11 10 2006

Councillors Mrs Champion (P), Mrs Cully (P), Farr (P), Dickson (P), Foster (P), Hicks (P), Jacobs (P), Philpott (P), Redrup and Mrs Salter (P).

 

 

 

 

An apology for inability to attend the meeting was received on behalf of Councillor Redrup.

 

 

 

 

There were no declarations of interest.

 

 

 

 

RESOLVED:  That the Minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 10 August 2006 be approved and signed by the Chairman as a true and correct record.

 

 

 

 

A presentation was received from Julie Petty, the Head of Corporate Policy and Performance, which provided the Committee with details of the review and update of the Community Strategy.

 

Members were advised that the strategy was a statutory requirement and a policy framework document owned by the Local Strategic Partnership, a body made up of the police, Primary Care Trust, the Ministry of Defence, community and voluntary groups and Gosport Borough Council.

 

Government guidance was available for such strategies and a Government White paper was due to be published in Autumn 2006. The aim of the strategy was to identify and achieve clear, measurable outcomes.

 

The first Community Strategy had been established following the Local Government Act 2000 and looked at ways to improve quality of life for residents, agree priorities, co-ordinate services and plans and find new ways of working with other organisations. The first Local Strategic Partnership had been set up in 2002.

 

The future Community Strategy would be designed to be sustainable and would set out an agreed vision and priorities. It would be evidence based, involve consultation with the public, result in an action plan with outcomes and link to the Local Development Framework.

 

The new Community Strategy would encompass the following improvements:

 

 

The process of drawing up the new Community Strategy included joining up with the Local Development Framework and involved gathering an evidence base, consulting with the community on key issues and producing the Community Strategy (vision and action plan) and in parallel with the Local Development Framework.

 

Gathering the evidence base involved the use of statistics, performance indicators and survey data covering the health services, police and Gosport Borough Council. The Council’s statutory General Survey was currently being issued to approximately 3,000 randomly selected addresses from which approximately 1,000 responses were expected. These responses regarding quality of life issues would be used to inform the Vision Fair Consultation Events.  A summary of the baseline data and consultation feedback would be used for the Vision and the Local Development Framework

 

Consultation with the community would take the form of Local Strategic Partnership vision fair events which would take place at the Town Hall or in the Council caravan together with the distribution of leaflets, on-line information and “take away” packs. The first event was planned for 2 December 2006.

 

Use would be made of voting boards. These would help identify top priorities, for example for community safety, transport and health.

 

From the information gathered the Vision and Action Plan would be produced. It was anticipated that the new document would be completed in early 2007.

 

Members generally felt that the concept of the Community Strategy was good and it was hoped that some positive impact would be made as a result of it although some doubts were expressed as to whether anything would be achieved through it. Members were advised that the process provided an opportunity to engage with the community and it was hoped that the strategy would identify three or four proposals which could be achieved over the next eighteen months.

 

The Head of Corporate Policy and Performance was thanked for her presentation.

 

RESOLVED:  That the review and update be noted as part of scrutinising the Community Strategy.

 

 

 

 

 

Juliet Scott of Tourism South East was introduced to the Committee.

 

The Committee considered a report of the Leisure and Cultural Services Manager, which advised on the progress made in tourism and marketing promotion since February 2006.

 

The Leisure and Cultural Services Manager circulated a document entitled “Tourism – A Way Forward” which had been produced on behalf of the Tourist Forum comprising those bodies active in tourism in Gosport, including providers of accommodation and attractions. The good practice of the Forum had been recognised within the tourist industry.

 

It was explained that Gosport Borough Council did not take the lead role in the Forum but supported and serviced it.

 

Through the document the organisations were able to demonstrate good management and planning and therefore the ability to attract finance. It further demonstrated partnership working and that other groups were given responsibility to take decisions and have control over their own destinies.

 

Juliet Scott advised the Committee that she had attended the Annual General Meeting of Tourism South East and reported on two potentially useful ideas:

 

a)

To give recognition to famous local people e.g. by having their handprints set in concrete in the Hollywood style or in a similar fashion to the “stars” in Brighton. It would be necessary to identify 10 or 12 famous people from Gosport and the exhibit could be opened by a celebrity; and

 

b)

The introduction of a Gosport Historic Town Trail including the history and origin of the street names

 

Lynda Dine, the Head of Economic Prosperity, made a presentation to the Committee regarding the 2006 Visitor Survey. The survey looked at the whole image of Gosport with the intention of feeding the information obtained into planning for tourism and regeneration and encouraging businesses to improve economic prosperity in the town. The total number of people surveyed was 217 of which 196 were non-residents of the Borough.

 

The survey covered the following areas:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It was noted that international visitors were mainly staying in hotels or guest houses, which was an indicator of the success of the hotel and bed and breakfast websites.

 

A copy of the survey results would be sent to members of the Committee.

 

The Leisure and Cultural Services Manager advised that Committee that a Lee-on-the –Solent Trail leaflet had been produced jointly by Gosport Borough and Hampshire County Councils.

 

There were many visitors for jet skiing and the water activities leaflet was being updated.

 

Juliet Scott drew the Committee’s attention to five Trade Fairs and Exhibitions that would be taking place on dates between November 2006 and March 2007. They would be held in partnership with a group of attraction providers.

 

The followings views were expressed:

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Chief Executive advised that he had spoken with the Council’s conservation officers regarding the possibility of an organised circular walk from Gosport Ferry to Priddy’s Hard via St George’s Barracks and Clarence Yard. This could be ideal for visitors alighting from the ferry.

 

The Leisure and Cultural Services Manager presented a demonstration of the Council’s new Tourism Website which was being developed and was nearing completion. The areas covered were:

 

The welcome page was to be translated initially into French and Spanish with the possibility of translation into further languages at a later date. The cost per translation was estimated at £200.

 

The new website was considered to be a considerable improvement on the old one.

 

Juliet Scott was thanked for attending the meeting.

 

RESOLVED: That the update on Tourism and Marketing be noted and that this matter be included as a standing item on the Committee’s agenda to receive future updates.

 

 

 

It was reported that the Borough Solicitor had not received any requests for matters to be scrutinised.

 

 

 

 

Consideration was given to a briefing note from the Borough Solicitor which provided details of the scrutiny matters undertaken by each of the two overview and scrutiny committees, together with the number of meetings held, since July 2003.

 

Members took the view that the combined workload of the individual overview and scrutiny committees was of a volume that could be undertaken by a single committee. This would also address the problem of unclear demarcation lines regarding the responsibilities of the existing two committees.

 

However, it was felt that the Services Overview and Scrutiny Committee should have the opportunity to consider this proposal before requesting the Policy and Organisation Board to consider any changes to the Council’s constitution.

 

 

RESOLVED:  That:

 

 

a)

the information received by this Committee in respect of the work undertaken by the two overview and scrutiny committees since July 2003 be referred to the Services Overview and Scrutiny for consideration; and

 

 

b)

this Committee recommends that scrutiny matters be undertaken by only one overview and scrutiny committee and that, subject to the outcome of a) above, a report be submitted to the Policy and Organisation Board for consideration.

 

 

 

 

The Committee reviewed the development of its work programme

 

 

a)

Tourism and Marketing Working Group (whole Committee): standing agenda item to receive updates

 

 

b)

Waterfront Zoning Working Group (Councillors Mrs Cully, Hicks and Philpott): meeting date to be arranged

 

 

c)

Car Parking: a discussion ensued on whether car parking should be scrutinised and it was felt that this matter could be further considered at a future meeting.

 

 

 

 

There was no further business.