EXECUTIVE MEMBER REPORT TO COUNCIL
WEDNESDAY, 26th OCTOBER 2005
LIBRARIES
Bookstart Babycrawl - will be launched in libraries across the town in October. This is an incentive scheme whereby 0 – 4 year olds gain points every time they use a library to collect a series of certificates.
Reader Rewards - Over 400 library users signed up to the Reader Reward scheme in the first week. Loyalty points are awarded each time a reader visits a library and borrows a book. Points can be exchanged for media loans.
Reading Voyage - This summers library reading challenge was a great success, over 800 children registered to join and 451 completed the course. Certificates and medals were handed out at a celebration party with the Mohawks providing the entertainment.
Primary Link - The NRF funded library service to schools has been successful yet again. The 2005 KS2 results show a further increase at the participating schools.
Community Information Database - Discussions are taking place with MVDA as to using the library computer system to provide community information. This will involve updating the current system QUEST and will exploit the experience and contacts of both partners.
PLANNING & REGENERATION PROGRAMMES
Neighbourhood Renewal Fund - Middlesbrough Partnership approved the NRF funding allocations for 2006/08 to theme areas as follows:
Minimum Maximum
Middlesbrough Learning Partnership £1,300,000 £1,700,000
Safer & Stronger Communities £1,300,000 £1,700,000
Economic Vitality £1,300,000 £1,700,000
Housing £700,000 £900,000
Environment £700,000 £900,000
Health & Social Care £700,000 £900,000
Children & Young People SP £200,000 £350,000
Applications for funding should be received by 4th November 2005. Any existing NRF project that requires continuation funding will be required to re-apply stating how they will address the new National Floor targets. Projects will also be required to demonstrate additionality, long-term sustainability and provide information on the activities undertaken to date to secure alternative funding. This will ensure that projects, new or existing, will receive funding based around need.
The NRF areas are to be more aligned with the current ward boundaries that came into effect in 2003. This will allow for easier data collection and would ensure that NRF areas were more easily recognisable.
Single Programme - Five Middlesbrough based projects were agreed at the Tees Valley Partnership Executive on 27th September 2005 for approval. These being: Museum of Digital Media Study – (£47,500); Greater Middlehaven Phase 2 (St. Hilda’s) - £220,000; Business Property Improvement Initiative (MTCC) - £236,000; and Cannon Park Master Plan - £16,000.
External Funding - Middlesbrough Council has been successfully short listed for the National Lottery People’s Millions scheme and are amongst the final contenders in the region to secure a potential £50,000 towards authority park improvements.
St Cuthbert’s Youth and Community Centre have successfully secured £91,106 from the National Lottery Community Fund to employ a Centre Worker for three years.
Tees Valley Sporting Centre of Excellence - capital expenditure / build complete. Funding was secured from Sport England £500,000 and Single Programme - £170,000.
Development Control - Major developments granted planning permission in August were:
· 30 flats in Lytton Street;
· a new builder’s merchants on the former Peugeot Dealership, Longlands Road;
· new Community Centre, Meath Street;
· 32 flats and re-development of the former bowling alley block on Linthorpe Road
· Development Control performance continues to press home the Best Value Performance Indicators, exceeding all of the target figures.
National Affordable Housing Programme (NAHP) - Strategic Housing is currently appraising bids with Registered Social Landlord Partners and the Housing Corporation, to support affordable and specialist housing provision in the town. The closing date for bids is the 21 October 2005 and the Council will look to secure schemes that meet specific housing needs and regeneration priorities.
Regional Spatial Strategy - The Council was consulted on the Regional Spatial Strategy (RSS) for the North East: Submission Draft, in July 2005. At its meeting of 14th September 2005, the Council approved a recommendation to make representations at the forthcoming examination in public. The main areas of objection are that:
i. the proposed housing allocations for the Tees Valley and Middlesbrough do not adequately reflect the locational strategy to focus development in the conurbations and main towns;
ii. Middlesbrough should be identified as the primary retail centre in the Tees Valley;
iii. Hemlington Grange should be identified as a major mixed use site; and,
iv. East Middlesbrough Corridor should be identified as a priority transport scheme.
ECONOMIC & COMMUNITY REGENERATION
Business Start-Up Grant Assistance - Since April 2005 four Business Start-Up Grant Panels have been conducted. A total of eighty-five grants were approved to a value of £29,000. Businesses supported ranged from an equestrian supply business to a contemporary coffee bar. Three of the new start-up businesses expect to become VAT registered within six months and it is anticipated that forty-five jobs will be created.
Black, Minority, Ethnic (BME) Business Support Network Event - The first BME Business Support Network event took place on 21st September. The aims and objectives of the event were as follows:
· constitute a forum for BME businesses in Middlesbrough;
· establish a forum for peer group support for BME businesses in the Middlesbrough area;
· establish a forum to act as communication route for Business Link and Local Authorities to formally use;
· increase the number of BME businesses using Business Link and Local Authority products and services, and
· increase the number of BME businesses starting up in the Middlesbrough area.
The event was well received with over 30 BME businesses attending and a further three events are planned.
The Employment Initiatives Review - The review is now completed and will be shortly going to Executive for final approval. The worklessness agenda is also under consideration by the Transport and Regeneration Scrutiny Panel.
Northern Way Worklessness Pilot - The Economic Development Team put forward an expression of interest to One North East in April for funding to carry out a programme of activities as the Northern Way Pilot. Since submission the process for commissioning the pilots has changed and O-NE has now advised that a tender brief should be put forward which will then be passed on to the Northern Way for consideration. The timetable for implementation of the pilots remains unclear.
Easterside, Beechwood and Grove Hill Works - A proposal is currently being submitted to the European Social Fund to set up a multi agency employment and training service for the residents of Easterside, Grove Hill and Beechwood. If successful the project will commence in January 2006 and will provide a tailor made service similar to the Hemlington Works model which will support target groups such as people with disabilities, residents from BME communities, people with long term sickness, the long term unemployed and those with low skills or no qualifications.
Area Regeneration Frameworks - Community Engagement Team - A new team is about to be launched that will help design, co-ordinate and support community engagement in the town's main redevelopment areas. The initial focus will be on the Older Housing Area, as well as Grove Hill and later Hemlington. The team will devise a range of methods and approaches to ensure residents can make an effective contribution to the redevelopment proposals. Residents will also be provided with timely and relevant information as well as having regular contact with officers and other stakeholders. Special attention will be given to individuals and groups who are normally difficult to reach. The team will develop and support community reference groups in the areas they work and draft a Residents Charter setting out clearly what they will do and what residents can expect from the team, the officers and agencies involved.
Middlesbrough Partnership Board - At its September meeting, the Board considered the following business:
The performance of the Safer Middlesbrough Partnership (SMP) and how other parts of the LSP can help the SMP to boost its performance. In response to the SMP's request for help from Transport, Environment and Housing services, the Chair will meet with key interests in these areas to progress the issues. A particular issue was the need for late night transport (buses) to help take people home safely after a night out in Middlesbrough's town centre and how this can impact on certain alcohol related crime figures.
Neighbourhood Renewal Fund: The Board approved the report setting out broad allocations of NRF for 2006-2008 based on performance against National Floor Targets etc, the new fund called "Safer & Stronger Communities Fund Neighbourhood Element" and its prioritisation towards East Middlesbrough, NRF decision-making processes; and new NRF boundaries for the town.
The 2005 Community Strategy summary has been delivered to every household in the Borough, affording every citizen the opportunity to be aware of the key priorities facing the Partnership.
The Partnership supported the Fair Trade principle and agreed to each partner being approached separately to see how it can support the town's bid for Fair Trade status.
A small group was set up to develop an action plan leading to the implementation of a Local Area Agreement for Middlesbrough in 2007.
The 2005 Community Strategy summary has been delivered to every household in the Borough, affording every citizen the opportunity to be aware of the key priorities facing the Partnership.
LDF Core Strategy - preferred options - The Local Development Scheme sets a milestone of December for consultation on the core strategy preferred options. To achieve this it is necessary to obtain Executive approval at its meeting of 22nd November 2005. The timetable for reporting will therefore be as follows:
Member Working Group - 21st October, Scrutiny - 1st November, CMT - 10th November, Executive - 22nd November.
A more detailed briefing on the preferred options can be provided before the Member Working Group if required.
MUSEUMS & GALLERIES
mima curators are working on a monograph with leading Dutch jewellery designer Felieke van der Leest, to accompany an exhibition at the Dorman Museum in January. This will be Felieke’s most significant publication to date and will be launched at the Victoria & Albert Museum’s “Collect” art fair in February, as well as in Middlesbrough and Amsterdam.
During September work on the gallery and square has progressed focussing on the following areas:
Public Square: Continued progress on the water feature and the immediate surroundings
Commencement of work to erect the lighting columns
Commencement of tree planting
Gallery: Near completion of external glazing
Installation of lifts underway
Continuation of decorating
In addition work has progressed in relation to the fit out of the collection stores and percent for art commissions, including the fit out of the café. During September the recruitment process has begun to appoint a company to run the café and a report will be concluded to satisfy the requirements of an Arts Council review in October.
Dorman Museum - The museum received two purchase grants; a V&A grant of £3,500 for a collection of Linthorpe Pottery and a PRISM grant of £2,500 for the purchase of the original 19th Century turret clock from Grey Towers, former home of Arthur Dorman.
CULTURAL SERVICES
Arts Development - Union City begins its tour. The premiere will take place 26th September at Middlesbrough Theatre moving to Stockton Arc on the 28th September and culminating in the first ever community produced production at the Sage Gateshead on the 11th October.
Arts Week 4 Everyone (AW4E) will open with a spectacular show at Psyche on Linthorpe Road, the festival runs from 24th - 30th October. AW4E brings artists and local business together to celebrate the artistic and cultural scene in Middlesbrough. Events range from a photography competition and exhibition, poetry readings, salsa evenings to live DJ & VJ nights.
Three talented filmmakers have just been successfully shortlisted to produce a new short documentary for the Extreme Film Festival in Kendal. The three take part in a 48 film challenge to create a film based on skateboarding. The completed film will be shown as part of Kendal Extreme Film Festival and then at Northern Lights Film Festival in Middlesbrough.
Tall Tales for Short Sorts begins again with Animators Curtis Jobling (Designer for Bob The Builder), Neil Bushnell of Qurios Entertainment and Independent Clive Tonge. A new group of 14 young people aged 13 - 18 years old have been recruited to make the second in a series of animated short films.
Coulby Newham public art commission - A £35k commission for the new supermarket site at Coulby Newham is about to get underway with the selection of an artist on 11th October. The piece will make reference to the up and coming Audio Visual Festival taking place in March 2006.
Tourism - The Tees Valley ATP (Area Tourism Partnership) Draft Business Plan and Management Plan are out for consultation. The ATP is expected to be in place by April 2006 based within the JSU. A Chair is being sought at present and board members to follow.
ERDF & ESF (Tees Valley) projects were both successful. The projects will commence January 2006 and form part of the ATP business plan. The ERDF funding enables the ATP to employ 3 consultants to assist and support local Tees Valley SMEs within the tourism industry. The ESF bid is to support and offer workforce development / training to all tourism businesses.
Tourism teams in Middlesbrough and Stockton have submitted a Single Programme bid titled ‘City Region Marketing’ -SMi) this is a joint project between MBC& SBC to seek funding for the marketing / development of the Stockton Middlesbrough region.
The ‘Eating Out Guide’ promoting restaurants within the two boroughs (Stockton & Middlesbrough) is in the final stages at the designers. This new piece of print will offer readers venue details, special offers, menu ideas and recipes.
‘Breeze Assist’ – The Online events promotion system will be plugged into the council’s website in the section ‘What’s On’. This system should provide the user a search function that provides them with a detailed view of event information.
The Tourism Visitor Guides for 2006 – Tees Valley & Captain Cook are with the designers at present. Print runs will be 40k for each and will be distributed within region but will mainly target the national and international market.