Issue - meetings

The Leader announced that he intended to keep the Chamber updated on progress being made and requested that Members advise him of any matters on which they would wish to be updated under ’Leader’s Announcements’ at future meetings of the Council.

(a)    Town Centre Regeneration

         The Leader updated Members on progress including the opening of the new medical centre, developments with regard to the proposed new combined Police and Fire Station and the situation with regard to the proposed Sainsbury’s site.

Negotiations were progressing with a major developer with regard to a site at the northern end of the High Street.

Parkside Side School was being looked at as a potential new Council House site, including accommodation for the Customer Service Centre, some County Council officers and possibly other public sector partners.

Eleven developers had expressed interest in the Recreation Road site which had been shortlisted to three. Their proposals would be examined to establish how well they matched the requirements within the Core Strategy.

High Street – the Leader referred to the Council’s success in securing £1.2m ringfenced grant under the Heritage Lottery Fund for which the  Council would need to submit a detailed submission. £2m had been set aside for improvements to the public realm with work due to begin in early 2012.

Hanover Street Car Park (and George House) – negotiations were progressing with developers.

(b)    Positive Activities for Young People

Having previously reported that the level of funding from the County Council would be reduced from £330,000 to £80,000, the Leader advised that there was no money coming to Bromsgrove from the County Council and that the County would be undertaking further consultation. He gave assurances that Bromsgrove would fight to protect youth services and to ensure that the proposed future Trust arrangements with regard to the Rylands Centre were “done properly”.

In connection with this, the Leader advised that the Local Strategic Partnership (LSP) would not accept the County Council “tasking” the LSP. The LSP worked in partnership with other bodies.

(c)     Scrutiny

The Leader referred to the need to ensure that the Overview and Scrutiny Board focused on the Council not political matters. Political debate was for the Council Chamber.

(d)    Balances/Capital Expenditure

The Leader referred to questions and insinuations being made with regard to the level of funds available and spent between 2003/04 and 2010/11. He was willing to produce a list to show where the money had been spent.

The Chairman announced that she would accept questions arising from the Leader’s announcements.

Councillor P. M. McDonald queried the lack of an update on discussions taking place with regard to potential housing on the Polymer Latex site.

The Leader responded that he had not thought to do so as he had insufficient information and had not been involved in any discussions. It was not a site for housing in the Core Strategy and the Council had not received any proposals.

The Chairman ruled that comments made by Councillor S. P. Shannon did not  ...  view the full minutes text for item 23