Decision details

Councillor Eamonn O’Brien, the Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Finance and Growth, presented the report which advised that Bury, as one of 68 local authorities, has been selected for the newly announced support from the High Streets Task Force to provide a package of direct expert advice and support to local authorities, communities and businesses to deliver long-term transformation to towns and cities in England. It was proposed that Whitefield centre should be selected as the focus for this support but that this could be part of a wider project to support surrounding areas as well.

In response to Members’ questions, it was noted that Ward Councillor engagement was crucial to bolster engagement with local businesses. Residents were passionate about Whitefield and lots could be done with the right strategy to address the identified issues around access etc. With regards to encompassing wider communities, it was noted that the Taskforce would be one aspect of the wider plan for Whitefield and Unsworth. The experience of the Taskforce could be used to build strategies tailored to other communities, and the next nine months would be used to identify how best to use this opportunity to regenerate the physical landscape and also improve people’s quality of life and opportunities.

Decision:

Cabinet agreed to the selection of Whitefield centre as the focus for the receipt of support and to inform the High Streets Task Force accordingly.

Reasons for the decision:

The Task Force has already been informed that the Council would like to accept their offer of support and they are now asking the Council to select a high street, town or city centre area to receive direct Task Force support aimed at overcoming specific challenges and unlocking potential. Whitefield is in relatively close proximity and is well connected to the larger town centres of Prestwich and Radcliffe – including connectivity via Metrolink. As such, Radcliffe and Prestwich represent reasonable alternatives for Whitefield residents wishing to access town centre shops, services and other facilities and the attractiveness of these centres will be likely to increase once regeneration plans are implemented.

Other options considered and rejected:

The Borough’s other key centres of Bury, Radcliffe, Prestwich, Ramsbottom and Tottington were also considered and rejected. Significant work and expertise have already been focused on the planning and regeneration of other key centres on the Borough or, in the case of Tottington, function on a more self-contained basis, rather than the level of connectivity to larger, alternative centres, as is the case with Whitefield.