Agenda item

To consider an update on the projects within the Government’s Towns Fund Programme being delivered by the Council and Stevenage Development Board.

The Executive considered a report which provided an update on the projects within the Government’s Towns Fund programme being delivered by Stevenage Borough Council and Stevenage Development Board partners.

In response to a Member’s request, the Assistant Director (Regeneration) agreed to provide a map showing the locations of the 22 underpasses to be given makeovers, once these had been agreed with Hertfordshire County Council.

In reply to a Member question regarding retail in the Town Centre, the Assistant Director (Regeneration) stated that the retail units in the Queensway scheme were fully let, with a mixture of uses.  He added that it was a difficult time for the retail sector nationally, but hoped that the additional 1,900+ jobs created by the Autolus development and the Forum redevelopment, together with the planned 3,000 new residential units in the Town Centre over the coming years, would naturally provide a demand and opportunities for new retail provision to serve those new employees and residents.

In response to a Member question regarding a spend comparison between SBC and other local authorities benefitting from Towns Fund monies, the Assistant Director (Regeneration) advised that the Council’s spend profile compared well to that of other recipients.  He commented that, at approximately halfway through the Towns Fund programme in terms of spend, SBC was amongst the higher performers (helped in part by a fully-resourced Regeneration Team which the Council had boldly invested in a number of years ago).  He stated that SBC’s spend level was at 80% of where it expected to be, although some of the larger items in terms of spend would occur in later years.  He was cautiously optimistic that SBC was achieving its ambitious Town Fund objectives when compared to other local authorities.

It was RESOLVED:

1.          That the progress of the ‘Transforming the Town Centre’ regeneration programme, specifically the progress of projects which are being delivered using grant funded Towns Fund allocations provided by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC), be noted.

2.          That the progression of the Cycling and Pedestrian Connectivity (inc. Arts and Heritage Trail) project be authorised, the high-level budgets attributed to the three workstreams be approved, and the future collaboration with Environment and Economy and the Community Select Committees to support the delivery of these interventions be acknowledged.

3.          That the reprofiling of the Towns Fund expenditure profile, as shown in the 3^rd Quarter 2023/24 capital update report to the Executive, and following endorsement from the Stevenage Development Board, be approved.

Reason for Decision:  As contained in report.

Other Options considered:  As contained in report.

The Executive considered a report which provided an update on the projects within the Government’s Towns Fund programme being delivered by Stevenage Borough Council and Stevenage Development Board partners.

In the absence of the Leader of the Council, the Chair (Deputy Leader) advised that the regeneration of the town centre was a key priority for the community, alongside the Council’s work to build more council homes.   She reminded Members that, under the Town Deal reporting arrangements, the Council was required to provide regular reports back into central Government to highlight the progress which was being made. 

The Chair stated that, as the report demonstrated, the regeneration programme continued to progress at good pace.  Alongside the Deputy Mayor and Executive Member for Co-operative Council and Neighbourhood Communities, she had been delighted to have visited the new housing being delivered by Guinness Trust recently, for the ‘topping out’ ceremony.  This was a vital project, not only to regenerate the town, but because the Council had nomination rights.  143 Stevenage households would be able to move into high quality affordable housing.  The early works had commenced in Swingate, the first step of the Council’s flagship SG1 scheme with Mace, with the main construction following shortly.

The Chair advised that the report highlighted recent successes and investments into Stevenage, including the new Autolus building; the plans to regenerate the Forum and the GSK site; the work to develop a first class swimming, leisure and wellbeing facility; and progress in delivering the Towns Fund projects.

The Chair read out the Leader of the Council’s supportive comments on the report and on the continued work of the Regeneration Team and its partners.

The Assistant Director (Regeneration) gave a slide presentation providing some detail on the delivery of the Regeneration Programme, including updates on the Cycling and Pedestrian Connectivity (including Arts & Heritage Trail) project; the Diversification of Retail project; the proposed new Sports and Leisure Hub scheme; the New Towns Heritage Centre; the Station Gateway Enabling works; the Life Sciences potential and skills agenda; and the Stevenage Innovation and Technology Centre (SITEC), based at North Herts College.

In response to a Member’s request, the Assistant Director (Regeneration) agreed to provide a map showing the locations of the 22 underpasses to be given makeovers, once these had been agreed with Hertfordshire County Council.

In reply to a Member question regarding retail in the Town Centre, the Assistant Director (Regeneration) stated that the retail units in the Queensway scheme were fully let, with a mixture of uses.  He added that it was a difficult time for the retail sector nationally, but hoped that the additional 1,900+ jobs created by the Autolus development and the Forum redevelopment, together with the planned 3,000 new residential units in the Town Centre over the coming years, would naturally provide a demand and opportunities for new retail provision to serve those new employees and residents.

In response to a Member question regarding a spend comparison between SBC and other local authorities benefitting from Towns Fund monies, the Assistant Director (Regeneration) advised that the Council’s spend profile compared well to that of other recipients.  He commented that, at approximately halfway through the Towns Fund programme in terms of spend, SBC was amongst the higher performers (helped in part by a fully-resourced Regeneration Team which the Council had boldly invested in a number of years ago).  He stated that SBC’s spend level was at 80% of where it expected to be, although some of the larger items in terms of spend would occur in later years.  He was cautiously optimistic that SBC was achieving its ambitious Town Fund objectives when compared to other local authorities.

It was RESOLVED:

1.          That the progress of the ‘Transforming the Town Centre’ regeneration programme, specifically the progress of projects which are being delivered using grant funded Towns Fund allocations provided by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC), be noted.

2.          That the progression of the Cycling and Pedestrian Connectivity (inc. Arts and Heritage Trail) project be authorised, the high-level budgets attributed to the three workstreams be approved, and the future collaboration with Environment and Economy and the Community Select Committees to support the delivery of these interventions be acknowledged.

3.          That the reprofiling of the Towns Fund expenditure profile, as shown in the 3^rd Quarter 2023/24 capital update report to the Executive, and following endorsement from the Stevenage Development Board, be approved.

Reason for Decision:  As contained in report.

Other Options considered:  As contained in report.