Meeting documents

AVDC Economy Scrutiny Committee
Wednesday, 26th May, 2004

Document: 2004-05-26 ECONOMY SCRUTINY COMMITTEE
 

PRESENT: Councillor D Rowlands (Chairman);  Councillors Mrs Butler (in place of Stuart), E Griffin, M Griffin, Hughes, Khaliq, Ralph, Smith and Wigley.
 

APOLOGIES:  Councillors Cadd, Patrick and Stuart.
 

1.

MINUTES
 

RESOLVED -
 

That the Minutes of 12th May, 2004 be approved as a correct record.
 

2.

OVERVIEW PRESENTATION
 

A presentation was given by the Chief Executive which outlined the context to the economy as one of the Council's Key Aims and the associated outcomes.
 

A copy of the slide presentation is attached to these Minutes as Appendix A.
 

The presentation not only looked at the key issues regarding our economy but also the longer term economic development strategy for the Vale and how the scrutiny role could play its part in shaping the future economic development.
 

It was reported that along with the projected growth of the Vale there were clear outcomes that needed to be achieved so that the Vision of the Vale could become a reality.
 

Weaknesses that future economic development needed to address, included:-
 

·

Aylesbury did not have any definable identity or profile.
 

·

Employment space had not been updated and had become neither low cost starter premises nor high class corporate premises.
 

·

Aylesbury Town Centre was in need of redevelopment to halt the current level of retail leakage and to increase the levels of quality office space.
 

·

Out-commuting; at present 17,200 workers left the Vale daily to work elsewhere.
 

·

Existing companies had lower levels of productivity compared to other parts of the region.
 

Although these weaknesses had been identified, the area had many strengths that would need to be exploited if the Economic Development Strategy was to be delivered.
 

The presentation identified six areas of action and Members of the Scrutiny Committee were asked for comments as to how they could be achieved.
 

Members endorsed the findings shown and agreed that the Vale had not developed at the same pace as the rest of the south-eastern region, due, in part, to an absence of long term planning.
 

Road links had not been developed, schools had been closed and hospital facilities had not yet taken account of the projected 59,000 extra homes that would be built in the area over the next 30 years.
 

Members agreed that in order to compete with surrounding towns the mistakes of the past needed to be identified and applied to future thinking.
 

RESOLVED –
 

(1)

That the presentation be noted.
 

(2)

That the Scrutiny Committee:
 

·

Assists with developing the understanding of the future skills issues.
 

·

Reviews progress against the Economic Development Action Plan.
 

·

Focuses initially on Tourism and Promotion of the Vale as a discussion topic.
 

3.

TOURISM AND ITS CONTRIBUTION TO THE ECONOMY – STAGE 1
 

Members received a presentation from Ian Barham, AVDC's Cultural Team Manager that showed why tourism is important to our local economy and the role that AVDC plays in the development of this business sector.
 

A copy of the presentation is attached to these Minutes as Appendix B.
 

Members heard that the key elements of tourism were:
 

·

It employed 8% of the workforce in the South East Region.
 

·

It was worth an estimated £86M to the economy of Aylesbury Vale.
 

·

Hotel occupancy rates for the area were higher than those of the region as a whole.
 

·

The area had numerous National Trust Houses, Silverstone Race Circuit, many areas of woodland and a good leisure facilities such as the Aqua Vale which all contributed to tourism and its economy.
 

AVDC currently assisted with marketing and promotion of guides, publications, exhibitions and website development, as well as managing Tourist Information Centres, co-ordinating training and ensuring quality standards.
 

Various projects were currently in hand within the Leisure Department to develop, encourage and promote tourism.
 

After discussion, it was
 

RESOLVED –
 

That the 3 stage review should explore in particular:-
 

(1)

the means by which the Council might stimulate the growth of accommodation and conference facilities throughout the Vale;
 

(2)

the role of the evening economy.
 

4.

WORK PROGRAMME 2004/05
 

RESOLVED –
 

That the Committee's Work Programme for 2004/05 as shown on the attached