Agenda and minutes

            The Minutes of the meeting held on 28^th June 2017, having been circulated were signed as a correct record.

            It was confirmed that no public questions had been received.

            The Board considered the Minutes of the meetings of the Executive Board relevant to the Environment and Urban Renewal Policy and Performance Board.

            RESOLVED: That the Minutes be received.

            The Board received a presentation from Wesley Rourke on the Mersey Gateway Regeneration Plan (Plus) document. The document identified a number of Key Impact Areas and Regeneration Opportunities which would arise following the completion of the Mersey Gateway. There were three distinct elements to the Plan:

·         provides the strategic context for growth and recognises the Mersey Gateway Project as a catalyst for change; and

·         sets out a cohesive package of development and investment opportunities, identifies the key infrastructure and enabling projects that will be brought forward to complement and support economic growth; and

·         outlines the approach to implementation and delivery.

            It was reported that the Plan would facilitate the development of a steady pipeline of regeneration and development opportunities over a 10-15 year period, and that it would be the first in a suite of documents that would form Halton’s Economic Growth Strategy.

            Arising from the discussion it was agreed that:

      I.        a working party to develop the Mersey Gateway Regeneration Plan be established with the following Membership: Councillors Morley, Nolan, Sinnott, Wall, Woolfall and Zygadllo.

    II.        The working party terms of reference be circulate to all Members of the Board.

   III.        An update report on the progress of the working party be submitted to a future Board meeting.

            Members also noted that a meeting had been set up with Arriva, the Executive Board Member for Transportation and Council Officers to discuss future bus routes in and around the Runcorn Old Town area when the new bridge opens.

RESOLVED: That

1.    the Board welcome the positive progress being made to promote regeneration in the borough following completion of the Mersey Gateway Bridge;

2.    a working party to develop the Mersey Gateway Regeneration Plan be established with the following Membership: Councillors Morley, Nolan, Sinnott, Wall, Woolfall and Zygadllo;

3.    the working party terms of reference be circulate to all Members of the Board; and

4.    an update report on the progress of the working party be submitted to a future Board meeting.

            The Board received a presentation from Helen Roberts, Lead Regeneration Officer for Sci-Tech Daresbury, regarding existing and proposed developments at Sci-Tech Daresbury, including an overview of the Sci-Tech Daresbury Enterprise Zone, achievements to date and details of an emerging Master Plan for the area.

            The presentation highlighted the progress made in the first five years of Sci Tech Daresbury Enterprise Zone Status which included:

·         Over 100 companies on campus, 20 new business, 250 new jobs and 12 apprentices;

·         Occupancy rate of 75% for commercial property;

·         £25m investment in the Techspace One and Two Buildings, a power upgrade for the site and the wider east Runcorn area and £300m Government investment; and

·         A new and improved gateway to the campus.

Members were also advised on the 25 year masterplan for expanding the campus, the immediate proposals for the next 4 years which would focus on the delivery on the corner plot of the A56 and Daresbury Expressway and an outline of the proposal for a ‘Skills Factory’.

            RESOLVED: That the Board notes the presentation and acknowledges the wider role Sci-Tech Daresbury plays in giving Halton a competitive edge when attracting and retaining businesses in the borough.

            The Board considered a report of the Strategic Director, Enterprise, Communities and Resources, which sort support for the proposed introduction of a Cold Route to the winter gritting routes for the marginal nights and the rationalisation of the existing primary gritting routes as a result of the updating of Halton’s thermal map for highways.

            At present gritting operations were undertaken on all routes on marginal nights. Using data obtained from the thermal mapping exercise, this could be reduced from treating 303km to 117km of road infrastructure, thereby reducing the number of gritting vehicles from 5 to 2. This equated to revenue saving of approximately £8,500 per year. Records from previous years had indicated that on average, there had been 10 occasions when the Cold Route could have been utilised instead of the complete primary route.

            In addition to the Cold Route for marginal nights, it was proposed to treat the following roads on Secondary Route in accordance with the Winter Service Plan during periods of severe prolonged weather:

·         (Widnes) Foundary Lane – Broughton Way – Pickerings Road – Mersey View Road.

·         (Runcorn) Keckwick Lane – Arkwright Road – Brindley Road – Goddard Road – Edison Road – Hardwick Road.

            RESOLVED: That the Board supports the proposed introduction of a Cold Route to the winter gritting routes for marginal nights and the rationalisation of primary gritting route.