Agenda Item No: 5 Committee: Overview & Scrutiny Date: 9
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Agenda Item No: 5 Committee: Overview & Scrutiny Date: 9 February 2015 Report Title: Wisbech 2020 Vision Update 1 Purpose / Summary To provide the Overview and Scrutiny Committee with an update in regard to the Wisbech 2020 Vision project. 2 Key issues • The Wisbech 2020 Vision project was first commissioned in April 2012 by the Leaders of Cambridgeshire County Council and Fenland District Council and the MP for North East Cambridgeshire. • Extensive engagement was carried out with stakeholders, local businesses and the public in the development of a future vision for the town. The comments, ideas and suggestions resulting from this consultation were used to inform the Wisbech 2020 Summit in October 2012 at which stakeholders considered the initial ideas from the consultation. The outcomes from the Summit were then used to inform the Vision document which was launched at the Wisbech 2020 Vision launch in January 2013. • The Vision is split into three themes of: o Wisbech – a great place to work o Wisbech – a great place to live o Wisbech – a great place to visit • A total of 29 long and short term actions were assigned to a theme lead to progress the work with progress updates posted on the Wisbech 2020 Vision website. • Many successes have been achieved through collaborative working as a part of the Wisbech 2020 Vision which have been shared and celebrated at the summit meetings held in October 2012 and September 2014. • The 3rd Wisbech 2020 Vision summit is taking place on Friday 13 March 2015. It will include an update on progress achieved against all of the actions within the Vision as well as provide stakeholders with an opportunity to present ideas for future actions for incorporation into a revised Vision document. 3 Recommendations That Overview and Scrutiny are asked to: • Note the report • Provide feedback on the future direction of Wisbech 2020 Wards Affected All Wisbech wards (including the surrounding rural wards) Forward Plan Reference Portfolio Holder(s) Cllr John Clark Leader of the Council Cllr David Oliver Community Safety and Wisbech Report Originator(s) Carol Pilson, Corporate Director Email: [email protected] Gary Garford, Corporate Director Email: [email protected] Jo Blackmore, Executive Officer Email: [email protected] Contact Officer(s) Paul Medd, Chief Executive Email: [email protected] Carol Pilson, Corporate Director Email: [email protected] Gary Garford, Corporate Director Email: [email protected] Jo Blackmore, Executive Officer Email: [email protected] Background Paper(s) The Wisbech 2020 Vision 1 Background / introduction 1.1 The Wisbech 2020 Vision project was first commissioned in April 2012 by the Leaders of Cambridgeshire County Council and Fenland District Council, and the MP for North East Cambridgeshire. They expressed their joint resolve to tackle the many challenges that Wisbech, and other local towns, face in today’s tough economic climate. 1.2 To ensure that the Vision document reflected the thoughts and ideas of as many people as possible, consultation was carried out with stakeholders, local businesses and the public. This was achieved through public consultation and the delivery of 8 themed workshops during the latter part of 2012, which focused on : • The future economic role of the town • Stronger families in communities • Housing • Education, skills and aspiration levels • Social cohesion • Transport and infrastructure • Pride, reputation and image • Leisure, culture, cycling and tourism 1.3 The suggestions, comments and ideas from the themed workshops and the public consultation were collated and considered by stakeholders at the Wisbech 2020 Summit in October 2012. 1.4 Feedback from the Summit led to the design of the Wisbech 2020 Vision with actions designated as short or long term, and then assigned to one of following three elements of the Vision document: • Wisbech – a great place to work • Wisbech – a great place to live • Wisbech – a great place to visit 1.5 Finally, a ‘Theme Lead’ was assigned to each of the 29 short term and long term actions to help lead the partner agencies who would be driving the vision forward, and also to provide progress updates when requested. 1.6 The final Wisbech 2020 Vision document was launched in January 2013 at the first Wisbech 2020 Vision launch. It was also posted onto the dedicated Wisbech 2020 Vision website (www.wisbech2020vision.co.uk ) with links to the Wisbech ‘Shape Your Place’ website (www.wisbech.shapeyourplace.org ). Many organisations took part in a symbolic signing of the Vision document at the launch event to illustrate their commitment to the delivery of the Vision. 1.7 Please see table 1 below for the history of the Wisbech 2020 Vision project to date: Table 1: History of the Wisbech 2020 Vision Project DATE EVENT 6 March 2012 CCC Cabinet held in Wisbech (followed by tours of the area) 13 April 2012 Formation of Wisbech 2020 Core Vision group formed (Leaders of Cambridgeshire County Council, Fenland District Council and MP for North East Cambridgeshire) after meeting at Wisbech Castle Jun – Sep 2012 8 Themed workshops held: Future economic role of the town Stronger families in communities Housing Education, skills and aspirations Social cohesion Transport and infrastructure Pride, reputation and image Leisure, culture, cycling and tourism Sep 2012 Public engagement events held on Wisbech Market Place 26 Oct 2012 First Wisbech 2020 Vision Summit held 29 Jan 2013 Wisbech 2020 Vision document launched July 2013 Progress update circulated 7 Apr 2014 Update given to FDC Overview and Scrutiny Committee 9 Apr 2014 Meeting of the Fenland Connections Working Group (the ‘Big 6’ linked to Anglian Water) at Octavia View Jun 2014 Progress update 5 Sep 2014 Second Wisbech 2020 Vision Summit held 15 Oct 2014 Infrastructure workshop (evening event) 13 Nov 2014 'Infrastructure for Growth' document launched 20 Nov 2014 CCVS Wisbech 2020 Vision update meeting at Queen Mary Centre, Wisbech 2 Progress Updates 2.1 Progress updates for all 29 long term and short term actions can be found in appendix 1. 2.2 Some of the key highlights of the Wisbech 2020 Vision and other projects associated with the town include: Wisbech - a great place to work • 5000 students engaged and offered skills advice through the Fenland Enterprise Education (FEE) project including interview skills and CV development • A further £6m investment for the College of West Anglia with new facilities due to open in September 2015 on top of CCC/FDC investment for Engineering Skills • 'My Loyalty' card launched and well received with over 1000 cards being distributed. • Successful application for the Healthy High Streets campaign which aims to increase footfall by 10%, reduce empty property units by 20% and create 3000 jobs across the 100 selected towns over a 3 year period. • Dedicated campaign delivered in Wisbech to promote the provision and use of high speed broadband • Recruitment pack developed • An economic analysis of Wisbech by the University of Cambridge has been produced and will help to inform other growth plans for the town • £1m of funding received for feasibility work on improving transport in and around Wisbech including the potential reopening of the Wisbech to March rail line • A further £10.5m of funding has been earmarked for transport improvements in Wisbech for 2016 - 2021, subject to feasibility studies • £300m investment approved for A47, which will include improvements to the Guyhirn roundabout • 'Infrastructure for Growth' leaflet launched in November 2014 to help drive the economic case for transport improvements, including the Wisbech to Cambridge rail link, in and out of Wisbech. Key partners are convening on 30/1/15 to chart the progress made on key infrastructure improvements. Wisbech - a great place to live • £2m bid submitted to the Heritage Lottery Fund for the sustained improvement of the High Street area • Work has started on improving Constantine House supporting the improvement of key derelict buildings in the town • New Tesco superstore opened in Cromwell Road, along with cinema and restaurants • New retail park opened on old Tesco site in Cromwell Road • Large part of the Nene Waterfront Site sold to local developer which will create 70 homes, including 24 affordables • Quality building design chosen for Coalwharf Road development • Operation Pheasant successfully delivered, positively changing the lives of many migrant workers and attracting national praise and awards for effective partnership working • Many community environment enhancement events carried out, in addition to patrols of the town and enforcement of littering and dog control offences • £19,000 funding received to promote and diversify the arts and culture offer in the town • 94 new homes built and let in Wisbech and surrounding villages, with a further 69 properties planned for 2015/16 • 9 previously empty properties brought back into use in the Wisbech area • Volunteers recruited and trained to deliver a Community Translation/Interpretation Service as well as additional ESOL courses delivered • Wisbech Market Town Transport Strategy developed and adopted by CCC • Launch of the Waterlees Youth Forum in 2014 to offer local young people the chance to make decisions and support their local area • Wisbech named at number 24 in The Times Top 30 best towns in Britain Wisbech - a great place to visit • Locations for new tourist information signs identified • Wisbech widely publicised as an ideal visitor designation • Successful and well attended multi-cultural event held in Wisbech on 1 June 2014, with other events currently being organised 2.3 In addition to the achievements highlighted above the project has brought together public sector, and latterly key private sector partners in the form of Anglian Water and its supply chain. This is a major step forward for the project and demonstrates a wider interest in resolving the challenges in Wisbech for community benefit.