Agenda item

To seek approval to accept £1.94m of grant funding from the North of Tyne Combined Authority in relation to the Towns and High Streets Innovation Programme for Wallsend.

Cabinet received a report seeking authorisation for the Director of Regeneration and Economic Development to accept £1.94m of grant funding from the North of Tyne Combined Authority’s (NTCA) Towns and High Streets Innovation Programme.

The Towns and High Streets Innovation Programme investment was concentrated in a small number of town centres and high streets, with a focus on achieving lasting transformational change in each place by planning long term investment proposals and testing new approaches to high street re-purposing at scale within focused areas.

The programme had been co-designed between the NTCA and its Local Authority stakeholders. It drew upon the NTCA’s Covid Recovery Work and other research work which informed the development of a ‘Future High Streets Challenge’ technical capacity fund approved by NTCA’s Cabinet in November 2021. The Programme was built upon three pillars, each of which was essential in achieving long term transformation in high streets and town centres. It was essential that these pillars were the bedrock upon which the proposals to transform high streets were based.  The three pillars were: Leadership and partnership; Investing in a model for change; and Stimulating long term investment.

In total, circa £1.9 million would be devolved to each Local Authority subject to each Local Authority producing a Delivery Plan which was subject to external appraisal and approval by NTCAs Technical Officers Group (TOG).

£1.94 million of funding had been approved for the Authority to deliver a programme of activity that delivered against the objectives identified in the draft Wallsend Masterplan.

The vision for Wallsend was for it to be a thriving, diverse town providing a choice of good quality homes, community facilities, green spaces, retail and an evening economy that built on the heritage, culture and unique setting of the area.

The funding from the Towns and High Streets Innovation Programme would be used to:

·         Create a new active travel route incorporating artwork and installations between the town centre and Segedunum linking the World Heritage Site with the core retail and leisure offer;

·         Provide 1:1 support to businesses with a dedicated town centre business advisor;

·         Include a shop front improvement grant scheme with specific design standards to enhance the look of the High Street;

·         Develop and support a programme of events and festival that would drive footfall and promote Wallsend as a destination of choice; and

·         Create a higher profile for Segedunum by establishing a retail/exhibition offer within the town centre.

The programme duration was a maximum of two full financial years, with eligible spend starting from April 2022, and all expenditure completed by 31^st March 2024.  The activity would be 100% funded by NTCA with no match funding required from the Authority.

The programme of activity would deliver the following Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant and Time-Bound (SMART) objectives:

·         SO1: Grow jobs and productivity in and around Wallsend town centre, supporting businesses to grow, through investment in the area, bespoke business support and access to new businesses opportunities.

·         SO2: Provide an attractive environment for businesses to thrive by investing in new workspaces and capital works in and around the high street to improve the look and feel of the area, breathing new life into the town and contributing to the transformation of Wallsend and the wider Borough of North Tyneside.

·         SO3: Establish a thriving ‘High Street’, with a strong identity and opportunities that can kick start investment in the wider area. Using a programme of animation including 4 large-scale events to showcase products and services and attract visitors, in turn increasing footfall within the area.

·         SO4: Create a strong sense of place, Segedunum, as a key part of Hadrian’s Wall, is one of the UK’s 31 UNESCO World Heritage Sites and yet from the town centre you would not know it was nearby. Using signage, art installations and public realm improvements we will improve the connectivity and identity of Wallsend.

·         SO5: Empower local communities and businesses to re-imagine and build a long-term future for Wallsend high streets by establishing a new High Street Transformation Board.

Cabinet considered the following decision options: to accept the recommendations set out in paragraph 1.2 of the report; or alternatively, to not accept the recommendations.

Resolved that (1) the Director of Regeneration and Economic Development be authorised to accept the £1,940,000 grant funding from the North of Tyne Combined Authority in relation to the Towns and High Streets Innovation Programme for Wallsend; (2) the Director of Regeneration and Economic Development in consultation with the Assistant Chief Executive and Director of Resources, be authorised to enter into the Grant Funding Agreement and any other documentation as required to facilitate recommendation (1);

(3) the Director of Regeneration and Economic Development be authorised to procure any goods, works or services to deliver the outcomes set out below:

i. prepare designs up to Royal Institute of British Architects Stage 4 for public realm improvements and a new cultural, walking, cycling and wheeling route between Segedunum and Hadrian’s cycleway/C2C/National Trail routes and the Metro and Wallsend High Street

ii. appoint a delivery partner to undertake construction work on the public realm walking and cycle route

iii. carry out a tender process to appoint a delivery organisation to provide bespoke business support to Wallsend businesses

(4) the Director of Regeneration and Economic Development in consultation with the Director of Resources and the Assistant Chief Executive, be authorised to take all necessary steps to enter into contracts with the successful bidders on completion of the procurement processes highlighted in 1.2 (3) (ii) and 1.2 (3) (iii); and

(5) the Director of Regeneration and Economic Development in consultation with the Director of Resources, be authorised to take all necessary steps to recruit and appoint a Town Centre Advisor on an 18-month fixed term contract.

(Reason for decision: accepting the funding would enable the delivery of the proposed activity in Wallsend Town Centre, in line with the policy priorities enshrined in the emerging Wallsend draft Masterplan and Our North Tyneside Plan.)