Agenda item

That the progress of the Regeneration Service over the last 12 months be noted.

The Regeneration Manager presented an update report on the activities of the Regeneration Service over the past 18 months.

An overview was given of the significant progress made on a range of workstreams under the Vibrant and Viable Places (VVP) programme including regeneration and environmental improvements.  On Disabled Facilities Grants (DFGs), officers were exploring different ways of delivery to reduce timescales.  Although performance was improving, the aim was to exceed the target through recruitment, benchmarking with other councils and reviewing how performance was reported.  An update was also given on empty homes activities, as referred to in the previous item, including the ‘Living Over the Shops’ grant funding which the Council was keen to explore further to meet demand.  A review was underway to identify how town centre regeneration could be supported and to consider the use of capital funding to support core activities given the reduction in external grant funding.

Councillor Ian Dunbar congratulated officers on the report and commended the work of the Green Team.  He also expressed disappointment that his ward was outside the VVP.  In response to concerns about an outstanding DFG, the Chief Officer asked that such issues be raised directly with the Regeneration team to follow up.

Councillor Derek Butler gave assurance that solutions were being explored to address DFG issues as well as addressing the disparity in performance reporting by different councils.  He referred to complex issues around regeneration and highlighted the Council’s success in delivering a number of key projects.  He went on to talk about the impact of the loss of Communities First and uncertainty on external funding.

Whilst Councillor Rosetta Dolphin welcomed the empty homes activities set out in the report, she pointed out that this was a minor proportion of the 796 properties that were currently empty.  The Chief Officer highlighted the range of measures being explored to encourage owners to return their properties to use and gave a reminder that the total number had reduced by 10% since the previous year.  Councillor Dolphin stressed the importance of publicising the Council’s powers to encourage other homeowners to bring their properties back into use.  On town centre regeneration, she referred to funding available for groups to take on assets and said that outcomes may not always concur with the needs of the wider community.  The Service Manager said that these points reinforced the need for partnership working which the Council was aiming to do by bringing together stakeholders.

Progress on the VVP was welcomed by Councillor Andy Dunbobbin for the improvements in his ward.

In response to comments from Councillor David Cox on the forthcoming Chancellor’s Statement, the Regeneration Manager said there was a need for a balanced focus on regeneration as well as new build developments.

Councillor Peter Curtis felt that attempts should be made to establish the causes of long-term empty shops, such as those in his ward.  Councillor Butler suggested that a range of factors could be involved and agreed that adequate resources were required to support town regeneration.  The Service Manager pointed out that this was a national problem, in particular for small town centres, and that significant work had been done to support local shop owners.  He agreed to contact the owners of a specific long-term vacant shop unit in Holywell.

RESOLVED:

That the progress of the Regeneration Service over the last 12 months be noted.