Agenda item

To receive verbal reports from each of the Portfolio Holders, as appropriate.

The Leader of the Council, Councillor Miles Parkinson OBE, provided an update on the various funding bids and plans for regeneration and growth.  These included:

• Partnership with Lancashire County Council, which would realise up to £19m in Hyndburn from their £55m Levelling Up Fund (LUF) allocation.  This would support their Liveable Neighbourhoods project (including raised table crossings, cycling, walking routes, children’s safety and lighting schemes); other cycle projects; public transport and traffic signalling upgrades.  The Leader also outlined his longer term aspiration to provide a 1 mile link road from Alan Ramsbottom Way to Dunkenhalgh Way to alleviate congestion at the Hare and Hounds traffic lights.
• The Council’s successful LUF bid for £23m.  This would enable work to commence on 3 of the 18 projects identified in the Town Centre Investment Plan (TCIP).  2 of the 18 projects (park and ride and footpath improvements) had subsequently been rejected following consultations.  The 3 projects selected, Burtons Chambers, the Market Hall and Market Chambers, had been chosen because they closely matched the Treasury’s funding criteria and stood the greatest chance of success.  Only 1 in 4 bids across England had been successful and Bradshaw Advisory and the stakeholders deserved the credit for this achievement.  The TCIP process had been transparent the list of stakeholders had been published in the main document.  Miranda Barker, Chair of the Chamber of Commerce, had led the welcome to the Accrington of the Prime Minister and Chancellor on 19^th January 2023.  It was acknowledged that this investment was only the beginning of the regeneration journey, which would be partnership and business led.  The Leader thanked the officers and other stakeholders who had been involved in this bid and emphasised the importance of presenting a united front in order to attract businesses to work with the Council.  A preferred partner for the Market Hall project would be selected with a track record of regenerating market spaces.  Similarly investment in Burtons Chambers would create a high quality entrepreneurial workspace.
• The UK Shared Prosperity Fund previously announced would contribute some £3m across various sectors and investment would again be business led.
• Leisure Transformation would see a planning application submitted soon for a £12m development at Wilsons Playing Fields.  An additional £5m was also set to be invested elsewhere, including in Hyndburn Leisure Centre.  The Leader of the Opposition had undertaken some good work as a member of the Board for a number of years.  With Ken Moss now in this role, the Board had gone from strength to strength and Hyndburn Leisure had reduced its annual subsidy from the Council by around £1m.  The Board aspired to improve the quality of sport provision, work with schools and attract additional funding.  Leisure trusts countrywide were envious of Hyndburn.  It was unfair to criticise Hyndburn Leisure for its ambition.  If the Trust did not carry out this role the burden of maintaining the infrastructure and staffing would return to the Council.
• The Local Plan contained aspirations too.  Prior to World War 2 the population of the Borough had peaked at around 97k at the height of the colliery, cotton, and manufacturing industries reign, but had been in decline thereafter.  The economy of the Borough had similarly declined.  In recent years the fall in population had been halted and some growth was now being observed.  Business rates income and office sector growth were up, with locations such as the Globe fully occupied.  Rateable values were also increasing.  It was therefore disappointing that negativity was being expressed publicly about the Local Plan, as this could have the unintended consequence of putting off investors.  The draft Plan had been approved in March last year and had been supported by all at that time.  Housing would be focused on brownfield sites although future sites, after the duration of this Plan, would be much harder to identify.  New employment land was needed and this would be concentrated near Rishton and at Altham.  Views had also been expressed about the proposed Strategic Rail Freight Interchange.  The current planned investment in Accrington Town Centre was only the start of the Borough’s economic revival.
• The Budget for 2023/24 would include around £2.8m in additional capital projects, which would include proposals in the next few months for Mercer Hall.

The overall aim was to bring prosperity to the Borough.

Councillor Melissa Fisher, Joint Deputy Leader of the Labour Group, indicated that the group welcomed the success of the LUF bid, which was a credit to all who had been involved.  Feedback from residents had raised the question how this would impact on their daily lives given the challenges of the cost of living rises.  In addition, some existing town centre businesses saw the LUF money as a threat, as this might create increased competition.  Some business in the townships also saw investment in Accrington as a threat.  It might be useful to think about what message to convey to the wider retail community.  The Leader acknowledged that there was work to be done on communications.  However, the planned regeneration needed to go forward as the bids had been successful.  Some respondents had focused criticism on the food hall ideas for the Market Hall, but the Council intended to bring in an experienced project manager to develop the best possible offer within key town centre buildings.  However it was important not to become transfixed by the town centre development alone, as this would be supported by the wider housing and employment developments which would create the necessary wealth to be spent in the town centre.

Councillor Dad welcomed the LUF monies. He was particularly pleased to see the investment by LCC in the infrastructure at Accrington Railway Station and to hear about the Leader’s longer term ambition to provide a link road between Great Harwood and Clayton-le-Moors.  He queried whether the County Council’s LUF highways improvements would be focused on Accrington town centre or distributed more broadly across the Central Ward.  He suggested that officers of the County Council be invited to give a presentation on their proposals.  The Leader noted that Councillor Dad might have greater access to the information requested, in his role as a County Councillor, but agreed that some communications on this would be useful.  It might also be appropriate to provide this information to the Special Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

Councillor Peter Britcliffe, Deputy Leader of the Conservative Group, commented that the announcement about the LUF monies had noticeably lifted the morale of councillors and officers.  The funding should be welcomed wholehearted and thanks given to the Leader, Deputy Leader, MP, stakeholders and Officers.  This represented a great starting point.  The Leader reiterated his call for all to continue to work together in order to attract further grant funding.  Further bids were due to be submitted for the following:

• Heritage Lottery Funding - £5m
• Cultural Funding (from a Yorkshire based organisation) - £5m
• Infrastructure Funding (for Huncoat Garden Village) - £30m
• Various minor playground and parks renewal bids.

Councillor Marlene Haworth, Deputy Leader, acknowledged that the Council was now dealing with a large sum of money.  It was right to bring in experts to develop the Market Hall and Burtons Chambers.  This would deliver the best chance of early success and longevity for the redeveloped facilities.  The Council must not fail in its ambition and would not fail if all stakeholders worked together.

Resolved                                    -    That the verbal reports of Cabinet members be noted