Agenda and minutes

RESOLVED:

That Councillor Becker be elected Chairperson and Councillor Gottlieb be elected Vice-Chairperson for the 2020/21 Municipal Year.

To record the names of apologies given.

Apologies for the meeting were noted as above.

To receive any disclosure of interests from Members and Officers in matters to be discussed.

Note: Councillors are reminded of their obligations to declare disclosable pecuniary interests, personal and/or prejudicial interests in accordance with legislation and the Council’s Code of Conduct.

If you require advice, please contact the appropriate Democratic Services Officer, prior to the meeting.

Councillors Hiscock and Tod each declared a non pecuniary interest in relation to items upon the agenda that may had related to their role as a County Councillor.

The Chairperson made the following announcements:

• she thanked the members of the High Street informal group and the officer team for their work on the St Maurice’s Covert project.
• she updated Forum members on the Vision for Winchester project. Work on this project had continued throughout the lockdown period particularly in relation to community engagement and it was hoped that workshops would be launched in September 2020. Following a question from Councillor Scott, it was agreed that contact details for how members of the public who were without online access could take part in the engagement exercise would be circulated.
• at the invitation of the Chairperson, Councillor Weir advised members of the recent successful award of a grant to Winchester Go LD from SSE Energy. Councillor Weir wished to recognise the work of council officers, members of the Town Forum and representatives from Winchester Go LD on achieving this.

17 Sep 2020 6.00 pm

11 Nov 2020 6.00 pm

17 Mar 2021 6.00 pm

28 Jan 2021 6.00 pm

The Forum agreed the following meeting dates and times:

17 Sep 2020 6.00 pm

11 Nov 2020 6.00 pm

28 Jan 2021 6.00 pm

17 Mar 2021 6.00 pm

Minutes of the previous meeting held on 19^th March 2020

RESOLVED:

That the minutes of the previous meeting held on the 19 March 2020 be approved and adopted.

To receive and note the questions asked and statements made from members of the public on issues relating to the responsibility of this Forum.

To reserve your place to speak, you are asked to register with Democratic

Services by 5pm on the 12^th June 2020. Please contact Democratic Services via democracy@winchester.gov.uk or (01962) 848 264 to register to speak and for further details.

Mr Patrick Davies addressed the Forum regarding item 6 “Minutes of the previous meeting held on 19th March 2020” and in particular the minute regarding his contribution to that meeting. Mr Davies raised a number of matters with the Forum regarding the Vision for Winchester project which could be summarised as follows:

• he was unable to locate the consultants presentation on the councils website and felt that there was little information on the project available
• he believed that the onegreatwin website could be improved and be more informative
• he felt that the proposed expenditure connected with the project was not appropriate
• he was concerned that the project outcomes would not feed into the Local Plan work that was already underway
• he asked if the Town Forum informal planning group were taking an overview of the project ensuring that the project remained on track.

In responding, the Chairperson advised that she would follow up with officers as to why the presentation could not be located on the website and if more information could be made available. She also informed that meetings had taken place with the consultants to maintain oversight of the project and it was hoped that at an appropriate time that more face to face consultation would take place. Finally it was planned that the engagement groups would be established in July and that they would begin meeting in September with the potential for a symposium in October. Finally, the Chairperson with Mr Davies’s permission agreed to pass on his contact details to the consultants in order that he could be interviewed as part of the engagement exercise.

(Presentation slides to follow)

The Corporate Head of Engagement provided the Forum with a presentation entitled “Economic Restoration Work & Plans” which had been circulated to members prior to the meeting and was available on the council’s website. The presentation updated the Forum on the key relevant issues such as; Key Dates, Strategic Plans, the Opening of Urban Places, Business Support and Restoring Resident and Visitor Confidence.

Members asked a number of questions and comments were raised which were responded to by officers accordingly. In addition officers agreed to look into several points raised by members. The Forum was advised that an all member briefing would be taking place on the 24^th June where additional information would be provided. Officers were thanked for the presentation.

(Presentation slides to follow)

The Strategic Director: Services provided the Forum with a presentation regarding progress made and the next stages of the Covert project which had been circulated to members prior to the meeting and was available on the council’s website. The presentation described key relevant issues such as; Project Overview, Phase 1 works, Remaining works and budget. In addition a number of “before and after” photographs were shared.

Members asked a number of questions and comments were raised which were responded to by officers accordingly. In addition officers agreed to look into several points raised by members which would be taken forward to the next meeting of the High St informal group.

Report Reference WTF289

(Report WTF289 refers)

The Forum considered the report which set out the draft work programme for the new Municipal Year, 2020/21 and asked Members to consider appointments to a number of informal Groups.

Following discussion, the Forum agreed the work programme as set out on pages 16 and 17 of the agenda pack with the following additions:

·         September 2020 meeting – to include an update on the Vision for Winchester work.

·         November 2020 meeting – to include an interim grants report

·         January 2021 meeting – to include a report from the North Walls Informal group

·         All meetings to contain a standing agenda item for a 15 minute update on key points arising from meetings of the Informal groups.

·         Officers to schedule detailed updates from two informal groups per meeting.

Regarding the Informal groups, the following changes were agreed:

·         Councillor Ferguson to leave the KGV group

·         Councillor Murphy to join the KGV group

·         Councillor Scott to join the High St group

·         Councillor Scott to join the Grants group

·         Councillor Green to join the High St group

RESOLVED:

That the 2020/21 work programme and membership of the Forum’s informal groups as amended be approved.