Agenda item

To receive an update report on the delivery of the Council’s Ambition for North Tyneside and the projects to be delivered in 2020/21 and beyond.

Cabinet received an update report on the delivery of the Council’s ‘Ambition for North Tyneside’ that had been agreed on 26 November 2018 as a framework for the regeneration of the borough in line with the Our North Tyneside Plan and the themes of ‘our people’, ‘our place’ and ‘our economy’.

The report explained what had been achieved to date as well as setting out the planned activities across the borough over the next 12 months and beyond. To support the ongoing delivery of those schemes identified in ‘Our Ambition for North Tyneside’, there was an allocation of £2m per annum for the next five years within the Authority’s budget.

The report set out in detail progress made in each part of the Borough – South West; North West; North East; and South East – over the last 18 months, what was currently planned and what would happen next (subject to funding) and what the Authority would do, if it could, and when it could.

The plan contained a broad range of physical projects which developed North Tyneside as a place.  However, North Tyneside was nothing without its people.  It was the businesses and shoppers that made the town centres, the visitors, residents and businesses that brought to life the attractions at the coast and residents and visitors that filled the Borough’s parks and wagonways with activity.

Just as this programme was designed to be for all of North Tyneside it was designed for all of the people of North Tyneside wherever they lived.  Many of the projects that had been delivered and would be delivered were shaped with that in mind.  For example, the development of the hotel and restaurant at The Spanish City had been done in partnership to create a Work Academy that allowed residents who had limited experience of work to undergo training and then have a guaranteed interview.  The proposals at Swan Hunters had at their heart, the delivery of new jobs on that site.

An initial breakdown of the proposed funding allocation was set out in the report, with the Authority’s financial commitment of £3.6m to support the delivery of the schemes in tranche 1 and £39m of external funding that had been identified.

Progress on the Our Ambition Plan would be monitored by the Deputy Mayor, and regular reports on progress would be reported to Cabinet. Property related projects would be dealt with via the Strategic Property Group chaired by the Elected Mayor. Investment projects were overseen by the Investment Programme Board, which was chaired by the Cabinet Member for Finance and Resources and included the Deputy Mayor. Specific project and working groups would be established to handle more significant projects with appropriate Elected Member and Chief Officer leadership.

The next steps would include further project development including refining delivery plans and funding mix; options on the major projects moving through appropriate governance; and finalising the Investment Programme based on a £10m budget over 5 years.

There were no decision options set out for Cabinet’s consideration as the report was for information purposes only.

Resolved that (1) the progress made in delivering the overall ‘An Ambition for North Tyneside’ plan since November 2018 be noted;

(2)   the projects to be delivered in 2020/21 and beyond be noted; and

(3)   the Plan continue to be monitored by the Investment Programme Board

and progress reported regularly to Cabinet.