Councillor Plant declared a personal interest in the item relating to the notice of call in on the management and governance of the Marina Centre and Phoenix Pool and indicated that he would vacate the chair for this item but that he would be allowed to speak on this item.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Grey and H Wainwright.  

 

The minutes of the meeting held on the 22 January 2015 were confirmed.

In accordance with the Committee’s request at its last meeting, Members considered the Director of Customer Services’ report which explained the background of the Business Improvement District and the criteria used to select those businesses eligible for the mandatory levy.

The Group Manager (Tourism and Communications) reported that the Greater Yarmouth Tourist Authority was the BID proposer and following the successful ballot became the “Greater Yarmouth Tourism and Business Improvement Area”.  The Borough Council is the ballot holder and appointed the Electoral Reform Service to carry out the ballot.  The Borough Council is also the billing authority.  The Group Manager also reported on the details of the levy and who contributes to this.  The Board of the Business Improvement Area had also now published an appeal procedure for any business who considers their categorisation is incorrect.

The Group Manager confirmed that the Interim Task Group had chosen who would be included on the list for the mandatory levy.  In response to a question from the Chairman about the publishing of the results, Mr Marsh reported that the results had been published on both the GYB website and also on the BID website.  He also confirmed that a letter had been received from DCLG which had accepted that the necessary due notice of the ballot results had been given.  Mr Marsh also reported that approximately 1200 ballot papers had been distributed of which 242 had been returned, giving a 19% response.  Mr Marsh also explained which businesses had been balloted and those which had been exempt.  Mr Marsh also confirmed that it was a requirement that the Board of the Business Improvement Area should measure its success.

RESOLVED:
That, whilst acknowledging the comments and objections that had been received through the process, the Scrutiny Committee records its congratulations to the team who had delivered the Business Improvement District (BID).

The Committee considered the Transformation Programme Manager’s tabled report which detailed an update on the Transformation Programme and also details on budget setting.

The Transformation Programme Manager reported that robust frameworks were being developed to ensure delivery of key projects, with a change in focus for the Members Transformation Board where progress with projects will be discussed, risks addressed and where necessary officers held to account.

RESOLVED:
That the Transformation Programme Manager’s report be noted.

The Committee received and noted the Financial Monitoring Report for January 2015.

The Cabinet Secretary updated Members on the items to be considered at the Committee’s next meeting on the 2 April 2015

No further business.

In the event of the Committee wishing to exclude the public from the meeting, the following resolution will be moved:-

"That under Section 100(A)(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the public be excluded from the meeting for the following item of business on the grounds that it involved the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraph 1 of Part I of Schedule 12(A) of the said Act."

(The Chairman here vacated the chair and the Vice Chairman occupied the same).