Agenda and minutes

To receive apologies for absence from those Members who are unable to attend the meeting.

Apologies were received from Councillor Gwen Lowe and Andrew Bird, Co-Optee.

To approve the Minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 6 January 2022 and 8 February 2022.

The amended Minutes of the meeting held on 6^th January 22 and the meeting held on 8^th February 2022 were agreed as a correct record.

The Councillors will be asked to say if there are any items on the Agenda in which they have disclosable pecuniary interests, which would prevent them from participating in any discussion of the items or participating in any vote upon the items, or any other interests.

No Interests were declared.

Most debates take place in public. This only changes when there is a need to consider certain issues, for instance, commercially sensitive information or details concerning an individual. You will be told at this point whether there are any items on the Agenda which are to be discussed in private.

All items were considered in the public session.

The Panel will receive any petitions and hear any deputations from members of the public. A deputation is where up to five people can attend the meeting and make a presentation on some particular issue of concern. A member of the public can also hand in a petition at the meeting but that petition should relate to something on which the body has powers and responsibilities.

In accordance with Council Procedure Rule 10 (2), Members of the Public should provide at least 24 hours’ notice of presenting a deputation.

No deputations or petitions were received.

The Board will hear any questions from the general public. Due to Covid-19 restrictions, questions should be emailed to executive.governance@kirklees.gov.uk  no later than 10am on 2^nd March 2022.

No questions were received from the public.

The Panel will consider the report Update on the Huddersfield Blueprint including the Cultural Heart.

Contact:

           David Glover, Senior Responsible Officer, Economy and Skills.

The Panel considered a report providing an update on the Huddersfield Blueprint which included the Cultural Heart presented by Joanne Bartholomew, Service Director of Development. David Glover, Senior Responsible Officer for Economy & Skills, Councillor Peter McBride, Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Councillor Eric Firth, Cabinet Member for Town Centres were also in attendance.

Cllr Peter McBride advised that the update provided detailed examples of Cultural Heart and the overall blueprint, along with the progress by consultants who guided the development of the project.

Joanne Bartholomew gave a presentation which highlighted the key points in respect of the 10 year vision:

• George Hotel
• Northumberland Street Regeneration Project
• New Street including Huddersfield Market Decant
• Kingsgate Cinema
• 103 New Street
• Bus Station
• Station to Stadium Enterprise Corridor

George Hotel

The Hotel had come into the Council’s possession in 2020.  Since that time work had taken place on the first phase of physical repair to the building to ensure that it was watertight and fit for the next phase of development.  The project was complex and due to be completed by January 2023.  The main objective was to secure the most sustainable long-term future for the building. 

Work had progressed with a specialist development manager to identify an optimum use and offer for the building that was attractive to the market.  Specialist advice identified the need to increase room numbers and sizes, deal with accessibility issues throughout the building and ensure the food and beverage space could be maximised. The ambition was to deliver a 90-bed hotel space.

The listed status of the building was a major consideration and work had been undertaken with conservation architects with experience of hotel development. The next stage of the work was to develop a final design for the new hotel for Cabinet to consider in Summer 2022.  Ahead of this the concept would be marketed to the hotel sector during March and April 2022.

Northumberland Street Regeneration Project including Huddersfield Market

The Project was looking at the existing Huddersfield Open Market area with an intention to be the location for the future Huddersfield’s Market offer. The long-term vision was considered at Cabinet on 18^th January 2022, with the objective being to have a destination that was attractive to a wide audience and also support the business and commuter activity that was emerging in the area of town.  A series of initial design options with business cases were being prepared and the project would be considered alongside other proposals for possible levelling up bids, should a further round be announced from the Government. The project had been impacted by the TransPennine Route upgrade, and it was unlikely that the project would be delivered before 2025.

New Street

The replacement of the public realm for New Street was underway and had undergone consultation.  The project envisaged a revitalization of the street as a high-quality pedestrian space with room for events and pop-up stalls.  Work had concentrated on investigating statutory undertaker apparatus and cellars in the area.  The remainder  ...  view the full minutes text for item 7.

The Panel will consider its work programme for 2021/22.

Contact:

Jodie Harris, Principal Governance and Democratic Engagement Officer

The Panel considered the work programme for 2021/22 municipal year with Playable Spaces to be scheduled for the meeting on 7April 2022.

RESOLVED:

That the work programme for the 2021/22 municipal year be noted.