Minutes:
The Committee considered the verbal report presented by the Director – Planning & Growth in relation to the latest position of the Newark Town Investment Plan.
The Director advised that a submission had been forwarded to Government on 31 July and that it was hoped a full report would be ready for the November meeting of the Committee. Newark were one of 13 towns to make a submission and were the only town in the region from Cohort 1 invited to do so.
International Air & Space Training Institute (IASTI)
A team had been commissioned by the Project Board to work on this project. They were working through the development of the proposal with a view to submitting a planning application and agreeing terms of any lease with the District Council. It could be that virtual teaching would be provided to students as soon as September 2021 from a temporary home with a view to converting that to a permanent home as the project moved forward.
Digital Logistics Hub
The District Council and Lincoln University have appointed consultants to carry out the first piece of work on the above with the next step being to test academia, industry and investors as to how it could progress and what any potential gaps might be, the timetable for which was to reach a conclusion by Christmas 2020.
The Director advised that there were other commercial interests but that, at present, they could not be made public, referring to such interest also aligning with the Destination Management Plan. Again, it was hoped that a more public update report would be made in November.
Site of IASTI/Relocation of Cattle Market
A tender exercise had been undertaken for an operator(s) to occupy the current cattle market site on a short term basis with a view to a new facility being established elsewhere, with the Newark Showground being identified as the preferred location. Following a due diligence process none of the submitted bids were able to deliver that. The site will now be used to enable the alternative uses identified and promoted by the Newark Town Investment Plan aspirations, for which a further update would be provided at the November Committee. Members were informed that this did not rule out the Cattle Market being supported to relocate to an alternative site within the district should a proposal be made in that regard.
Former Marks & Spencer Building/32 Stodman Street, Newark
An update report would be brought to the November meeting of the Committee. A team had been commissioned to further develop this project with discussions to be held about that specific development together with the whole of the town centre curatorship and cultural discussions.
Southern Link Road and A46 Newark Northern By-Pass
Negotiations were ongoing for these infrastructure projects with Highways England and Homes England but at this stage it was not possible to share all discussions publically. It was, however, hoped that this would be possible by the end of the year.
The Chairman thanked the Director and Officers for their ongoing work adding that whilst it was an ambitious plan for the town, it would have an impact throughout the District for its young people.
A Member noted the adverse comments in the press from some Members of Parliament suggesting that Newark was an affluent area and should not be eligible to bid for the funds. He sought to remind Members of the Social Mobility Report issued 3 years previously saying that within the geographic area covered by Newark & Sherwood, the area was 323 out of 324 authority areas in the country in terms of poor social mobility. A press release was issued at that time, citing 3 reasons for that: poor educational performance over decades; low skills and low aspirations; and under-investment in infrastructure. The Member commented that the Towns Fund Bid addressed in whole, or in part, all of the aforementioned reasons and suggested that this be emphasised in the Council’s response and approach.
AGREED (unanimously) that the verbal report be noted.