Agenda item

The Deputy Leader / Portfolio Holder for Finance, Town Centres and Growth presented the update on progress made in relation to the delivery of projects funded or part funded through Newcastle and Kidsgrove Town Deals, and the Future High Street Funds.

The Chair reminded members of the Planning Committee of the obligation to exercise care and not to determine any outcomes pertaining to ongoing planning applications.

Cllr Bryan reported having tried the new car park and being satisfied with it.

The Deputy Leader welcomed the endorsement.

The Deputy Chief Executive commented that the car park had been shortlisted for a construction excellence award.

The Chair added that it was a necessary upgrade.

Cllr Stubbs pointed out the car park remaining teething problems which shouldn’t be ignored and welcomed the completion of the Bradwell element for Kidsgrove Town Deal. About the train station, it felt difficult to get minutes out of the Town Deal board and Cllr Stubbs wondered how the cost of the survey and subsequent remedial works would be covered.

The Deputy Leader noted that the local MP was sitting on the board and may be able to assist in providing answers.

The Deputy Chief Executive said the survey had been requested by Network Rail and was required before any works could be carried out. The price for the survey was known and approval from the board was awaited so that this could be undertaken. There were risks in relation to what the survey would find and no further action could be taken until that step was completed. The Council had initially been told that the survey wouldn’t be required and the train station project had been budgeted on that assumption. The situation had now changed and the costs involved in any remedial works were unknown. Information about the HS2 funds supposed to be allocated to the project through the County Council was also awaited, the Borough Council being on a list would those funds indeed become available. There were finally new objections at the Town Deal board about the decision to allocate the funds to the train station as originally agreed would the works end up being within the original budget, which was what was delaying the approval of the survey. Minutes would be passed on to members who wished to read them.

Cllr Stubbs commented having been in touch with Dave Williams MP who was trying to get things moving and expressed his dismay at the thought that the board was arguing about whether or not the train station was a priority, suggesting organisations may be putting their interest before that of residents.

The Deputy Chief Executive advised that it wasn’t just organisations challenging the allocation of the funds as the minutes would show and that the survey would need to be done before taking the discussion to the next level, including looking for additional sources of funding.

Cllr Stubbs asked about the Shared Service Hub’s revised scope and the suggestion that this would be spread across different buildings.

The Deputy Chief Executive responded that there were discussions at the Town Deal Board about the re-allocation of the funds and the Chief Executive of Three Spires had presented a robust plan which was currently being considered.

Cllr Stubbs reported having requested information about the new plan from Three Spires and told this couldn’t be shared. He was intending to challenge this and copy in the Deputy Chief Executive.

Cllr Stubbs asked about the smaller building on Station Meadows.

The Deputy Chief Executive advised that the Council wasn’t buying the garage anymore and that Kidsgrove Town Council would not be relocating outside of their existing facility. Three to four of the enterprise units that would be provided would be for business and economic growth in the area.

The Chair commented that it was within the Committee remit to scrutinise what the Council was doing and while what other organisations were doing may fall out of that scope the Town Deal Board and partners in the project could be invited to speak to members. The Council’s administration and representatives were acting in alignment with what had been agreed and working on delivering what had been promised to both the Government who provided the funds and the residents of Kidsgrove.

Cllr Grocott enquired about project delivery timescales extensions and the situation with regard to Knutton Village Hall.

The Deputy Chief Executive responded that an additional 12 months had been obtained from the Government and the Council had now until March 2027 to deliver projects. One group had expressed an interest in running the village hall and a meeting was scheduled to discuss the matter. Planning permission had been obtained and two things were now required, having the group incorporated as a CIC (Community Interest Company) and reaching an agreement about the lease.

Resolved:    That the report on the delivery of the Town Deal and Future High Street Funds projects be noted.

Watch the debate here