Issue - meetings

To receive an update on the Long Term Plan.

Contact: David Wildman, Acting Head of Town Centres.

              James Blamires, Economic Resilience Project Officer,

              Michelle Illingworth, Project Officer, Dewsbury Town

              Investment Plan.

RESOLVED –

That the Long-Term Plan Update be noted.

The Board received an update on the Long-Term Plan by David Wildman, Strategic Partnership Lead, which included the following key information:

The updated guidance from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government had not yet been published but was expected to be received by the end of the financial year. The guidance was expected to set out details of the following:

·       The name of the plan, as it was unlikely to remain as the Long-Term Plan

·       Funding, including values, timescale and capacity funding for 2025/26

·       Priorities and Investment themes

·       Requirements of the submission and content

·       Timescales for submission

The Board were reminded of the five key areas identified for the Long-Term Plan during the engagement phase of 2023/24, which were:

·       Bringing empty buildings and derelict spaces back into use including new homes

·       Improving safety & security to tackle current issues and enable longer-term prevention

·       Making the town more attractive

·       Supporting businesses

·       Providing more things to do including events, cultural programmes and sports for younger people

The Board were advised that £200,000 capacity funding was expected to be available for 2024/25, which would be allocated by Government to prepare for the delivery of capital and revenue interventions in 2025/26.

The Board recognised that more could be done with the funding. A number of Board Members and Council officers who worked in Dewsbury had completed a survey to identify priorities for this funding, and commonality had been found in the results of the two groups. Four of the top five priorities in both groups were:

·       A Multi-disciplinary Safety and Security team

·       Events

·       Housing and Economic Action Plan

·       Meanwhile-use Strategy

It was proposed that a plan for the capacity funding would be drawn up, for discussion at the next meeting.

RESOLVED –

That the Long-Term Plan Update be noted.