Lake District National Park Partnership Agenda Item: 4c June 2011 Page 1
BUSINESS TASK FORCE
1 SUMMARY
1.1 This report briefs the Partnership on the April meeting of the Business Task Force.
Recommendation that: The Lake District National Park Partnership : a. notes the meeting report of the Business Task Force; b. endorses the purpose of the Task Force, priorities for action and the proposed action plan required to strengthen the performance of the Business Task Force, all attached as Annex 1; c. formally invites a representative of the Business Task Force onto The Partnership .
2. BACKGROUND
2.1 The Business Task Force became established in 2006. It has met every three months since that time. It has grown considerably in stature and size since its inception and now regularly has in excess of 30 businesses attending, with over 75 businesses on the membership list.
2.2 At the meeting on 7 April 2011 the Business Task Force concentrated on: The strengthening of the performance of the Task Force; and The views of tourism businesses towards the possibility of a nuclear repository in West Cumbria.
2.3 The strengthening the performance of the Task Force was a session independently facilitated by Greengage. A copy of the meeting report is attached as Annex 1. You are asked, in particular to endorse three parts of this meeting report: The purpose of the Business Task Force; The priorities for action; and The proposed action plan – this action plan does have implications for other partners, including the county and district councils. One of the actions is ensuring the Task Force plays an influential role on the LDNPP. You are asked to invite a representative of the Business Task Force to take a seat on The Partnership.
2.4 The second part of the agenda was a session led by GVA consultants who had requested a session with the Business Task Force on perceived tourism impacts of a possible nuclear repository in West Cumbria. This consultation was part of a wider tourism research project commissioned by the Managing Radioactive Waste Partnership (MRWS) of West Cumbria. The results of this wider research project have been reported to the WRWS Partnership.
2.5 The next meeting of the Business Task Force will be on 14 July 2011. Author Steve Ratcliffe, Director of Planning and Partnerships, Lake District National Park Authority Date Written 13 June 2011 Lake District National Park Partnership Agenda Item: 4c June 2011 Page 1
Lake District National Park Partnership Agenda Item: 4c June 2011 Annex 2: Page 1
Annex 1
Lake District National Park Business Task Force – 7th April 2011
Meeting Report
Introduction This report summarises discussions during the first session of the Business Task Force meeting held on 7th April 2011. The purpose of the discussion was to clarify the precise purpose of the Task Force and to make recommendations on how the performance of the Task Force can be strengthened.
1. The purpose of the Business Task Force Members considered the questions ‘What are the goals of the Task Force?’ and ‘What will the Task Force make possible?’ It was agreed that the Task Force must achieve demonstrable and tangible outcomes in the National Park; e.g. the growth of businesses in the National Park, the funding of specific projects (such as employment sites) and improvements to the visitor experience in the Park. Comments made on the purpose of the Task Force are summarised in Table 1. Lake District National Park Partnership Agenda Item: 4c June 2011 Annex 2: Page 1
Table 1 The purpose and priorities of the Business Task Force e s
o The purpose of the Business Task Force is to build understanding, p r
u respect, trust and collaboration between businesses and the LDNPA
P (and other public sector agencies) to deliver tangible benefits for businesses and the National Park and to strengthen the experience of visitors to the National Park n o i t To achieve this goal the Business Task Force will; c a
r o
f Identify specific issues of common interest to members of the Task
s Force. e i t i r
o Create a better understanding by the LDNPA and other public sector i r
P agencies of the needs of businesses within the Park in relation to these common interests; providing a sounding board for improvements in service provision.
Shape the National Park Partnership towards business and local economic priorities in the National Park.
Create a better understanding by businesses of the specific challenges and issues facing the National Park Authority and other public sector agencies.
Formulate specific responses to the identified issues of common interest calling on the skills and resources of all partners. Identify new ways of public-private sector collaboration. Lake District National Park Partnership Agenda Item: 4c June 2011 Annex 2: Page 1
2. The current performance of the Business Task Force
Members considered the current performance of the Task Force; addressing the questions; ‘What is currently working well?’ and ‘What are the current limitations of the Task Force?’ Comments made are summarised in Table 2.
Table 2 Perceived strengths and limitations of the Business Task Force
Strengths Limitations Raising awareness of policy- Need to define specific goals and setting processes e.g. the LDF aims Better understanding of the NPA’s Debates can lack focus aspirations by businesses A specific programme of work is Evidence of the NPA shifting its required for the Task Force; attitudes and actions towards a allowing measurement of more commercial focus e.g. in the achievements Development Control team Need to address issues swiftly Strong relationships are and effectively to improve the developing between members of ‘momentum’ of the Task Force the Task Force characterised by What happens at the Task Force listening and influencing is not heard by the wider public An arena to voice concern sector. The Task Force is missing Districts, County Council, etc) A joint message is being articulated by the Task Force The capacity of officers at the Task Force to shift the policy of Networking between businesses the Authority The Task Force has developed The Task Force cannot influence strongly in the past year those national policies that impact on the local economy It is time to broaden the membership; need to secure the support of more larger businesses
Lake District National Park Partnership Agenda Item: 4c June 2011 Annex 2: Page 1
3. Strengthening the performance of the Business Task Force
The discussion concluded with agreement of actions required to strengthen the performance of the Business Task Force. Proposed actions are summarised in Table 3.
Table 3 Proposed actions
Proposed action Comments made 1. Prepare a programme of - Prepare a ‘terms of reference’ for the Task work for the Task Force Force with measurable - Set out the agreed purpose and objectives objectives of the Task Force - Agree the priority agenda items for the Task Force - Set specific and measureable objectives 2. Consult with businesses - Create a ‘long list’ of possible future to prepare a specific agenda items e.g. the Charlotte Mason forward agenda for the site (with site visit), managing radioactive Task Force waste, Adcap, sustainable transport, Windermere waterfront, farming and the Partnership Plan - Target essential infrastructure objects e.g. roads, transport, broadband, toilets and car-parking - Bring non-planning LDNPA issues to the Task Force e.g. the National Park Management Plan
3. Review and improve the - Share with the Task Force what data is ‘evidence base’ for the currently available to LDNPA, the County work of the Task Force and District Councils - Agree how this could be improved to allow us to develop a needs analysis for businesses in the Park over the next five and twenty-five years 4. Broaden the business - Need to involve more than the ‘usual membership of the Task suspects’ Force 5. Involve senior officer from - Include the County Council the County and District - Include the District Councils within the Councils National Park - Ensure attendance of senior officers for certain agenda discussions 6. Ensure the Task Force - Put a Task Force member on the Lake plays an influential role on District Partnership the Lake District Partnership Lake District National Park Partnership Agenda Item: 4c June 2011 Annex 2: Page 1
7. Establish systems to - Evaluate the performance of the Task report the impact of the Force Task Force - Summarise concise conclusions and feedback achievements to later meetings Lake District National Park Partnership Agenda Item: 4c June 2011 Annex 2: Page 1
Annex 2 Business Task Force – 7 April 2011
Attendance:
Andy Airey George Fisher David Birchall Artemis Media Graham Booth Booths Mark Brady Waterside Hotel Stephen Broughton Mountain Goat Tim Butler Alfred Mossop & Co Richard Greenwood Cumbria Tourism Diane Hannah The Herdy Co Ltd Alan Hart Chris Herd Wheelbase John Jennings Kirkstone Pass Inn Philip Johnston The Coppermines and Lakes Cottages Nick Lancaster Langdale Leisure Ltd Steve Ratcliffe LDNPA Bill Ridgway W McClure Ltd Ian Roberts Greengage Consulting Andrew Roe LDNPA Mandy Dixon K Village Barry Surtees Honister Jan Wilkinson Honister Duncan Peake Holker Estates Nigel Wilkinson Windermere Lake Cruises Laura Kennedy GVA
Apologies:
Simon Berry English Lakes Hotels David Brockbank Staveley Mill Yard Paul Gaynor Gaynors Patric Gilchrist Theatre by the Lake Joanne Golton SLDC Alison Hatcher Cumbria County Council Peter Hensman Lake District Estates Lord Inglewood Dave McGowan LDNPA Bob Pound Rusland Pool Hotel Jim Walker Lake District Estates Ltd Chris Warren LDNPA Gordon Watson Lakeland Arts Trust Jonathan Whittle Positive Solutions (Financial Services) Ltd Kate Willard Consultant David Williams Impact International