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MEETING: Barnard Castle Vision Steering Group DATE: 22nd June 2007
VENUE: Dales Room, Enterprise House TIME: 2.00pm
PRESENT:
Deborah Jenkins Chair
Sue Berresford TDC
Andrew Walker DCC
Simon Owens LSP
Bob Ward DCC
Trevor Watson TDC
Pat Graham TDC
Bill Oldfield TM
Shaun Stuart WTEA
Richard Betton TDC
APOLOGIES:
Kirsten Francis ONE
Emma Speight ONE
Yvonne Edwards DCC
Kate Culverhouse LSP
Neil Stokell TDC
John Topliss ONE
Minutes DATE: 22nd June 2007
ACTION
BY:
Members welcomed Bill Oldfield to the meeting who was replacing David Blackie as the
representative of Teesdale Marketing. Members noted their thanks to Councillor Blackie for
the contribution he had made to the progress of the Steering Group.
1. Minutes of the last meeting:
Agreed as a true and accurate record
2. Matters arising:
All targets identified at the previous Steering Group meeting has been met.
It was agreed that from the next Steering Group onwards, a Briefing Strategy
should be produced, clearly stating what information should be released, when
and to whom after each meeting.
It was agreed that a short public briefing should be posted onto the BC Vision
website following each Steering Group meeting.
Declarations of interest should be included as a standard agenda item in future.
Chair's Report / Progress
DJ made an informal presentation to the Steering Group, summarising the progress made
by the Sub Group. A cohesive theme to bind the vision for Barnard Castle was emerging,
based on constellations of activities and developments building on existing skills in the town,
with a particular emphasis on the areas of vocational and applied arts areas. This approach
would incorporate many of the suggestions in the Ekos report, whilst creating a more
coherent and ambitious framework for the Vision as a whole. Group members welcomed
the approach in principle, and it was agreed that DJ would submit an outline paper for
consideration at the next meeting.
Town twinning proposal - Deborah reported that Ruth Robson of the Bowes Museum had
identified the market town of Louveciennes, near Paris, as a potential twinning project.
The town had a chateau previously owned by the founders of the Bowes Museum, and a
number of the characteristics in common with Barnard Castle. DJ mooted the idea that
a small number of towns in other countries with vocational or applied arts specialisms
might be targeted as unofficial `twins' with Barnard Castle if the skills based strategic approach to the Vision were to be adopted. This idea was well received by Steering Group
members.
A press release had been issued on the appointment of an independent Chair.
The Vision platform of the TDC website had been updated with the final version of the Ekos Vision report, and a brief progress report.
Funding had been secured for the post of Assistant to the Vision and administration support, thanks to a willingness by Teesdale Marketing, sanctioned by DCC and
ONE, to vire funding.
The post of Assistant to the Vision had been advertised.
In addition to weekly Sub Group meetings, further meetings had been held to
discuss communications and website; tourism opportunities; interaction with the
Bowes Museum; and the viring of funding from Teesdale Marketing.
Initial proposals for the Single Programme bid had been worked through.
Relationship between strategies affecting Barnard Castle had been established
Minutes DATE: 22nd June 2007
ACTION
BY:
4. Implementation Plan/Bid document
Sue briefed members on the draft plan. It was explained that the current imperative was to
submit a proposal for limited funding under the Single Programme, which could be spent
within the current financial year. It was evident that speed was of the essence, and that
items were likely to be fundable only if they related to capital.
It was agreed that the main priorities for the bid should be:-
To identify which sites within Barnard Castle should be the priority subjects for
feasibility studies. Two of the sites identified in the Ekos report, the auction mart and Newgate garage site have been identified as vunerable to development in the short
term.
To produce studies on lighting and signage to link with castle walkways and
public realm work.
iii. To create a Vision Information Centre in order to present a publicly identifiable face
for the Vision.
To include elements of a Leadership Development programme to ensure the best
possible constellation of skills both internal and external to Barnard Castle.
Wireless Town - BW explained that the Durham wide project was currently in the planning stage, and it was not appropriate for this topic to be included in the current Barnard Castle bid. However, for the next financial year, it might be relevant to suggest a possible pilot in
Barnard Castle looking at entrepreneurial activity in relation to wireless enablement.
Car parking strategy - it was agreed that discussions be held with DCC regarding
traffic/car parking management within the town and the possibility of underground
parking provision. BW agreed to research this.
5. Forward Plan
Andrew presented members with the draft forward plan. The next steps are submission
of bid and business case to Single Programme Secretariat at Durham.
6. Ekos Contract
There was some discussion as to the best approach to finalising the contract with Ekos.
The original contract had specified the preparation of an implementation plan, but in the
light of a shift away from the adoption of all projects specified in the report, some members
felt that it would not be relevant for Ekos to spend time drawing up a detailed plan which
would not be used. However, it was clear that to ensure the proper use of public funds,
the consultants should be asked to present some form of action plan. It was agreed that the best compromise would be to ask Ekos to concentrate on the sites identified within the report as having the greatest potential for development. It was agreed that AW would contact
Ekos to organise closure of this piece of work.
Minutes DATE: 22nd June 2007
ACTION
BY:
7. Report from Retail Distinctiveness Workshop
To be carried forward to the next meeting as no representatives from ONE were in
attendance to present this item.
8. Relationship between Strategies
Shaun requested clarity as to how the Economic LSP group fits in with the Vision group.
It was agreed that the relationship between the groups should be a consultative and information sharing one. On this basis it was agreed that in future, bulletins from GB
Sub-Group meetings be sent to the LSP group.
9. Any Other Business
Meetings - Future meetings to be held every six weeks, with flexibility around holiday
seasons. A schedule of meetings to be drawn up and circulated to Steering Group
members. GB
Steering Group Membership - It was agreed that the following individuals should be
members of the Group. They also agreed that positions should not be delegated or
substituted, and that in the case of absence, it should be the member's responsibility to
ensure that they and their constituency are updated on progress.
Organisation Representative(s)
LSP - Kate Culverhouse, Simon Owens
The EAWT - Shaun Stuart
ONE - Kirsten Francis, Emma Speight, John Topliss
DCC - Bob Ward, Andrew Walker
TDC - Neil Stokell, Sue Berresford, Pat Graham, Trevor Watson
Councillor Richard Betton
TM - Bill Oldfield
Independent Chair - Deborah Jenkins
Targets by next Steering Group Meeting:
Finalise Ekos contract AW
Prepare Scoping Paper DJ
Finalise Single Programme Bid AW/SB
Identify potential funding streams SS
Vision Information Centre - investigate potential sites Sub Group
Prepare specs for site audits “
Car park/traffic management - discuss with DCC BW
Leadership Forum - prepare paper DJ
Please note the change of date for the next meeting:
The next meeting to be held on Wednesday 12th September, 2.00pm at Enterprise House.
Meeting ended 4.30pm GMB/DJ 22.06.07
1
MINUTES