Present at the Meeting:
- Councillor D T Molyneux (Cabinet Champion)
- Councillor J D O’Brien
- Councillor N D Ash
- Councillor M Aldred
- Councillor J Atherton
- Councillor J Ellis
- Councillor J N Grundy
- Councillor E N Houlton
- Councillor Mrs J Hurst
- Councillor E Russon
- Councillor C Sweeney
Co-opted Members
- Mr D Baybut
- Mr P Foster
- Mrs P Stewart
- Mr J Winnard
40 Apologies for absence: Councillor R Brierley and Mr G Fulton and Mrs S Sharrock.
41 Minutes: The minutes of the meeting of this Panel held on 12 November 2008 were approved as a correct record.
42 Town Centre management Christmas review of 2008: The Panel received a presentation by the Executive Director of Environmental Services, on the Town Centre Management Christmas review of 2008. Members were also updated on the progress that had been made on the Wigan Town Centre Marketing Income Strategy.
The Panel asked questions to which the Executive Director of Environmental Services responded.
Agreed: The Panel:-
- notes the presentation now submitted; and
- thanks the Town Centre Management Team, Ward Councillors and Community representatives for all the collaborative work that has been undertaken.
43 Bickershaw family employment project and evaluation centre: The Panel considered a report of the Executive Director of Environmental Services, which had been considered by Cabinet (minute 167 refers), which sought approval for Wigan Council to manage additional revenue and capital income and expenditure, which related to the delivery of the Bickershaw family employment and education centre, a project which was part of the Council’s worklessness programme.
The capital income and expenditure was aligned to Working Neighbourhoods Fund and sourced from the Coalfields Regeneration Trust and English Partnership.
The Panel asked questions to which the Executive Director of Environmental Services responded.
Agreed: The Panel notes the report now submitted.
44 Working Neighbourhoods Fund – criterion 3: The Panel considered a report of the Executive Director of Environmental Services, which informed Members of the proposed revisions to criterion 3 for the Working Neighbourhoods Fund (WNF) 2009/11. Members were advised that following the review, Wigan Council had gained a further £120,000 for the Working Neighbourhoods Fund.
The Panel asked questions, to which the Executive Director of Environmental Services responded.
Agreed: The Panel notes the report now submitted.
45 Progress report on implementation of the ‘What makes Wigan work?’ – strategy for reducing worklessness: The Panel considered a report of the Executive Director of Environmental Services, which informed Members of the progress that had been made in implementing the worklessness strategy for Wigan.
The report also updated Members on how the strategy was being adapted to respond to the current financial crisis.
The Panel asked questions, to which the Executive Director of Environmental Services responded.
Agreed: The Panel notes the report now submitted.
(Mrs P Stewart declared a personal and non prejudicial interest in this item as she is a Trustee of the Pulse Network)
46 The prospects for Manchester City region’s economy: The Panel considered a report of the Executive Director of Environmental Services, which informed Members of the forecast for the Manchester City region’s economy over the next 3-4 years. The report informed Members that the next few years would be particularly difficult for the UK economy with unemployment and financial consolidation for households and businesses set to be a key feature.
However, Members were advised that longer term forecasts, up to 2018, highlighted robust growth.
The Panel asked questions, to which the Executive Director of Environmental Services responded.
Agreed: The Panel notes the report now submitted.
47 Audit Commission report – A mine of opportunities, Local Authorities and the regeneration of the English coalfields: The Panel considered a report of the Executive Director of Environmental Services, which informed Members of the Audit Commission’s report into Local Authority areas where coal extraction had been a major employer and the role Local Authorities had played in delivering economic outcomes.
Members were advised that the Audit Commission’s report had identified the North West Coalfields Regeneration Programme, which Wigan Council acted as the accountable body, as a model of best practice.
The Panel asked questions, to which the Executive Director of Environmental Services responded.
Agreed: The Panel notes the report now submitted.
48 Ashton and Leigh Town Centres feasibility studies and masterplans: The Panel considered a report of the Executive Director of Environmental Services, which informed Members of the progress on the feasibility studies and the development of masterplans for Ashton and Leigh Town centres.
The Panel asked questions, to which the Executive Director of Environmental Services responded.
Agreed: The Panel notes the report now submitted.
49 Economic development update: The Panel considered a report of the Executive Director of Environmental Services, which informed Members of the current progress in the Wigan economy and of any major investment decisions.
The Panel asked questions, to which the Executive Director of Environmental Services responded.
Agreed: The Panel notes the report now submitted.
(Councillor C Sweeney declared a personal and non prejudicial interest in this item as he is a school governor of Ince St Mary’s CE Primary School, appointed by the Council).
50 Environmental Services quarter 3 performance reporting 2008: The Panel considered a report of the Executive Director of Environmental Services, which informed Members of the Environmental Services Department’s Quarter 3 performance data for 2008.
The Panel asked questions, to which the Executive Director of Environmental Services responded.
Agreed: The Panel notes the report now submitted.
51 Wigan Economic Partnership minutes – 6 November 2008: The Panel considered a report of the Executive Director of Environmental Services, which updated Members on the work and key decisions made within the Wigan Economic partnership.
Agreed: The Panel notes the report now submitted.
