Agenda item

Report of Corporate Manager, Regeneration, Growth and Community Development (copy herewith)

Councillor Caswell submitted a report that reviewed the work of the Regeneration Team over the previous year and that proposed a strategy for taking regeneration and growth forward.  He commented that a great deal of progress had been made.

The Corporate Manager, Regeneration Growth and Community Development commented on progress to date and in particular referred to the Northampton Brownfield Initiative with English Partnerships and the recent opening of Edgar Mobbs Way which opened up access to industrial land, provided additional flood protection, provided access to the Country Park at Stortons Pits and provided access to extra car parking for the Football and Rugby Clubs.  The road had reduced the amount of traffic passing through St James.

The Corporate Manager commented that the Central Area Framework (Town Centre Vision) had been produced with partners and had been generally well received.  He suggested that some capital receipts from regeneration disposal could be used so as to facilitate regeneration scheme objectives but bearing in mind the Council’s Capital Programme policies and considering each issue on a case by case basis. 

Councillor Hadland commented that the use of capital receipts as a regeneration tool was a good idea but some further details as to how this would be controlled needed to be given. 

Councillor Larratt noted that the strategic direction of the regeneration strategy appeared to make no mention of health or education and training.  He noted that employers who were seeking to improve the skills base of the Town were not yet much in evidence.  He also noted the importance of the public realm projects but was concerned that ongoing maintenance of features needed to be considered.  The Corporate Manager for Regeneration, Growth & Community Development commented that he believed Councillor Larratt’s points about education and health and training were covered by the references to social regeneration issues and economic environment to attract quality employment stated in paragraph 4.2 of the report.

Councillor Hadland commented that there were sufficient groups in existence to provide a co-ordinated approach to progressing the direction of the programme and the priorities of the regeneration scheme.

RESOLVED: (1) That the progress on regeneration schemes and actions taken to date be noted. 

                        (2) That the strategic direction for regeneration and growth as detailed in the report and the project priorities proposed in paragraph 4.3 be agreed.

                        (3) That whilst complying with the Council’s Capital Programme Policies and Procedures to note that some specific regeneration schemes be considered on a case-by-case basis; it may be appropriate to explore the use of the Council’s land as a resource in regeneration partnerships to generate long term revenue returns for the Council to consider using a proportion of receipts from land sales to support regeneration initiatives.

                        (4) That the Town Centre Vision be supported.

                        (5) That the report made by BDP Consultants for WNDC be supported for wide public consultation.

                        (6) That the coordination of the existing groups to secure a joint working arrangement with partner organisations to progress the strategic direction programme and priorities of the regeneration scheme.