- Councillor J A O’Neill (Cabinet Regeneration Champion) (In the Chair)
- Councillor M Aldred
- Councillor G Davies
- Councillor Mrs J Hurst
- Councillor A Turnock
- Councillor N R Whittingham
- Mrs P Stewart
- Mr J Winnard
21 Apologies for absence: Councillors E N Houlton, Mrs Jarvis, C Sweeney, P Thompson and P A Tushingham and Mr R Allen, Mrs B Nettleton, Mr T Dickinson and Mr G Fulton
22 Minutes: The Minutes of the meeting of this Panel held on 25 July 2007 were approved as a correct record.
23 Property finder presentation: The Panel received a presentation from the Inward Investment Marketing Manager informing Members of progress on raising Wigan’s profile for the purpose of economic regeneration. Selective Finance for Investment as well as location were the key selling points for future commercial investors.
The Panel asked questions to which the Inward Investment Marketing Manager responded.
Agreed: The Panel notes the report now submitted and thanks the Inward Investment Marketing Manager for the presentation.
24 Wigan Leisure and Culture Trust annual review: The Panel considered a report which would be considered by Cabinet summarising the performance of Wigan Leisure and Culture Trust in 2006/7 and also summarising its plans for action 2007/08. The report provided details of an Audit Commission review of culture and leisure services in Wigan undertaken in 2007.
Agreed: The Panel notes the report now submitted.
(Councillor G Davies declared a personal and non prejudicial Interest in this item because his employer is Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh NHS Trust)
25 Wigan Leisure and Culture Trust quarterly performance review: The Panel considered a report that summarised the performance for Wigan Leisure and Culture Trust against agreed criteria for the period April – June 2007.
Agreed: The Panel notes the report now submitted.
26 Environmental Services quarter one service plan monitoring report 2007/08: The Panel considered a report which had been considered by Community Protection Panel (minute 41 refers) and which would be considered by Cabinet that advised Members of the Environmental Services Department’s interim service plan quarterly monitoring data.
Agreed: The Panel notes the report now submitted.
27 Proposed changes to Office for National Statistics (ONS) travel to work areas (TTWA): The Panel considered a report which had been considered by Cabinet (minute 106 refers) on proposed changes ONS to the travel to work area (TTWA) definitions. This would result in the St Helens and Wigan TTWA being subsumed into the Liverpool TTWA.
Agreed: The Panel notes the report now submitted.
28 Government green paper ‘Homes for the future’: more affordable, more sustainable: The Panel considered a report which had been considered by Community Protection Panel (minute 36 refers) giving details of the recent Government green paper "Homes for the future: more affordable, more sustainable" on which the Government was seeking a response by 15 October 2007.
The green paper covered a whole range of housing and planning issues. Further statements from the Government were expected on the Hills review dealing with the future of social housing and the Cave review dealing with housing regulation.
Agreed: The Panel accepts the report now submitted.
29 Wigan South Central: The Panel considered a report which had also been considered by Cabinet (minute 120 refers) on the progress being made on development within Wigan South Central, which covered the former Pemberton Colliery, Westwood Park and Wigan Pier Quarter, plus the southern parts of Wigan Town Centre and public transport interchanges.
Agreed: The Panel notes the report now submitted.
30 Neighbourhood renewal fund update: The Panel considered a report which summarised progress with the development of the neighbourhood renewal programme 2006/08. Projects that failed to meet targets collectively could lose future funding.
Agreed: The Panel notes the report now submitted and endorses ongoing work to minimise the risk of underspend in the programme at the end of the 2007/08 financial year.
31 Town Centre update: The Panel considered a report giving an update them on progress being made with reducing business crime and proposals for the festive lights in the Borough. The success of the radios in communicating information had enabled the appointment of a crime co-ordinator for the Borough.
Agreed: The Panel notes the report now submitted.
(Councillors G Davies and N Whittingham declared a personal and non-prejudicial Interest in this item as they are Board Members on Standish Community Forum)
32 Report of UK CCC RECORE visit to the Ukraine: The Panel considered a report which informed Members of the last RECORE Seminar in April 2007 in the Ukraine.
Agreed: The Panel notes the report now submitted.
33 Business support simplification programme: The Panel considered a report which informed Members of the proposed changes to Government funded business support. The Panel was informed that Wigan offered a ‘hot desk’ opportunity.
Agreed: The Panel notes the report now submitted.
34 Minutes of the Wigan Economic Partnership – 28 June 2007: The Panel considered a report which informed and updated Members on the work and key decisions made within the Wigan Economic Partnership.
Agreed: The Panel notes the report now submitted.
35 Questions from Members: There were none.
