Minutes from the Partnership Board meeting held on 2 nd November 2015

Present: Cllr Susan Hinchcliffe, Chair Steve Seymour, Airedale Shopping Centre William Jowitt, Associate Member Ros Beattie, Company Solutions Nicola Riley, Airedale Hospital NHS Trust

In Attendance: Cllr David Mullen, Steeton with Eastburn Rosie Sanderson, Steeton with Eastburn Paul North, Airedale Partnership Robert Brough, Airedale Partnership

1.0 Welcome/Introductions: 1.1 The Chair welcomed everyone to the meeting and introductions were given.

2.0 Apologies: Were received from Cllr Simon Cooke, Nav Chohan and David Moss

3.0 Declaration of interest: Steve Seymour is on the BID steering group and William Jowitt is a resident of

4.0 Minutes of previous meeting held in July were agreed and would be placed on the Partnership website www.airedalepartnership.org

5.0 Matters arising: 5.1 The LEADER programme is now likely start in 2016

6.0 Steeton with Eastburn and Silsden Neighbourhood Plan – Cllr David Mullen/Rosie Sanderson 6.1 The Partnership had been approached by the Parish and Town Council to gain the views from the Partnership on three key areas for their joint Neighbourhood Plan: A pedestrian/cycle bridge across the A650, Potential for a Silsden By-Pass and the provision of employment land in and around the area. After a general and wide ranging discussion the following was agreed: 6.2 Pedestrian/cycle bridge crossing: This is unanimously supported and features in the Airedale masterplan. Action: A letter of support will be provided on behalf of the Airedale Partnership 6.3 Silsden by-pass: It was envisaged that the by-pass would be built using contributions from the development of land along the by-pass. This has not happened and the cost of such a road at today’s prices would depend on the specification of that road. Bringing forward all the sites at once is also unlikely as is building the road bit by bit. If there were to be public assistance, this would be in competition with other limited resources. To get onto a list would need expenditure to quantify the final project costs. The Partnership agreed that this was an important area for future discussion for Silsden 6.4 Employment Land: Steeton and Silsden are classified as key strategic locations in the masterplan with good demand for employment land they are well positioned to be accessed from both and District. A number of existing national, international businesses and Airedale Hosp are already located in the area. There is also a demand for new business space with home-based businesses needing to expand. A local neighbourhood plan needs to make provision for much needed employment land in the area. 6.4 The Board thanked members from the Steeton with Eastburn and Silsden for attending. Action: Paul North agreed to be the contact in the future for any further discussions on the Neighbourhood Plan

7.0 Producer , Place Board feedback – William Jowitt 7.1 The Board had previously requested that a link was made to the Producer City Board which leads on the promotion of Bradford and the District as a destination for businesses and to encourage partnership working between the Council, Bradford University and the private sector. 7.2 The Place Board meeting took place on Monday 12th October. William gave a resume of the background to the Airedale Partnership from 2003 to the present day including key themes, the need to review on a regular basis, a summary of main achievements, its current activities and the role of influencing, partnership working and guiding developments. He also stressed the essential role that the officer team made to its work since 2003. Action: The Airedale Board would continue to maintain contact with the Producer City activities and possible links with the LEP in the future.

8.0 Workplan update – Key progress with the work plan Paul North 8.1 Digital – the vouchers programme has now closed with 1774 vouchers issued in the Bradford area which was the highest in , with 13.69% of the SME’s in our area. Work has started on the planning of phase 2 roll out of superfast broadband to take it to 99% of businesses able to access broadband. Work is ongoing with an ISP provider to provide wireless broadband to the upper reaches of the 8.2 Rural Economy/EU funding – The new LEADER programme is expected to start in early 2016. Dave Melling has agreed to work with businesses who may be eligible for this funding. 8.3 The Business Park continues to attract businesses with phase 4 seeing completion of the project and the occupancy of the last of the available units. 8.4 and Shipley Town Centres continue to make progress in developing their own partnerships with the Bingley Chamber of Trade and Shipley Town Centre Partnership. is in the process of balloting businesses to establish a business improvement district for the Town

9.0 Update from Board members 9.1 Nicola Riley – Light upgrades have been carried out in 3 wards at the Hospital. The Tele Health hub is responding to growth in business by expanding to employ 23 staff. The hospital is also looking into possible changes to car parking across the site. The Out-patients will also be re- developed. Nicola also reported that they had been in discussion with local Parish and Town Councillors about their Neighbourhood Plan 9.2 William Jowitt – Reported that the FabLab, Industrial Centre for Excellence in Manufacturing, the STAR Centre and Keighley College were becoming more integrated to deliver better training for students and business. 9.3 Steve Seymour – Has been a member of the BID steering group helping to bring the possibility of a business improvement district to the Town. The Shopping centre continues to maintain good occupancy and continued investment. The Christmas lights switch on will be 29 th November.

10.0 Keighley Business Improvement district (BID) – Paul North 10.1 Following extensive consultation and the development of a business plan, ballot papers have now been sent out to approximately 400 businesses in the defined BID area. The closing date for the return of ballot papers is the 12 th November. The result will be notified on the 13 th November. 10.2 There has been a continuous flow of promotion from e-bulletins, press releases and the use of social media.

11.0 AOB: 11.1 Keighley Regeneration: Steve Seymour asked about a press release featuring a new strategy for the regeneration of Keighley which was issued on the 15 th October. Action: The Officers are already aware of everything mentioned in the article and will be taking part in any future discussions. Keighley has been on of the priority towns for regeneration since the masterplan’s inception

12.0 Date of next meeting: 11.1 The next meting will be held on the 7 th December 2015, 15:00 – 16:30 at the offices of the Airedale Partnership

11.2 The Board requested that representatives from the Bingley Chamber of Trade and the Community Led Local Development (CLLD) programme attend the next Board meeting Action: Howard Martin (Bingley Chamber of Trade) and Margaret Danbury (CLLD) to be invited