Chairs Update
Keith Ramsay – Chair of Board
Decision:
RESOLVED:
That the Chair’s update be noted.
Minutes:
The Chair provided an update on a number of issues, which included updates from Kirklees Council officers.
Clarity on the geographical boundary of the Town Board and whether the Dewsbury Sports Centre is within that geographical boundary.
- David Wildman, Head of Town Centre Regeneration apologised for any previous confusion regarding geographic and funding boundaries. He went on to state the following:
- The geographic boundary for the Town Board was set by Central Government as the Office for National Statistics ONS Built Up Area, this is the area shown in Appendix A of the March 2024 Terms of Reference. In developing the Town Investment Plan it was agreed that the primary focus of investment activities should be the town centre. In response to the Long-term Plan for Towns guidance, issued by the Government, the Terms of Reference were updated (and issued in March 2024) but the geographic boundary for the Town Board remained unchanged as the ONS Built Up Area.
- However, it was agreed by Board members with advice from Government officials that any future funding should focus on the town centre to ensure future investment builds on and aligns with existing regeneration plans and priorities.
- The Sports Centre has always been within the boundary of the geographic area covered by the Town Board. However, the Town Deal funding was allocated to specific schemes (the majority of which are within the town centre to support economic regeneration) through an appraisal and business case process which was approved by Government.
- We await the new prospectus and scope for the long-term plan for Towns but we expect the geographic boundary to remain as is shown within Appendix A of the March 2024 Terms of Reference.
Summary of how the Town Deal projects were identified
- The Chair provided a summary to remind members the process undertaken to identify the Town Deal projects:
- The Strategic Development Framework 2010 was developed in partnership with Kirklees Council and Yorkshire Forward and included an extensive amount of public engagement.
- The Strategic Development Framework 2018 was a refresh of the original 2010 Strategic Development Fund and developed and set out a 25-year vision for the town centre. It was supported by a delivery programme that included projects and actions over the next 5 years.
- Dewsbury Blueprint was launched in Spring 2020 and outlined a 10-year plan to bring more activity into the centre, and make it more attractive and more accessible.
- Dewsbury Blueprint Consultation undertaken in 2020 by Kirklees Council sought to gain an understanding from the public as to how the Blueprint should be shaped, for the benefit of for residents, business and visitors to the town centre.
- June 2020 - Avison Young appointed to prepare and develop the Dewsbury Town Investment Plan (TIP), this included a review of the above documents and consultation results.
- October 2020 – Social Communications appointed to carry out an inclusive programme of consultation and engagement to support the ... view the full minutes text for item 7