Decisions

To support the Council’s delivery of the Northern Gateway Western Access scheme during the scheme’s pre-construction stages (ie. SCAPE Stage 2/ Outline Business Case and SCAPE Stage 3/ Full Business Case), a dedicated external consultancy, Bentley Project Management UK Ltd, has been procured to provide project management, cost management, business case preparation and assurance, and land and property development commercial services. This is because the Council does not have the necessary internal resources or technical skills to deliver this time critical work which is required to progress the Stage 2 (OBC) and Stage 3 (FBC) Pre-construction stages of the Western Access scheme in compliance with Investment Zone grant funding requirements (see attachment).

International funding was available to bid for through the Greater Manchester Combined Authority. Bury Council worked in partnership with Persona (our Local Authority Trading Company) and was successful with 3 years of funding to use in the area of Moorside, chosen because it is one of the most deprived wards in the borough. The Project successfully opened up a café in the local park which is now a sustainable community hub with lots of activities and a community garden, the idea is to improve health and wellbeing through social interaction and connectivity. The Project has its own Partnership Board with key stakeholders from the community, including council colleagues, public health colleagues, the Police, and local community groups and volunteers. The Project has led a piece of work called ‘couch to out and about’, they’ve done walkability assessments, installed benches, and facilitate a traditional south Asian breakfast morning.