Agenda and draft minutes

Apologies for absence were submitted on behalf of Councillors Allen, Anderson, Yates and Younis. 

Councillors Dawson and Addison acted as substitute representatives on behalf of Councillors Anderson and Allen, respectively.

There were no declarations of interest or dispensations announced at the meeting.

The Minutes of the last meeting of the Special Overview & Scrutiny Committee, held on 18^th November 2025, were submitted for approval as a correct record.

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

The Minutes of the meeting of Cabinet held on 18^th November 2025, were submitted for approval as a correct record.

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

Councillor Clare Pritchard, the Cabinet Portfolio Holder for Transformation and Town Centres, and Steve Riley, Executive Director, Environmental Services, to update the Committee on the Council’s Town Centre Levelling Up projects.

The Cabinet Portfolio Holder for Transformation and Town Centres, with the support of the Executive Director (Environment) submitted a report to update the Committee on the Levelling Up funded (LUF) town centre projects. 

The report set out the purpose of the Levelling Up Fund and explained that its focus was on capital investment in local infrastructure projects that required up to £20m.  In January 2022 the Council’s Cabinet approved recommendations that the LUF submission should focus around three principal interventions:

1.    Redevelopment within the Indoor Market Hall and removal of the outdoor pavilions along Peel Street to provide an enhanced food and drink offering alongside traditional market stalls and new leisure offering – the intervention known as Market Hall.

2.    Acquisition and external façade improvements/roof repairs to the properties of 43-59 Blackburn Road/2-4 Church Street – the intervention known as Market Chambers.

3.    Acquisition and redevelopment to the block 61-69 Blackburn Road to provide for a shared workspace offering – the intervention known as Burtons Chambers.

The report also set out further information on:

- Acquistions – within Market Chambers

- Phase 1 Construction Contract – work procured has been completed and defects resolved.

- Phase 2 Construction Contract (fit-out) – details provided

- Monitoring/reporting – reporting requirements to MHCLG is now six monthly, the spending deadline has been extended to March 2028.  Details were also provided in respect of local employment by the Phase 2 contractor.

- Budget – details provided.

- Programme -there was now a working assumption that the construction works to Burton’s Chambers would be ‘practically’ completed by 6 July 2026 and the Market Hall by 13^th July 2026.  The date of the Market Hall re-opening had changed to November 2026, due to agreement that the Council would now manage day to day operations.

Members of the Committee were invited to further scrutinize the report at the meeting and submitted comments and questions on the following issues:

·         When would business be able to trade again?

·         What plans were in place to advertise and promote the re-opening of the Market Hall?

·         Was there any events plan particularly for the Asian community?

·         Would there be stalls that sold halal foods?

·         Which traders would be provided with stalls in the Market Hall and would there be enough to fill the Market Hall?

·         Would there be a diverse range of stalls in the Market Hall catering for all members of the community?

·         When would rents commence in the Market Hall?

·         What plans were in place to ensure that there would be enough parking spaces for people visiting businesses in Accrington Town Centre?

·         A suggestion that electric charging points should be restricted to two hours, during times of events, so that these spaces could be used as additional parking spaces.

·         That street signage should be clear to avoid misunderstandings in respect of parking restrictions.

·         Had CPOs on the Market Chambers been completed?

·         What had the cost of using compulsory purchase orders on the Market Chambers?

·         In respect of  ...  view the full minutes text for item 225.