Meeting Details

Meeting Summary
Trading Board
15 Nov 2017 - 18:00 to 21:00
Occurred
  • Documents
  • Attendance
  • Visitors
  • Declarations of Interests

Documents

Agenda

Part A
1 Welcome and Announcements
The Chair will welcome members of the public and Councillors and remind everyone to use microphones at all times when they are speaking. The Chair will also explain action in the event of an emergency, mobile phones switched to silent, audio-recording of the meeting. Councillors who are members of the committee will introduce themselves.
2 Substitutions
Councillors will be asked to say if they are attending on behalf of a Committee member who is absent.
3 Urgent Items
The Chair will announce if there is any item not on the published agenda which will be considered because it is urgent and will explain the reason for the urgency.
4 Declarations of Interest
Councillors will be asked to say if there are any items on the agenda about which they have a disclosable pecuniary interest which would prevent them from participating in any discussion of the item or participating in any vote upon the item, or any other pecuniary interest or non-pecuniary interest.
5 Minutes of Previous Meeting
The Councillors will be invited to confirm that the minutes are a correct record of the meeting held on 2 August 2017.
170
RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting held on 2 August 2017 be confirmed as a correct record.
6 Have Your Say!
The Chair will invite members of the public to indicate if they wish to speak or present a petition on any item included on the agenda or any other matter relating to the terms of reference of the meeting. Please indicate your wish to speak at this point if your name has not been noted by Council staff.
The Board will consider the report on period 6 of Colchester Commercial Holdings Ltd and Colchester Amphora Trading
171
The Board considered a report from Colchester Commercial Holdings Ltd Colchester Amphora Trading reporting on the activity within each of the trading services for the half year 2017/18.  Graham Lewis, Senior Commercial Manager, presented the report to the Board.

In respect of the Sport and Leisure service, it was reported that the opening of the Activa Gym had improved the financial position and that it was anticipated that it would continue to improve through future periods 7 and 8.  The launch of the Activa gym had seen a surge in Lifestyle memberships and these were now at their highest ever level.  In addition, Christmas and New Year promotions were being heavily marketed and the service was pushing to increase the usage at Highwoods and Tiptree.  A review of the activities across wetside and dryside at Leisure World was also underway, with a view to optimising usage. 

Colchester Events Company was on course to meet its target outturn by year end. New Homes Bonus funding had been secured for improvements to Charter Hall which would make it a more attractive facility both for customers and agents and artists and help it secure more prestigious bookings. An Ice Slider has been booked and will be located in the Castle Bailey over the Christmas period. Over £10000 of tickets had already been sold. Feedback was provided on the Doomsday/Gloomsday event.  Whilst the former had been a success, there had been some issues with the quality of the delivery of the Gloomsday event.  Further consideration was being given as to what lessons needed to be learnt and whether or not the event should be run again next year.  The Oktoberfest event had been very well attended with over 5000 visitors and feedback has been overwhelmingly positive. however, 15 complaints about noise and antisocial behaviour were received from residents neighbouring the park.  

Helpline was currently struggling in terms of income and management of costs. A plan was now in place aimed at reducing costs whilst maintaining services.   It was anticipated that following consultation with staff, a new rota system and management arrangements would be in place in early 2018.  In respect of the Town Centre Digital, a six month break point meeting had been held and concerns had been expressed to County Broadband about the service delivered and options were being considered. 

In discussion, members of the Boards queried whether the improvements to Charter Hall would include improvements to the hearing loop system. It was reported that a full evaluation of the hearing loop system had been undertaken and it worked as well it could.  It worked better in certain areas of Charter Hall but it was not possible for it to cover all areas and seating for those with hearing impairments would need to be located in those areas which were covered.

In response to queries from members, it was explained that wedding packages had exceeded their income targets.  The presence of the Community Wedding Room at the Town Hall had generated significantly more interest in Town Hall weddings more generally, and effectively acted as free advertising. There had been excellent feedback from a number of customers about the quality of the service, and the weddings element was growing quicker than other areas of the Events business. The castle was being promoted as a unique venue for weddings. Secondary spend was also increasing.  Further statistical information about growth in the numbers of weddings would be forwarded to members of the Board.

Colchester Events also generated income through the hire of facilities for corporate events and receptions.  A number of corporate Christmas parties were booked for the Town Hall through December.  Some corporate events were held at the Castle but this was slightly more difficult to market in view of its size and the public opening hours. 

Helpline’s service was also commended by members of the Board.  Whilst the issues with the financial performance of the service were noted, it was more important that the service continued to provide a vital service to vulnerable residents. 

RESOLVED that the contents of the report be noted.
 
8 Exclusion of the Public (not Scrutiny or Executive)
In accordance with Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972 to exclude the public, including the press, from the meeting so that any items containing exempt information (for example confidential personal, financial or legal advice), in Part B of this agenda (printed on yellow paper) can be decided. (Exempt information is defined in Section 100I and Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972).
Part B
The Board will consider whether to approve the not for publication extract from the minutes of the meeting held on 2 August 2017.
  1. Agenda item 9 - 02-08-17 -not for publication extract
    • This report is not for publication by virtue of paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972 (financial / business affairs of a particular person, including the authority holding information).
172

The Board resolved under Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972 to exclude the public from the meeting for the following item as it involved the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972.

RESOLVED that the not for publication extract from the minutes of the meeting held on 2 August 2017 be confirmed as a correct record.

The Board will consider the financial information relating to Colchester Commercial Holdings Ltd Period 6
  1. Agenda item 10 - Colchester Commercial (Holdings) Limited Period 6 2017-2018
    • This report is not for publication by virtue of paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972 (financial / business affairs of a particular person, including the authority holding information).
173
The Board resolved under Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972 to exclude the public from the meeting for the following item as it involved the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972.

This minute is not for publication by virtue of paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972 (Information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information)). 
 

Additional Meeting Documents

  1. 15-11-17 -not for publication extract
    • This report is not for publication by virtue of paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972 (financial / business affairs of a particular person, including the authority holding information).

Attendance

Attended - Other Members
Name
No other member attendance information has been recorded for the meeting.
Apologies
NameReason for Sending ApologySubstituted By
Councillor Kevin Bentley  
Councillor Robert Davidson  
Absent
NameReason for AbsenceSubstituted By
No absentee information has been recorded for the meeting.

Declarations of Interests

Member NameItem Ref.DetailsNature of DeclarationAction
No declarations of interest have been entered for this meeting.

Visitors

Also in attendance: Councillors Feltham and Smith