COUNTY BOROUGH OF BLAENAU GWENT

REPORT TO: THE LEADER AND MEMBERS OF THE EXECUTIVE

REPORT SUBJECT: HERITAGE LOTTERY FUND APPLICATION TREDEGAR TOWNSCAPE HERITAGE INITIATIVE

REPORT AUTHOR: NICK LANDERS – REGENERATION DIVISION

LEAD OFFICER/ ACTING CHIEF OFFICER DEPARTMENT: ENVIRONMENT AND REGENERATION

Summary Report

1. PURPOSE

1.1 To provide an update on the current position regarding the Council’s application for Heritage Lottery Funding to support a Townscape Heritage Initiative for Tredegar.

2. LINK TO CORPORATE STRATEGIES

2.1 Corporate Improvement Plan; Improvement Objective 2012/13 “Town Centres are more vibrant, attractive and viable as a result of physical regeneration and town centre management for the benefit of shoppers and businesses”.

2.2 The Tredegar Townscape Heritage Initiative, Conservation Area Appraisal and Design Guidance was formally adopted as Council Policy in May 2009.

2.3 The Tredegar Townscape Heritage Initiative is an important project in the draft of the Heads of the Valleys Road Corridor Strategy, with Tredegar being identified as a key settlement for creating an integrated community hub along the Heads of the Valleys corridor.

1 3. SUMMARY

3.1 Consultants Heritage and Regeneration Solutions Ltd. have been commissioned by Blaenau Gwent County Borough Council to assist the Council in the preparation of the Round 2 Project Development Phase application to be submitted in June 2013.

3.2 The Consultants are currently undertaking detailed building surveys of all properties housed within the ‘Historical Core’ of the Conservation Area, costed schedules of work and the production of a Conservation Area Appraisal and Management Plan (please refer to attached draft copy – Appendix 1).

3.3 Under the terms and conditions of the project’s Implementation Stage (October 2013 – October 2018), the Council are obliged to form a Townscape Heritage Advisory Board to oversee the delivery of the programme. The Board is a consultative body whose role is to advise in the control and management of the Tredegar Townscape Heritage Initiative (please refer to attached Tredegar THI Advisory Board terms of reference – Appendix 2)

3.4 A meeting between the proposed representatives of the Tredegar THI Advisory Board is proposed for late July 2013 on the Tredegar THI Advisory Board terms of reference receiving Executive approval on the 26th June 2013. A full list of Board Members is listed in item 2.2 of the accompanying report.

3.5 3 VTV, a Welsh Government funded micro-broadcasting company based in Tredegar, and part of the University of Wales are an internet based company that assist marketing local business and by working with training providers to give people the skills to get involved. The Company have been identified as an ideal partner to assist the Council in the promotion of telling the heritage story in Tredegar to a wider global audience. The Round 2 HLF funding application will need to reflect associated costs to retain 3 VTV as a partner for the 5 year duration of the programme (October 2013 – October 2018).

2 4. RECOMMENDATIONS

4.1 To consider the above report and to formally adopt the Tredegar Conservation Area Appraisal and Management Plan as a policy document.

4.2 Authorise the formation of a THI Advisory Board and acknowledge their terms of reference as a consultative body to oversee the 5 year Implementation Stage of the Tredegar THI project (October 2013 – October 2018).

4.3 Agree subject to funding to work with and retain 3 VTV as a partner to assist the Council in the marketing and promotion of the heritage story in Tredegar.

3 Detailed Report

1. BACKGROUND

1.1 The Council in December 2011 submitted a First Round Townscape Heritage Initiative (THI) application for Heritage Lottery Funding (HLF) to fully restore all properties contained within the Historical Core ‘The Circle’ of the Tredegar Southern Conservation Area.

1.2 Applications for Heritage Lottery Funding have to be submitted and approved over two rounds.

1.3 The First Round approval of £50,000 is to prepare the Round 2 Development Phase application, including funding the Consultants Commission detailed in item 1.4 below.

1.4 For the Round 2 Development Phase application, Heritage and Regeneration Solutions Ltd. were commissioned to provide the necessary expertise to assist the Council in the delivery of the following: . Conservation Area Appraisal and Management Plan . Buildings Analysis . Costed schedule of works Exit Strategy

1.5 The detailed work undertaken as part of the Round 2 Development Phase application will confirm project costs and the funding contributions required from the HLF, Welsh Government (WG), Blaenau Gwent County Borough Council and the Private Sector over the duration of the project. This information will be used to submit an application to the Welsh Government for appropriate match-funding and to seek commitment for a Council Capital contribution.

2. PRESENT POSITION

2.1 The Draft Conservation Area Appraisal and Management Plan (Appendix 1) is scheduled to go to public consultation on Tuesday 4th and Wednesday 5th of June 2013. It is intended to formally adopt the draft document to support

4 existing and future supplementary design guidance, and inform future planning policy and planning decisions.

2.2 In order to effectively manage the delivery of the THI programme throughout the projects Implementation Stage, a Townscape Heritage Advisory Board has been created as a consultative body. Board representatives are identified in item 2.3 below. (please refer to attached terms of reference – Appendix 2).

2.3 It is proposed to have one representative from each of the organisations listed below to be represented on the Tredegar THI Advisory Board:

. The Executive Member for Regeneration (BGCBC) . Tredegar Ward Member (BGCBC) . Tredegar Town Council . Tredegar Heritage Trust . Communities First (Tredegar) . Church in Wales . Tredegar Business Forum . Tredegar Archive Society . BGCBC Officers (as requested)

2.4 3VTV, a Welsh Government micro-broadcasting Company based in Tredegar have been identified as an ideal partner to assist The Council in telling the Tredegar Heritage story to a wider global audience. They are currently actively involved in the local community in delivering the following:  Building on the community cohesion which already exists in Blaenau Gwent, giving the County Borough a strong local voice.  Boosting the local economy by working with Blaenau Gwent businesses to help them market themselves.  Encouraging digital inclusion by giving local people another reason to go online, and by working with training providers to give people the skills to get involved.

5 2.5 The Round 2 HLF application is to be submitted in mid-June 2013 and will be determined in late September 2013. Should the Council be successful with the Round 2 submission, the Council can progress with the projects 5 year Implementation stage from October 2013.

2.6 The job advert for the post of THI Project Officer will be advertised in July 2013 with a view to getting the successful candidate in post in early October 2013, subject to the Council receiving confirmation of the necessary funding to progress the projects Implementation Stage.

3. RISK IMPLICATIONS

3.1 A positive start has been made to the project with a Round 1 approval, and an invitation to submit a Round 2 Development Phase application. The Tredegar THI project will not be able to be implemented without evidencing financial support from all funding sources, namely, HLF, WG, BGCBC and the Private Sector.

3.2 Not being able to secure the necessary funding from the funding bodies identified in item 3.1 above, to engage the services of 3VTV for the 5 year duration of the projects Implementation Stage.

4. STAFFING/HR IMPLICATIONS

4.1 Submitting a Round 2 Development Phase application to the THI Heritage Lottery Fund will have implications on existing staffing resources from Officers of the Regeneration and Education and Leisure Departments.

5. FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS

5.1 Retaining the services of 3VTV as a key partner for the five year duration of the project is estimated at £225,000.

6 6. CORPORATE ISSUES

Consideration has been given to Human Resources Act issues, Equality of Opportunity, Sustainable Development, Crime and Disorder and relevant legislation.

7. CONSULTATION

The following officers have been consulted in respect of the proposals and recommendations set out in this report.

HUMAN CHIEF LEGAL DIRECTOR OF OTHER RESOURCES OFFICER/ RESOURCES MONITORING / S.151 OFFICER √ √ Environment - DMT

8. PROPOSALS

8.1 To consider the above report and to formally adopt the Tredegar Conservation Area Appraisal and Management Plan as a policy document.

8.2 Authorise the formation of a THI Advisory Board and acknowledge their terms of reference as a consultative body to oversee the 5 year Implementation Stage of the Tredegar THI project.

8.3 Agree subject to funding to work with and retain 3VTV as a partner to assist the Council in the marketing and promotion of the heritage story in Tredegar.

9. SUPPORTING EVIDENCE

9.1 Draft Conservation Area Appraisal and Management Plan – Appendix 1.

9.2 Proposed Tredegar THI Advisory Board, Terms of Reference – Appendix 2.

10. RECOMMENDATIONS

7 10.1 To consider the above report and to formally adopt the Tredegar Conservation Area Appraisal and Management Plan as a policy document.

10.2 Authorise the formation of a THI Advisory Board and acknowledge their terms of reference as a consultative body to oversee the 5 year Implementation Stage of the Tredegar THI project (October 2013 – October 2018).

10.3 Agree subject to funding to work with and retain 3 VTV as a partner to assist the Council in the marketing and promotion of the heritage story in Tredegar.

G. P. Jones Chief Regeneration Officer EX1306. NL

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