To receive apologies for absence.

Apologies were received from Cllr Diana Edwards, Peter Hibberd, Strategic Director and Marie Rosenthal, Solicitor to the Council.

To confirm the minutes of the meeting held on 11 March 2010.

The minutes of the meeting held on 11 March 2010 were confirmed and signed as an accurate record.

The chairman to identify any items of urgent business.

The chairman identified no items of urgent business on this occasion.

To receive any declarations of interest in any matter to be discussed at the meeting.  Members and officers are requested to identify the nature of the interest and indicate whether it is personal or prejudicial.

Cllr Robinson declared a personal interest in items 7, 8 and 9 as a board member of the South West Regional Development Agency.

To consider questions from members of the public in accordance with the Protocol for Public Questions at Cabinet Meetings.

Question 1

The following question was received from Dr Daphne Pearson

Following the recent meeting with BT and the discussion on wider and faster broadband provision for the Forest of Dean, what action does the Council propose to take in order to progress what is an essential amenity to attract business to the area?

Response from Councillor Patrick Molyneux, Cabinet Member for Economic Regeneration

This Council, as you will be aware, has signed up to a partnership accord with the Forest Federation of Small Business - who hosted and organised the event on Broadband in Bream last week.

We support the aspirations of businesses in the Forest to have access to faster and more reliable broadband, and have played, and will continue to play, an integral part in the lobbying for additional support from BT, Regional and National organisations for improvements to the broadband networks throughout the District.

The outcome of the event last week was for us all to understand the options available and some possible means to achieving these improvements.

It is not possible for this Council to single-handedly address the solutions, but I can give an assurance that this Council will continue to work with the Federation of Small Business, and other interests in the Forest to facilitate and evaluate the options and work hard to seek early solutions.

Supplementary question

May I suggest that the Council takes a pro-active stance here by upgrading their own network infrastructure at both council offices and libraries in conjunction with GCC and then allowing local business to piggy-back on this network structure – something new EU rules are now encouraging the public sector to do? Then suitable council-owned buildings and land at high points in the area can be used as the basis for a radio-based community network bypassing the BT infrastructure and its associated limitations. This could be of use to both residents and businesses. If there is already a high-speed link at the old Xerox plant in Mitcheldean then businesses on that campus could enjoy the high-speed connections. The council could then provide 21st century support to business by including, for example, high definition video-conferencing utilising the high-speed link. This makes local business more competitive by reducing the effect of a rural existence while saving CO2 through removing the need for frequent travel.

Response from Cllr Molyneux

He thanked Dr Pearson for her comments and suggestion and would ask officers to explore them further. She had been right in saying there was no simple solution to what was a serious problem in the district. He asserted that the Council, individuals and groups needed to get together as a community to formulate a plan, using all appropriate channels to achieve a local solution. He informed the meeting that the matter would also be considered by the Community Scrutiny and Review Committee on Thursday 15 April.

Cllr Amos added that it would be vital to get community involvement, but that in its role of community leader, it was up to  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.

To consider the attached copy of the cabinet forward plan and to note any changes.

The Cabinet noted the forward plan, making no changes.

Councillor Patrick Molyneux, Cabinet Member for Economic Regeneration, to give an update on the Newent Town Centre Regeneration Project. Please refer to report EDP.25.

Cllr Molyneux presented report EDP.25, commenting that the plan was revised in the light of less funding from the Regional Development Agency.

He explained for Cllr Riley how the figures in the table at Paragraph 3 related to the financial implications.

The Cabinet noted the report.

Councillor Patrick Molyneux, Cabinet Member for Economic Regeneration, to give an update on the council’s EconomicDevelopment Strategy, Market Towns Strategy and Tourism Marketing Strategy, as approved by cabinet on 12 November 2009. Councillor Molyneux to present report EDP.26, detailing comments from the recent consultation process.

Cllr Molyneux presented report EDP.26, explaining that there had been full consultation since the Cabinet had first considered the report in November. Responses had been incorporated into the report, but had not necessitated any changes to the strategy.

Cllr Riley referred to pages 31 and 42, which highlighted the importance of events and festivals. He reminded members that the proposed policing fee had prevented the Coleford music festival from taking place. He expressed his disappointment that the Police as one of the community partners wanted to charge such a high fee.

Cllr Molyneux said that he and the Strategic Director had worked with the parties involved but had been unable to influence matters, and the organisers decided to cancel the event. It was important to have events in the district and he would be looking closely at the issue. It was not right for events to be called off because of policing costs.

Cllr Shenoi asked how the Council supported local businesses, given their importance to the district.

The Group Manager for Sustainable Development replied that over the past two years central government had been working to streamline advice and support for business. It was now difficult for local authorities to fund support directly, as funding was being directed to such bodies as Gloucestershire First and Business Link. In the past year the Council has recognised the importance of doing whatever it could, working closely with the Federation of Small Businesses. During the recession, the Council agreed to pay all bills due to local suppliers within ten days and had been broadly hitting that target. The Council was now assuming the role of facilitator in bringing together all parties to support business.

Cllr Amos suggested that the recommendation in the report be amended to reflect the inclusion of consultation responses made since the report was considered in November 2009.

RESOLVED – to approve the Economic Development Strategy, the Market Towns Strategy and the Tourism Marketing Strategy attached to report EDP.26

Councillor Venk Shenoi, Cabinet Member for Planning and Housing, to present report PH.21. Cabinet to consider the final draft of the Council’s Supplementary Planning Document on Affordable Housing.

Cllr Shenoi presented report PH.21, commenting that it was a template for negotiations with developers to achieve the desired quota of affordable homes for the district. The purpose was also to remove any ambiguity from the Council’s document. The document had been formulated over two years and included recent consultation.

Cllr Amos informed Cllr Stephens that any questions should be addressed to the relevant Cabinet member after the meeting.

RESOLVED – to adopt the Supplementary Planning Document on Affordable Housing.

6 May 2010

Should a parliamentary election be held on this day, the meeting will be adjourned until the following week and take place at 5.30 pm on Wednesday 12 May 2010.

Thursday 10 June 2010 at 5.30pm.