Issue - meetings

To receive a report from the Strategic Growth Manager providing an update across the interventions identified as part of the Medium Term Programme which include the St Neots Future High Street Programme, Accelerated Towns Programme and Longer Term Programme.

Executive Councillor: R Fuller.

Cabinet noted progress made to date and proposed next steps and noted that a further update and associated decisions to enable ongoing delivery of the programme will be brought to Cabinet in the Summer Update.

The Cabinet received and noted a report by the Strategic Growth Manager (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) on progress made to date on the Market Towns Programme (MTP) and associated work streams of the Future High Streets Fund (FHSF), Phase 1 - Accelerated Towns Programme and Phase 2 – Longer Term Programme.

Members welcomed the content of the update that assisted in providing clarification on the status of projects and avoidance of misinterpretation. The Executive Leader explained that he had been working with the Communications Manager in the provision of further communications on the Programme to be published and it was noted that a further update and associated decisions to enable ongoing delivery of the programme would be brought to Cabinet in the Summer Update.

The Market Towns Programme – Spring Update is to be presented to the Panel.

By means of a report by the Strategic Growth Manager (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book), the Market Towns Programme – Spring Update was presented to the Panel.

The Chairman complemented the report and praised the phenomenal amount of work done by the officers.

This sentiment was echoed by Councillor Roberts, who also enquired if assurances could be given on the timescales mentioned in point 7.1 of the report. The Panel were assured that the Council were committed to ensuring that the funding provided the best outcome for residents and maximised the potential of the opportunity. The Panel were further reassured that there were no concerns over the deadlines referred to.

Following several questions from Councillor Chapman regarding the projects within St Neots, the Panel were advised that conversations were ongoing with relevant parties regarding the Old Falcon property in order to make best use of available funding and regeneration schemes within the town centre. It was also confirmed that a public consultation had begun in the previous year to ensure that the voices of St Neots residents and businesses would be heard throughout the Future High Streets Fund.

Councillor Chapman expressed further concerns that the demographic of residents living near to the new footbridge would mean it’s potential would not be realised and queried if any research on demographics had been undertaken. It was clarified to the Panel that the new footbridge was a positive step in encouraging active travel within the town and further assisted in making the town centre as accessible as possible to all residents.

Clarification was requested by Councillor Wakeford regarding the timescales mentioned within the report. The Panel were advised that the report would return to the democratic cycle of meetings in addition to a public consultation, both expected in Summer 2022, to further update on and to progress projects.

The Panel thereupon

RESOLVED

that the Cabinet be encouraged to endorse the recommendations contained within the report.