To consider the findings arising from the Task & Finish Group – ‘Tourist and Temporary Event Signage Review’ and to recommend the report to the Executive for consideration.

(Councillor Brig P Jones CBE, declared a Personal interest by virtue of being a Trustee/Director of Leominster Tourist Association.)

The Committee considered the findings arising from the Task and Finish Group –Tourist and Temporary Event Signage Review and whether to recommend the report to the Executive for consideration.

Councillor R Preece, Chairman of the Task and Finish Group, presented the report.

In discussion the following principal points were made:

·         It was noted that the report supported the use of symbols on signs and it was agreed to check whether there was a village hall symbol.

·         The recommendation stressing the importance of the prompt removal of signs once they were no longer required was welcomed.

It was questioned why the report was recommending further review of various aspects rather than itself having reviewed the issues and proposed new policy solutions in accordance with the original scoping of the project.

The Leader of the Council commented that the operation of the Task and Finish Groups needed to be reviewed in the light of the first round of reviews to reappraise their role in policy development.

It was generally recognised that Members needed to be equipped with the necessary skills to carry out their role and that there was a consistency of approach to the policy development role.  This was something that would be discussed further at the Committee’s forthcoming workshop.

It was suggested that there needed to be some flexibility in the management of signage especially given the current economic climate.  The scope to charge for a licence to display signs and an appropriate enforcement regime needed to be considered.

RESOLVED:

That    (a)        the Committee agreed the findings and recommendations contained in the report of the Task & Finish Group – Tourist and Temporary Event Signage Review and to forward the report to the Executive for consideration; and

(b)                          the Executive’s response to the Review including an action plan be reported to the first available meeting of the Committee after the Executive has approved its response.