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Councillor Scott-Boutell attended and, with the permission of the Chairman, addressed the Panel to welcome the review of the Panel’s work from the preceding municipal year, and highlight the important benefits of partnership working.
Councillor Scott-Boutell welcomed continued Council support for dog events but also advocated the Council holding dog socialisation walks and events. This would make it easier for owners to identify problems and advice on how to rectify them.
An update on the multi-agency approach to enforcing Public Space Protection Orders (PSPOs) was requested. Clarification was asked for as to whether enforcement patrols were only in operation for the Rugby Club PSPO, of across the Borough-wide PSPO. The need for partnership work and a shared policy or strategy for responsible dog ownership was stressed by Councillor Scott-Boutell. The Panel noted that the Rugby Club PSPO would need to be extended until the Club moves, and the view expressed that the Borough-wide PSPO regarding dog walking and fouling would need to be better advertised and enforced, so that enforcement could focus on the minority who transgressed the Order. Mandy Jones, Assistant Director for Place and Client Services, agreed to check on the enforcement operations for the PSPOs.
Officers were asked to confirm whether a response had been received to Cabinet’s letter regarding cycleway preferences to Councillor Kevin Bentley, Cabinet Member for Infrastructure at Essex County Council.
Cllr Scott-Boutell further noted the current lack of support for Youth Zones by the County Council and asked for answers as to why the County Council was not supportive. Councillor Jowers informed the Panel that he had asked members of the County Council’s Cabinet about the Youth Zone. He had been told that existing Youth Zones were in financial difficulties, leading to the County Council’s current unwillingness to support a new Zone in Colchester. Councillor Mark Cory, Leader of the Council, thanked Councillor Jowers for raising this at County level and noted that the financial difficulties had only been caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, however the business model was sound. Some central government funding had been provided to Youth Zones and the need to support young people still remained. The Panel noted the impact that a Youth Zone would have on the Council’s revenue budget, especially given that this was a project for a service that was not in the responsibility of the Council.
Questions were asked regarding the Vision document for the River Colne and when this would return to the Panel for consideration. It was explained that the Vision was not yet drafted and was not ready to be considered. The project brief was within the meeting agenda, as this had been drafted prior to the disruption caused by Covid-19. Some members expressed concern that the project brief lacked ambition and requested clarity as to whether the brief covered only the Colne River or the whole Colne Valley, whether Braintree District Council and other potential partners (such as parish councils and the Local Enterprise Partnership) had been approached to participate. The opinion was given that wider partnerships are needed with different organisations in order to capture points from and for different demographics. Panel members noted that there were still officers and elected members within the Council who had been involved with the original Colne Partnership and it was queried whether those individuals could meet with the appointed consultants to explore what could be improved or added to the Vision. Officers confirmed that the Colne Vision brief would be reassessed in light of any changes to the Strategic Plan Action Plan, so further amendments and improvements were possible. An offer was made to work with local councillors and communities on this. One member posited that the River Vision project could potentially leverage additional funding and that options should be explored to attempt to make it self-funding.
It was stressed that making improvements to the Colne Valley would be well supported and would assist in efforts to recover from the effects of the Covid-19 situation. One Panel Member requested that the Vision talk of conservation and enhancement of the Valley, rather than just protection. It was queried whether the project briefing was finalised or could be amended. Mandy Jones, Assistant Director for Place and Client Services, explained that the critical issue is that much of the work coming from the Panel’s recommendations, such as the Colne Vision Document, was currently on hold until the full financial effects of the Covid-19 crisis and the necessary changes to the Strategic Plan Action Plan could be identified.
Regarding the cycle storage provisions, the Panel were informed that a preferred supplier had now been chosen.
A request was made that a commitment be made to proceed with project work as and when possible, especially given the positive effects expected from them. Councillor Cory, Leader of the Council, agreed and gave assurance that the recovery plans would look to take forward these projects if it were possible and if they further the new strategic priorities. It may become necessary to focus on a smaller number of the projects which would be of greatest benefit to the Borough.
A Panel member asked why recommendations made by the Panel in March had not been included in this report. It was explained that these had yet to be considered by Cabinet but would come to Cabinet on 8 July 2020.
The Panel discussed County Council funding put into works in Colchester Borough. It was noted that differentiation should be made between funding on the County Council’s statutory responsibilities and it’s spending on non-statutory projects.
RESOLVED that the Panel noted the actions reported.