Agenda and minutes

39.1    Councillor Hampson declared a personal interest in Agenda item 7: Aspire Annual Performance Report 2016/17 as a board member of the Aspire Sports and Cultural Trust and advised that he would take no part in the debate or vote on this item.

To provide an opportunity for Members to declare the existence of a party whip in relation to any item on the agenda.

40.1    There were no declarations of an existence of a party whip.

To approve as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 07^th September 2017.

RESOLVED:

40.1    That the minutes of the meeting held on the 07^th September 2017 be confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

42.       There were no public questions.

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

43.1    There were no petitions or deputations.

44.1    The Chair advised the Committee that this would be the final meeting serviced by the Democratic and Electoral Services Team Leader, who would shortly be leaving the Council to join Gloucestershire County Council.

44.2    The Chair proposed, seconded by Councillor Pullen, and it was

44.3    RESOLVED That the Democratic and Electoral Services Team Leader be thanked for her work in supporting the Committee.

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

45.1    The Chair agreed to consider agenda item 9: Overview and Scrutiny Work Programme and Council Forward Plan ahead of Agenda Items 7 and 8.

45.2    The Chair advised that following discussions with officers and Councillor Hilton who had originally suggested the agenda item for discussion, it had been agreed that the Governance Review of Gloucestershire Airport be deferred until the 30^th October 2017 meeting, where a written report would be available.

            RESOLVED:

45.3    That the Overview and Scrutiny Work Programme and Council Forward Plan be noted.

To consider the Aspire Annual Performance Report 2016/17.

46.1    The Chair welcomed the Chief Executive and Director of Business and Deputy Chief Executive and of the Aspire Sports and Cultural Trust to the meeting.

46.2 The Chief Executive and Director of Business jointly delivered a presentation to the Committee, highlighting the key achievements in 2016/17, noting that the key focus was to increase and widen sports participation within the local community and help local residents live healthy and active lives.

46.3    Councillor Hilton stated that the lack of statistical data provided within the annual report did not allow the Committee to accurately judge the trust’s performance against its contractual obligations and requested that this information, together with a statement of accounts and profit and loss accounts be circulated to the Committee. He also asked for information on the success of local elite athletes and the provision provided for such individuals.  It was agreed that this information would be provided and would be considered before the Committee determined whether to scrutinise the potential to extend the existing contract with Aspire.

46.4    The Chief Executive advised that the annual report provided an overview of the operational activities in the previous year and agreed that a revised format could be provided in future, if required by the Committee.  He reported that whilst the successes of elite athletes was welcomed and encouraged, the Trust’s primary focus was to encourage participation in the whole community.

46.5    In response to Councillor Wilson’s query of how the Trust were intending to manage the delivery of services following the removal of the management fee in next financial year, The Chief Executive reported that the Trust were on track to deliver a modest surplus. He explained that trends were being monitored closely and acknowledged the increasing market competition. He advised that the Trust could potentially have to consider using portions of the reserve, emphasising that as a Charity, the goal was to continually re-invest into the community.

46.6    Councillor Pullen acknowledged that it was difficult to asses the value added and benefit of the joint work the Trust undertook with partners and stakeholders and the savings that this achieved. He went on to question what action the Trust was taking to combat the increasing competition in the personal health and fitness sector.

46.7    The Chief Executive acknowledged that Trust would struggle to match the price of other competitors but advised that they had held their share of the market in this sector. He reported that the Trust were focussing on their unique selling points, such as the family membership, the ladies only gym,toning suite and on site swimming pool

46.8    In response to Councillor Finnegan’s query of how the Trust were working with the Together Trust and individuals with complex physical and mental health needs, the Chief Executive advised that Community Wellbeing Trainers worked with these individuals to develop individual training programmes and offered subsidised membership in an effort to promote a change in lifestyle. He reported that staff were highly trained and only  recently dealt with  ...  view the full minutes text for item 46.

To consider the report of the Cabinet Member for Performance and Resources outlining options for the disposal of the HKP Warehouses.

TO FOLLOW

47. 1   The Committee considered the draft report of the Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Economy and Cabinet Member for Performance and Resources regarding the disposal of the Herbert, Kimberley and Philpott Warehouses. The Chair welcomed the Corporate Director to the meeting.

47.2    The Corporate Director highlighted key areas of the report, advising that the there were two distinct areas of work which included the decant of warehouses, subject to a Cabinet report in June 2017 and the subsequent disposal of the warehouses.

            He went on to explain that discussions with Gloucestershire County Council were ongoing, with the preference that the City Council had a core location at Shire Hall from which to operate, with some teams located with their respective counterparts at the County Council where it was deemed sensible to do so. He reported that the Council had already been approached by interested parties wishing to acquire the warehouses and the Council would look to deliver best value whilst also considering how the sale of the asset would contribute to the Council priorities. He advised that the Council had commissioned a valuation report taking into account alterative uses for the warehouses and were about to commence discussions with the Canal and River Trust regarding agreement for such a change. He concluded by advising that the final decision on the disposal would rest with Members.

47.3    In response to a query from Councillor Pullen regarding paragraph 9.2 of the report, the Corporate Director advised that the Council could consider selling at an undervalue in certain circumstances.

47.4    In response to Councillor Hilton’s suggestion to decide at an early stage whether a relocation to Kings Quarter was necessary and helpful to that redevelopment scheme, the Corporate Director stated that this could be a little premature, as the Council might want to guage the general commercial interest in the  Kings Quarter Development before deciding whether the Council’s presence there was beneficial. 

47.5    In response to Councillor Hampson’s query regarding the use of the Council owned building in Westgate Street, the Corporate Director acknowledged that the building would require some refurbishment

47.6    In response to Councillor Pullen’s comment that having separate locations for City and County receptions following the move to Shire Hall would be confusing to members of the public, the Corporate Director advised that discussions were on going with the County Council for the provision of a shared reception service.

47.8    The Chair commented that the Overview and Scrutiny Committee would be keen to contribute their views on the proposals.

47.9    In response to a query from Councillor Smith, regarding the City and Council unable to come to an agreement regarding the location, the Corporate Director advised that the Council would consider other options if a particularly advantageous offer for the Warehouses was received but agreement with the County Council could not be reached.

            RESOLVED:

47.10  That the report be noted.

30^th October 2017 in the Civic Suite, North Warehouse.

30^th October 2017 in Civic Suite, North Warehouse at 6:30pm.