Sarah highlight two big issues for Cornwall: the importance of Convergence funding along with its matched funding from the UK Government, and the implications for strategy when the RDA is abolished. She emphasised the importance of listening to business and local people.
As far as Falmouth was concerned, she thought there were three main priorities:
- Dredging around the docks which would help Cornwall maintain its lead in renewable energy, develop a marine energy park and maximise the benefit from the Wave Hub investment. The planning application for the first geo-thermal plant had just gone in.
- The CUC where the arrival of Dartington would be significant and there were opportunities for greater community involvement. Growth could assist tourism businesses.
- Local decision-making where she believed that decisions should be reaching the Falmouth level, which would be a challenge for the Town Forum and Falmouth Town Council.
- Centralisation was the wrong answer. There was a need to ‘trust people at the local level’. There was a need to remove tiers of management and let decisions be made locally at an accountable level. The Regional Assemblies would go and Cornwall Council would take on things like housing needs. This would be mirrored in economic activity.
- What was needed was a partnership between business and government
Housing where there was a big shortage and developers were constantly constrained by lack of support from government and lack of funding from banks. MP responded that the Local Development Framework should be set by CC and selective incentives could be used by local councils – eg retention of 6 years’ rates – who stimulate development. A similar match might be used for social housing. Councils could give Business Rate discounts if necessary and these should be automatic and should not require the business to apply for them.
Localism was undeveloped. Might locally-elected mayors be an idea with income from car parks used to contribute to local solutions? MP pointed out that this was easier in cities where the boundaries were more obvious and there would obviously be a need for some scrutiny of the mayor. The emphasis should be on the development of town centres and not out of town shopping centres where parking was free. The BID model might be suitable for such things with the car park revenue going to the BID.
Obtaining funding is a very real problem as banks are not lending. MP recognised this and pointed out the attractiveness, to the banks, of the international as opposed to local markets for lending. The banks were saying one thing to MPs and doing something different. There was a need for a series of Loan Guarantee Schemes perhaps along the lines of the Investors in Industry model which allowed co-investment with government to provide finance. For small investors, Venture Capital Trusts and Business Angels could provide micro-finance.
As regards the Docks, things were still very vague. Over £1m had been spent on environmental studies and the financial studies had now time-expired and were being re-visited at further cost. MP believed that there should be a bonfire of the quangos as they were unable to look at the bigger picture and took decisions in a vacuum. Ministers could take a more rounded decision and that was what was needed in the Docks. The case for dredging was well-made, in his view: there was a range of businesses and it was essential for the RFA repair work which was the life-blood of the business.
Convergence was essential to Cornwall but what would happen after the RDA was abolished? MP explained the nature of the single pot of RDA money and that he was having trouble finding out on what the RDA spent its money. In future government support, and EU funding, would go to CC to create partnerships with GoSW having an audit function. The aim would be to disturb as little as possible and it might be that one would have the same staff doing similar jobs in different organisations.
How should one work to shape policy? MP suggested that Sarah was the best conduit. His acid test in Westminster was would be ‘will it work in Cornwall?’
Local services remained an issue with, for example, water bills being significantly higher for Cornwall than for Thames Valley customers. Waste disposal was also well behind schedule. MP agreed and said that solutions needed to be appropriate to the area. Waste was a big challenge for CC.
Employment costs had risen, especially for SMEs. MP felt there was a need to re-balance things as the number of vexatious cases had increased dramatically with costs falling to small employers. There was a need to opt out of the EU Social Chapter so that we could set our own standards. Indeed, he was generally a Euro-Sceptic and resented the way the UK gold-plated instructions from Brussels. It would be important actively to engage with the EU and to dig one’s heels in when necessary.
MP ended by commending SN to the Forum and pointing out the stronger representation that Cornwall would have in Westminster were she elected. SN and MP were thanked for their contributions.
Membership changesJohn Slaughter expects that January will be his last meeting of the Forum before emigrating to Wales.
It was understood that five prospective Town Managers had been interviewed and a candidate offered the job who would be starting in the new year.
Cornwall Council updateThe CC Scrutiny report on Community Networks had been produced, recommending that each group of Councillors should decide the nature of the Networks in their area. In the Falmouth case this would involve nine councillors.
While this was resolved Scott Sharples was working on a range of issues:
- The local councillors had agreed to put a proportion on their ‘local pocket money’ into Christmas lights
- He was exploring whether CC could fund the collection of the BID levy
- He was exploring whether Falmouth Town Council could take on management of the Moor
- He was spending time working with Cornwall Development Company on the Strategic Investment Framework Consultation
Convergence and the Strategic Investment FrameworkThe final draft of the SIF had been circulated for comments. Tim Light continues to lead a small group commenting on this. Responses were required by 4 December. Those wishing to see the report should contact Jackie George at CDC.
Church Street Car Park development briefThere is still no date for the completion of this piece of work which has become caught up in a consideration of the Cornwall Council land holdings in Falmouth in general and the need to replace the car parking capacity in some way. An Economic Green Paper would be issued by CC very soon.
Events programmeAn expanded Christmas Festival will start on 29 November with lights funded by councillors and the BID. The BID had also funded a general leaflet promoting the town and its events.
Transport issues and the bollardCornwall Council had applied for an extension of the Traffic Order to cover all 24 hours despite the Forum’s objection to this. The Regeneration Group had asked the Forum to re-consider which it had done through its Transport Working Group (TWG). The Group had recommended that CC should continue to seek the 24-hour ban but that the bollard should only be operational between 11:00 and 16:00 until a specific consultation had taken place. Oliver Cramp had carried out a survey of his own and the results from traders were far from conclusive with many seeing no change in levels of business and a mixed reaction to closure of Church Street car park.
The recommendations of the TWG were agreed and this would be reported to CC through the Regeneration Group. The long term objective was clear: to move the bollard to the entrance to Market Street and to limit traffic in the main street as far as possible for both the comfort and safety of shoppers. John Bottomley would be taking on management of the TWG in the absence of John Slaughter.
Business Improvement DistrictWork was progressing well. Grants had been made for Christmas lights and Christmas leaflet. Meanwhile, a new brand design was being developed to promote Falmouth for both locals and tourists and work on the website was well advanced.
Future speakersThere were mixed reactions to the idea of inviting additional political speakers to the Forum. A balance needed to be preserved and the Forum needed to be seen to be a-political. Speakers with more local and executive power might be more suitable.
Prince of Wales pierFollowing representations, a letter would be sent to CC commenting on the lack of development work on Prince of Wales pier which continued to be a half-finished job and an eyesore.
AttendanceThe following attended the meeting:
Sarah Newton, PPC for the Conservative Party
Mark Prisk MP, Shadow Minister of Business and the Economy and Shadow Minister for Cornwall
Jonathan Griffin - National Maritime Museum Cornwall (chair)
Cliff Brown - 81 Employers Group
Neil Tinson – Churches Together
Roger Radcliffe - Cornwall Council
Scott Sharples - Cornwall Council
Tim Light – Fal River Links
Pam Faulkner – Falmouth and District Hotels Association
Sandra Pilson – Falmouth Chamber of Commerce
Dick Stiles - Falmouth Civic Society
John Langan - Falmouth Harbour Commissioners
John Slaughter - Falmouth Marine School
Sally Stiles - Falmouth Residents Association
Oliver Cramp - Falmouth Town Council
Jackie George - Falmouth Watersports Association
Chris Smith - RIBA
Keith Hambly-Staite – Royal Polytechnic Society
Lorely Lloyd - Transition Falmouth
John Bottomley – Transport Group
Jilly Easterby - University College Falmouth
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