Agenda and minutes

To receive any apologies for absence.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Nick Mannion, Andy Butler, Rick Carter, Martin Wood and Elliot Grimshaw.

To receive any declarations of interest.

There were no declarations of interests.

To approve as a correct record the minutes of the previous virtual meeting held on 03.01.2025.

RESOLVED:

That the minutes of the meeting held on 03.01.2025 be approved as a correct record.

To formally appoint a new Board Member.

RESOLVED:

That Ian Moston, Chief Executive Officer at Leighton Hospital, be formally appointed as a Crewe Town Board Member.

To receive an update on the progress of the Crewe BID.

The Board received an update on the progress of the Crewe Business Improvement District (BID) from Andrea Morely, Commercial BIDs Manager, and Matt Deeley, Crewe BID Project Manager.

The Board were updated that the Crewe BID focussed on three geographical areas:

1.    Grand Junction Retail Park

2.    Nantwich Road

3.    Town Centre

The BID’s aims were to:

1.    Create a better Crewe experience

2.    Make a cleaner, greener, safer Crewe

3.    Connect Crewe’s business communities

In its first year, the BID had:

·         Established The Crewe BID Company LTD and Board

·         Recruited a local Project Manager

·         Created the B2C Brand – “Discover Crewe”

·         Provided free training courses for members

·         Engaged with the Business Community

·         Formed partnerships with Key Stakeholders, including Cheshire Police

The BID noted the successful and wide-ranging quantity of events which were scheduled in Crewe and aimed to work with existing activities in order to further promote and support them, and noted the importance of ensuring that projects were being co-ordinated, and were not duplicating existing events.

The Board noted the importance of the BID’s engagement with local marketing campaigns, including that of Cheshire East Council, Marketing Crewe, and Cheshire Police. It was noted that further work on the Crewe BID’s social media platforms would be undertaken.

The Board were updated that, going forward, the Crewe BID would:

·         Continue to support Crewe Town Council events

·         Further engagement with Lyceum Square

·         Install Wayfinding and lamppost banners

·         Support additional Christmas lights in the Nantwich Road and Grand Junction Retail Park areas

·         Progress an additional 32 workstreams.

RESOLVED:

The Crewe BID requested that Cheshire East Council, Crewe Town Council and the Crewe Town Board, keep them informed of any requests for support or integration and project opportunities.

That the updates be noted.

To receive an update from the Valley Brook team on the progress of the project.

The Board received an update on the progress of the Valley Brook Project from Matt Greenhalgh and Hayley Kirkham, Project Managers.

The Board were updated that since the original Business Case was presented, project costs had increased, and the benefits had reduced. The current project faced a number of financial and time constraints and the Board were presented with a revised project proposal in order to ensure the delivery of the project, but on a reduce scale, taking into account the consultation responses.

It was noted that although the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) had indicated that they would be open to options surrounding extensions to project deadlines, it was important for the project to continue to deliver the outcomes as soon as possible, and to find a solution which was compliant with the Towns Fund guidelines.

In addition to the works already completed, the project would now utilise the remaining funds to proceed with the detailed design and delivery of all three of the Off Road Routes including the improvements to the river in Valley Park, and deliver On Road Improvements along Alton Street & Electricity Street. It was noted that these works would continue to deliver improvements to parks and open spaces in Crewe, specifically Valley Park and Tipkinder Park, and would also deliver benefits to support walking and cycling in Crewe.

RESOLVED:

The project team to deliver the final project as soon as possible, considering responses from the community consultation, to deliver the best outcomes for Crewe.

That the updates be noted.

To receive an update on the Towns Fund projects.

The Board received an update on several of the Towns Fund Projects and Additional Programme Management updates from Jez Goodman, Development and Regeneration Manager, and individual project sponsors.

The Board were updated that, following MHCLG’s indication that requests could be made for extensions to the Town’s Fund grant, related to extensions of time for “non-contracted” expenditure, Cheshire East Council was invited to submit requests, and MHCLG had confirmed that Cheshire East Council’s request for £1,893,000 to be rolled into 2026 / 2027 had been approved.

Repurposing Our High Streets – A total of 11 businesses were now open in Crewe as a result of the scheme, with 7 further applications pending. New case study videos were now online, including Total Tile and Big Mugs, with ABC Nursey to follow.

History Centre and Public Realm – The replacement surface car park would be open from March 2025 and the ice cream van element was progressing with Cheshire College South and West. The new History Centre construction commenced in January 2025.

Youth Zone – The publicised discovery of “former chapel” at the site was expected and archaeological expertise had been part of this phase of the project. BT Openreach were due to complete their delayed works in early February 2025 and United Utilities sewer diversion work had been agreed, but needed to be confirmed to avoid conflict with the Southern Gateway project. The identification of coal tar was likely to delay the construction period. NWF were the latest founder patron. The project was forecast to complete by February 2026.

Crewe Youth Club – Theroof and solar panels were being put in place. It was expected to open in Spring 2025.

Cumberland Arena – Issues with the substation had caused some delays.

Warm and Healthy Homes – A total of 43 of 65 properties had signed up. The RIBA stage 3 had now been completed and works would focus on windows and buildingfabric.

Southern Gateway – The project was now expected to complete in April 2025.

Royal Arcade – Previous plans had been redesigned to create an open grassed area with a timber knee-rail fence and footpath and hardstanding which could accommodate a range of meanwhile uses, which could be delivered by a range of partners. The next phase of the project would be delivered in a two-phase approach between February 2025 and October 2025.

*Mill Street Corridor – Phase 2a of the project commenced in January 2025, with relocation of the site compound to the Railway Street car park. A new crossing arrangement which had been planned for the Nantwich Road Bridge would not be implemented at this time. The loss of any trees would be mitigated with the planting of new trees and significant other greening along the route. Comms to residents would be issued.

*Pocket Parks – Lime Tree Avenue and Samuel Street Pocket Parks’ play equipment would be installed in April and May 2025.

*Jubilee / Wishing Well Project – There had been some design revisions  ...  view the full minutes text for item 85.

To receive a Strategic Update from Peter Skates, Director of Growth and Enterprise.

The Board received a Strategic Update on Devolution in Cheshire and Warrington, from Peter Skates, Director of Growth and Enterprise.

The Board were updated that the Government had published a white paper and identified proposed levels of Strategic Authority:

• Foundation Strategic Authorities: these include non-mayoral Combined Authorities and Combined County Authorities automatically, and any Local Authority designated as a Strategic Authority without a Mayor.
• Mayoral Strategic Authorities: the Greater London Authority, all Mayoral Combined Authorities and all Mayoral Combined County Authorities will automatically begin as Mayoral Strategic Authorities.
• Established Mayoral Strategic Authorities: This unlocks further devolution, most notably an Integrated Settlement

It was noted that the financial administration of the strategic authorities was separate from the budgets of the local authorities, and the financial position of any council did not have a financial impact of the strategic authority or on partner councils.

It was noted that Cheshire and Warrington had been accepted for the Priority Programme

The Board were updated that areas where Strategic Authorities would have a mandate to act strategically were:

·         Transport and local infrastructure

·         Skills and employment support

·         Housing and strategic planning

·         Economic development and regeneration

·         Environment and climate change

·         Health, welling and public service reform

·         Public safety

It was noted that further comms would be provided to ensure the information was digestible and available to all on the benefits of devolution, and what it would mean for Cheshire and Warrington.

RESOLVED:

That the updates be noted.

To note any other items of business.

Concerns surrounding reduced footfall in the Crewe Market Hall were noted.

To confirm the date of the next meeting as 07.03.2025 commencing at 09:30am.

RESOLVED:

That the date of the next meeting be confirmed as 07.03.2025 commencing at 09:30am.