Agenda and minutes

Apologies were received from Councillors Loades and Wilkes.

To receive declarations of interest from Members on items included in this agenda

There were no declarations of interest.

To agree as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on Wednesday 3^rd December 2014

Minutes of the previous meeting held on Wednesday 3^rd December 2014 were agreed as a true and accurate record.

The Chair of Kidsgrove Town Centre Partnership (KTCP), Community Interest Company (CIC), provided Committee with an update on events occurring within Kidsgrove.

Branding

Following on from a successful application to the Association of Town and City Management for place branding support, KTCP had developed the ‘Go Kidsgrove’ brand and were using it across all media platforms wherever possible.

Marketing

The website www.gokidsgrove.co.uk was now live but more work was still required.

Go Kidsgrove were notified that the Alsager branch of the Co-operative Bank was closing in December and produced a flyer promoting Kidsgrove as an alternative for banking.  Since December, the Kidsgrove branch had seen a significant upturn in transactions.

Events

The town had run several Christmas shopping challenges as well as a Halloween challenge and were linking in with a local historian who was organising walking trails.

The first ever Christmas tree was bought for Kidsgrove from the support of Kidsgrove Rotary Club who sponsored the tree and would also sponsor a growing tree to be planted later this year.  Negotiations were also ongoing with other organisations.

The canal project received great media attention.  A small application was being prepared for £10k of Heritage Lottery Funding (HLF) to provide an interactive map for the canal noticeboard.  The application would be submitted in April 2015.

The following questions were asked and responses provided:-

Q1       There was concern on the governance; it had been stated you were going to increase the number of Directors, have you still only got the same six?

A1:      It was confirmed that there were still only the six.  The difficulty was the commitment from people, time and key skills.  There was still a lack of marketing expertise.

Q2:      The problem was the website not being very informative.  You had received a grant from the Borough Council, had further funds been secured?

A2:      They were looking forward to securing more membership within Go Kidsgrove.

Q3:      If there was a change in administration or priorities and there would no longer be support financially, would the CIC carry on and would there still be support of Officers from Newcastle Borough Council?

A3:      It was confirmed that there were funds that could be accessed as a CIC.

            The Executive Director of Regeneration and Development confirmed that the allocation of funding to the Newcastle Town Centre Partnership was to fund the managerial position which would cease at the end of December 2015.

            In the case of Kidsgrove the £10,000 was to pump-prime establishment of the partnership to see whether it could be a viable arrangement.  It was confirmed that the Officer time was built into the service plan and it was envisaged this would continue to support the town centre to strengthen its economy.

The Portfolio Holder for Economic Development, Town Centres, Business and Customer Services advised the achievements KTCP had accomplished within twelve months were very good.  They had identified what the future was for Kidsgrove but now need to concentrate on a couple of projects to  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.

An update was provided by the Chair of the Town Centre Partnership.  Unfortunately Quarter 4 Chair’s report was not available.

Footfall Figures

January saw an increase over the January sales period.

Retail Index Figures

Although still not at an average, businesses reported the Christmas trade had been exceptionally good.

Christmas Lights Switch On

The only negative feedback was that the town had been too busy.  Ideas were in place on how to deliver this year’s project.

The Council had committed to a three year funding of the Newcastle Town Centre Partnership which would come to an end in December 2015; the partnership would then need to become self-financing through a Business Improvement District (BID) or membership scheme. The Council would support the TCP to undertake a ballot for the proposed BID for July 2015. Officer support from the Regeneration and Economic Development Team would continue to be provided to both the TCP’s based on one day per week.

Discussions were taking place as to how the BID levy could be set and would be complete April/May time.

The following questions were asked and responses provided:-

Q1:      When the TCP had got their Business Plan would efforts be made to see a positive result?

A1:      The BID Steering Group would submit the Plan to the Board.  If successful the BID company would take over.  The TCP would undertake a separate role.

Q2:      What would happen if businesses did not wish to partake in the BID?

A2:      If the majority were in favour it would go ahead.

Q3:      There was a lot of opposition two years ago regarding the formation of the TCP, but that had changed and well done.

A3:      A lot of the work was down to the support of the Newcastle Borough Council Officers.

The TCP had been advised to work on an Action Plan and by the end of the next Board meeting an Action Plan would be available to be delivered.

The Regeneration and Economic Development Manager advised there was an increasingly positive feeling in the town centre, including the introduction of some new businesses offering different products.

The Portfolio Holder for Economic Development, Town Centres, Business and Customer Services thanked the Chair of Town Centre Partnership and her team on behalf of the Committee.

RECOMMENDED:-

That Committee receive the update for Quarter 4.

The Regeneration and Economic Development Manager presented the Newcastle Economic Development Strategy: Year Three Review and Year Four Action Plan.

In May 2012 the Borough Council approved a five year Economic Development Strategy (2012-2017) in order to focus its efforts for stimulating growth and bringing jobs to the Borough.  An annual action plan was provided each year to show what actions were being taken to take this forward.  These actions were grouped under the following four headings:-

·      Promoting enterprise and supporting local businesses grow

·      Improving the skills of the local workforce

·      Marketing and development

·      Strengthening the vitality and appeal of the town centres

The Committee was opened up for comment on each action.

Promoting enterprise and supporting local business grow

Successfully delivered the Newcastle ‘Business Boost’ competition, including new sponsors.  It was proposed planning for Business Boost 2015 to begin April 2015.  The amount of sponsorship would determine whether it would go ahead and in what format.  Explore further opportunities for town centre business awards through Business Boost competition 2015.  There was a need to identify the right mentor of certain businesses.  In taking the initiative forward there needs to be a more robust check and level of support from the mentors.

It was asked for a crib sheet to be distributed to Members to enable the correct information/point of contact to be passed on to businesses to ensure they could access business support/advice.

The Regeneration and Economic Development Manager advised that any Officer in their team would be able to assist but initially it would be the Business Development Officer.  Additionally there was the direct line at North Staffordshire Chamber of Commerce.

Work was to continue with the Local Enterprise Partnership and Staffordshire Economic Development Officers Group to secure external investment in the Borough.  It was agreed that the Regeneration and Economic Development Manager provide Members with a copy of the European Regional Development Funding Update 2014-2020.

Improving the skills of the local workforce

Work to continue with partners to further develop the employment and skills across the Borough and to explore opportunities for a consortia approach through the Newcastle Employment and Skills group to secure additional funding and resource for the area.

It was proposed to work with Talent Match to identify alternative routes, such as mentoring community buddies and creative routes such as digital media.  A full time Newcastle Co-ordinator was appointed January 2015.

It was asked what progress had been made in encouraging employers to provide more work place training?

The Regeneration and Economic Development Manager advised that there was an issue of the project not materializing locally with the Education Trust.  Presently there was a locality project in place to continue to work with partners to further develop the employment and skills across the Borough and to explore opportunities for a consortia approach through the Newcastle Employment and Skills group to secure additional funding and resource for the area

A Member recommended that this project be actively pursued by Newcastle Borough Council.

Marketing and Development  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.

Members were updated on the progress in preparing the Newcastle-under-Lyme and Stoke-on-Trent Local Plan (Joint Local Plan).

The Plan was currently in the pre-production phase.  This phase involved two stages: Stage 1 involved the assembly of relevant and up to date evidence, critical to driving the strategic direction of the plan strategy and Stage 2 included the adoption of a joint Statement of Community Involvement.

The draft Joint Statement of Community Involvement (SCI) was approved for public consultation purposes by Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council and Stoke-on-Trent City Council on the 15^th October and 30^th October 2014 respectively.  The six weeks consultation period began on the 10^th November and ended on the 19^th December 2014.  The results of the consultation exercise and proposed amendments to the draft SCI would be reported first to the Council’s Planning Committee so that their views could be considered by Cabinet in June 2015.  The final decision to adopt the final SCI would be made by Council, anticipated to be July 2015.

In respect of the commissioning of supporting evidence the contract for preparing a Strategic Housing Market Assessment (SHMA) had been awarded to Turley Economics in partnership with demographic consultancy Edge Analytics with a final draft report to be published week commencing 20^th April 2015.

A Member commended the progress that had been made but asked if more information could be obtained regarding the timetable?

The Planning Policy Manager advised more information would be available late autumn.

A Member commented that the latest report researched into the Borough’s housing and employment concluding April 2015 and asked would there be a presentation to Members and when this information became available for it to be dispatched to Members.

The Executive Director of Regeneration and Development confirmed that the information would be made available at the earliest appropriate opportunity or advance warning would be given to Members when the information would become available.

RESOLVED:-

Information to be dispatched to Members once available, or advance warning to be given when the information would become available.

Quarter 4 update report to be produced at the next meeting

RESOLVED:-

Quarter 4 update report to be provided at the next meeting.

Quarter three performance statistics to be reported

The Executive Director Regeneration and Development provided an update on Quarter 3 performance statistics.

In Quarter 3 there was a downward trend and since the last meeting Aspire Housing had formed their own letting policy.  Future comparative data to be explored to see if there was a continuing trend.

A Member commented that it seemed unfair Aspire Housing were undertaking their own letting system.

The Executive Director Regeneration and Development advised that Aspire Housing were entitled to carry out this approach in relation to properties unaffected by the Council’s nomination rights.

It was asked if an Officer from Aspire Housing could attend the next meeting to explain their letting system.

RESOLVED:-

That an Officer from Aspire Housing be invited to the next meeting to provide an account of how their letting system operates.

An update to be provided of progress by the Chair

The Chair provided an update on the Superfast Staffordshire Project.  Within the next fifteen months all of the cabinets would had been upgraded.

RESOLVED:-

That Paul Chatwin, Project Manager, Superfast Staffordshire to be invited back to the next meeting to provide an update on proceedings.

To discuss and update the work plan to reflect current scrutiny topics

Annual Work Plan Review

To receive outcomes and recommendations of the topics reported during the past twelve months

RESOLVED:-

That the following items are added to the work plan:-

Aspire Housing – Letting System

An Officer from Aspire Housing to be invited to the next meeting to provide an account of how their letting system operates.

Newcastle Housing Advice Contract Progress

Quarter 4 update to be produced at the next meeting.

Superfast Staffordshire Project

Paul Chatwin, Project Manager to be invited to the next meeting to provide an update on proceedings.

High Speed 2

All Members were in agreement for the High Speed 2 Working Group to continue, as once a decision was made on a preferred route, it would be important to optimise the economic benefits.

A Member asked for a cross-party scrutiny group to be established to listen to the views of residents regarding green space assets disposal.

A vote took place showing; 4 in favour, 1 against and 6 abstained.

RESOLVED:-

That Cabinet, at its meeting on Wednesday 25^th March 2015, make a decision to have a Capital Programme Cabinet Panel or for a cross-party Scrutiny Group to be established.