Agenda and minutes

Apologies of absence were received from Councillor Mrs S M Bayford, and Councillor J Englefield.

To confirm as a correct record the Minutes of the Daedalus Scrutiny Panel meeting held on 1 September 2022.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the Daedalus Scrutiny Panel meeting held on 1 September 2022 be confirmed and signed as a correct record.

There were no Chairman’s announcements made at this meeting.

To receive any declarations of interest from Members in accordance with the Standing Orders and the Council’s Code of Conduct and disclosures of advice or directions received from Group Leaders or Political Groups, in accordance with the Council’s Constitution.

There were no declarations of interest made at this meeting.

To receive any deputations of which notice has been lodged.

There were no deputations made at this meeting.

To receive a presentation by the Director of Planning and Regeneration on employment and skills on the Daedalus Site.

The Panel received a presentation by the Strategic Sites Development Officer on employment and skills outcomes on the Daedalus site. (A copy of this presentation is appended to these minutes).

At the invitation of the Chairman, Councillor S D T Woodward, Executive Member for Policy and Resources addressed the Panel on this item.

Members discussed at length the difficulties that is experienced with broadband at Daedalus and that the expectation for the availability of high-speed broadband by companies had significantly increased over the past few years. Whilst members accept that the Council has tried to engage with broadband companies regarding this issue and that there is very little more than can currently be done to resolve this issue, they encourage Officer’s to continue to investigate this issue and to work alongside Gosport Borough Council to try to find a resolution.

RESOLVED that:  -

(a)  The Strategic Sites Development Officer be thanked for her informative presentation; and

(b)  The Panel note the content of the report.

To consider any items of business dealt with by the Execuitve that falls under the remit of the Daedalus Scrutiny Panel. This will include any decisions taken by Indivdiual Members during the same time period.

There were no items of Executive business to consider at this meeting.

To provide an opportunity for Members to consider the scrutiny priorities for the Daedalus Scrutiny Panel.

The Head of Strategic Sites addressed the Panel on this item and advised the members of a number of items that would be coming forward to the Panel in the coming year.

The Panel were given the opportunity to put forward any further suggestions that they may have. Mr Jonathan Butts enquired as to whether an update on the RCA contract could be presented to the Panel. The Head of Strategic Sites confirmed that RCA’s Annual Report on the management and operation of Solent Airpot will come forward to the Panel later in the year.

The Head of Strategic Sites addressed the Panel in respect of the Daedalus Vision and suggested that an item on this be brought to the Panel during the next year. It was acknowledged that it has been some time since the vision was revisited. She suggested that the Panel would also benefit from an update of the progress and the achievements that have been made since 2018.

To consider whether it is in the public interest to exclude the public and representatives of the press for this item on the grounds that, the matter to be dealt with under item 10 of the agenda involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraph 3 Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act.

RESOLVED that the public and representatives of the press be excluded from the remainder of the meeting on the grounds that the matters to be dealt with involve the likely disclosure of exempt information, as defined in Paragraph 3, Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972.

To consider a presentation by the Director of Planning and Regeneration on how the commercial opportunities offered by the Council at Daedalus are marketed.

The Panel received a presentation by the Head of Asset Management on the commercial opportunities offered by the Council at Daedalus and how these are marketed.

RESOLVED that: -

(a)  The Head of Asset Management be thanked for his informative presentation; and

(b)  The Panel note the content of the report.