Agenda and minutes

To receive declarations of interest from Members on items included in this agenda.

To agree as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 10 September 2013.

The Preliminary Draft Report from the HS2 Working Group is attached.  The Committee are asked for their input on the report before being considered by Council on the 27 November 2013.   

The Chairman presented a report from the HS2 Working Group.  He stated that the report, subject to the Committee’s approval, would be considered by Council on the 27 November 2013.  The Working Group had met with Mr Terry Stafford, Community Stakeholder Manager – HS2 and Siobhan Edmund, Stakeholder Advisor – HS2 in the previous week.  A summary note had been compiled swiftly in readiness for the Scrutiny Committee, which had been circulated for Members consideration.  He was very pleased that the Working Group had been given the opportunity of meeting with representatives from HS2.

Mr Stafford had stressed that no compensation package had been finalised and had tried to convey that the compensation was likely to be better than what had been previously stated.  Mr Stafford had suggested two minor factual changes to the report regarding the number of train services in the area and the amount of time taken for a train to slow down into a station and then to regain optimum speed. 

The meeting with the representatives of HS2 had not changed the views of the Working Group, which remained to oppose HS2 and to join with other local Councils in opposition. 

A Member stated that he thought the report could be enhanced if references were to be included on where some of the evidence had been obtained.  In response, the Chairman stated that, Mr Stafford had commented that the report was fair given the evidence that the Committee had considered.  The aim of the group had been to compile a simple succinct readable report.  He did however take on board that the report could contain some more references as to where some of the information had been obtained and agreed to include an appendix to the report. 

A Member stated that an additional recommendation should be added to the report.  He believed that there should be some reference to a spur in the North Staffordshire area.  There were differing views over whether this additional recommendation should be contained within the report.  A Member stated that if a spur was to be recommended then serious thought would have to be given to the location and its impact. 

A Member stated that in the outlining villages in the Borough there was a real concern about compensation and damage to property.  It was important to develop a compensation plan.

A Member expressed his support for a station at Etruria, on the grounds that it would open up regeneration land in the area. 

RECOMMENDATION: That the report and recommendations from the HS2 Working Group be endorsed and be presented to Council on the 27 November 2013. 

The Portfolio Holder for Economic Development, Regeneration and Town Centres will give a statement on his priorities and work objectives for the next six months.  The Committee will have the opportunity to ask questions following the statement.  There will be an opportunity for the Portfolio Holder to flag up areas within their remit that may benefit from scrutiny in the future e.g. policy development.

The relevant Portfolio Holder will be in attendance to give a briefing and answer questions on the latest position of the Newcastle Town Centre Partnership and the Kidsgrove Town Centre Partnership. 

The Chairman stated that the Portfolio Holder, Cllr Terry Tuner, was the Council’s representative on the Newcastle Town Centre Partnership Board.  He invited the Portfolio Holder to update the Committee on the latest position of the Newcastle and Kidsgrove Town Centre Partnerships.  He described the composition of the Newcastle Town Centre Partnership board as a great success.  The Board comprised of a range of very capable people all of which were voluntary Members. 

The amount of events held in the last twelve months represented an immediate success.  The Dragon’s Den event had been particularly well received.  The long-term aim of the Newcastle Town Centre Partnership was to achieve self-sufficiency.  Work was currently taking place on developing a medium-term financial strategy.  A key task was to convince people in the Town that it was worth their while paying a levy to keep the Town Centre Partnership in place.  The Partnership were encouraging students from Keele to come into the Town.  The night time economy was another key issue where work was taking place.  Another initiative making progress was the purple flag scheme.  A Film Festival would be held shortly and this year the Christmas lights switch on event would be at a weekend linked to a series of activities.   

The Portfolio Holder stated that he believed the Kidsgrove Town Centre Partnership to be a positive idea.  The main focus of the partnership at the present time was to stem the flow of business closures in the Kidsgrove area.  The aim was to also make the Kidsgove Town Centre Partnership self sufficient.  He believed the partnership was being successful. Whilst there were currently no figures and statistics, there would be in the future.  The board of the Kidsgrove Partnership was smaller at five Members but was likely to increase over the coming months.  The Kidsgrove Town Centre Partnership was officially a CIC with its own Bank Account. 

A Member stated that they believed there should be figures and statistics in place.  It was important to have these to be able to accurately assess how well the partnerships were performing.  In response the Portfolio Holder stated that it was important to convince the businesses within both Towns that the Partnerships were worthwhile to ensure their future sustainability. 

A Member stated that the partnerships should focus on providing activities for families in the early evening to attract them to the town.  He stressed the importance of the Council working with the Town Centre Partnership to help promote them.  The Portfolio Holder agreed that it was important to attract young families to the Towns.  He also believed that marketing was important.  He emphasised that the partnerships relied on volunteers who were only able to give some of their time. 

In response to a question from a Member about rolling out the concept to other areas within the Borough, the Portfolio Holder responded that the Council had decided to focus on two areas.  If these were to become a long-term success then consideration would be given  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.

To discuss and update the work plan.  

To consider any business which is urgent within the meaning of Section 100B(4) of  the Local Government Act 1972

There was no urgent business within the meaning of Section 100(B) 4 of the Local Government Act.