoring at their meetings in addition to being audited by an external company. She reported that quarterly performance monitoring meetings had been scheduled for the forthcoming year and these would coincide with the MGL Board meetings. She concluded by explaining that a three year festival and events programme would be presented to Cabinet in January 2017 with detailed proposals for each year outlined, commenting that this would remain exempt until approved by the MGL Board.

Jason Smith summarised the key achievements outlined within the report and invited comments from Members

The Committee discussed the following matters:-

1.    In response to a Member querying whether MGL were involved in the production of City Life, Jason Smith explained that MGL worked closely on planning and delivering projects advertised within the pamphlet.

2.    A Member queried whether the administration were considering reducing the funding allocated to MGL in light of the challenging economic climate and considerable cuts to other public sector services. Councillor Noakes reported that budget proposals would not be finalised until the settlement figure from Central Government had been received. She commented that a bigger programme of events was envisioned which would positively impact on the local economy and confirmed that discussions regarding the budget were ongoing.

3.    A Member queried how MGL were able to quantitatively measure the success of each individual event. Jason Smith explained that Gross Value Added (GVA) was utilised to measure the economic success of an event acknowledging that the success of community events were more difficult to quantify.  He advised that footfall was measured by specialised cameras placed in strategic locations across the City Centre in addition to polls of local businesses conducted after an event.

4.    A Member expressed concern that the congestion and traffic resulting from large number of visitors to events held at Gloucester Quays actually dissuaded local people from attending. Jason Smith reported that research on the Tall Ships Festival actually demonstrated that 80% on visitors were local residents, recognising that there were issues regarding congestion and traffic management at Gloucester Quays events managed independently by the Peel Group.

5.    A Member reflected that MGL had improved on past performance to become financially stable not requiring any surplus support and had helped to significantly expose the City’s cultural offer. Jason Smith reported that MGL staff had developed a financial model to ensure that events would be financially viable in terms of operational costs and affordability for residents.

6.    In response to a Member’s concern that Civic events were not being given the same priority  ...  view the full minutes text for item 67.

To receive a verbal update from Marketing Gloucester Limited on the strategy for Growing Gloucester’s Visitor Economy.

Councillor Noakes explained that the Growing Gloucester’s Economy report had been deferred and would be presented to Cabinet on the 13^th January 2017.

Overview and Scrutiny Committee requested that an update on Growing Gloucester’s Visitor Economy be presented to the Committee on the 11^th January 2017.

RESOLVED:

That a report be presented to Overview and Scrutiny Committee on the 11^th January 2017.

To receive a verbal update on plans to relocate the Tourist Information Centre.

Members were presented with an update which set out the current proposals for the relocation of the Tourist Information Centre (TIC).

Councillor Paul James reported that the lease on 28 Southgate Street had now expired however the City Council were under no pressure to relocate. He advised that the proposals to relocate to 26 Westgate Street had been complicated by a change in ownership however the new owner had re-affirmed their commitment. He explained that the current proposals were to co-locate with the Gloucester Antiques Centre noting that identified building works would be kept within agreed budgets and invited comments from Members.

Members discussed the following matters:

1.    A Member queried what facilities would be available at the Visitor Information Point as part of the new Bus Station Proposals. Councillor James explained that this had yet been confirmed but would be reflective of modern technology.

2.    A Member queried whether there were plans to undertake a cost comparison survey of 26 Westgate as this had last been completed approximately seven years ago. Councillor James advised that the City Council were committed to the current proposals in order to bring a Grade 1 listed building back into use.

3.    A Member queried whether building work had been undertaken to install toilets and lifts in and expressed their concern that these adaptations were unfeasible in the proposed building. Councillor James reported that Conservation Officers were currently working through concerns to allow this work to be undertaken.

RESOLVED:

That the update be noted.

To consider the following resolution:-

“That the press and public be excluded from the meeting during the following item of business on the grounds that it is likely, in view of the nature of business to be transacted or the nature of the proceedings, that if members of the press and public are present during consideration of this item there will be disclosure to them of exempt information as defined in Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972 as amended”.

Agenda Item No.             Description of Exempt Information

10                                    Paragraph 3: information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the Authority holding that information).

RESOLVED  - That the press and public are excluded from the meeting during the following item of business on the grounds that it is likely, in view of the nature of business to be transacted or the nature of the proceedings, that if members of the press and public are present during consideration of this item there will be disclosure to them of exempt information as defined in Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972 as amended”.

Agenda Item No.             Description of Exempt Information

10                                    Paragraph 3: information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the Authority holding that information).

It is likely that Press and Public will be excluded for this discussion item.

The Chair welcomed Councillor Jim Porter, (Cabinet Member for Environment) to the meeting.

Councillor Porter reported that a workshop session attended by senior City Council Officers and senior managers from Amey had resulted in positive progress with a further meeting scheduled in the forthcoming year to consider any cost saving proposals. He then invited comments from Members.

Members discussed the following:

1.    In response to a Member’s query how the savings target of £300,000 target had been calculated, Councillor Porter commented that the original savings target had not been deemed to be achievable and revised accordingly.

RESOLVED:

That the update be noted.

To receive the latest version of the Cabinet Forward Plan.

Members considered the latest version of the Cabinet Forward Plan.

RESOLVED – That the Cabinet Forward Plan be noted.

To receive the latest version of the Committee’s work programme.

The Committee considered the latest version of its work programme and amended it in line with suggestions made by Members.

RESOLVED – That the work programme, as amended, be noted.

Budget Meeting - Monday 7 December 2015 at 18.30 hours.

All Gloucester City Councillors have been invited to attend this meeting.

Monday 11 January 2016 at 18.30 hours.