Leighton-Linslade Partnership Committee 13 June 2011
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LEIGHTON-LINSLADE TOWN COUNCIL
LEIGHTON-LINSLADE PARTNERSHIP COMMITTEE
MONDAY 13 JUNE 2011 AT 1930 HOURS
Present : Councillors A Brandham (in the Chair)
D Bowater
S Cotter
A Dodwell
J M Freeman
D Hopkin
G Rolfe
A Shadbolt
K Sharer
B Spurr
K Matthews (Central Bedfordshire Council)
Also in attendance: P Kingsnorth (Town Clerk)
B Wardle (Deputy Town Clerk)
S Sandiford (Committee Officer)
H Shore (Head of Business Investment, Central Bedfordshire Council)
4 Members of the Public
1/LLP ELECTION OF CHAIR
It was proposed by Councillor B Spurr and seconded by Councillor A Shadbolt that Councillor D Hopkin be elected Chair of the Partnership Committee for the forthcoming year.
RESOLVED that Councillor D Hopkin be elected Chair of the Partnership Committee for 2011-2012.
Councillor D Hopkin took the Chair.
2/LLP ELECTION OF VICE CHAIR
It was proposed by Councillor D Bowater and seconded by Councillor B Spurr that Councillor S Cotter be elected Vice Chair of the Partnership Committee for the forthcoming year.
RESOLVED that Councillor S Cotter be elected Vice Chair of the Partnership Committee for 2011-2012.
3/LLP APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
No apologies for absence had been received.
4/LLP DECLARATION OF INTERESTS
Members were asked to declare any interests, including the nature of those interests, which they had in any of the items under consideration at this meeting. No declarations were made.
5/LLP PUBLIC QUESTIONS
A question was asked, on behalf of the National Federation of Market Traders, as to whether the Partnership Committee intended to actively help the Town Council to take over the running of the Leighton-Linslade street market after the existing contract with Wendy Fairs expired in 2012.
The Chair confirmed that this was the intention of the Committee and that a meeting had been set up to discuss this matter on 24 June 2011.
Representatives of the I♥LB Group asked the Committee whether it would be possible to organise a footfall count to measure the health of the town centre, as the last one had been conducted in 2007/2008 by South Bedfordshire District Council. It was also asked whether a survey of local businesses could be undertaken to assess their current position and identify areas of difficulty.
The Group was advised that Central Bedfordshire Council had undertaken a survey of 250-300 businesses across the region in 2010 and would shortly be undertaking a similar survey in 2011. Officers agreed to look further into the question of a footfall count and to bring a report to a future Committee meeting.
The Committee was asked to consider provision of further signage within the town centre and particularly at the entrances to Peacock Mews and Ryland Mews. The Group was advised that Central Bedfordshire Highways were currently undertaking a survey of signage within the town to identify any areas for improvement.
6/LLP TOWN CENTRE DEVELOPMENT BRIEFS
The Committee was advised that a report was due to be published within the next few weeks, following the public consultation held earlier this year, on possible options for land South of the High Street and at Bridge Meadow in the town centre. It was anticipated that further consultation on preferred options for the sites would take place in the autumn.
RESOLVED to note the information.
7/LLP BIG PLAN II
The Committee received a verbal update regarding Big Plan II, which was officially launched in April 2011. The document would be distributed throughout the town within the next few weeks, with copies provided to local schools, GP and dental surgeries, the library and other locations. Feedback received to date had been very positive.
The Committee was asked to consider prioritising projects, including a top 5 or 10, and that a revised Action Plan was required.
RESOLVED to note the report.
8/LLP BUDGET
The Committee received a report detailing the 2011-2012 Town Council budget which included £20,000 for Big Plan Projects and £37,000 for Town Centres Management. In addition, reserves of £67,791 had been brought forward from 2010-2011.
The Committee also received a detailed listing of expenditure in 2010-2011 from the Big Plan budget.
RESOLVED to note the information.
The Committee was advised that in addition to the above, the amount of £15,000 had been ring fenced by Central Bedfordshire Council for town centre projects, from the previous Town Centres Management Committee. The Committee was asked to consider putting this funding towards the creation of a children’s literature trail, which would focus heavily on the connection with The Borrowers. The Arts team at Central Bedfordshire Council had approached the Norton family regarding this matter and gained their support, in principle, for the project. Further funding would be obtained from various sources. The project would be fully managed by Central Bedfordshire Council and a Commissioning Panel would be established.
RESOLVED to support Central Bedfordshire Council’s intention to develop a children’s literature trail within Leighton-Linslade and that Councillors A Brandham and J M Freeman sit on the Commissioning Panel.
9/LLP COMMITTEE STRATEGY
Within its objectives, the Committee was asked to consider setting a broad direction and a four-year strategy.
It was suggested that the Chair and Vice Chair of the Partnership Committee, together with the Chair and Vice Chair of the Town Council’s Policy and Finance Committee, meet with Town Council Officers to bring forward a plan to a future meeting.
RESOLVED to produce draft a strategy and work plan for discussion at a future meeting of the Partnership Committee.
10/LLP COMMITTEE COMPOSITION
In accordance with the Terms of Reference, the Committee was asked to consider representation by local interest groups to attend future meetings as non-voting members. Members discussed options but it was agreed that further consideration needed to be given to the subject. Concerns were raised that the next Committee meeting was not until September 2011 and Members agreed that an additional meeting to discuss representation by local groups and Committee strategy would be useful.
RESOLVED to schedule an additional meeting of the Partnership Committee for Monday, 18 July 2011 at 1930 hours.
11/LLP CHRISTMAS LIGHTS
The Committee was advised that the Town Council would be inviting potential suppliers to tender for the Christmas lighting contract. Sealed bids would be opened on Monday 25 July 2011 by the Town Clerk and the Chairs of the Partnership Committee and the Policy and Finance Committee.
Committee members discussed the importance of the Christmas lights to attract shoppers into the town centre. Service and maintenance was a crucial factor in the contract, to ensure prompt repairs were undertaken when required. It was suggested that a four-year contract would perhaps fit better with the term of the Council, rather than a three-year contract.
RECOMMENDED to enter into a four-year contract term for the Christmas street lighting.
RECOMMENDED to the Town Council not to enhance the current Town Council budget for Christmas street lighting but to consider additions to the Christmas lighting, if and when required.
12/LLP BUS SHELTER MAINTENANCE
The Committee was asked to consider the contract for bus shelter maintenance from August 2011, to cover 19 locations at a cost of £9,000 for the year. This was higher than the allocated budget of £4,100 per year as the Town Council had previously been undercharged. Negotiations were taking place with the Southern Leighton Buzzard Steering Group regarding possibly contributing to the bus shelter costs, however, the Town Council allocated budget would need to be increased to cover the cost of the contract.
RECOMMENDED to the Town Council to approve the increase in allocated budget for 2011-2012 for bus shelter cleaning and maintenance to £9,000.
13/LLP PLANTING FEATURE
The Committee was asked to consider funding the manufacture/installation of a “wow” planting feature for the town. This would take the form of a cut-out train with two wagons, to be placed on land adjacent to the corner of Grovebury Road and Billington Road, at an estimated cost of £3,500.
This had originally been intended as a feature for the Anglia in Bloom campaign but would now not be ready until after this year’s judging. It was, therefore, suggested to fund the feature from the Big Plan Projects budget. Further features relating to the local sand and the Grand Union Canal were possibilities in future, to tie in with the tourist attractions of the town.
RECOMMENDED to the Town Council to approve the purchase of a train planting feature from the Big Plan Projects budget.
The meeting closed at 2048 hours.
I HEREBY CONFIRM THAT THE FOREGOING IS A TRUE AND ACCURATE RECORD OF THE MEETING HELD ON 13 JUNE 2011.
Chair 18 JULY 2011