Present at the Meeting:
- Councillor J A O’Neill (Cabinet Regeneration Champion) (In the Chair)
- Councillor Mrs A Turnock
- Councillor N R Whittingham
- Councillor M Aldred
- Councillor G Davies
- Councillor Mrs J Hurst
- Councillor Mrs B Jarvis
- Councillor C Sweeney
- Mr R Allen
- Mr G Fulton
- Mr T Dickinson
- Mrs P Stewart
48 Apologies for absence: Councillors E N Houlton and R T Splaine and Mrs B Nettleton and Mr J Winnard.
49 Minutes: The minutes of the meeting of this Panel held on 14 November 2007 were approved as a correct record.
50 Wigan South Central: The Panel received a presentation from Mrs C Baker, of DTZ, who had been commissioned by the Council to carry out a review to re-develop the Wigan South Central area. The presentation informed Members of the progress and key findings made so far.
The Panel asked questions to which the Director of Environmental Services responded.
Agreed: The Panel notes the report now submitted and thanks Mrs C Baker for the presentation.
(Councillor M Aldred declared a personal and non prejudicial interest in this item as he is a member of the Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Authority)
51 Town centre management review of the year presentation: The Panel received a presentation by the Director of Environmental Services on the Town centre management review of the year.
The Panel asked questions to which the Director of Environmental Services responded.
Agreed: The Panel
- notes the report now submitted; and
- thanks the Town Centre Management Team, Ward Councillors and Community representatives for all the collaborative work that has been undertaken.
52 Children’s play programme: The Panel considered a report, which would be considered by Cabinet, that informed Members of the approval of the big lottery fund Children’s play programme allocation for Wigan.
The Panel asked questions to which the Director of Environmental Services responded.
Agreed: The Panel notes the report now submitted.
53 PHOENIX programme: The Panel considered a report, which would be considered by Cabinet, on the preliminary details of the PHOENIX programme (formerly RECORE 2). The report sought a decision in principle for Wigan Council to be the lead UK authority in the PHOENIX programme if a bid for European funding was successful.
The Panel asked questions to which the Director of Environmental Services responded.
Agreed: The Panel endorses the report now submitted.
54 Local area agreement progress report: The Panel considered a report that informed Members of the progress that had been made in developing the new local area agreement (LAA) for 2008.
The Panel asked questions to which the Director of Environmental Services responded.
Agreed: The Panel notes the report now submitted.
55 Westminster launch event – The Other Half of Britain report: The Panel considered a report which informed Members about the Westminster launch event for The Alliance report – ‘The Other Half of Britain’ which identified problems and issues in the traditional industrial areas of England, Scotland and Wales.
The Panel asked questions to which the Director of Environmental Services responded.
Agreed: The Panel notes the report now submitted.
56 Minutes of the Wigan Economic Partnership –13 November 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.
57 Dates and times of meetings 2008/09: The Panel considered a draft programme of dates and times of meetings of the Council, Cabinet, Committees and Panels for 2008/09. Cabinet at minute 207 had invited comments from Committees and Panels.
Agreed: The Panel endorses the draft programme of dates and times of meetings for 2008/09 now submitted.
58 Questions from Members: There were none.
