EEC/07/63/HQ Environment, Economy and Culture Overview/Scrutiny Committee 5 March 2007 Market and Coastal Towns Report of the Director of Environment, Economy and Culture 1. Summary In January 2006, members received a report on the draft Devon Sites and Premises Strategy and as a result expressed concern about the shortage of premises for smaller businesses. It was resolved that a further report be submitted, which covered economic development issues relating to Market Towns, including the availability of sites for relocation of small businesses and the Market and Coastal Town initiative (MCTi). This report concentrates on work undertaken in association with the MCTi pending further analysis of specific matters relevant to business premises. 2. Background In the South West, the MCTi commenced in 2000 and was led by the Regional Development Agency, Countryside Agency and English Heritage, with support from many other bodies. The scheme received greater emphasis following the incidence of Foot and Mouth Disease and a number of towns adversely affected were included in the programme. Since October 2004, delivery of the initiative has been charged to the Market and Coastal Towns Association (MCTA). This is an independent organisation largely funded by the Regional Development Agency, English Heritage and Big Lottery Fund. The initiative is a community based regeneration programme focusing on the preparation, by local people, of a long term Community Strategic Plan covering the social, economic, environmental and cultural features of their town and its hinterland. The MCTA delivers capacity building support to communities, enabling them to prepare the plans and develop their skills and organisational capacity while sharing good practice with others. Five community facilitators are employed across the region: two cover Devon. For further information see www.mcti.org.uk In Devon the work of the MCTA is supplemented by the Devon Towns Forum (see www.devontownsforum.org.uk ). The key objectives of this forum are: • To provide an inclusive forum for towns and their hinterland undertaking community planning exercises within the county of Devon and act as a communication channel to regional and sub-regional bodies; • To provide opportunities for the exchange of information between towns and their hinterland, to meet, share good practice and learn for future planning and development; • To offer a representative voice for advice, guidance and sign posting where appropriate; • To identify issues common to communities undertaking community planning exercises to share and promote learning and where appropriate, facilitate a framework for influencing and lobbying at a county or sub-county level; • To develop the capacity of the Forum and its members to support the process of regeneration. • To support co-ordinated, or joint approaches to projects and project funding wherever there is an appropriate opportunity to achieve an economic, or strategic advantage; • To provide support for project development within member communities involved in community planning. The Forum is administered by a part-time co-ordinator and managed by a small Executive comprising 6 representatives of the towns and a representative of each of the MCTA and Devon County Council (the Regeneration and Resources Manager, Andrew Lightfoot). The budget for 2006/07 of around £43,000 is largely met by the MCTA, with Devon County Council contributing approximately £6,200. Twenty two towns in Devon have been involved in the MCTi, nearly a third of the total in the region. Honiton, Tiverton and Lynton are the most recent to have completed their Community Plans, while Newton Abbot and Axminster have just joined the scheme. The total participants by district in Devon are: North Devon : Lynton and Lynmouth, Ilfracombe, South Molton Torridge : Appledore/Westward Ho! /Northam, Great Torrington, Holsworthy West Devon : Okehampton, Hatherleigh, Tavistock, Tamar Valley South Hams : Ivybridge, Totnes, Dartmouth, Kingsbridge Teignbridge : Teignmouth, Dawlish, Newton Abbot Mid-Devon: Crediton, Tiverton, Cullompton East Devon : Honiton, Axminster Issues Appendix I lists the topics which arise most frequently in the community plans. This report goes on to concentrate on the economic matters and the County Council’s response. However, two fundamental weaknesses with the MCTi scheme should be acknowledged at this point. Firstly, the majority of the plans are prepared by community members with relatively little input from statutory agencies; consequently, often the community plan does not always fully reflect actual and planned activities of all public bodies. Secondly, the emphasis is on the community planning process, with modest attention being given to implementation. This has led to considerable frustration amongst all concerned. 3. County Council Support The County Community Strategy Officer Team provides considerable support for the community planning process in the towns and parishes. Staff of the Economy Unit have concentrated on assisting delivery of projects identified through community planning. Examples of schemes which the County Council is helping to deliver with financial contributions and technical advice include: Ilfracombe One-stop-shop New library and other facilities in South Molton Pathfinder training centre in Westward Ho! Refurbishment of Holsworthy Memorial Hall Creation of Hatherleigh Community Centre Ruby Country Initiative between Holsworthy, Hatherleigh and Torrington Refurbishment of Ockment Centre, Okehampton Construction of the Ivybridge Community Resource Centre Refurbishment and extension of the Mansion, Totnes Revenue support for Teignmouth Community Development Trust Funding for the Economy & Skills Officer, Dawlish Establishment of Duchy Square Craft Workshops and Gallery, Princetown Project activity led or supported by Devon County Council in the 7 highest priority communities for the current year is shown in Appendix II. In addition there are generic projects which provide support to a number of towns. For example, Devon Artsculture was developed from an idea formulated by the Totnes MCTi and is now assisting over 500 creative businesses across the Objective 2 area of Devon. The approach being followed by the County Council Economy Unit is to focus on (a) business growth, through support for specific economic sectors and (b) regeneration of ‘priority communities’. Delivery is strongly supported by the Local Area Agreement. The themes adopted include: (i) improving skills and productivity (ii) addressing economic inclusion (iii) promoting the ‘environment as an economic driver’ (iv) infrastructure While there has been substantial activity to improve IT, transport and work space infrastructure, to date this has been achieved independently rather than through the LAA. However, this will change over the coming year through the work of an Infrastructure Task and Finish group; a key task is to develop an implementation plan for the Devon Sites and Premises Strategy. In the course of a Best Value Review of Economic Development in 2003, it was agreed that the County Council would focus on strategic workspace initiatives while the District Councils led on more local provision. In practice, the County Council has not only progressed schemes such as Skypark, but also responded to gaps in the market and to opportunities such as those presented in Ivybridge and Princetown. Notable recent District Council initiatives include workspace provision in Bideford, South Molton, Okehampton and Tavistock. In conjunction with the District Councils, the County Council continues to monitor enquiries from businesses seeking workspace, and schemes being developed by the private sector. While undoubtedly unsatisfied demand persists, there remains some speculation about the level of need which can be met at commercial rents. This will be explored by a review of the Devon Sites and Premises Strategy which will be led by the Infrastructure Working Group of the Devon Economic Partnership. 4. Conclusion This report summarises a significant range of activity in many of the market and coastal towns in Devon. While there remains enormous potential to do more in each place, the combination of thematic initiatives to support priority economic sectors and projects concentrated in priority communities is felt to be the best use of available resources to supplement those of partner organisations. Members may wish to acknowledge the progress made by the groups and support the continuing work being done by the County Council in this area of activity. Edward Chorlton Electoral Divisions: All apart from Exeter Local Government Act 1972 List of Background Papers Contact for enquiries: Andrew Lightfoot Room No: AB2, Lucombe House, County Hall, Exeter Tel No: (01392) 382889 Background Paper Date File Ref. 1. DCC Business Growth Strategy 2. DCC Regeneration Role and Action Plan 2007 3. Local Area Agreement: Economic Development and Enterprise Block 4. Draft Devon Economic Strategy 5. Common Ground: Targeting Sub-group al160207osa sn/market coastal towns 3 hq 220207 MARKET AND COASTAL TOWNS INITIATIVE GROUPS IN DEVON Appendix I TABLE OF PROJECTS FROM COMMUNITY ACTION PLANS PRODUCED TO DATE To EEC/07/63/HQ Towns Economy & Environment, Leisure & People and History, Arts and Transport, Training Food & Farming Tourism ‘Community Culture Housing and Infrastructure’ Services North Lynton & STILL IN PROGRESS Lynmouth South Molton **Produce short term **Relocate or close **Improve cycle and **Investigate use