Agenda item

To receive a report from the Director of Place and Economy updating Members on town centre health, projects and activities undertaken by the Growth, Economy and Delivery Team during the last couple of months.

The Group had before it, and NOTED a report from the Director of Place and Economy updating Members on projects and activities undertaken by the Growth, Economy and Delivery Team during the last quarter. It also provided an update on plans for review of the Economic Strategy for Mid Devon.

The following was highlighted in the report:

·         Work continued on the delivery of the final phase of the Shared Prosperity and Rural England Prosperity Fund Delivery Plan.  Following completion of the second quarter, the team would undertake the next round of monitoring reviews to measure progress against projected outputs and outcomes.  This would be completed by the end of October 2024 and an update would be presented to the PDG in November.

·         Planning Permission was granted for the ‘Change of Use’ of the Market Centre building.  A second Planning Application was now live for the physical amendments to the building to facilitate the improved workspace.  The team were tendering for the contractor to deliver the works with the aim (subject to Planning Permission being granted) of this commencing in early November.  In addition to the Prosperity Funding, the team had secured a small ‘Quick Wins’ grant from Devon County of £5,000 towards this project.

·         The walking festival was underway and the team had received positive feedback so far. More venues had come forward since the advertisements had gone live and an evaluation of the projects would be undertaken upon completion.

·         The Swan Trail would cease at the end of September and on 7 November there would be an auction to ‘sell off’ the swans.

·         The team had proactively participated in the Mid Devon Show providing a marquee, support and advice in relation to the ‘Field to Fork’ campaign. There had been much positive engagement with the public.

·         The team had used the ‘People and Skills’ funding to work with Devon County Council and partner authorities on an ‘Employment and Skills Hub’.  The support included a dedicated advisor offering free 1:1 employment and skills advice, signposting and more direct support with identifying training opportunities available.  The Council had two hubs in Mid Devon: one in Cullompton Library and one in Tiverton at Old Heathcoat School Community Centre.

·         The Economic Strategy was due for review. A series of workshops would be organised for the PDG to help develop this. It was hoped by doing this Members and officers would gain a better understanding of what ‘economic success’ looked like. It would be a chance to gather together relevant data and to answer questions such as: What kinds of outcomes did we want as a Council and where were efforts best placed? Experience gained from delivering the Shared Prosperity Fund would be helpful. This work would be undertaken alongside development of the Destination Management Plan. Dates for the workshops would be circulated to the Group in due course. It was requested that one of these workshops be open to all Members to make contributions and suggestions. It was agreed that this would be a good idea. 

Discussion took place regarding:

·         The loss of funding from the European Union and the impact of this in the future in terms of not being able to deliver such diverse projects in the future.

The Chair wished to record the Group’s thanks to the Economic Development Team for all their hard work and dedication in delivering these projects so successfully.

Note: * Report previously circulated.