Agenda and minutes

To receive details of any Members appointed to attend the meeting instead of a Member of the Sub-Committee.

None.

To receive any declarations of interest.

The following declarations of interest were made:

Councillor Hodgson – Museums Worcestershire Annual Review (Minute 16) – As Cabinet Member for Worcestershire County Council and Chairman of Joint Museums Committee.

Up to a total of fifteen minutes can be allowed, each speaker being allocated a maximum of five minutes, for members of the public to present a petition, ask a question or comment on any matter on the Agenda or within the remit of the Sub-Committee.

None.

Of the meeting held on 3^rd June 2019 to be approved and signed.

RESOLVED: That the minutes of the meeting held on 4^th March 2019 be approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

1.      That the Planning and Economic Development Sub-Committee notes the Council’s Quarter 1 performance for 2019/20; and

2.      That the committee notes the proposed revised due dates for key projects as stated in the relevant project narrative in Appendix 1.

The Sub-Committee considered the Quarter 1 Performance Report for the Place and Economic Development Sub-Committee for 2019/20 attached as Appendix 1 to the report.

The Corporate Director – Place presented the report and explained that the reason behind the revised key project due dates for the public realm project for The Shambles was a result of the contractors adapting the working methods for the scheme to lessen the impact on businesses.

Sub-Committee Members asked questions relating to several different projects within the performance report, to which the Corporate Director – Place was able to provide answers and further detail to Sub-Committee Members where appropriate.

RESOLVED: That the Sub-Committee:

1.           notes the Council’s Quarter 1 performance for 2019/20.

2.           notes the proposed revised due dates for key projects as stated in the relevant project narrative in Appendix 1.

1.      That the Place and Economic Development Sub-Committee (PED) recommend that the Policy and Resources Committee (P&R) approve the proposed spend for the implementation of the Worcester City Centre Masterplan  as set out in para 2.8 of this report;

2.      That the commissioning of the works proposed at 2.8 except Public Realm works is delegated to the Corporate Director – Place in conjunction with the Chair and Vice Chair of Place and Economic Development Sub-Committee; and

3.      The public realm works identified at Paragraph 2.8 and at Appendix 1 will be reported back to Place and Economic Development Sub-Committee for consideration and referral to Policy and Resources for agreement.

The Sub-Committee considered a report on the review of funding arrangements allocated towards the delivery of City Centre Masterplan.

The Economic Development & Regeneration Team Leader, in presenting the report, updated the Sub-Committee on the progress of funding arrangements. So far almost £50,000 of the agreed £500,000 delivery budget has been spent. Funding bids for the Cultural Development Fund and One Public Estate have both been successful. The Future High Street Fund bid was unsuccessful in the initial stage, however the Council are aiming to put in another potential bid at phase two which will include feedback received from the initial bid. The proposed spend delivery as indicated in paragraph 2.8 of the report will be £560,000.

Officers responded to questions from Members of the Sub-Committee relating to specific sites covered in the report and City Centre Masterplan.

RESOLVED:

1.   That the Place and Economic Development Sub-Committee

recommend that the Policy & Resources Committee approve the proposed spend for the implementation of the Worcester City Centre Masterplan as set out in para 2.8 of this report.

2.   That the commissioning of the works proposed at 2.8 except Public Realm works is delegated to the Corporate Director – Place in conjunction with the Chair and Vice Chair of Place and Economic Development Sub-Committee.

3.   The public realm works identified in para 2.8 and at Appendix 1 will be reported back to Place and Economic Development Sub-Committee for consideration and referral to Policy and Resources for agreement.

That the Place and Economic Development Sub-Committee note the activities undertaken in museums in 2018-19 and the impact made.

The Sub-Committee considered a report on the Museums Worcestershire Annual Review.

The Museums Audience Manager presented the report and explained that the Museums Service is a Joint Service provided by the City and County Council, which is currently hosted by the City Council. The service sits under the Place Directorate, consequently the report is presented to both the Place and Economic Development Sub-Committee and Communities Committee. The Museums Audience Manager highlighted aspects of the report for the Sub-Committee, particularly developments and improvements of the museums within Worcester.

Sub-Committee Members praised the positive nature of the report and made comment on the Museums for their impact on health and wellbeing. Officers responded to questions raised by Sub-Committee Members regarding future challenges and plans of the Museums service.

RESOLVED: That the Place and Economic Sub-Committee note the activities undertaken in museums in 2018-19 and the impact made.

Which in the opinion of the Chairman is of sufficient urgency as to warrant consideration.

None.