SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE 26 FEBRUARY 2020 POLICY AND RESOURCES COMMITTEE 4 MARCH 2020 BALIVANICH REGENERATION Report by Head of Economic Development and Planning PURPOSE OF REPORT To update the Comhairle on the Town Centre Fund and the regeneration of Balivanich as part of the Balivanich Strategic Vision. COMPETENCE 1.1 There are no legal, equalities or other constraints to the recommendations being implemented. The Comhairle was awarded a Town Centre Fund capital grant of £223,000 by the Scottish Government in March 2019. The Grant is to be committed by the end of March 2020. SUMMARY 2.1 The Comhairle endorsed the outcomes of the ‘Balivanich Strategic Vision’ in September 2018 and the phased approach to undertaking a range of short, medium and long term projects to support the regeneration of Balivanich. 2.2 In May 2019, the Comhairle agreed to prioritise the Balivanich Strategic Vision regeneration strategy for funding under the Town Centre Fund, providing the opportunity to accelerate a set of short term ‘quick win’ projects identified by the community in order to build confidence and commitment to the regeneration of Balivanich. The funding also provided the opportunity to finally implement aspects of the previous Building a Better Balivanich Community Plan and to focus resources on supporting aspects of the current North Uist and Benbecula Locality Plan. 2.2 The project proposals align with the Balivanich Strategic Vision and the North Uist and Benbecula Locality Action Plan. Presentations have been made to the North Uist and Benbecula Locality Group, Benbecula Community Council and Uist Economic Taskforce Working group. 2.3 Officers continue to engage on prioritising those projects that can be delivered within the Town Centre Fund timescales and eligibility criteria and ensure the right balance of community led priorities against cost/benefit, alignment with Comhairle policy, value for money and risk. 2.4 The Comhairle agreed to prioritise the Town Centre Fund to deliver a set of short term projects within the Balivanich Strategic Vision but also to retain flexibility to consider other investments as appropriate in other locations. 2.5 The revised submission deadline of 31 March 2021 will enable further consideration of project proposals and possibilities of external match funding. It is anticipated that a further Report will be considered by the Committee in due course. RECOMMENDATION 3.1 It is recommended that the Comhairle note the current situation under the Balivanich Strategic Vision. Contact Officer: Alison Cropper, Regeneration Officer, 320085 Appendix: Nil Background Papers: Report to May 2019 Series of Meetings BACKGROUND 4.1 Building a Better Balivanich Community Plan in 2014, the North Uist and Benbecula Locality Plan 2018 and the Balivanich Strategic Vision developed by Threesixty Architecture, have all demonstrated a desire to improve aspects of everyday life in Balivanich and identify positive interventions within Balivanich that would inspire community action and confidence. 4.2 The Comhairle and Highlands and Islands Enterprise commissioned Threesixty Architecture to undertake a masterplan study for the village of Balivanich to create a vision for the future direction of the village and to define strategies for achieving that vision. The resulting ‘Balivanich Strategic Vision’ document provided short, medium and long term strategies/project ideas based on feedback from consultation events. 4.3 The Comhairle endorsed the outcomes of the ‘Balivanich Strategic Vision’ in September 2018 and the phased approach to projects. This included identifying a set of initial ‘quick-win’ projects which were viewed as extremely important for demonstrating commitment, generating interest from the community and creating the conditions for medium to long term regeneration projects which will deliver more direct economic impact. A summary of the long (L), medium (M) and short (S) term projects is shown in the Appendix to the Report. 4.4 The Comhairle agreed in May 2019 to prioritise the Balivanich Strategic Vision for funding under the Scottish Government’s Town Centre Fund. The prioritisation approach ensured a degree of flexibility is retained to consider other investments as appropriate to ensure maximum impact and spend. The Town Centre Fund gave the opportunity to accelerate some short term interventions within the Balivanich Strategic Vision based around the theme of ‘town centre living’. 4.5 Since May 2019, a list of priorities emerged following conversations with local businesses, community groups and residents. Investigations into land ownership, owner permissions and consideration of issues regarding on-going maintenance have affected which projects within the vision are able to be taken forward within the timescale required and resulted in a package of short term quick win projects that will improve town centre living and increase attractiveness, accessibility and safety within Balivanich. 4.6 The projects have been tabled and discussed at Benbecula Community Council, North Uist and Benbecula Locality Planning group and the Uist Task Force working group meeting and are supported. PROJECT SUMMARY 5.1 Key opportunities have been identified in order to improve the local environment and infrastructure for residents and visitors. The main measures proposed include: The demolition of a redundant building in the heart of the town which has become derelict, unsafe and unsightly. Environmental improvements and provision of shelters and a ‘mini travel hub’ with information point and directional signage to enhance the visitor experience particularly for those using the Hebridean Way cycle route which goes through Balivanich and passes the airport beach in close proximity Improved safety measures for residents - improved chicane arrangement at primary school entrance, improved street lighting, zebra crossing, joined up pavements to prevent having to cross the road and dropped kerbs to enable easier disabled access. Improved links between facilities that make walking safer. In partnership with the Benbecula Community Council, small scale environmental improvements are proposed to increase a sense of ownership and provide enthusiasm within the community to take on projects that will improve community cohesion e.g. planters, wild flower meadows, environmental projects involving the school. 5.2 The measures proposed align with the Balivanich Strategic Vision and the North Uist and Benbecula Locality Action Plan. Presentations have been made to the North Uist and Benbecula Locality Group, Benbecula Community Council and Uist Economic Taskforce Working Group. There is on-going engagement with the businesses, residents and other organisations and the majority are very supportive of the overall vision. 5.3 Road safety, improved street lighting and traffic calming measures have been a high priority for the community for a long time. Some of these potential projects however are challenging in terms of the Comhairle’s existing policy approach to road safety measures across the whole schools estate and discussions are on-going to ensure the right balance of community led priorities against cost/benefit, value for money and risk. Discussions are ongoing and it is proposed to delegate the submission of the final proposals to the respective Directors. 5.4 At this stage, the projects should be viewed as a package of smaller-scale “quick win” projects identified by the community. The next stage is to consider some medium term strategic projects that fit more with Regeneration Capital Grant Fund. 5.5 The Scottish Government has recently extended the deadline for submission of bids to 31 March 2021 which will alleviate the pressures raised on project expenditure and delivery. Extending the deadline will enable further consideration of projects consistent with the fund guidelines and open up opportunities for leverage of external funding. 5.6 Officers will continue to engage with key stakeholders as part of the Balivanich Strategic Vision and a further Report will be brought to the Sustainable Development Committee in due course. FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS AND RISK 6.1 The Comhairle received £223k from the Scottish Government under the Town Centre Fund. 6.2 The grant is for capital expenditure which is additional to that which is already or would otherwise be allocated to the 2019/20 budget; and, should not substitute for existing spend. 6.3 Decisions on use of funding reside with the Comhairle as grantee. It is expected that local authorities make investment decisions in the context of national and local commitments to town centres including the Town Centre First Principle and the Town Centre Action Plan; and more recently, the Place Principle. As such, it is expected that investment decisions are based on approaches which are collaborative and place based with a shared purpose; and, make use of tools and support developed by the Scottish Government, Scotland’s Towns Partnership and other key partners. 6.4 The Grant may also be used to fund third party capital expenditure in the current year, either directly or through the provision of grants to third parties (public sector bodies, private sector bodies or individuals) which would, if incurred by the local authority, be capital expenditure. 6.5 The revised deadline for submission of bid proposals to the Scottish Government is 31 March 2021. .