Agenda and minutes

Venue: Fisher Room - Gloucester Guildhall. View directions

Contact: Democratic and Electoral Services 

Items
No. Item

133.

Declarations of Interest

To receive from Members, declarations of the existence of any disclosable pecuniary, or non-pecuniary, interests and the nature of those interests in relation to any agenda item. Please see Agenda Notes.

Minutes:

133.1              There were no declarations of interest.

134.

Declaration of Party Whipping

To declare if any issues to be covered in the Agenda are under party whip.

 

Minutes:

134.1              There were no declarations of party whipping.

135.

Minutes pdf icon PDF 146 KB

To approve as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 7th January 2019.

Minutes:

135.1              RESOLVED that:- The minutes of the meeting held on 7th January 2019 be approved and signed by the Chair as a correct record.

136.

Public Question Time (15 minutes)

To receive any questions from members of the public provided that a question does not relate to:

 

·         Matters which are the subject of current or pending legal proceedings, or

·         Matters relating to employees or former employees of the Council or comments in respect of individual Council Officers

Minutes:

136.1              There were no public questions.

137.

Petitions and Deputations (15 minutes)

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

Minutes:

137.1              There were no petitions or deputations.

138.

Overview and Scrutiny Committee Work Programme and Council Forward Plan pdf icon PDF 47 KB

To receive the latest version of the Committee’s work programme and the Council’s Forward Plan.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

138.1              The Committee considered the Work Programme. The Chair brought to Members’ attention that the Matson and Podsmead Estate Regeneration Draft Supplementary Planning Document for Consultation would be considered at the February meeting of the Committee. Members discussed and agreed to hear from residents and the relevant ward councillors.

 

138.2              The Chair advised that, while Universal Credit would have been in place for a year at the end of February, it was necessary for Officers to be afforded time to collate relevant information to contribute to the review. As such, it was agreed that the meeting would be held when the relevant information was available which was likely to be from April onwards.

 

138.3              Councillor Haigh raised the matter of Task and Finish groups. It was noted that the High Strength Alcohol group had concluded and was due for review. Councillor Haigh suggested that there should be consultation with Officers and the public with regard to what topic to explore by way of a Task and Finish Group.

 

138.4              Members noted that the group on Homelessness had not met for some time and that such matters and the context had changed significantly. Members also stated that it was necessary for further Task and Finish groups to have a precise scoping and forensic focus. It was agreed that the Homelessness group be closed and that a consultation on a new group would take place.

 

138.5              In respect of the Gloucester Railway Station being on the Forward Plan, Councillor Hilton asked that a briefing on the design and the project as a whole be provided when the project was at such a stage.

 

138.6              RESOLVED that:- (1) The implementation of Universal Credit in the City review take place when information for the year has been collated and is available; (2) The homelessness Task and Finish Group be closed and a consultation take place seeking topics for a new Task and Finish Group; (3) A briefing on the Gloucester Railway Station project design be provided to the Committee when the project has progressed to the appropriate stage and; (4) The Overview and Scrutiny Committee NOTE the Work Programme.

 

139.

Festival and Events Programme pdf icon PDF 146 KB

To consider the report of the Cabinet Member for Culture and Leisure seeking review of the City Events Programme for 2018 and to consider the Programme for 2019.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

139.1              Councillor Noakes, Cabinet Member for Culture and Leisure, presented the report and highlighted key aspects. She outlined the establishment of a strategic events programme and confirmed that the Council would continue to fund directly the History Festival.

 

139.2              Councillor Noakes informed Members that the annual Carnival would be taking place on 13th July 2019 which was before the school term finished and that numerous schools would be involved. Additionally, to mark the 50th anniversary of the moon landing, there would be a Festival of the Moon which would include a temporary ‘museum of the moon’.

 

139.3              Councillor Lewis noted that, in the report, provision for key Civic events was referred to but queried whether holders of Civic office required more day-to-day support. Councillor Noakes agreed that the report covered specific events and the Corporate Director advised that administrative report was provided throughout the year.

 

139.4              Councillor Hilton shared his view that the events commemorating the 1100th anniversary of the death of Æthelflæd had been impressive, that St. Oswald’s Priory had been a good space for the events and could be used for further events. He also suggested that more use could be made of Hillfield Gardens. Councillor Hilton queried whether anything was planned for the Docks when the Tall Ships Festival was not happening.

 

139.4              The Chief Executive of Marketing Gloucester (MGL) stated his belief that the Æthelflæd events had been delivered well and that considerable work had gone into them. He advised that, with the Business Improvement District (BID), an event had been planned at St. Oswald’s Priory but this would have conflicted with other events at Llanthony Priory. Joint events were being considered for the future.

 

139.5              With regard to the Tall Ships Festival, the Chief Executive stressed the need to achieve a good financial return. He advised that, in 2019, the Royal Navy would attend and that residents would receive a considerable discount upon presentation of a GL1 card. He informed Councillor Hilton that he would take his suggestion of greater use of Hillfield Gardens back to MGL.

 

139.6              In response to a further query from Councillor Hilton regarding a possible monument to Æthelflæd, the Chief Executive outlined that numerous options were being explored.

 

139.7              Councillor Haigh stated that it would be useful to be furnished with a comprehensive suite of events. It was agreed that this would be circulated.

 

139.8              Councillor Haigh queried why an outside organisation was engaged to organise King’s Jam and whether there was confidence in the organisation. She further queried how it would raise the additional £50k cited in the report.

 

139.9              Councillor Noakes advised that, following the review of the previous year, King’s Jam was a target event and that the Music Works was a very successful organisation. The Corporate Director outlined the fact that part of the cultural strategy was growing other organisations in the City, that Music Works sought to operate in the City and was well regarded by numerous funding bodies.  ...  view the full minutes text for item 139.

140.

Tourist Information Centre Relocation pdf icon PDF 133 KB

To consider the report of the Cabinet Member for Culture and Leisure, proposing moving the Tourist Information Centre (TIC) to Gloucester Guildhall.

Minutes:

140.1              Councillor Noakes, Cabinet Member for Culture and Leisure, introduced the report and brought key aspects to Members’ attention. She thanked the Committee for its recommendation to site new Tourist Information provision at two existing venues and advised that this was the proposal contained within the report.

 

140l.2             Related to the relocation of the Tourist Information Centre, Councillor Pullen suggested it was crucial to improve the frontage of the Guildhall as part of the development plan. The Corporate Director advised that this would be part of any development plan and that a number of wide ranging options were available.

 

140.3              Councillor Morgan stated that the location of the Tourist Information Centre was important as was its signage. The Corporate Director advised that there would be both fixed and digital signage to direct visitors appropriately.

 

140.4              RESOLVED that: - The Overview and Scrutiny Committee NOTE the report.

141.

Date of Next Meeting

25th February at 6.30pm in the Civic Suite, North Warehouse.

Minutes:

141.1              25th February 2019 at 6.30pm in the Civic Suite, North Warehouse.