Agenda item

Cabinet Member Interview

Councillor Jonathan Chowen – Cabinet Member with responsibility for Leisure and Culture

Minutes:

The Cabinet Member with responsibility for Leisure and Culture was invited to attend the meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee, as part of the on going process to interview each Cabinet Member.

 

As no questions had been submitted by Members in advance of the meeting by the agreed deadline, the Cabinet Member was invited to present his portfolio and following that the Committee would invited to comment and ask questions.

 

The Cabinet Member highlighted some of the major projects currently underway.

 

Delivery of The Bridge at Broadbridge Heath had commenced. Major construction was due to start at the end of July and the project should be delivered by October 2018. Following this, demolition of the old sports centre would take place to make way for the new car park.

 

Members noted the ongoing success of Dinosaur Island in Southwater. Measures were being taken to resolve the car parking issues for the village, arising from the popularity of park. These problems had highlighted the demand for low cost visitor attractions in the District, so possible opportunities going forward would be explored.

 

One challenge the Cabinet Member faced was the impact the new cinema in Piries Place would have on the Capitol. The Cabinet Member had received a report from the manager at the Capitol regarding the future of cinema and identifying any challenges it faced.

 

The Year of Culture 2019 was a major project underway. Work would be done with the local community to understand the needs of the District in terms of culture and heritage. The Cabinet Member would be encouraging involvement from the parish councils through the District Councillors who he would ask to act as “ambassadors”. A film of the District was also being produced to support this project and would be available to view at the launch which Members were invited to attend on 27th September 2017 at the Capitol

 

The Chairman of the Committee invited Members to raise any questions or comments for the Cabinet Member.

 

Members suggested utilising the Park and Ride facility to help resolve the car parking problems linked with Dinosaur Island in Southwater; the Cabinet Member welcomed this suggestion and would explore this further.

 

Members suggested that as part of the Year of Culture, the important historic sites in Horsham should be promoted.  More attention should also be paid to the inclusion of young people and schools as part of the project.

 

Members asked the Cabinet Member to provide the Committee with an update on the possibility of a temporary ice rink in Horsham Park over Christmas 2017, following some concerns and complaints from local residents regarding the noise and disruption at the ice rink and Christmas market in 2016. Members were advised that at this stage no application had been submitted and the Cabinet Member was looking to have an informal discussion with the provider to determine some of the finer details before a formal planning application would be submitted and he would take into consideration the concerns which had been raised. 

 

Members questionned the Cabinet Member about the progress of the Horsham Football Club. The Committee noted that the Council were close to signing the project off.

 

Members welcomed and supported the proposals for the Year of Culture and were keen to involve their parish councils and local community partnerships.

 

The Chairman thanked the Cabinet Member for attending the meeting and for answering a range of impromptu questions and for the information provided on his portfolio.

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