Issue - meetings

To receive the Plan for Neighbourhood update.

Contact: David Wildman, Head of Town Centre Regeneration (Interim).

RESOLVED-

1)    That the Plan for Neighbourhoods update be noted,

2)    That the current Terms of Reference to undergo a review with updates and amendments being made as necessary during the development of the Regeneration Plan (May to December 2025),

3)    That the final version of the Terms of Reference be submitted to Board for approval,

4)    That the Board commits to attending meetings and workshops to support the development of the Regeneration Plan,

5)    That the Board considers a report on the high-level programme for the draft Regeneration Plan in the November 2025 Board meeting, prior to submission to Government in December 2025.

The Board received an update on the plan for Neighbourhoods.  David Wildman, Acting Head of Town Centres advised that in March 2025 Government confirmed that the Long-term plan programme would remain but would be known as Plan for Neighbourhoods with new guidance being released.  As part of the new guidance, the government requested the establishment of Neighbourhood Boards.  Each Board would work in partnership with the community and local authority to develop a ‘Regeneration Plan’ setting out a vision for the next decade alongside a more detailed four year ‘Investment Plan’.  The deadline for submission of the Regeneration Plan was Winter 2025. The Plan was to set out the activities to be delivered to achieve the three strategic objectives of the Plan for Neighbourhoods programme which were, Thriving Places, Stronger Communities, Taking Back Control.  To support the development of the Regeneration Plan, an additional £200,000 capacity funding would be released in the 2025/26 financial year.  This funding would only be made on completion of Board Member and boundary arrangements being agreed by MHCLG.  A deadline set to confirm Neighbourhood Board Membership and boundary was 22^nd April 2025.

The Board noted that Kirklees Officers had met with Government Officers from the Plan for Neighbourhoods who had visited and received a tour of Dewsbury.

During discussion, the Chair specified the importance of Board Members attending meetings in August and November 2025 as scrutiny and oversight of the plans would take place at those meetings prior to submission to Government.

RESOLVED-

1) That the Plan for Neighbourhoods update be noted,

2) That the current Terms of Reference to undergo a review with updates and amendments being made as necessary during the development of the Regeneration Plan (May to December 2025),

3) That the final version of the Terms of Reference be submitted to Board for approval,

4) That the Board commits to attending meetings and workshops to support the development of the Regeneration Plan,

5) That the Board considers a report on the high-level programme for the draft Regeneration Plan in the November 2025 Board meeting, prior to submission to Government in December 2025.