Agenda and minutes

There were no declarations of Disclosable Pecuniary Interests however; the board noted that Councillors Auluck and Maton serve as members on the Whitefriars Housing Group.

(a)  To agree the Minutes of the meeting held on 12^th February 2014

(b)  Matters Arising

(a)  The minutes of the meeting held on 12 February 2014 were signed as a true record.

(b)   There were no matters arising.

To consider the revised Coventry Homefinder Choice Based Lettings Policy.

(Briefing Note of the Executive Director, People)

(Note: Councillor Sandy, the Chair of the Homefinder Task and Finish Group and a representative of the Whitefriars Housing Group, have been invited to attend the meeting for this item.)

The Scrutiny Board received a presentation and considered the briefing note in respect of the draft Coventry Homefinder Choice Based Lettings Policy following the re-write, which was requested by the Cabinet Member for Housing & Heritage at his meeting on 11^th April 2013, before it is presented to Cabinet on 15^th April 2014.

It was noted that the Council no longer owned any housing following the Large Scale Voluntary Transfer of all the former Council Housing to Whitefriars Housing Group in September 2000.  The presentation provided a summary of the issues that were being reviewed and the changes to the Policy.  Consideration was given to the following:

• Changes to categories of housing needs in bands and reasonable preference categories in the legislation.
• Local connection as qualifying criteria: the Council has discretion whether to apply this new guidance in its allocations policy.
• Applicants that refuse more than five offers without good reason may have their application closed; currently refusal offers stand at 10.
• Whitefriars Housing Group was comfortable with the proposed changes to the Policy.
• Discussion on the number of people waiting to move due to bedroom tax – it terms of under occupancy.  Releasing of large properties was discussed.
• The condition of the property when up for re-let, together with the location of the property; whether in a desirable area.  Property management checks were carried out to ensure good tenantable standards of the property.
• Those currently in private rental and waiting for re-housing to Council/housing rental – it was noted that the homefinder facility was open to all.
• Issues relating to large families wanting a six bedroom property and temporary housing of families in bed and breakfast accommodation.

RESOLVED that the Scrutiny Board: -

a)  Notes the content of the briefing note.

b)  Recommend to the Cabinet Member (Business, Enterprise and Employment)  approval of the Homefinder Policy with a review of the impacts of the Policy be carried out following the first full year of implementations and outcome of the review be presented to the Business, Economy and Enterprise Scrutiny board (3) for consideration.

c)  Briefing note to Cabinet with the recommendations from the Board. 

To receive an update on the progress on a Tourism Strategy, including Vision Statement and Terms of Reference

(Briefing Note of the Executive Director, People)

The Scrutiny Board received a presentation and considered a briefing note on the proposals for the Tourism Strategy for Coventry.  The Board further reviewed proposals for tourism products that were in development; with the support of the new consolidated Council services for sports, art, heritage, business relationships, tourism and events.

Work has been undertaken on the Strategic Heads of Tourism Strategy for Coventry and this was summarised in the draft document circulated – ‘Coventry 2014-2024 an emerging Vision for Tourism’.  It was noted that the Service would be hosting an international Confex 2014 delegation and partnership event in London.

 Members of the Board questioned the officers on the Tourism Strategy for Coventry and recommendations, matters raised included:

• Events – Godiva festival being the largest festival for Coventry.
• Sports events that have been held in Coventry and national events that would be coming to the City.
• Graduates – approximately 58,000 students in Coventry.
• Outcomes by 2024 to include: City to establish itself in the top 20 UK Towns and Cities, increase overnight business trips in Coventry, increase information - ‘Visit Coventry and Warwickshire’ website. 
• Coventry is not recognised in the Top 20 Towns for all trips at present.
• As Coventry does not have a recognised official Destination Management Organisation (DMO) in its own right; therefore invitation to attend official national tourism steering groups (Visit England) was not possible.  DMO to be achieved within 3 years.
• Resources used for heritage purposes – outside funding be investigated.
• The Tourism App would be launched tomorrow (20^th March 2014).
• City branding – with emphasis on ‘City of Peace and Reconciliation’.

RESOLVED that the Scrutiny Board: -

a)  Notes the content of the briefing note.

b)  Recommends to the Cabinet Member (Business, Enterprise and Employment) key priorities, partnerships and outcome measures for the emerging Strategy.

To receive a briefing providing a breakdown of the City Council’s events budget and details of projects, including measured outcomes against expenditure.

(Briefing Note of the Executive Director, People)

The Scrutiny Board received a presentation and considered the briefing note which provided a breakdown of the City Council’s events budget for 2013/14 and details of the projects and programmes funded, including the measured outputs and outcomes for each area of expenditure.

Further consideration was given to budgets that support events and it was noted that the Godiva Festival was the chief free family festival and had been running for 16 years.  Officers provided a breakdown of the figures and it was suggested that further sponsorship be sourced.

Members of the Board questioned the officers on the review and recommendations, matters raised included:

·  Coventry Half Marathon – funding is from a separate budget.

·  Coventry Peace Festival – runs from 1-14 November; documented as being  well supported.

·  Future of current events was discussed – would a shuttle bus be useful for  the Godiva Festival?

·  Rebranding of the Godiva Festival to include Coventry and its logo – this would provide better exposure on social media sites.

·  Clarification was sought of the ‘General Events’ budget – this budget included events such as St. George’s Day, Armistice Day and Lifestyle (food and fashion).

RESOLVED, that the Scrutiny Board: -

a)  Presentation comments made by the Board be noted.

b)  Recommend to Cabinet Member (Business, enterprise and Economy) priorities and outcome measures for the City Councils investments in events for 2014/15.

Outstanding Issues are included in the Work Programme below.

  The outstanding issues were included in the Work Programme.

Report of the Scrutiny Co-ordinator

The Board noted the Work programme items for the next meeting 16^th April 2014.

To evaluate the effectiveness of the meeting.

The Board were of the view that the meeting had been very informative.

A comment was made by the remaining Board members that members should remain until the end of the meeting; unless leave was agreed with the Chair.

The Board suggested that members serving on Scrutiny Boards should serve for two years to aid continuity.

The Chair announced that John Latham had been appointed as Coventry University’s Vice Chancellor. It was agreed to send a letter of congratulations from the Board to John Latham on his appointment as the new Vice Chancellor of Coventry University.