Agenda and minutes

There were no disclosable pecuniary interests.

(a)  To agree the Minutes of the meeting held on 26^th September 2018

(b)  Matters arising

The minutes of the meeting held on 26^th September 2018 were agreed and signed as a true record. There were no matters arising.

Presentation and Briefing Note of the Deputy Chief Executive (Place) to contribute to the consultation on Air Quality Action Plan prior to consideration by Cabinet

(Note: Councillor Caan, Cabinet Member for Public Health and Sport and Councillor Ali, Deputy Cabinet Member for Public Health and Sport have been invited to attend the meeting for this matter)

The Business, Economy and Enterprise Scrutiny Board (3) received a briefing note and presentation from the Deputy Chief Executive (Place) that provided the Board with an update on progress of the Coventry Local Air Quality Action Plan, including consultation materials. 

The Cabinet Member for City Services whose portfolio includes environment, attended the meeting for consideration of this matter.

A report on the Coventry Local Air Quality Action Plan was considered by the Business, Economy and Enterprise Scrutiny Board (3) at their meeting on 11th July 2018 (minute 4/18 refers) and their recommendations (attached as an Appendix to the briefing note) submitted with the report to Cabinet on 17th July 2018 (their minute 16/18 referred).

Since July 2018, further work had been ongoing to establish the baseline situation in terms of air quality within Coventry, and specifically the Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2) levels measured at the roadside on major routes within Coventry.  The legal limit of NO2 had been set at 40 micrograms (ug) per cubic metre. The baseline air quality modelling information had been submitted to the Government’s Joint Air Quality Unit to be verified. Within Coventry, the main areas where Nitrogen Dioxide levels were forecast to exceed legal limits were Holyhead Road, sections of the Ring Road, and some of the main radial routes feeding into the Ring Road, notably London Road, Warwick Road and Walsgrave Road.

Work had also been proceeding on the implementation of an Early Measures Programme funded directly by Government grant worth £2,021,000. This work had focussed on the A4600 corridor, and had included:

1)  Engagement with major local businesses and schools along the corridor to promote active and sustainable travel as an alternative to the car.

2)  A programme of community engagement working with local residents to promote active and sustainable travel for local trips.

3)  The introduction of new technology to support better and more efficient traffic management along the corridor.

4)  Development of a scheme to improve the efficiency of the Walsgrave Road / Brays Lane junction at Ball Hill. This scheme had been the subject of public consultation, and was currently being reviewed following the receipt of feedback, including a petition, from residents, businesses and schools within the local community.

5)  Introduction of the try before you buy scheme promoting the use of electric-powered taxis to local taxi operators. To date, around 35 drivers had participated, or were booked to participate, within the scheme, and this had resulted in eight drivers making orders for electric taxis that would come into operation during 2019.

The Council was now, based on the baseline evidence, developing a package of measures that would be most effective at reducing NO2 levels below the legal limit in the shortest possible time. Transport and Air Quality modelling work was being undertaken to identify the most effective combination of measures, whilst a public consultation seeking views on the potential measures was also being undertaken during November 2018.

The potential interventions that were under consideration were:

1)  City-wide programmes  ...  view the full minutes text for item 18.

Presentation and Briefing Note of the Deputy Chief Executive (Place)

(Note: Councillor O’Boyle, Cabinet Member for Jobs and Regeneration and Councillor Welsh, Deputy Cabinet Member for Jobs and Regeneration have been invited to attend the meeting for this matter)

The Business, Economy and Enterprise Scrutiny Board (3) received a briefing note and presentation from the Deputy Chief Executive (Place) that provided the Board with details of current activity and progress in relation to the development of St Mary’s Guildhall into a premier heritage, function, events and conferencing venue in the centre of Coventry, and the recommended next steps.

In May 2018 the Business, Economy and Enterprise Scrutiny Board (3) were informed that work to consider the potential for St. Mary’s Guildhall to be a high quality heritage, events and conferencing venue was underway (minute 49/17 referred). 

A long term sustainable solution was required for St Mary’s Guildhall that continued to offer residents and visitors to Coventry the opportunity to visit the Guildhall whilst achieving a commercial outcome that allowed the Guildhall to recover its overheads. There was a desire for the Guildhall to provide a sustainable income stream to the Council. Investment in the Café (the Undercroft at St Mary’s) was intended to prevent further decline in the income with ongoing growth, however it was acknowledged that long term sustainability required better levels of income from conferencing, corporate events, hospitality events and weddings in the Great Hall.

The Guildhall did not currently offer a particularly engaging visitor experience, and did not adequately cater for modern conferencing and event market. To this end, in collaboration with advisors from Coombe Abbey Hotel, specialist heritage architects and consultants had been engaged to review the Guildhall and provide advice and recommendations on works that would be necessary to deliver an exceptional visitor experience, whether it was for casual visitors wanting to engage with the heritage of the Guildhall, events attendees or hosting a conference.

The presentation, a copy of which was attached as an Appendix to the report, set out the progress of the scheme and the outcomes of the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) Stage 2 concept design and business case review. The Cabinet Member for Jobs and Regeneration had been kept informed of the project and its progress. Further political engagement would be undertaken as the RIBA Stage 2 was completed, to fully inform Council on the project outcomes to date, and to understand Council’s support, or otherwise, to progress with the project to RIBA Stage 3.

The next steps were to:

·  Discuss and confirm Council support and approval to proceed with the project to RIBA Stage 3, and the development of the detailed business case.

·  Agree a broader communication and engagement strategy to allow the design to be further developed to consider all heritage and other considerations.

·  Generate a project programme that considered feedback from consultation and engagement, prior confirming a proposed scheme for planning and listed building consent.

·  Conclude RIBA Stage 3 design and costing, before reconfirming the business case for the scheme.

The Board questioned officers and discussed the following issues:

·  The retention of the Minstrels Gallery in the proposals.

·  Lift implementation and new toilet facilities welcome together with rooftop terrace, the business concept of the buildings  ...  view the full minutes text for item 19.

There are no outstanding issues

There were no outstanding issues.

Report of the Scrutiny Co-ordinator

The Business, Economy and Enterprise Scrutiny Board (3) considered the Work Programme for 2018/2019 and discussed the scheduling of proposed issues for consideration at future meetings of the Board.

Members were reminded that they should meet at 12 noon at WMG, Warwick University, for the meeting of the Board on 5th December 2018.

The Task and Finish Froup on the Climate Change Strategy would commence in the New Year.

RESOLVED that the Business, Economy and Enterprise Scrutiny Board (3) notes the Board’s Work Programme for 2018/2019.

There were no other items of public business.