Issue - meetings

To consider the Dewsbury Regeneration Plan report.

Contact: Thomas Fish, Acting Head of Town Centre Regeneration.

RESOLVED –

That the Board approve the submission of the Regeneration Plan to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government by the 28^th November 2025, subject to the rewording of the report to include the wider context of Dewsbury within the vision for the plan.

Thomas Fish, Acting Head of Town Centres Regeneration, presented a report on the Dewsbury Regeneration Plan.

The Board were advised that:

·       The purpose of the report and the associated documents was to seek Board's approval on the Regeneration Plan to be able to submit to MHCLG by the deadline of 28^th November 2025.

·       Community engagement, workshops and strategy meetings had fed into the vision for the Plan.

·       Following submission, there would be further opportunity in January/February 2026 to have further strategy sessions in preparation for the funding.

·       Key performance indicators, implementation, evaluation and monitoring would be worked on with the Board, following submission.

·       The 10-year Regeneration Plan and 4-year Investment Plan were aligned with Plan for Neighbourhood’s three strategic objectives: Thriving Places, Stronger Communities and Taking Back Control.

·       The Plan covered six themes of intervention which reflected community engagement priorities:

1.    Improving Safety & Security

2.    Supporting Businesses

3.    Growth Plans

4.    Redevelop Underused Sites

5.    Creative & Cultural Events

6.    Streets for Everyone

During discussion the Board raised the importance of the local context of Dewsbury, particularly in terms of deprivation, which was outlined in the report, and the magnitude of the challenges faced, however the Board recognised that this plan would be a step in the right direction for the town.

The Board suggested that the report be presented in a way that the public could easily digest, and which reflected the level of public engagement that had shaped the priorities.

Mohamed Iqbal, Member of Parliament, asked if the Board would consider funding a survey of the Dewsbury Sport Centre to investigate the possibility of re-opening it as a leisure facility. The Chair responded that the matter had already been brought to a vote by the Board, who would continue to support and recognise the need for sports and leisure facilities in Dewsbury, within the scope available to them.

During discussion over reporting on milestones and progress reporting during the delivery of the plan, it was agreed that the Council, as the accountable body, would keep records of the funding for each of the projects, and report to government 6-12 monthly, as well as feeding back to the Board more regularly and potentially publishing this reporting on the website. The exact nature of the reporting and the metrics would be discussed and agreed in January/February with the Board.

RESOLVED –

That the Board approve the submission of the Regeneration Plan to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government by the 28^th November 2025, subject to the rewording of the report to include the wider context of Dewsbury within the vision for the plan.