32. | PUBLIC QUESTION |
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Mr David Gattrell asked the following question on behalf of the Gosport Allotment Holders and Gardeners Association. |
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“What is the meaning of the following terms used in the minutes of the Services Overview and Scrutiny Committee Meeting held on the 5 August 2004? |
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1. One Stop Shop |
2. The marketing strategy proposed |
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Who will be involved in the Stakeholders Consultative Group?” |
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The Chairman of the Community and Environment Board replied that, if the Board agreed with the recommendations of the Services Overview and Scrutiny Committee, it would be for Members to determine the nature of a One Stop Shop and for Council to determine the marketing strategy and who would be invited to be involved in a Stakeholders Consultative Group. |
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33. | DEPUTATION |
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A deputation was made by Mr David Gattrell on behalf of the Gosport Allotment Holders and Gardeners Association. He made the following points: |
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· Councillor Train should be congratulated on his report. |
· He felt this report was the finest thing to happen regarding allotments in Gosport and a good level of interest had been demonstrated by Gosport Borough Council. |
· He liked the Stakeholders Group idea and hoped this would not peter out. |
· He wished to see work prioritised including security. |
· He felt there were three different interpretations of the meaning of One Stop Shop. |
· He was not happy with the recommendations of the report of the Leisure and Amenities Manager and would prefer that no decision yet be made on this report. |
· The site at the Rectory had been forgotten, although it was not Gosport Borough Council land, and he hoped that this could be looked into. |
· It was essential to attract disabled people and therefore access to disability groups was important. |
· It would be essential to have allotment wardens and they should be subject to an annual vote of confidence. |
· He was happy with the bidding for external finance. |
· He asked that a timetable be produced with deadlines to implement the recommendations of the main report. |
· He asked how the plans would take into account the proceeds of the sale of Camden allotment site. |
· He thanked the Board for the opportunity to speak and hoped they would vote in favour of the report of the Allotment Working Group. |
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PART II |
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34. | BOROUGH REVIEW OF ALLOTMENTS |
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Consideration was given to a cross reference from a meeting of the Services Overview and Scrutiny Committee held on 5 August 2004 and a report of the Leisure and Amenities Manager (copies of which are affixed in the Minute Book as Appendices ”A” and “B” respectively). |
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The report of the Allotment Working Group was presented by Councillor Train who, along with his colleagues who had helped to produce the report, was thanked by the Chairman. |
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The Leisure and Amenities Manager presented his supplementary report, which commented in response to the recommendations of the Services Overview and Scrutiny Committee. |
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Members were advised of the following: |
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· With regard to the provision of a One Stop Shop, it would be beneficial to have a single point of contact for enquiries but it would be difficult to employ one dedicated officer for this role. Any officer carrying out this role would be required to carry out other additional duties. |
· It would be of assistance to officers to draw up a list of works to be bid for and there would be a need to prioritise these works in consultation with Stakeholders. |
· The value of a warden was recognised. There were problems in some locations, the difficulty being that wardens were not employees of Gosport Borough Council. |
· Officers had worked with Members of the Gosport Allotment Holders and Gardeners Association on a promotion and marketing strategy. It was felt that the use of technology could make this more effective. |
· The Council was investigating the possibility of a partnership approach with Hampshire County Council to obtain external funding in support of many service areas. It may be possible to ensure the aim of this recommendation be included within a wider Council programme of funding opportunities. |
· The Council would be able to seek the assistance of various Access Groups to advise on appropriate measures to make improvements to access arrangements and ease of use of plots for people with disabilities and mobility difficulties. |
· The Council could explore the use of outside agencies to clear and assist with the maintenance of vacant plots. |
· The Council already liaised with a number of Community Groups and Representatives. These had proved to be a very effective means of consultation and provided a forum for exchange of information and views on service provision. The creation of a similar group for Allotment Holders would be welcomed. |
· Reference to the benefits of allotment gardening had been included with the Council’s recently approved cultural strategy. |
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Members considered the recommendation of the Services Overview and Scrutiny Committee that a Stakeholders Consultative Group be established and agreed with the recommendation. The Board recognised that full Council would need to approve the setting up of the Group and its composition. |
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Members agreed that the Terms of Reference of the Consultative Group should be drawn up by officers in consultation with the Allotment Holders. |
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RESOLVED: That- |
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i) full Council be asked to set up a Stakeholders Consultative Group comprising Members (1:1:1) and officers and other stakeholders. Officers discuss the composition of the stakeholders representatives with Gosport Allotment Holders and Gardeners Association and that representation should include other Allotment Holders and the Diocesan Allotment Holders; |
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ii) a list of priority works be identified by the Stakeholders Consultative Group; |
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iii) other operational matters, as described in the supplementary report of the Leisure and Amenities Manager, be included in the Service Improvement Plan for the Leisure and Amenities Unit; and |
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iv) officers draw up the Terms of Reference for the Stakeholders Consultative Group. |
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35. | COASTAL DEFENCE STRATEGY |
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(Note: Councillor Cully declared a personal interest in this item, left the room for the duration of its discussion and took no part in the voting thereon). |
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Consideration was given to a report by the Leisure and Amenities Manager (a copy of which is affixed in the Minute Book as Appendix “C”), which advised Members of the background, scope and findings of the Coastal Defence Strategy and considered the need for works in order to raise the standard of the Town’s sea defences and a strategy for public consultation and the implementation of future works. |
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A presentation was made by the Council’s Coastal Engineer (Environmental) for which he was thanked by the Board. |
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Members were advised that public exhibitions were to be held in December 2004 and that the views and observations of members of the public would be obtained via a questionnaire. It was envisaged that, following consultation, a further report would be made to the January 2005 meeting of the Board. |
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Members were advised that once a decision had been made as to which was the preferred scheme for each unit included in the presentation, it should be possible to finalise the Coastal Defence Strategy Study for submission to DEFRA. Once agreement to the strategy had been received from DEFRA it should be possible to develop individual scheme designs. |
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The next stage would be to obtain scheme approval from DEFRA at which stage the works would need to be advertised in accordance with the Coast Protection Act 1949. |
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RESOLVED: That- |
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i) the report of the Leisure and Amenities Manager be noted; |
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ii) officers be authorised to undertake the public consultation process; and |
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iii) officers investigate the options for external funding. |
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36. | STOKES BAY PADDLING POOL/OTHER CHILDREN’S PLAY PROVISION |
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Consideration was given to a report by the Leisure and Amenities Manager (a copy of which is affixed in the Minute Book as Appendix “D”), which updated Members on progress made with regard to providing an improved paddling pool at Stokes Bay and the outcome of discussions into suitable additional provision for children’s indoor play. |
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Members were advised that the budget estimate for carrying out basic works to the pool was £55,000. The additional cost of covering a “beach” area with a rubberised material was estimated at £5,000 and the cost of covering the bottom and sides of the pool with a rubberised surface was estimated at £15,000. |
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Members were advised that money had previously been identified in the Capital Programme for an Adventure Golf Facility. Members agreed that the Policy and Organisation Board should be asked to agree to this money being used towards the provision of an improved paddling pool at Stokes Bay. |
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Members were advised that the amount currently available in the Children’s Play Space Accounts was £145,000. It was agreed that money should be used from this account to part fund the works. |
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RESOLVED: That- |
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i) the Board note the progress made to date and approve the proposal to provide an improved paddling pool facility based on the design outlined in the report of the Leisure and Amenities Manager; ii) the Policy and Organisation Board be requested to approve the re-allocation of resources previously identified in the revised Capital Programme for an Adventure Golf Facility to be used towards the cost of implementing the improvements to the paddling pool facility; and iii) approval be given for the use of commuted sums from the Children’s Play Space Accounts to part fund the works. |
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37. | GOSPORT WATERFRONT FESTIVAL 2005 |
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Consideration was given to a report of the Leisure and Amenities Manager (a copy of which is affixed in the Minute Book as Appendix “E”), which provided Members with an update on progress for the Gosport Waterfront Festival 2005 and indicated the level of financial support required to stage the event. |
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Members raised concerns regarding the uncertainty of the level of financial contribution that would have to be made by the Council and requested that further details be presented to them at the next meeting of the Board. |
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Members acknowledged the importance of the Event Safety Management Plan and requested that details be presented at the next meeting of the Board. |
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RESOLVED: That- |
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i) the progress to date made on the organisation of the Gosport Waterfront Festival 2005 be noted; |
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ii) further financial details regarding the Council’s contribution to the Gosport Waterfront Festival 2005 be presented to the next meeting of the Board; and |
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iii) details of the Events Safety Management Plan be presented to the next meeting of the Board. |
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38. | CROSS REFERENCE – ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH (COMMERCIAL) SERVICE PLAN 2004/05 |
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Consideration was given to a cross reference from a meeting of the Services Overview and Scrutiny Committee held on 23 September 2004 (a copy of which is affixed in the Minute Book as Appendix “F”), which advised that the Services Overview and Scrutiny Committee had agreed the Environmental Health (Commercial) Service Plan for 2004/05. |
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The report of the Environmental Health (Commercial) Service Plan Working Group was presented by Councillor Farr, who, along with his colleagues on the Working Group, was thanked by the Board. |
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RESOLVED: That the Environmental Health (Commercial) Service Plan for 2004/05 be approved. |
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The meeting commenced at 6.00 p.m. and concluded at 8.45 p.m. |
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