There were no apologies for absence received.

Councillor T Wright declared a non pecuniary interest in item 7 in his capacity as a Member of the Great Yarmouth Port Users Association Committee where comments had been made in relation to the consultation process for the Third River Crossing.

The minutes of the meeting held on the 3 September 2018 were confirmed.

Councillor T Wright advised that he had received as requested figures for the Town Centre spend, however noted that he had requested further detailed work on the exact spend, the Strategic Director pointed out that high level spend figures had been supplied by the Finance Director but that further detailed works would be undertaken.

RESOLVED :

The Committee note the contents of the Forward Plan for the Economic Development Committee.

The Committee received and considered the Strategic Director's report which provided Members with an update with regards to gating the passageway underneath Market Gates Shopping Centre and asked Members to note that no decision to close the Market Gates Toilet would be made until the Marketplace redevelopment is confirmed.

The Strategic Director reported that Historic England needed to approve the works that had been proposed as the town walls were a historic landmark, and therefore works could not be progressed without consent.

Members discussed their concerns in relation to support not being granted by English Heritage and it was suggested that Officers go back to English Heritage and point out the concerns raised by Members and how the proposals for gating were to protect the wall. The Chairman asked for a briefing note to be sent to all Members of the Economic Development from Historic England detailing the legal definition of powers and comments to concerns raised and that this matter be discussed at the next meeting.

Some concern was raised in relation to the potential of loss of future funding from Historic England in relation to concerns being raised.

RESOLVED :

That the Committee note the content of this report and note that no decision to close the Market Gates toilets would be made until the Marketplace redevelopment is confirmed in due course.

The Committee received and considered the Head of IT, Communications and Marketing's report which asked Members to note the current events programme including the type of support provided by the Council and also feedback comments to help inform the future direction of an events programme linked to the Council's six corporate priorities.

The Chairman reported that in his opinion the inclusion of the Cultural Heritage / Tourism Strategy needed to be included within the recommendation for future direction of events programme to ensure the Strategy forms part of the programme, this was agreed.

RESOLVED :

(1) That the Committee note the current events programme including the type of support provided by the council.

(2) That comments to help inform the future direction of an events programme linked to the Council’s six Corporate Priorities and Cultural Heritage / Tourism Strategy with a view to agreeing the future shape of the events programme and resource level from 2019/20 onwards be fed back to the Head of IT, Communications and Marketing.

The Committee received and considered the Development Director and Senior Strategic Planner's report which asked Members to support the Great Yarmouth Third River Crossing proposals, as set out in the Stage 3 (Statutory pre-application) Consultation.

Members received a presentation from David Allfrey, Norfolk County Council which illustrated the two proposed bridge types to be used for the project and gave an update on work completed to date. It was advised that a final decision on which bridge type would be used for the project would be completed once the constructor had been appointed. Members were also reminded that the project completion date had been scheduled for early 2023.

In discussing the report and presentation the following comments were made :-

• Councillor T Wright noted the conversations that had taken place with specific businesses at the port and was pleased that these had taken place. He asked whether any assessment had been undertaken on potential job losses of those small businesses who were to be affected by the proposals specifically the smaller construction businesses. It was advised that the County Council had engaged with the Port Users Association and would continue to do so, it was hoped that this engagement would encourage those small businesses to raise their concerns or comments to be addressed.
• Councillor Plant commented on the important need for good traffic management to be put in place for the project an also advised that a report was due to go to the County  Council on the full funding for the scheme.

RESOLVED

That support be given to the Great Yarmouth Third River Crossing proposals, as set out in the Stage 3 (Statutory pre-application) Consultation and the Committee endorse the response contained within the Development Director and Senior Strategic Planner's report.

The Committee received and considered the Development Director's report which asked Members to note the published Integrated Transport Strategy for Norfolk & Suffolk and its relevance to the borough of Great Yarmouth.

The Development Director reported that the Strategy was intended to set out the key transport requirements for the two counties, and could influence the priority and resources devoted to particular projects. A number of the proposal themes related directly to the Borough, and the Borough Council is identified as one of the delivery partners for the Strategy. Members were advised that the Strategy would also sit above and shape the emerging Great Yarmouth Transport Strategy.

RESOLVED :

The Committee note the contents of the Development Director's report and the published Integrated Transport Strategy for Norfolk & Suffolk and its relevance to the borough of Great Yarmouth.

Members received and considered the Development Director and the Executive Director of Community & Environmental Services of Norfolk County Council report which asked Members to endorse the associated Stage 1 Issues and Opportunities report for the Great Yarmouth Transport Strategy and the long list of transport schemes, adding any further suggestions for appraisal.

Ian Parkes, Senior Infrastructure Growth Planner, Norfolk County Council report that Members of the Great Yarmouth Transport and Infrastructure Steering group formally supported the proposals for developing a transport strategy for Great Yarmouth at their meeting on 6 March 2018. The work is being carried out by WSP consultants, steered and guided by both Norfolk County Council (NCC) and Great Yarmouth Borough Council (GYBC).

Members were advised that to date an analysis of the problems and issues had been carried out with stakeholder engagement and Vision and Objectives established. The next steps were to appraise a long list of possible transport schemes to determine their appropriateness for inclusion into the strategy. A further report to the Great Yarmouth Transport and Infrastructure Steering Group had been proposed for mid-December 2018.

In discussing the report the following matters were discussed :-

• Whether consideration would be given to rural areas within the strategy, it was advised that this matter would be fed-back although it was noted that the area for the Strategy currently covered the Town Centre itself.
• Members felt that the strategy was a positive comprehensive report for the Town Centre 
• Whether consideration had been given to cycle lanes and mobility scooter usage, however some concern was raised by some Members on this matter as it was felt that a majority of cycle lanes were unused.
• It was noted that the word 'Gorleston' was spelt incorrectly.
• Clarification was sought on Autonomous vehicles, it was advised that these were self driving cars.

RESOLVED :

(1) The Committee note the contents of the Development Director and the Executive Director of Community & Environmental Services report.

(2) The Committee endorse the associated Stage 1 Issues and Opportunities report for the
Great Yarmouth Transport Strategy and the long list of transport schemes.

The Committee received and considered the Regeneration and Funding Manager's report which provided a background and overview to the response for the House of Lords Select Committee as coordinated by Officers in the Council, and asked Members to review the response and provide comment on its contents and endorse the dissemination of the response to the House of Lords Committee by the deadline of 9 October 2018.

RESOLVED :

(1) The Committee Review and note the response.

(2) That the Committee endorse the dissemination of the response to the House of Lords Committee by the deadline of 9 October 2018.

The Committee received an update in relation to the Winter Festival from the Head of Property and Asset Management.

Members discussed the event schedule and the Head of Property and Asset Management reported that she also sought approval from Members to open invitations for the Christmas Fayre Weekends to all Traders in the hope to fulfil the aims of the Winter Festival. She advised the Christmas Fayre would be held the 1st weekend with Christmas Markets being held on all further weekends in the run up to Christmas.

Councillor Hammond proposed that the event be endorsed for a five year period, although Members were keen for the event to progress in future years, it was suggested that this not be taken forward in light of the Councils expenditure outlook.

RESOLVED :

(1) That Members endorse the opening of weekend markets to all traders.

(2) That the Committee note the update from the Head of Property and Asset Management.

Councillor Jeal asked if an update report could be provided on the reduction in Market fees that had been approved. It was agreed that this matter be added to the Committee's forward plan. The Head of Property and Asset Management reported that 2 additional 2 day Market Traders were now in place following the reduction in fees.

Members stood in a one minute silence following the recent passing of Councillor Charles Reynolds.