Agenda and minutes

There were no declarations of interest made by Members.

There were no members of the public present.

·         Special meeting held on Wednesday 30^th September 2015

·         Ordinary meeting held on Thursday 15^th October 2015

·         Special meeting held on Wednesday 4^th November 2015

The Committee confirmed and signed the minutes of the following meetings of the Economy and Development Select Committee held on:

 i.        Special Meeting 30^th September 2015.

ii.        Ordinary Meeting 15^th October 2015.

iii.        Special Meeting 4^th November 2015

The Chair expressed thanks to Democratic Services Officers for their continued hard work and production of accurate minutes.

Context:

Members were presented with a report from the Head of Economy and Enterprise in order to provide a performance update on the activities of Monmouthshire Business and Enterprise (MBE).

Key Issues:

·         One of the Council’s four priorities is ‘Supporting Enterprise, Entrepreneurship and Job Creation’.  In 2014 a new vision for the Enterprise Directorate was agreed: To develop and promote an enterprising culture, which builds business resilience and creates excellent outcomes for our communities. Within this vision a specific mission for MBE has been identified which is to build the enterprise capacity and reinvent our future.

·         Cabinet approved the Monmouthshire Business Growth and Enterprise Strategy in November 2014 and endorsed the appended Action Plan. Within the Strategy there are three pillars or objectives presenting a consolidated approach to the delivery and implementation of the Strategy:

1.    Supporting Business Growth

2.    Enabling Inward Investment; and

3.    Growing Entrepreneurs.

·         The Strategy and the associated annual Business Plan for MBE addresses customer needs through the provision of a programme of business support, networking and facilitation to help unlock the potential for growth in the County. In 2015/16 activities are targeted towards achieving these key priorities and maximising funding opportunities to reduce the financial burden on MCC.

·         Further to this and following the closure of the 2007-2013 RDP programme in December 2014, a new Local Development Strategy was submitted to Welsh Government in September 2014.  The Vale of Usk Local Development Strategy approved by MCC Cabinet in June 2015, is a key tool in drawing down funds of £2.79M from the new 2014-2020 RDP Programme which has now been expanded to include the rural wards of Newport. MCC is the Administrative Body for the programme holding overall responsibility. Activities are directed through the newly formed Vale of Usk Local Action Group – a local partnership based on the three thirds principle of representation from the community, private and public sector.

·         In addition MBE also delivers the external strand of the Council’s iCounty Strategy which includes the coordination of broadband infrastructure and ICT exploitation activities.

The Chair invited the Head of Commercial and People Development to update the Committee on Skutrade, a pre-trade cloud based software that enables businesses to know the real-time full costs and profitability of selling products in international markets. Skutrade was being supported by MCC further to a Cabinet report presented in July 2015 which stipulated how Skutrade would help deliver the Council’s iCounty and Monmouthshire Business Growth and Enterprise strategies by enabling Monmouthshire businesses to have reduced fee access to the platform.

We heard that there was some slight slippage in the timeline, one of which had been brought about by some of the delay in bringing the platform through user acceptance testing.  Officers were hopeful that by the end of the year we would be in a position to conclude on the market testing and bring the business case to legal and finance colleague.

Members were invited to comment.

Member Scrutiny:

Members asked if there were specific problems  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.

Context:

Members received a report to update on progress made in preparatory work for a Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL), particularly in relation to the identification of potential projects that might be eligible for funding from CIL.

Key Issues:

A progress report on CIL was presented to Economy and Development Select

Committee on 15 October 2015. That report focused on the results of the consultation on a CIL Preliminary Draft Charging Schedule (PDCS) that took place for a period of 6 weeks from Thursday 12th February 2015 to Thursday 26th March 2015.

Since the report to the Select Committee on 15 October the viability work had been refined further and the charging schedule that was appended to that report has been amended slightly.  The amended charges are incorporated in the document that is attached as Appendix C and would form the basis of the next formal stage in the CIL preparation process – the consultation on the Draft Charging Schedule (DCS).

Further work was needed to develop and update the infrastructure list and it was agreed at the 15 October meeting that this report would be brought to Select to advise members of the identification of potential projects that might be eligible for funding from CIL.

Member Scrutiny:

The Chair clarified that the issue was demonstrating the need and that categories could be added at a later date following consultation.  The Head of Planning advised that the Regulation 123 list agrees the high level categories where funding would be allocated, which would then need approval by Council.

Following a Members request for clarification, the Head of Planning confirmed that CIL would only apply to developments of three or more properties, not single housing.  Members felt that this would be significant difference to Community Councils where developments may be one or two houses with an anticipation of extra money through CIL.

The strategic sites did not attract CIL but rather Section 106 money and it was questioned if we knew the amount of money to be expected from CIL.  Officers explained that it was difference to be precise as it relied on planning permission being granted and floor area of market dwellings.  Some estimated figures were provided as Crick Road in Portskewett £1.5million, Rothley Farm £1.9 million, Vinegar Hill £1.6 million.  Schemes were more likely to come forward in the latter part of the plan period.  The Head of Planning explained that Section 106 money could only be spent in the locality but CIL would go into a central pot, which would give more freedom.

We heard that self-build would be exempt, 90% of dwellings would fall into that category.

A concern was raised that there may be a case that separate planning applications may be made in order to save CIL money. 

In terms of developments in small villages, the majority of the developments being proposed in the LDP were rural affordable housing sites which requires 60% affordable housing and there was a specific exemption against those sites for providing  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.

Context:

Members received a report in order to provide Select Committee Members with information on the forecast revenue outturn position of the Authority at the end of reporting period 2 which represents month 6 financial information for the 2015/16 financial year.

Member Scrutiny:

Members were concerned with the further cuts to opening times in tourism, as the biggest income for the Authority.  The Chief Officer for Enterprise agreed and was keen to assure Members that officers would do their level best as far as possible to keep services operating.  It was hoped that the Trust Plus mandate would attract investment next year.

A Member expressed that it was important for members of the public to understand the position that the Authority is in.  It was important to remain transparent and open with people.

A Member suggested that, with reference to Caldicot Castle, now may be the time to talk to the interested parties in regards to it moving to a local trust, who could then apply for different grants and improve the country park.  There were concerns that as a liability it may sink a local group.

A Member warned against the focus on income generation rather than core services.  It was noted that £125,000 of the loss was income generation not achieved by ICT software. It was felt that MCC should be seen as an enabling authority.

The Cabinet Member reminded the Committee that the Flow project had enabled the Council to make an annual saving of £130,000 licence fee for social services.

We heard that we were on track to make the anticipated savings with the Community Hubs.

The £20,000 income reduction from the 3g pitch had been attributed to difficulty with lighting and the marketing of two pitches.  The issue had now been resolved.

Recommendations:

The report recommended that Members consider the position concerning the second period of revenue monitoring in 2015/16 (£1.066 million deficit) and seek a further report back to the next Cabinet outlining the Recovery Plans to be put in place to address the overspends in service areas.

Members were recommended to note the forecast use of earmarked reserves and, in order to ensure adequacy of reserves for the MTFP, approve the changes in practice.

Members were recommended to consider the position concerning period 2 Capital Monitoring with a revised budget of £60,496 million for the 2015/16 financial year.

Thursday 7^th January 2016 at 10.00 am.

We noted the date and time of the next meeting as Thursday 7^th January 2016.