To receive any details of Members nominated to attend the meeting in place of a Member of the Committee.

Ms. B. Heavens substituted for Mr. G. Jones (Tourism Sector).

To receive apologies for absence.

Apologies were received from Councillors G.V. Hyde, Councillor A.L. Williams, Mr. P. Collins, Mr. A. Curless, Ms. C. Jones and Mr. G. Jones.

To receive any declarations of interest by Members in respect of items on the Agenda.

Councillor A.C.R. Chappell declared a personal interest in item 5 as a Friend of the Courtyard and in item 7 as a Director of Community First.  Councillors Mrs. J.P. French and R.V. Stockton declared personal interests in item 5 as Trustees of the Courtyard appointed by the Council.  Councillor R.M. Wilson declared a personal interest as a Friend of the Courtyard.  Mrs. E. Newman declared a prejudicial interest in item 7 as Vice-Chairman of Herefordshire Association of Local Councils and left the meeting during discussion on that item.

To approve and sign the Minutes of the meeting held on 3rd December 2004.

In relation to minute number 32 – Youth Service Key Performance Indicators – the Director of Policy and Community clarified that the Government Green Paper concerning the Youth Service and arrangements for Connexions centres, including their future development, was now expected to be published on 12th February 2005.

RESOLVED:  THAT the minutes for the meeting held on 3rd December 2004, be approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

To consider the findings of the Courtyard Review Group following the review of The Courtyard Centre for the Arts.

The Committee considered the findings of the Courtyard Review Group following their review of The Courtyard Centre for the Arts.

The Chairman reminded Members that the Review Group had been established, and its Scoping Statement including terms of reference, had been approved at the Committee’s meeting on 24th September 2004.  He thanked the Review Group and its lead officer Gareth Jones, Principal Economic Investment and Development Officer for undertaking the Review.

The Chairman explained to Members that after the Review Group presented its report and its recommendations, if approved, the report would then be passed onto Cabinet for consideration.

Councillor J. Stone, Chairman of the Courtyard Review Group, began by thanking all Members and officers involved in the review.  Councillor Stone also thanked all the people who had provided comments, completed questionnaires and attended the Review Group’s public meeting.  Finally, he thanked Mr. Martyn Green, Chief Executive of The Courtyard, and his staff for the hospitality and openness provided to the Review Group during the course of the review.

Councillor Stone opened his presentation of the Review Group’s report by informing the Committee that the review’s recommendations were to be seen as a useful step in the development of the Courtyard.  He commented that the general public perception was that the Courtyard was solely a theatre when in fact it fulfilled a much broader role as a centre for the arts.

Councillor Stone informed the Committee that there had been a significant improvement in the financial situation at the Courtyard since the new board had been appointed circa 2003.  The Review Group applauded this achievement and their final report suggested several ways in which it could generate additional income.  He highlighted the commitment the Courtyard had made in engaging young and older people to take part in activities which in turn contributed to the Council’s Lifelong Learning objectives.

Councillor Stone referred to the Commissioning Agreement.  The Review Group welcomed the proposal for a new agreement which would incorporate specific targets and monitoring provisions.

Mr. Jones took the Committee through the Review Groups report.  The following principle points were raised during his presentation:

1.      Mr. Jones thanked Dorothy Wilson, Chair of Arts Council West Midlands (ACWM) and Chief Executive of the Midlands Arts Centre, for acting as the Review Groups expert advisor.

2.      Part 2, The Committee were informed that the Review Group had visited the Ludlow Assembly Rooms (LAR) to see how another arts centre functioned in a rural area. Whilst appreciating that the LAR was not a true benchmark for the Courtyard the Group had considered it desirable to visit another arts centre to provide some basis for comparison.

3.      Part 2, Public consultation had been highly successful with 70% of invited consultees responding.  Most of the comments received were positive comments on the benefits the Courtyard provided.  Examples of comments received had been included at Annex 3 to the report.

4.      Part 2, Members were told of the highly successful interview day.  Seven interviews had taken place at  ...  view the full minutes text for item 44.

To present an oral report following the open meeting on 26th January, 2005, held to hear the views of key organisations and individuals about the possible pedestrianisation of Widemarsh Street.

The Committee were informed of the successful open meeting held on 26th January 2005 to hear the views of key organisations and individuals about the possible pedestrianisation of Widemarsh Street.

The Director of Policy and Community informed Members that a report of the meeting plus recommendations would be produced and presented to the Committee and the Environment Scrutiny Committee in due course.  The meeting had been well attended by members of the public and a full and frank discussion of the issues involved in and the implications of pedestrianisation had taken place.  She highlighted the following principle points had been raised at the public meeting:

·         There had been support for some form of pedestrianisation along Widemarsh Street into Eign Gate.  However, there were concerns about how this would impact on traders and traffic in Broad Street, King Street and Berrington Street.

·         Pedestrianisation would be good for shoppers visiting Hereford especially those with small children.

·         Taxi drivers were concerned about disadvantaged shoppers not being able to access shops and the location of a new rank should be in close proximity to the city centre.

·         There were concerns about the impact of pedestrianisation on the overall road network in Hereford.

·         Disability Access Groups were supportive of pedestrianisation but were concerned about the installation of inappropriate street furniture.

·         Proposals that provision for cyclists should be incorporated into the wider plans.

·         Pay-on-exit meters were discussed and the cost implications noted.

·         Park and Ride schemes were discussed.

The Committee voiced their concerns about the impact of pedestrianisation on the overall road network around Hereford and suggested that improvements should be made to the existing road network before pedestrianisation went ahead.  This would avoid exacerbating the already congested network.

Councillor R.M. Wilson (Cabinet Member – Highways and Transportation) commented that as the expected problems with congestion during the Transco works had not materialised the Council was proposing to experiment with a pedestrianised scheme during the redevelopment of Eign Gate during the summer.  This would ensure that relevant data was collected and analysed to inform any decision on the proposal to implement a permanent pedestrianised scheme.

RESOLVED: THAT the report on the open meeting concerning the possible pedestrianisation of Widemarsh Street be noted.

To note the position in relation to the review of support to the voluntary sector.

The Committee were informed of the recommendations of the Strategic Monitoring Committee, on 12th January 2005, after the review of support to the voluntary sector, details of which can be found in Appendix 1 to the report.

RESOLVED:  THAT the position be noted.