Agenda item

To provide Committee with an update on the Council’s Levelling Up funded (LUF) town centre projects.

Recommended                     -   That the comments and recommendations of the Committee be noted and actioned, as required.

The Cabinet Portfolio Holder for Transformation and Town Centres, Councillor Clare Pritchard, submitted a report to provide the Committee with an update on the Council’s Levelling Up funded (LUF) town centre projects.  She provided an overview of the report.

The Chair of the Committee established key dates of the project including the start date and who had been the Cabinet Portfolio holder responsible at the time. 

Members of the Committee submitted the following questions and comments:

-          When were Burton’s Chambers and the Market Hall were due to open.

-          Had there been negotiations with the new operator of the Market Hall to  ensure that all stalls would be filled on the opening day.

-          The market traders would be spending a further winter on stalls outside in the square, were the market traders happy with that?

-          Were there plans to keep the stairs in the Market Hall?

-          Was funding allocated for contingency work, being taken from this year’s Council budget or from next year’s Council budget?

-          What action was the Council taking to reduce the chance of any further shortfalls next year?

-          What communication methods were the Council using to ensure that the public were kept informed of progress with Levelling Up projects?

-          Information was requested about the tender process and the award criteria.

-          What provisions are in place if an Operator went out of business?

-          In respect of traders returning to the Market Hall, had there been an increase in the price of leases and what incentives were there for traders to return to the Market Hall?

-          There was a request to define the extent and influence of the Market Hall Operator in the contract before it was signed and that a market strategy was created. 

The Cabinet Portfolio Holder responded that:

-          Whilst it was unlikely there could be further delays during the Winter, it was anticipated that Burton’s Chambers and the Market Hall would be opening at the same time in late Summer 2026.

-          She reported that the lease for the new operator for the Market Hall had not yet been signed so discussions were ongoing and the Council hoped all market stalls would be filled on the opening day.

-          There had been some changes in the market traders on the town square but most were the same.  She reported that the Market Manager and his team of porters were in constant contact with the traders and pointed out that some traders had enjoyed working outside.

-          The stairs in the Market Hall would be remain in place but the plans allowed for them to be refurbished with new finishes.

-          The contingency fund would be taken out of existing Council reserves but would only be authorised for emergency purposes.

-          Krol Corlett had been appointed through a rigorous tender process and the criteria for selection had included social values.

-          The Committee was referred to the website created specifically to keep the public updated with matters in Accrington Town centre – https://accringtontownsquare.com

-          The £450k figure highlighted was a budget the Council had set aside to ensure it had sufficient funding to cover any of the legal required operator’s Management Agreement costs during the first 2 years of Burton’s Chambers operations where they could not be met by the income generated.  The funding had already been allocated from the Council’s reserves.

-          She explained that a report would be presented to the next Cabinet meeting requesting agreement to allocate funding from the Council’s reserves to meet the project budget pressures since the bid was submitted and the project team’s recommendation to create a client contingency.

-          In respect of traders returning to the Market Hall, she reported that the Council intended to remain competitive but that, ultimately, it was the responsibility of the Market Hall Operator.  She confirmed that the cabins in the square would not remain on the square after the Market Hall had re-opened.

-          She reported that social media would be used to attract young people to the Market Hall

The Executive Director, Environment explained the tender process and pointed out that it had been an open and transparent competitive flexible tendering process.  He referred to the importance of social value being part of the criteria in awarding the contract and that wherever possible, the contractor allowed local companies and young people to be involved in any tender opportunities.  He also informed the meeting that contingency plans were being considered for the operators not continuing or going out of business.

The Cabinet Portfolio Holder pointed out that there had been misinformation on social media about projects taking place in Accrington Town Square and requested that Members of the Committee ensured that all information made public was factual. 

Resolved                          -           That Member comments and the report be

noted.