Agenda item

              a)       Submission

          b)       Feedback from Working Groups 

          c)       Y1-3 Investment plan

          d)       Project longlist / prioritisation progress

          e)       Proposed investment allocations

          f)        Future consultation feedback sessions

The Board considered a report of the Corporate Director of Regeneration, Economy and Growth which provided a progress update of the draft initial project submission following the consultation period for the Long-Term Plan for Towns Programme and confirmed the 3 year investment plan and project prioritisation tool for project interventions for initial proposed areas of investment (for copy of report, see file of Minutes).

a) Submission

The Economic Development Manager advised the Board that further clarification was anticipated from government regarding the deadline and the formal template for the submission.  Although there was a government delay on the submission work had continued with the community during the pre-election period.  However, this meant the timeline for interviews with business representatives had been delayed.  Due to summer holidays youth engagement was delayed and this work was pending as there was still a keenness to set up a youth focus group. The team had attended the Spennymoor Youth Fest and Board members were advised that the event had doubled the attendance from the previous year. 

The Community Economic Development Manager however confirmed that the first youth focus group would be held in the week commencing 26^th August 2024 that would be considered as a fourth working group. This would link in with the work with schools when reengagement commenced in term time. Reassurance was given to Councillor L Maddison that engagement had taken place and would continue to do so with Middlestone Moor Primary School and other local schools. There were concerns raised at the lack of Youth Workers and their short-term work due to the lack of funding.  It was suggested that Youth hubs would be an opportunity to look at the employment of Youth Workers.  It was proposed that work could be carried out with colleges to gain employment connections to encourage Youth Worker positions.  The Chair stated that the programme was for 10 years and the vision was to generate match funding that could put the foundations in place for Youth Workers as they were important to shape the future of the town.   The North East’s new Mayor had a similar vision that carried a lot of momentum for the common direction to move forward. 

b) Feedback from Working Groups

The Project Manager gave an update from each working group which continued to meet on a monthly cycle and had good attendance from board members and stakeholders.

Safety and Security Working Group

The working group were looking to prioritise antisocial behaviour issues, safety and security issues, off road bikes issues and CCTV cameras.  Work was in progress with Andrea Petty (Police and Crime Commissioners Office) to look at figures to cost up ideas to increase Neighbourhood Wardens and Police presence in areas such as the pathways and underpass leading to the Daisy Field, Spennymoor where people had voiced that they did not feel safe.

High Street, Heritage and Regeneration

The working group had a good handle on startups with support of retail space around the town.  There had been a proposal to create a heritage trail and to employ an Events Officer.  There was an opportunity to improve public realms in the town to provide events and activities.

The Chair mentioned the great joined up working underway and the additional projects being delivered outside this programme such as the 65 properties that were to be built on the former grey hound site in Spennymoor along with creative planting that would form a natural shield to the subway to reduce anti-social behaviour. Work was also to be progressed to develop a cycle way.

A document was being created to show other projects in the Spennymoor LTPT boundary that were also subject to additional aligned investment.

Transport and Connectivity 

The working group were looking to improve walking and cycling routes within the town along with pedestrian crossings.  There was a borrow a bike scheme to be implemented.  The Clean and Green Team spanned all three working groups and were looking to create a fix it team to work specifically in Spennymoor. A walkaround had taken place to look at increasing accessibility for people with disabilities.  It was found that there were issues with older parts of the town where kerbs were very high meaning people in wheelchairs could not access some areas.  Newer developments had addressed this. 

The Community Economic Development Manager confirmed that the budget was flexible as potentially this issue was greater than first anticipated.  It was suggested that section 106 monies or open space provision monies could be included in the submission. This was opportunity not just to look for match funding but to research other funding avenues as a priority to add additionality.  An example of this would be to look to add additional electric vehicle charging points around town like near museums where people could visit while they waited for their cars to charge. This could link in with the Kerbo scheme that helped install electric vehicle charging points in streets of terraced houses where it had been difficult to do.

c) Year 1-3 Investment Plan d) Project Longlist/Prioritisation Progress e) Proposed investment Allocations

The Board reviewed the Year 1-3 investment plan, the project longlist/prioritisation progress and proposed investment allocations in detail.  The plan demonstrated the links to the on menu interventions and project priorities.  It pulled together the work of the working groups and showed the priority groups, estimated costs and time scales involved.  There was flexibility to carry money over between years and was a good starting point for a rounded programme.  It was noted that the paused government deadline would affect time scales.  The Chair proposed that Youth Workers were included as long-term along with sensory planting as a quick win.  The Economic Development Manager agreed to speak to Groundworks and Steve Roberts in relation to Youth Workers.  He confirmed that Durham County Council had now allocated time out for staff to volunteer which would be classed as in kind. 

The Community Economic Development Manager confirmed that some figures in the plan had been estimated that had been taken from previous projects and some were accurate costs based on salaries and works costs.  Figures included 5% contingency costs, inflation increases and capital uplifts.

The County Durham and Darlington Police and Crime Commissioner noted it was crucial that Mr Strickman MP was present as the Boards voice in Parliament.  She suggested he was written to with an update on the Board meeting.  It was advocated that substitutes were identified as championed by the Bishop Auckland Town Board where Senior Case Workers attended meetings to provide live updates. 

The Economic Development Manager stated that as the government had paused the submission there was further time to engage and improve documents. He confirmed that a Christmas event would be organised irrespective of the new deadline set by government.  It was suggested that this could be an opportunity to launch the renaming of the Board.  The event could be in addition to the Christmas light switch on as this was an event within itself. The Community Economic Development Manageragreed to circulate the dates for the Christmas and specialist markets that had been confirmed for the town.  She agreed to speak to Andy Coulthard (Livin’) regarding the organisation of further events.

Councillor D Ranyard mentioned that it had been proposed to turn the site at Daisy Fields into football pitches as Sports England had identified that there were not enough pitches in the area.  It was suggested that a poppy field could also be planted in this vicinity as it was visible from the dual carriageway as the approach into town following the success of the planting of poppies at North park.  It was uncertain if this was feasible in case seeds got into the pitches but there was an opportunity for joint up working with the Town Council, Livin’ and Clean and Green and the Woodland Trust who gave free trees for children to plant and invest in the future.  The Community Economic Development Manager agreed to speak to colleagues at Durham County Council to gain plans for the area at Daisy Fields and circulate.

d) Future consultation feedback sessions

The Community Economic Development Managerreiterated that there would be future feedback sessions held following confirmation of the submission deadline.

Resolved:

i)               That the continued progress with consultation and consultation feedback events to underpin the LTPT programme submission be agreed.

ii)             That the proposed investments be approved.

iii)            That the 3 Year Investment Plan be approved.