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The Executive considered a
report which provided an update on the projects within the
Government’s Towns Fund programme being delivered by
Stevenage Borough Council and Stevenage Development Board
partners.
 
In response to a Member’s
request, the Assistant Director (Regeneration) agreed to provide a
map showing the locations of the 22 underpasses to be given
makeovers, once these had been agreed with Hertfordshire County
Council.
 
In reply to a Member question
regarding retail in the Town Centre, the Assistant Director
(Regeneration) stated that the retail units in the Queensway scheme
were fully let, with a mixture of uses. 
He added that it was a difficult time for the retail sector
nationally, but hoped that the additional 1,900+ jobs created by
the Autolus development and the Forum redevelopment, together with
the planned 3,000 new residential units in the Town Centre over the
coming years, would naturally provide a demand and opportunities
for new retail provision to serve those new employees and
residents.
 
In response to a Member
question regarding a spend comparison between SBC and other local
authorities benefitting from Towns Fund monies, the Assistant
Director (Regeneration) advised that the Council’s spend
profile compared well to that of other recipients.  He commented that, at approximately halfway
through the Towns Fund programme in terms of spend, SBC was amongst
the higher performers (helped in part by a fully-resourced
Regeneration Team which the Council had boldly invested in a number
of years ago).  He stated that
SBC’s spend level was at 80% of where it expected to be,
although some of the larger items in terms of spend would occur in
later years.  He was cautiously
optimistic that SBC was achieving its ambitious Town Fund
objectives when compared to other local authorities.
 
It was
RESOLVED:
 
1.         
That the progress of the ‘Transforming the
Town Centre’ regeneration programme, specifically the
progress of projects which are being delivered using grant funded
Towns Fund allocations provided by the Department for Levelling Up,
Housing and Communities (DLUHC), be noted.

 
2.         
That the progression of the Cycling and
Pedestrian Connectivity (inc. Arts and Heritage Trail) project be
authorised, the high-level budgets attributed to the three
workstreams be approved, and the future collaboration with
Environment and Economy and the Community Select Committees to
support the delivery of these interventions be
acknowledged.
 
3.         
That the reprofiling of the Towns Fund expenditure
profile, as shown in the 3rd Quarter 2023/24 capital
update report to the Executive, and following endorsement from the
Stevenage Development Board, be approved.
 
Reason for Decision:  As contained in report.
Other
Options considered:  As contained in report.