The Director of Policy and Community to report on the Social and Economic Development Scrutiny Committee held 14th January, 2004 relating to the economic impact of recent events in Hereford City and update the Committee on a report to Cabinet Members.

The Committee considered the issues that had emerged from the special meeting of the Committee held in Maylord Orchards Meeting Room, Hereford, on 14th January, 2004.

The Head of Community and Economic Development reported that the meeting on the 14th January, 2004, the minutes of which had been approved earlier in the meeting, had provided an opportunity for nominated business representatives to give evidence and contribute to debate on the economic impacts of recent events and to make suggestions about initiatives to improve the situation.

A useful and constructive debate had taken place at the meeting where the following key issues had emerged:

·         The importance of local management in addressing recent crises such as Foot and Mouth and the Legionnella outbreak was noted.  The special meeting agreed that such local management was essential if such outbreaks were to be effectively tackled.

·         The need for the public, private and voluntary sectors in the City to work in a more co-ordinated fashion to promote the County and City as a shopping and visitor location.

·         The need to provide additional capacity/resource to the Hereford City Partnership to enable it to properly fulfil such a co-ordination role in the City Centre.

·         The need to review the range/impact of activity in and around High Town such as Street Trading, Farmers Markets and Fair rides.

·         The importance of the success of the wider economy of the City in driving up income levels, which would support expenditure in the City Centre.  In particular the essential requirement for a Rotherwas Access Road to ensure the competitiveness of the large number of businesses on Rotherwas Industrial Estate.

The Committee recorded their appreciation to Mr Tector, Head of Environmental Health and Trading Standards, and his staff for their work during the outbreak of Legionnaires disease.

The Committee discussed the need to attract customers, particularly young professionals, to shop in the City.  The need for a City Centre Manager to co-ordinate ideas and initiatives, particularly from the small retailer, was noted.

In response to comments regarding the need for improvements to the parking and transport infrastructure, the Head of Community and Economic Development reported that the Cabinet Member (Economic Development, Markets and Property) would be meeting with the City Centre Partnership to explore possible improvements.

The Committee questioned the links between Advantage West Midlands (AWM) and the Council and were informed that, depending on the project, regular meetings took place at various senior officer levels.

The Chairman suggested that the Committee revisit this issue at an appropriate time (6 to 9 months) to review any improvements or developments.

The Director of Policy and Community reported that the issues raised related to the portfolios of a number of Cabinet Members and she therefore recommended that the report, which had been previously circulated to the Committee, be referred to them for consideration.

RESOLVED: That

(a)    the report be noted and that it be referred for consideration by the Cabinet Members for:

·         Economic Development, Markets and Property;

·         Community and Social Development;

·         Environment;

·         Highways and Transportation; and

·         Rural Regeneration and Smallholdings.

(b)    this issue be reviewed at an appropriate future meeting.