Agenda and minutes

Apologies were received from Councillor Beth Mortenson.

Members of the Radcliffe Cabinet Committee are asked whether thay have any interests on any item on the agenda and if so to formalluy declare that interest.

There were no declarations of interest.

The Leader, Councillor O’Brien will report at the meeting.

The Leader introduced the Committee and confirmed that it was established by Cabinet on 2 September 2020. He set out the remit of Committee as providing political leadership for the delivery of the Radcliffe SRF and as a forum for cross-party engagement and that the Committee will monitor progress in delivering the SRF and make recommendations to Cabinet in relation to investment decisions, acquisitions and have an advisory role on public services integration. He thanked Members for their continued work on this project and noted that, although only Cabinet Members had voting rights, recommendations from the Committee to Cabinet would be made on a consensus basis. It was further noted that the meetings would be held every two months, in public and public questions welcomed.

Report attached

A presentation will be given at the Meeting

Simon Bedford from Deloitte LLP provided an update and presentation on the SRF’s priority projects – the new Civic Hub, Market Chambers Building, residential housing and proposed new school.

Feasibility assessments for the Civic Hub were being carried out which could support any Council bid for public funding. It was stated that the redevelopment of the site is seen as an opportunity to develop a new public services hub in the heart of Radcliffe town centre. This will bring regenerative benefits into the core of the town and provide confidence for other owners to invest in their property and the town in general.  It will help to drive additional footfall within the town centre, improving its vitality and viability to the benefit of existing and new businesses.

It was noted that as the SRF was now a material planning consideration, Members would have more scope when considering applications in Radcliffe.

Surveys and feasibility reports for the Market Chambers building were also being completed and opportunities related to the TSB building were being assessed. The building is centrally located within the core of the town and is an attractive building in a prominent position. The building is largely vacant and in need of comprehensive refurbishment. The SRF proposal is to bring the whole of the building back into active use, with potential to include flexible working space for young start-up businesses and entrepreneurs, particularly those in the technology and creative industries sectors, as well as retail and office use.

In terms of housing developments, it was noted that this one of the key SRF proposals and that the ELPM site was to be developed in partnership with Homes England and funding had been secured for School Street through GM’s allocation of Brownfield Land Fund.  As homes cannot be built in isolation, it was noted that a key part of the SRF was a comprehensive transport plan, including car parking and it was agreed that sequencing of infrastructure management alongside development proposals was important.

In relation to the proposed new high school, members noted that discussions had been held with the DfE regarding the specific education provision needs of Radcliffe (rather than the wider Bury South area) which supported STAR Academies’ application to DfE for funding, the outcome of which was still awaited.

With regards to leisure facilities, a comprehensive leisure review across the borough was ongoing and as such the proposals for Radcliffe were still fluid. It was noted that leisure facilities would be developed, but what and when these would be was decided once the requirements had been determined.

Decision:

The Radcliffe Cabinet Committee noted the progress made on the SRF strategy and the proposed next phase of activity.

A verbal update will be given at the meeting.

Simon Bedford from Deloitte LLP provided a verbal report and advised the Committee that all avenues of external funding were being explored and would be accessed where possible, as well as opportunities for private sector investment. He advised of the proposal for the Council to set up a Capital Investment Fund in order to recycle Council investments into the town and for future projects elsewhere in the borough. Members discussed the proposal, noting that poor economic quarters were anticipated and that similar approaches and private sector partnerships had been successful in the past.

Decision:

The Radcliffe Cabinet Committee noted the proposal for a Capital Investment Fund.

A report from Cllr. Eamonn O’Brien (Leader) – Cabinet Member for Finance and Growth is attached

The Leader presented the report which reviewed phase one of the Radcliffe Shop Front Improvement Scheme and considered how the remaining scheme funds could be most effectively used to support ongoing regeneration of Radcliffe town centre. It was noted that output had not been as successful as hoped, and that the report proposed the remaining funds be used to support improvement works to Radcliffe Market Chambers Building to deliver early activity as part of the Radcliffe SRF.

Members discussed the proposal, noting their disappointment that the Shop Front Scheme hadn’t been more successful, but agreed that the works to Market Chambers building would achieve the same purpose of lifting the area.

Decision:

Radcliffe Cabinet Committee supports the principle of transferring the remaining budget of the Radcliffe Shop Front Grant fund to help deliver improvement works to Radcliffe Market Chambers as part of the wider investment in this high profile building in Radcliffe’s town centre, which is in line with the Radcliffe SRF objectives. A report will be taken to Cabinet to make a formal decision.

Project management and delivery

Paul Lakin, Director of Economic Regeneration & Capital Growth, advised on staffing changes to support delivery after a managed handover from Deloitte, including a Radcliffe Project Manager due to start in March 2021, an Assistant Director post focused on delivery and one focused on strategy to ensure resources were available and staff could be proactive on funding opportunities. He also advised that other Council departments were involved as necessary, under a matrix management approach.

Movement of Council Offices

In response to a Member’s question, it was noted that it is proposed that Council staff would move to the new Civic Hub once it had been established, rather than Market Chambers. It was further noted that staff engagement and consultation would also take place before any move.