1 EXECUTIVE MEMBER REPORT to COUNCIL WEDNESDAY 3Rd APRIL
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EXECUTIVE MEMBER REPORT TO COUNCIL WEDNESDAY 3rd APRIL 2013 DEVELOPMENT DIVISION 1. Planning and Development Committee will receive approved major planning applications at its meeting on 8 March, as follows: a) 52 dwellings on the Ridings site (former guide dogs for the blind) off Highfield Road; b) the new football centre at the Territorial Army Centre on Longlands Road (7 five – aside and one full sized pitch); c) the extra care building and 22 bungalows onto the former youth club and library site at Beresford Crescent – Vela Housing Group. 2. Two new major planning applications have just been received: a) residential development at Low Gill, Gypsy Lane next to the railway line for 165 dwellings; and, b) re-development of the Park Road North fire station to include a new operational building and an educational building at the rear, with retention of the fire tower. 3. These two applications are now on consultation to enable the planning applications to be scheduled for a future planning and development committee together with all the responses from nearby residents and the requisite statutory consultees. 4. Update on public consultation over proposed improvements to Southfield Road - the Mayor approved a report in January 2013 - Teesside University Development - Southfield Road, which highlighted the consultation process for the potential treatment of Southfield Road and closure to traffic. 5. Since the Mayoral decision, a comprehensive consultation has been undertaken with public and private stakeholders across the town. Participation in the consultation process was significant, with 1,295 representations from members of the public, businesses and organisational stakeholders. 6. The consultation formally ran for a period of four weeks, between 11 February 2013 and 11 March 2013. The consultation included: three local half-day drop-in sessions, held on 21 and 26 February and 5 March; Middlesbrough Council’s web consultation portal was the principal engagement tool, however over 700 hardcopy submissions were submitted by Stakeholders; information, posters, documents and consultation forms were available at all of the town’s libraries; notices and information were circulated to the local media, and letters were sent to local businesses on Linthorpe, Borough, Southfield, Waterloo and Victoria Roads; a special meeting was held on 26 February to involve the Quality Taxi Partnership (which covers the whole taxi trade) in the consultation process; 1 all Middlesbrough Councillors were informed along with the town’s 25 Community Councils; students and staff and alumni of Teesside University were engaged; and, Council Members representing the University, Middlehaven and Gresham wards were briefed on the consultation process on 14 January 2013, prior to the consultation commencing. The findings and next steps of the consultation will be presented to the Mayor for consideration, shortly before Easter. 7. A Further £20m Investment by Middlesbrough College - following a review of its property strategy Middlesbrough College are currently in the process of submitting an ‘expression of interest’ to the Skills Funding Agency seeking support for a three phase capital investment programme (totalling £19.5m) focussed on the promotion of the study of Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM). The three phases are as follows: £3.1m investment in the main College building to recover void spaces to accommodate the rapid demand for Engineering and Health and Care; £3m extension to MC6 to expand the College’s offer of science/maths and other A levels; and, £13.4m STEM centre focussing on advanced manufacturing, process/other engineering disciplines. 8. If successful with their funding application it is anticipated that the programme of works would be complete by September 2015. 9. Comfy & Cosy in Middlesbrough awarded £26,850 – the Staying Put Agency was awarded funding from the Department of Health, to help vulnerable clients, who own their own property, stay warm and safe over the winter period. The project offers snow clearance & gritting, provides warm clothing and will fund minor heating system repairs. In addition, the Agency will work with Social Care to offer microwaves to Service Users who are unable to use their cooker because of age or disability. In the first two months of the project over 160 households have been assisted. 10. Best New Business Awards - the best of Middlesbrough’s entrepreneurial new businesses have been recognised at the annual Tees Valley Best New Business Awards. The awards held at the Riverside Stadium consist of eight sector-based categories, with one business also crowned as the best new business of the year. Winners from Middlesbrough included: Lots of Loveliness – Best New Retail Business of the Year; Coatsink – Best New Creative Business of the Year; Pyemetric – Best New Manufacturing Business of the Year; and, Sound Training for Reading – Best New Service Business of the Year. 11. Sound Training for Reading was also crowned Best New Company of the Year. All of the above companies have been supported by the Economic Development Team or DigitalCity Business. 12. Growing Places Round 2 - a second round of the Growing Places fund has been announced by Tees Valley Unlimited, offering up to £4m of support to kickstart 2 development or economic growth projects across the Tees Valley. As the funding is made available as a loan, with repayment required within three years, it is aimed primarily at projects where a short-term financial barrier is preventing activity, rather than those where longer-term investments in infrastructure are required. This second round seeks to build on the earlier awards, including £1.4m for the Offshore Wind Validation Centre at Teesside Advanced Manufacturing Park. The closing date is 30th April 2013. 13. Enterprise Zone Infrastructure Fund - the Government has launched a £59m loan fund aimed at stimulating development activity on Enterprise Zones. Proposals are being sought by the Government from LEPs to utilise funds to unlock stalled development sites and invest in infrastructure that will ‘de-risk’ investments by the private sector. The funds will be made available as loans, but with a payback time more suited to infrastructure investments (e.g. up to 10 years). Proposals for Teesside Advanced Manufacturing Park are to be considered as part of the Tees Valley LEP’s submission. 14. City Deal - Tees Valley has been identified as one of the areas to benefit from a City Deal. The expression of interest submitted by Tees Valley Unlimited in January has been approved by the Government, triggering a process of negotiating the freedom, powers and tools needed to shape the area’s economic future. The negotiation period is expected to last around eight months, with a final deal in place by October 2013. The focus of the City Deal proposed for Tees Valley is around growing the existing industrial base. 15. European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) - the European Council has recently approved an ERDF budget for 2014 to 2020 that will have significant benefits for Tees Valley. As part of the budget, funding will be made available to a number of ‘transition areas’ including the Durham & Tees Valley area. This would mean that Tees Valley would potentially have access to higher levels of ERDF than other parts of the region, greater flexibility over its use, and greater influence over how it is spent. The majority of the funding will be focused on issues such as R+D, innovation, SME competitiveness (especially exports) and moving to a low carbon economy. The funding, which could be as high as £200m for Tees Valley alone, is likely to be available from Summer 2014. 16. West Team - The Community Hubs at Easterside and Grove Hill held open days in February. The events attracted almost a 1000 visitors to the centres. As well as sampling all the activities on offer, the events were used to generate ideas on how the newly created community spaces could be used for the public. 17. Middlesbrough Memories - A book about growing up and living in Middlesbrough was published by the West Neighbourhood Team in February. Entitled Middlesbrough Memories, the book draws on the contributions of thirteen people living in Grove Hill, Beechwood and Easterside. It traces the huge changes in the town from the time between the wars to the present day. The first print run of 100 books was sold out within a week of being printed. 18. The West Team are working with St Joseph’s School and local families on the FAST (Families and Schools Together) programme. The 8 week course has brought together families, community members, educators and others to help improve learning among children who are in the early years of school. The programme focuses on child and family centred activities which create quality time between parents and children, 3 allowing children to grow mentally and socially. The programme is being financially supported by Save the Children organisation. 19. North Team - The Crown group hosted 2 cultural awareness days at Newport Settlement Community Hub on English and Asian Cultures. Each session was attended by over 40 people and provided an opportunity to learn about different cultures and ask questions in an open and safe environment. These are part of a series of cultural workshops funded by the Lottery. 20. Volunteers are being encouraged to help maintain their local environment by taking part in Community Clean up days. To date these have focused on the 'Back Lands' at Whinney Banks, Metz Bridge Travellers site, and St Cuthbert's Community Centre. Community Payback and Erimus housing are supporting this initiative. 21. Saltwell’s Residents Association has been supported to help secure funding for environmental improvements. They successfully secured a start up grant from Communities First of £2,482 which includes funds for the purchase and installation of two new litter bins, 3 trees to be planted on the green and seasonal bulbs.