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Post Scrutiny- Executive Response
In Respect Of : The Practical Effects of the Hyde and Ashton Renewal Areas on the Economy, Environment and Health of the Residents of Tameside
Cabinet Deputies : Councillors Kieran Quinn and John Taylor
Date: April 2005
| Recommendations | Executive Response | Officer Responsible | Action by (Date) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. That it is essential that a Forward Strategy including a long term funding and management plan for Ashton Renewal Area be developed and that it is adequately resourced. | The Ashton Regeneration Partnership Board has been working alongside consultants D.T.Z. Pieda to develop a comprehensive Forward Strategy for the Area. The Strategy currently assumes that a similar level of economic, social and physical activity is sustained as part of a continuation plan until 2008, followed by a two year transitional period during which lead responsibility will begin to transfer across to other organisations for key activities. Maintaining this level of activity and support is vital if the Council is to achieve sustainable regeneration in this deprived neighbourhood. This Forward Strategy has now been approved in principle by the Council Board and will be ratified when decisions are made about future Neighbourhood Renewal Funding (2006-08) at Board and TSP meetings in September 2005. | Huw Davies | September 2005 |
| 2. That the Council enters into a protocol with St Peter Partnership recognising that it is the main community organisation that can work with the District Assembly and other voluntary bodies to promote community cohesion in the renewal area. | The Ashton Regeneration Partnership Board has had preliminary discussions with St Peters Community Partnership about the Forward Strategy and the formal role that SPCP can play in its delivery. With September Board and TSP meetings now considering the NRF allocations, both the Ashton Regeneration and St Peter Boards have agreed to have a joint Away Day in October 2005 to plan for the future. | Huw Davies | October 2005 |
| 3. That the council considers making a contribution to the St Peter Partnership in order that it can help maintain a sustainable Forward Strategy for the Ashton Renewal Area. | Discussions are currently underway with the Youth Service in relation to the potential for continuation of the community development funding they have been investing in the Area since 1999. The aim would be for this to be paid across to St Peter Community Partnership to support them in the delivery of capacity building and development of the community infrastructure as part of the Forward Strategy. | Huw Davies / Cheryl Eastwood? | October 2005? |
| 4.That when any future capital schemes are undertaken using one-off funding, it is essential that proper, realistic and open plans are agreed for the long term maintenance requirements with details of resourcing. | Noted. A key area which is often overlooked within Regeneration Programmes is the future maintenance of physical improvements undertaken in the area. Maintenance agreements with the District Assembly for environmental improvement work undertaken on Council land have tended to be informally agreed in the past. This approach is reliant upon goodwill and existing staff remaining in post. In order to formalise the arrangements, it is proposed that with the District Assembly, the Ashton Regeneration Project will, before the end of this financial year, jointly produce an asset register which clearly identifies future maintenance responsibilities to be agreed and signed by both parties. The asset register can then be updated over the next four years as further improvements are carried out and will provide clear responsibilities for maintenance once the Regeneration Area comes to an end In terms of work carried out on private land or buildings, including housing and business space, it is always made clear to owners that they have future responsibility for maintenance. However, tracking back to such agreements when disputes arise, often several years after work has been completed, can be difficult. For this reason, it is proposed that a similar register be developed for all work undertaken on private properties or land. Both registers can be archived as part of the Closure Plan. | Huw Davies | 31 March 2006 |
| 5. That consideration is given to opportunities for the refurbishment of the central shopping areas of Hyde Town Centre in order to encourage more private investment and shoppers. | This is a matter that is to be discussed with Pat Rattigan, Assistant Executive Director of Economic Services | Huw Davies / Pat Rattigan | September 2005 |
| 6. That the Cabinet Deputy for Economic Services is recommended to continue working closely with the Ashton Renewal Project, when the renewal area status ends in 2006. | With a portfolio which includes the regeneration of disadvantaged neighbourhoods; inward investment into the Borough and resource procurement, the Cabinet Deputy for Economic Services will continue to be closely involved with the Ashton Regeneration Area. | Huw Davies | |
| 7. That the Council continues to invest in environmental schemes in the Renewal Area in order to make it more visually pleasing and attract large organisations and encourage those residents who become more affluent to remain living in the renewal area and attract people to move into the area | The Ashton Regeneration Partnership Board has recently completed a Strategic Regeneration Framework (SRF) for the Area which will provide a framework for physical investment over the next five years or so. This SRF includes proposals for new housing, improvements to the public realm and open space and it is intended that the SRF provides the basis for investment decisions by both the public and private sectors. The Council will continue to invest in environmental schemes through its own programmes but it is also likely that funding will be sought from other sources to complement this work and enable a comprehensive programme of improvements to be carried out. | Huw Davies | October 2005 onwards |
| 8. That the establishment of a dental practice in the West End of Ashton-under-Lyne be encouraged where possible by the Primary Care Trust. | The PCT has recently announced that a new 40,000 sq ft Primary Care Resource Centre will be constructed in St Petersfield. Amongst many services to be based, it is proposed that there will be a Community Dentistry Service with 23 staff located in the Centre including Dental Officers, Dental Nurses, Dental Therapists, and Hygienists and also Dental Students from the University of Manchester. | Colin McKinless? | Centre to be constructed in 2007/08 |
| 9. That the Tameside Transport Group be requested to review the provision of public transport as facilities develop on the Ashton Moss site and in St. Petersfield. | When the original research was undertaken as part of the Scrutiny Review, there was no public transport going into / through Ashton Moss which is why this concern was raised. However, there are now three commercial bus services (two daytime and one night-time) accessing the area. The Tameside Training Group does not exist but there is a Local Public Transport Forum where issues in relation to public transport can be discussed and resolved. In addition, the Council Transportation Section will continue to review the situation and are able to influence policy through the Local Transport Plan if changes are required. | Phil Calverley | Ongoing |
Page last updated: 19 June 2008
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