Long Term Plan Update
Contact: David Wildman, Strategic Partnership Lead –Development,
Town Centres.
James Blamires, Economic Resilience Project Officer.
Decision:
To note the Long-Term Plan Update.
Contact: David Wildman, Strategic Partnership Lead – Town Centres, Development
James Blamires, Economic Resilience Project Officer
RESOLVED: That the Long-Term Plan update be noted.
Minutes:
The Chair advised the Board that the Long-Term Plan had not yet been submitted to government and would be determined after the autumn budget.
David Wildman, Acting Head of Town Centres, provided a summary of the engagement activities undertaken to inform the Long-Term Plan which included key engagement statistics.
Mr Wildman provided an update and shared data on the engagement survey, it was noted that there was an imbalance in the demographic profile, particularly in relation to engaging with younger people and that most respondents either lived or worked in Dewsbury.
Mr Wildman informed the Board that the project team was strengthening its understanding by targeting a more diverse range of respondents, businesses and young people. A member of the public had offered to help in reaching local mosques and cultural community centres. The Survey highlighted three words describing Dewsbury, where empty and unsafe were featured highly. Two-thirds of respondents found that the town to be unclean, with many people reporting that a more reliable bus service would make it easier to travel to and from town, along with free or cheaper car parking.
Mr Wildman presented a final slide which quoted individual responses from respondents, including ideas such as celebrating the town’s past, introducing a repair café, more restaurants and bars and bringing more homes into the town centre.
In summing up, Mr Wildman concluded that he was confident in the data, and that strong themes had emerged which gave a good insight into what the people of Dewsbury wanted for the town. Five clear priorities were identified which were: buildings, safety and security, activity, supporting businesses, and more events. These priorities would shape where the funding should be allocated in the Long-Term Plan. Mr Wildman reiterated the importance of support from community leaders in promoting the engagement activities.
During discussion the Board commented on the town being advertised as a Leisure Town, when there was no ambition for a leisure centre. Mr Wildman responded that his reading of the data suggested that the leisure activities wanted were cultural and sporting programmes that could be done within the community, whilst working with existing groups and various communities within Kirklees could result in the town becoming a centre for integration. It was noted that the Board would agree the long-term plan at a future meeting.
RESOLVED –
That the Long-Term Plan update be noted.