Agenda and minutes

To receive any apologies for absence.

Apologies for absence were received from John Adlen, Martin Woods and Simon Yates.

To receive any declarations of interest.

There were no new or updated declarations of Interest, other than those already on file.

To approve as a correct record the minutes of the previous virtual meeting held on 25 November 2022.

RESOLVED

That the minutes of the virtual meeting held on 25 November 2022 be approved as a correct record. The chair went through a list of actions from the previous virtual meeting and updated members on the status of each action accordingly.

To receive a detailed update on the Towns Fund and Accelerated Funding Projects & review their status.

The Board received an update on the Towns Fund and project review.

The Board had agreed in its November meeting that the most prudent course of action, because of the rising cost inflation was that the Lyceum powerhouse should be removed from the program and that the funds from that should be reallocated across the remaining 9 projects to bolster those projects and ensure that they could still deliver the outcomes and impacts anticipated

The project adjustment request was submitted in December and it was hoped that a decision would be received on this by the March board meeting.

In January, following feedback received from the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC), more information on the Warm and Healthy Homes project was submitted in respect of the BCR calculation, along with further detail on the financial profiling and drawdown of funds for all of the schemes.

The Chair thanked Dr Kieran Mullan MP for arranging a meeting prior to Christmas with Dehenna Davison a minister from the Department of Levelling up which gave an opportunity to present the Board’s specific proposal on why it had found it necessary to make the decision to amend its town board investment plan.

The Development & Regeneration Delivery Manager provided an overview of the projects since the last meeting and informed the Board that in terms of projects cost and quality risks nothing had changed.

LY2

-       Site clearance had commenced on the 9 January 2023.

-       Fencing had been erected on 16 January 2023

-       Opening would be June 2023.

Flag Lane Baths

-       Finalised layout plans had been agreed in preparation for RIBA stage 4 design.

Cumberland Arena

-       Planning application decision awaited.

Mill Street Project

-       Publication consultation with Guinness residents undertaken 19 January 2023.

-       Wider public consultation would take place on 16 and 17 February 2023.

History Centre Project

-       Two planning applications had been submitted to Southern Planning Committee which would be considered on the 15 March 2023

One for dismantling the current structure, the creation of new public realm, a new court entrance and replacement car parking

One for the new History Centre building

Repurposing Our High Street

-       There was ongoing engagement with property owners and agents.

-       Following committee approval on 17 January a soft launch had been undertaken for expressions of interest and more than 40 had been received.

-       The scheme launch was planned for March.

Pocket Parks

-       An additional advanced payment had been made for Jubilee Site/Wishing Well.

Youth Zone

-       A planning application had been submitted for Oak Street.

-       DCMS Youth Investment Fund announcement expected shortly.

Ly2

The board discussed the custodianship and programming of the space moving forwards and stressed the importance of ensuring community involvement. Given the multiple stakeholders who border the space, and who would be involved in its potential programming, it is important that all stakeholders collaborate and coordinate, to ensure the space operates smoothly and effectively. It was agreed that the cultural economy  ...  view the full minutes text for item 57.

To discuss the Boards remit outside of the Towns Fund initiative, Board Member Recruitment and Board Governance.

Further discussions would be had outside of the Board in respect of how the Board moves forward into the delivery phase of the Towns Fund programme.

Further discussions were also planned around future board member recruitment. There would be a meeting with the Chair, Head of Economic Development and HR to discuss further.

RESOLVED:

That the update be noted.

Toreceive anupdate fromthe Communication& EngagementSub-Group.

Marketing Crewe

The Board heard how following a meeting with colleagues who had been involved with the Marketing Derby initiative a visit to Doncaster had been planned which unfortunately had to be rearranged, and a new date was still to be confirmed.

Mill Street corridor

The consultation was due to take place on the 16^th – 17^th February and communications would be issued next week.

Royal Arcade Heritage Wall

The news about the Royal Arcade Heritage Wall had gone out to the media and information had been added to the board's website as well, to link the video.

Repurposing High Street funds

There would be a comprehensive communications plan to go along side that with the launch scheduled for March.

RESOLVED:

That the update be noted.

Toreceive anupdate from theDirector of Growth and Enterprise.  

The Board received a strategic update from the Development & Regeneration Delivery Manager which included

Royal Arcade Phase 1 (Bus Station and MSC)

-       The temporary bus station was now operational. The existing bus station had closed on 3 January with temporary stands and access in place until December 2023.

Flag Lane

-       There would be works in place from January to April due to project and unrelated SPEN utility works.

Southern Gateway

-       A planning decision was expected in February 2023.

-       The final element of land assembly was being pursued.

Levelling Up Fund

-       The government had announced the latest Levelling Up Fund allocations and unfortunately Cheshire East had not been successful with its bids.

Whilst the Board was disappointed with the outcome of the initial levelling up fund bid,  it agreed that requesting appropriate feedback would be useful as there were other areas that had previously been unsuccessful in initial rounds, who were then successful in further rounds when they adjusted future submissions based on the constructive feedback they had  received.

RESOLVED

That the update be noted.

Toput forward anyother items ofbusiness.

RESOLVED:

That the Director of Growth and Enterprise would seek advice and guidance on whether there would be a Crewe Town Board meeting held in April due to the commencement of the purdah period prior to the local elections.

Toconfirm thedate ofthe nextmeeting as 03 March 2023commencing at9.30am.

RESOLVED

That the date of the next virtual meeting take place on Friday 3 March 2023 commencing at 9.30am.