The Commercial Services Cabinet portfolio holder is invited to present her priorities and areas of focus over the remainder of the year and to answer questions from the committee on progress towards achieving the aims and targets of priorities within her portfolio which appear in the Council’s Corporate Plan.
Minutes:
The Chairman welcomed Mrs G Keegan, Cabinet Member for Commercial Services, to the meeting along with Mrs J Hotchkiss, Head of Commercial Services, attending to support the portfolio holder.
Mrs Keegan gave an oral report on her priorities and areas of focus over the remainder of the year and on progress being achieving against the projects which appear in the council’s Corporate Plan. She focused on the leisure centres, the City Vision, economic and business development and car parks.
Members made comments, including the following:
· In June 2016 the committee had nominated a member to serve on The Novium task and finish group. The group would be set up imminently.
· Queried the increase of 100% in visitor numbers at The Novium. Good exhibitions at the museum had increased visitor numbers however the Tim Peake exhibition had been a step change. The museum had achieved a status of accreditation which increased its reputation and recognition allowing better travelling and special exhibitions to be hosted.
· The Novium is viewed as a cultural service as it is subsidised by the council, however the driver is commercial i.e. how many visitors and how much they spend. A full review by the task and finish group will assess the further options for the museum.
· Queried current progress with marketing the Grange commercial site. The potential developer had pulled out and the council had gone back to the market, receiving one mixed use offer (residential and retail space). A deadline was set for a serious offer to be received however this deadline has passed. We will continue to market the site and will ensure that we get the right offer.
· Queried service and facility issues at the Grange. The task and finish group is monitoring these aspects. Members were advised to ensure that residents and parish councils raise complaints through the centre as the low number of complaints received does not match what has been reported to members. It was suggested that the task and finish group meet with parish councils at the Grange to hear their views. The conveniences at the centre were built as unisex so that they could be multi-functional, however Mrs Hotchkiss undertook to discuss the operational requirements when there is a large event on at the centre and the allocation of toilet facilities
· Queried realigning of car parks to facilitate wider vehicles. The industry standard for car parking spaces is used.
· Queried the further provision of pay on exit facilities at the districts’ other car parks. This project was reviewed by the parking forum. Mixed feedback had been received. Only a couple of car parks were physically able to have barriers installed. Since then new technologies had become available such as pay by phone which may override the need for pay on exit facilities.
· Enterprise Centre – Basepoint is taking operational liability of the facility and Neilcott are responsible for design and building. The two contracts would be signed co-terminous so that there is no risk to the council. We own the building and land and we have input into managing their performance. We will then look at the feasibility of investing in other enterprise satellites in Midhurst, Petworth and possibly Selsey.
· Queried the usage of the Grange car park in Midhurst. We take account of usage figures by reducing season tickets at less used car parks to try to manage usage equally in the districts’ car parks.
RESOLVED
That the report from the Cabinet Member for Commercial Services be noted.