Issue - meetings

Report of the Cabinet Member Development and Safety

RESOLVED THAT

1.  the Task Force Business Plan 2016-2019 be endorsed, and

2. it be noted that a review of governance and direction of the Task Force has been initiated by the MD Place & Economic Development and that a report on that review be received later in 2016 and the Task Force Business Plan be updated as necessary

The Cabinet Member Development and Safety introduced the report and explained how the Cheltenham Development Task Force Business Plan had been approved by the Task Force in July 2016. He referred to section 6 of the report which outlined the specific projects, targets and activities for the next three years which included :

·         maintaining liaison and co-ordination with developers and active sites

·         concluding Brewery II

·         Beechwood Shopping Centre conversion to JLP store

·         delivering a revised solution for North Place and Portland Street

·         Royal Well/Municipal Offices

·         Chapel Walk and Synagogue Lane

·         Lower High Street

·         St Marys

·         Bath Square transformation project

·         Transport changes

·         Walking

·         Car/highway projects

·         Public realm works

·         Taking a pro-active role with employers in the locality including cyber/innovation hub potential

·         Future ambitions to include Tewkesbury Road and the Quadrangle

The Cabinet Member highlighted that the business plan encompassed a great amount of the economic drive in the town at this time with every major scheme being included in the list. A whole range of people were brought together via the Task Force such as the County Council and the Local Economic Partnership. He made reference to the appendix which provided a list of actions and outputs achieved over the last six years and as a result of which economic investment in Cheltenham amounted to more than £200 million.

Members welcomed the business plan. A Member commented that the CDTF, whilst independent, should talk about its achievements in its own right.

The Leader praised the work of the CDTF saying that its key components collectively represented contributions to the economy of the town. Its work related to the draft Place Strategy which had been considered earlier on in the agenda. He said that the CDTF had an important role going forward and it must continue to ensure that it appointed people who were leading in each area.

RESOLVED THAT

1.  the Task Force Business Plan 2016-2019 be endorsed, and

2. it be noted that a review of governance and direction of the Task Force has been initiated by the MD Place & Economic Development and that a report on that review be received later in 2016 and the Task Force Business Plan be updated as necessary