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BARNARD CASTLE VISION STEERING GROUP

Wednesday 10th May 2006

9.00am

Chief Executives Conference Room, County Hall, Durham

1. Present

Kingsley Smith (KS) CDDC

Bob Ward (BW) DCC/CDEP

Linda Edworthy (LE) DCC/CDEP

James Usher (JU) Teesdale District Council

Pat Graham (PG) Teesdale District Council

Tim Watts (TW) One NorthEast

Harvey Dowdey (HD) One NorthEast

Kirsten Francis (KF) One NorthEast

Emma Speight (ES) One NorthEast

Andrew Walker (AW) DCC/CDEP

Apologies:

No Apologies

Key Points

Actions

2. Minutes/Note from previous meeting

  • Agreed

To avoid confusion meeting notes should ensure that the Group is referred to as a Steering Group rather than a partnership

Action: AW

3. Composition of the Steering Group

  • Expansion of the Steering Group

  • Teesdale Marketing Limited has been contacted with regards to representation on the Steering Group but as yet they have not nominated a suitable person to join the Group.

  • Teesdale LSP still to be contacted. Suggested people to contact include Chair of the Economic Theme Group and Mary Hall.

Follow up Teesdale Marketing and contact Teesdale LSP

Action: JU

4. Next Steps

  • The draft brief was discussed by the group. BW suggested that the main thrust of the visioning work is economic and this focus should be reflected in how the brief is worded.

The point of the work is to improve the Economy of Barnard Castle. It was acknowledged that Environmental and Social factors are important and will link to the vision but are not the focus of this work.

  • The document should inform the LDF planning process.

  • The brief should also expand on the relationship with the Economic Strategy and clarify geographical areas for each element of the study.

For example Barnard Castle Vision and Detailed Delivery Plan are Barnard Castle focussed (although implications will be much wider) whereas the Economic Strategy and LDF process will cover all of Teesdale

  • In order to clarify how the key components link and fit together BW suggested a diagram.

  • There are four key components to the study. These are detailed in the brief in the following order:

  1. Capacity

  2. Strategic Vision for Barnard Castle

  3. Implementation Plan

  4. Economic Strategy Options Study for Teesdale

In order to ensure the importance of the elements is clear and in the right order it was recommended that these are amended and ordered as follows in the brief:

  1. Strategic Vision for Barnard Castle

  2. Implementation Plan

  3. Economic Strategy Options Study for Teesdale

  4. Capacity

  • The Skills and Expertise section (8). BW suggested that the critical element of this section is Town Centre and Retail Development and Best Practice and recommended that this was moved up the list to the top of this section.

  • The timescale for the LDF process is to have the 1st phase complete in 2008/09. This fits with the visioning work as it is expected that it will be finalised by April 2007.

  • The project management section should be more explicit and detail the requirements of the consultant's project manager.

  • The need for a person on the ground to co-ordinate activity locally was agreed. The role of this person needs further consideration and detail should be built into the brief and resources built into the application.

  • Communications - A Knowledge Management System for partners was discussed and it was agreed that this would be a good idea and a useful way of sharing information.

  • It was agreed that media contacts should be aligned to ensure a co-ordinated approach to communication activity with the possibility of a separate media group.

  • Partnership Capacity Building - The consultants should appoint a Project Manager and advise on who and how future activity should be delivered. An audit of current capacity was recommended.

Taking into account the points in the previous column the brief should be amended accordingly

Action: KF

Single Programme application to be finalised in line with the brief

Action: AW/JU

5. Timescales

Timescales as previously agreed

Brief/Application Complete - May

Tenders - June

Appointment - Mid July

Launch - Early/mid July

New Chair - seek advice from consultants

Next Stages to be considered and discussed at the next meeting -

Action: All

6. Any Other Business

No Other Business

7. Date, Time & Venue of Next Meeting

Wednesday 31st May 2006

9.00am

Beaumont Room, County Hall, Durham

10th May 2006 Meeting Note.

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