84 MARKET TOWNS PROGRAMME SPRING UPDATE PDF 291 KB
To consider a report by the Regeneration and Housing Delivery Manager on an update of activity across all strands of the Market Towns Programme.
Executive Councillor: Cllr Sam Wakeford
Contact: Tel: (01480) 388486 or Email: pamela.scott@huntingdonshire.gov.uk.
Additional documents:
Decision:
The Cabinet has received and noted the contents of the report that provided an update on progress within the Market Towns Programme.
Minutes:
With the aid of a report prepared by the Regeneration and Housing Delivery Manager the Cabinet received an update (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) that provided details on the 2023/2024 Q4 update on the Market Towns Programme (MTP).
By way of background the Executive Councillor for Jobs, Economy, and Housing reported that the MTP is an ambitious programme of economic led interventions to renew and reshape our town centres and high streets in a way that promotes growth, improves experiences, and ensures sustainability in the future.
It was noted that the MTP is funded through a combination of external funding from the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities (DLUHC), Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority (CPCA), Huntingdonshire District Council (HDC) Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) and National Highways.
As a result of discussions on the report Cabinet noted that (1) the Digital Information Screen project has now been extended to all Market Towns (Ramsey, St Ives, St Neots and Huntingdon); and (2) the Council has completed a procurement process and awarded a contract for delivery to the supplier Trueform. HDC are now working closely with Town Council partners and others including Huntingdon BID to plan the deployment of the Digital screens. This work will include confirming the information with partners that will be provided via the screens alongside the overall branding and messaging specific to each location.
Members attention was then drawn to the comments of the Overview and Scrutiny Panel, in particular the response to (A) an enquiry from Councillor Pickering, it was noted that the planning application for the Priory Centre was primarily the same as the application presented during the public engagement events but had some amendments to reflect comments received during the engagement events. It was also noted that the Panel heard that the application had been submitted and a link to the application on the portal would be circulated once the application became live. Finally, it had been confirmed that the application allowed for a scope of budget scenarios depending on the funding available once the project was underway; and (B) a question from Councillor Cawley, it was noted that the Shop Fronts Grant Scheme was currently only available to shops within the four market towns due to restrictions within the funding streams, however alternatives were being investigated to allow a similar scheme to be developed for Key Service Areas within the district.
In conclusion after consideration of the report the Chair Moved and Cabinet:
RESOLVED
To note the progress within the Market Towns Programme.
5. MARKET TOWNS PROGRAMME SPRING UPDATE PDF 94 KB
The Panel is invited to comment on the Market Towns Programme Spring Update Report.
Executive Councillor: S Wakeford
Contact: P Scott 01480 388486
Additional documents: