Agenda and draft minutes

Apologies for absence were submitted on behalf of Councillors Clare McKenna, Heather Anderson and Clare Yates.  There were no substitute representatives in attendance at the meeting.

There were no interests or dispensations declared at the meeting.

The Minutes of the last meeting of the Special Overview & Scrutiny Committee, held on 14^th October 2024, are submitted for approval of a correct record.

Recommended                     -   That the Minutes be received and approved as a correct record.

The minutes of the last meeting of the Special Overview & Scrutiny Committee, held on 14^th October 2025, were submitted for approval as a correct record.

Resolved                               -   That the Minutes be received and approved as a correct record.

To provide a general update on the Council’s Levelling Up Fund (LUF) funded town centre projects.

Recommended                     -   That the report and comments of the meeting be noted. 

The Cabinet Portfolio Holder for Transformation, Education and Skills, Councillor Noordad Aziz, submitted a report to respond to the request from the Special Overview & Scrutiny Committee for a general update on the Council’s Levelling Up Fund (LUF) funded town centre projects.  The report gave details of the progress of the three main projects: Market Hall, Burtons Chambers and Market Chambers.  In respect of Burtons Chambers and Market Hall, Councillor Aziz reported that significant progress had been made.

The Executive Director (Environment) referred to the Market Chambers project and informed the Committee that a sale by agreement had just been secured with the last freehold owner but that the compulsory purchase order would still continue to hopefully provide a full clean title.  He explained that a public CPO enquiry had taken place in December 2024, following objections to the acquisition of the Market Chambers.  The enquiry had been adjourned until after the Cabinet meeting on the 22 January 2025, to allow the Inspector time to understand the Council’s commitment to supporting the operating costs, once Market Chambers was open.  Both legal representatives had asked the Inspector for a delay in making their final closing statements to progress the sale of agreement, which had been agreed.

Councillor Aziz reported that the Operator 2-Work had been secured for Burtons Chambers and that a preferred operator had been identified for the Market Hall and that these would drive footfall into Accrington town centre and restart further regeneration.

The Committee had submitted questions to Councillor Aziz in advance to the meeting, which were responded as follows:

1.    How long will it take for both work phases to be completed?

Reference was made to 3.3.2 of the report which explained that the estimated completion date for phase 1 enabling works provided by Morgan Sindall was Q4 2024/25 although this could extend into Q1 2025/26.  The programme timescale had been impacted by the initial 6 month delay in funding announcement/authorisation to start and additional works identified as the building was being stripped out.

Reference was also made to 3.3.3 of the report and the phase 2 fit-out works contract, again provided by Morgan Sindall, is Q3 2025/26.  The Committee was informed that this could be extended into Q4 depending on the successful contractor(s) and their tender programme dates. 

The Executive Director (Environment) informed the Committee that the Phase 2 fit-out works were being tendered in line with the new Procurement Act 2023 which would come into force on 24^th February 2025.  He reported that this aimed to improve and streamline the way procurement was undertaken by public bodies and should benefit prospective suppliers, particularly small businesses.

Councillor Khan pointed out that he had spoken to traders and customers who had expressed concern that they were not being kept informed of what was happening.  He requested that greater efforts were made to ensure regular communications with all concerned, particularly with the market traders.  He also confirmed delay in the funding announcement by 6 months had not  ...  view the full minutes text for item 439.

Verbal update from Cabinet Portfolio Holder for Transformation, Education and Skills, Councillor Noordad Aziz.

The Cabinet Portfolio Holder for Transformation, Education and Skills, Councillor Noordad Aziz, confirmed that the Government had yet to issue the updated guidance for the Long Term Plan for Towns Funding.  He also informed the Committee that whilst there was an in-principal agreement to the allocation for the final year UKSPF funding from the new Combined County Authority, (2025/26), final guidance had yet to be provided to authorities as the CCA was the accountable authority.  He indicated that it was likely that there could be further information available at the next meeting following the Spending Review in Spring 2025.