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 Gregson – Charter Year Celebrations (Minute No. 33) – As an employee of Worcestershire County Council Archive and Archaeology Service.

Councillor Mrs L. Hodgson – Charter Year Celebrations (Minute No. 33) – As Worcestershire County Council Chairman of the 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 29^th October 2020 to be approved and signed.

RESOLVED: That the minutes of the meeting held on 29^th October 2020 be approved as a correct record and signed remotely by the Chairman.

That the Place and Economic Development Sub-Committee notes the Council’s Quarter 3 performance for 2020/21.

The Sub-Committee considered the Quarter 3 Performance Report for the Place and Economic Development Sub-Committee for 2020/21 attached as Appendix 1 to the report.

The Corporate Director – Finance and Resources presented the report and advised that there was detailed commentary on the status of each of the projects and indicators.

RESOLVED: That the Sub-Committee note the Council’s Quarter 3 performance report for 2020/21.

1.   That the Sub-Committee note the proposed Budgets for the various services identified for 2021/22;

2.   That the Sub-Committee consider the priorities within each service and recommends any change for the services’ Budgets including the Income and Efficiency plans;

3.   That the Sub-Committee consider the services’ Capital programme and future projects and recommends any changes or additions; and

4.   That the Sub-Committee reviews any new budget proposals from members and makes recommendations to Policy and Resources Committee as appropriate.

The Sub-Committee considered the proposed budgets for Place and Economic Development Services for 2021/22. The Sub-Committee reviewed the priorities within each service and the initiatives proposed in the Income and Efficiency plan, and reviewed the City Plan allocations. The Sub-Committee also considered the draft Capital Programme to 2024/25.

The Corporate Director – Finance and Resources presented the report and responded to questions from Members, in particular, a query on Appendix 2 - Capital Programme and the inclusion of Parks Electronic Signage.  The Corporate Director – Finance and Resources agreed to provide further detail as a point of clarification at the Policy and Resources Committee when the full report was considered.

The Sub-Committee proceeded to consider the proposed budgets for Place and Economic Development Services for 2021/22. The Sub-Committee did not recommend any change for the services’ Budgets or the Income and Efficiency plans. The Sub-Committee supported the Capital Programme and future projects and did not recommend any changes or additions.  There were no new budget proposals to be recommended to Policy and Resources Committee.

RESOLVED: That the Sub-Committee agree to:

1.           note the proposed Budgets for the various services identified for 2021/22;

2.      note the priorities within each service; and

3.           note the services’ Capital Programme and future projects;

That Members note the requirement for the Council to publish an Infrastructure Funding Statement (IFS) and to update it at least annually.

The Sub-Committee considered a report on the Infrastructure Funding Statement 2020 for the monitoring period 1^st April 2019 to 31^st March 2020.  The Infrastructure Statement was attached as Appendix 1 to the report.

The Community Infrastructure Levy (Amendment) (England) (No.2) Regulations 2019 require any local authority that receives developer contributions to publish online an Infrastructure Statement by 31^st December 2020 or as soon as possible thereafter.

The Senior Planning Policy Officer, in presenting the report, informed Members that the Infrastructure Statement, prepared in accordance with the legal requirements, had been published on the Council’s website.

Members were informed that this document would be updated and published on an annual basis.

RESOLVED: That the Sub-Committee note the requirement for the Council to publish an Infrastructure Funding Statement (IFS) and to update it at least annually.

1.   That the South Worcestershire Development Plan (SWDP) – Further Regulation 18 (III) material set out at Appendix 1 is approved for consultation from 1^st March 2021 for seven weeks; and

2.   That delegated authority is given to the Corporate Director – Place in consultation with the Chair and Vice Chair of Place and Economic Development Sub-Committee to make minor amendments to the SWDP Regulation 18 (III) consultation material prior to publication.

The Sub-Committee considered a report on the South Worcestershire Development Plan (SWDP) – Preferred Options, further Regulation 18 (III) consultation.

The Acting Planning Policy Team Leader, in presenting the report, drew the Sub-Committee’s attention to 1.1 of the recommendation which required a minor amendment to be made.  The recommendation at 1.1 should read:

That the Sub-Committee recommend to Council that the South Worcestershire Development Plan (SWDP) – Further Regulation 18 (III) material set out at Appendix 1 is approved for consultation from 1^st March 2021 for seven weeks.

The Acting Planning Policy Team Leader provided background to the report and outlined the South Worcestershire Development Plan Review and Timetable.

The Sub-Committee were being asked to approve the South Worcestershire Development Plan (SWDP) – Further Regulation 18 (III) material for consultation from 1^st March 2021 for seven weeks in accordance with the consultation material in Appendix 1 attached to the report and the consultation statement in section 5.

This will be in accordance with the procedures set out within the South Worcestershire Council’s Statement of Community Involvement.

A question was raised by Members as to whether the consultation should take place during the Purdah period prior to the forthcoming Elections.  Officers considered it appropriate that it was ‘business as usual’ and Council were only being asked to approve the consultation.

The Sub-Committee agreed to recommend to Council the approval of the consultation.

RESOLVED: That the Sub-Committee:

1.   recommend to Council that the South Worcestershire Development Plan (SWDP) – Further Regulation 18 (III) material set out at Appendix 1 is approved for consultation from 1^st March 2021 for seven weeks; and

2.   delegate authority to the Corporate Director – Place in consultation with the Chair and Vice Chair of Place and Economic Development Sub-Committee to make minor amendments to the SWDP Regulation 18 (III) consultation material prior to publication.

1.   That the Place and Economic Development Sub-Committee approve the Traveller and Travelling Showpeople Site Allocations Development Plan Document (TTS SA DPD) – Preferred Options: Regulation 18 material (set out in Appendix 1) for consultation from 1^st March 2021 for seven weeks; and

2.   That delegated authority is given to the Corporate Director – Place in consultation with the Chair and Vice Chair of Place and Economic Development Sub-Committee to make minor amendments to the Traveller and Travelling Showpeople Site Allocations DPD Regulation 18 consultation material prior to publication.

The Sub-Committee considered a report on the South Worcestershire Traveller and Travelling Showpeople Site Allocations Development Plan Document, Preferred Options Regulation 18 Consultation.

The Acting Planning Policy Team Leader, in presenting the report, drew the Sub-Committee’s attention to 1.1 of the recommendation which required a minor amendment to be made.  The recommendation at 1.1 should read:

That the Sub-Committee recommend to Council that the Traveller and Travelling Showpeople Site Allocations Development Plan Document (TTS SA DPD) – Preferred Options: Regulation 18 material set out in Appendix 1 is approved for consultation from 1^st March 2021 for seven weeks.

The Acting Planning Policy Team Leader provided background to the report and highlighted the key points.

In response to a question about the inclusion of a site at Broomhall Way, it was clarified by Officers that the site is not considered to be suitable and is therefore not proposed as an allocation.

A question was again raised by Members as to whether the consultation should take place during the Purdah period prior to the forthcoming Elections.  It was felt that this was a different type of consultation and not as technical as the previous report.  Officers agreed that this was slightly different but Members again were only being asked to approve the consultation and that no decisions were being made at this time.  It was also considered  appropriate that it was ‘business as usual’.

Members however suggested that it may be worth clarifying the situation before the report went to full Council, as the seven weeks of consultation did fall within the Purdah period.  This was agreed by Officers.

The Sub-Committee agreed to recommend to Council the approval of the consultation, subject to clarification on the commencement of the consultation.

RESOLVED: That the Sub-Committee agree to:

1.   recommend to Council that the Traveller and Travelling Showpeople Site Allocations Development Plan Document (TTS SA DPD) – Preferred Options: Regulation 18 material set out in Appendix 1 is approved for consultation from 1^st March 2021 for seven weeks; and

2.   delegate authority to the Corporate Director – Place in consultation with the Chair and Vice Chair of the Sub-Committee to make minor amendments to the Traveller and Travelling Showpeople Site Allocations DPD Regulation 18 consultation material prior to publication.

That the Place and Economic Development Sub-Committee:

1.   Notes the planned activity to celebrate the 400^th anniversary of the Charter of James I; and

2.    Notes that funding will be allocated from the Recovery budget to support the delivery of this activity.

The Sub-Committee considered a report on the Charter Year Celebrations.

This year marks the 400^th anniversary for the Charter of James I incorporating the City and establishing a Mayor.  The Charter is largely recognised as ‘creating’ the City of Worcester.  In 1971 the 350^th anniversary was celebrated with a month long festival with a souvenir brochure circulated.

The Charter 400 celebrations will support recovery efforts and the budget would be allocated from the recovery funds, as agreed at the Sub-Committee in July 2020, in line with delivery outputs, to deliver Charter 400 activities this year.

The Tourism and Events Officer informed Members that a logo has been created and a webpage set up and a working party established, details as outlined in paragraph 3.4 of the report.  The funding will be utilised to deliver Charter 400 themed projects throughout the year as highlighted in paragraph 3.5 of the report.

Members welcomed and supported the project which will be an opportunity to celebrate and recognise Worcester’s heritage and to also revitalise and boost local businesses.  In response to a question as to whether the actual Charters would be on display, it was stated that this was being considered.

RESOLVED: That the Sub-Committee:

1.   note the planned activity to celebrate the 400^th anniversary of the Charter of James I; and

2.   note that funding will be allocated from the Recovery budget to support the delivery of this activity.

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

None.