Members to receive a presentation with an update on the Wisbech 2020 Vision Project.
Minutes:
Members considered the Wisbech 2020 Vision update report, presented by the Chief Executive Paul Medd, Gary Garford, Richard Cassidy and Russell Beal from Anglian Water who is providing a project management role on the Wisbech 2020 project.
Members asked questions, made comments and received responses as follows;
1. Councillor Hodgson thanked the Officers for all their efforts since 2012. The presentation received today is totally different to the one received last year in October at Thomas Clarkson. Councillor Hodgson asked whether the presentation will be repeated again as it had a large audience. Councillor Hodgson commented that one topic which he thinks should have been included on the presentation is the update on the Wisbech Castle project.
2. Gary Garford commented that the Wisbech 2020 summit is planned for Spring 2019 and work is underway to inform the public and Wisbech Castle could be included and come under the Wisbech 2020 banner.
3. Councillor Tierney commented that when he attended a meeting at County Council to discuss the issue of control of the Wisbech Castle, the Wisbech 2020 project banner was used to underpin their discussions.
4. Councillor Tierney asked when the last time that the steering committee met was. Gary Garford commented that a meeting had taken place last week at which WTC was represented by the Town Clerk. Councillor Tierney would speak to the Town Clerk to ensure the Wisbech Town Councillors are kept appraised.
5. Councillor Tierney commented that with regard to the Wisbech Garden Town Project, in his opinion some of the residents of Wisbech still need to be convinced about the merits of the Project as it goes forward. Councillor Tierney believes that most people would be supportive of the idea as long as they can see the infra structure that matches. The Mayor of Cambridgeshire visited Wisbech Town Council and he stated that the infra structure will be put in place before the build.
6. Gary Garford commented that we have got to the stage where there were 2 statutory objections that could happen, one of which is the Department of Transport on the A47 and the other is the Environment Agency and Flooding. Both of these issues are being addressed and by September there should be an answer to both studies. Following this then further work can commence which is an appropriate time to inform the Community.
7. Councillor Seaton commented that he attended a meeting with Highways England and the Mayor of Cambridgeshire, where the duelling of the A47 was discussed and Highways England stated that they are going to work with the Combined Authority and support it.
8. Councillor Booth commented that with regard to the Garden Town, the infrastructure needs to be in place first, but with a population of 40,000 people in Wisbech and surrounding villages our communication needs to be improved.
9. Councillor Booth said he has mentioned before that the language that is used is very vague and needs to be improved on.
10. Councillor Booth said that the interaction and engagement with the rural villages is imperative.
11. Councillor Booth said that the public will be concerned about the amount of money being spent on the feasibility studies and the approach being used needs to be looked at.
12. Councillor Tierney said that he endorses Councillor Booths comments and whilst he appreciates that procedure has to be followed, there appears to be so many studies.
13. Councillor Boden asked how the work of the 2020 vision can fit in with the Economic Development Working Group that has been set up.
14. The Chief Executive commented that within the 2020 Vision, there is the economy theme and much of the works link with that of the Combined Authority and it would be worthwhile for when the Member Led Review Group meets to look at a specific focus of the economy priority and identify what the Councils contribution towards that is and that may then give an insight into what the best option is for Economic Development in the future.
15. Councillor Boden said that he hears on a reoccurring basis about the problems and challenges of Wisbech and the positive aspects are rarely mentioned. The Eastern European community are often linked to the challenges and problems and many of those individuals who have settled in Wisbech and the surrounding areas are qualified and educated and working in areas below their level of capabilities and knowledge and experience and we should be trying to encourage better community engagement with this sector of our community.
16. Richard Cassidy commented that this shouldn’t be associated with the Eastern European Community as there are a significant amount of people in Wisbech who have unrecognised potential and who are not always given opportunities. Many of the projects that are being run are to try to integrate the Eastern European community to become a cohesive part of Wisbech.
17. Paul Medd said that everyone’s potential should be recognised and there is still more work to be done with regard to both the Eastern European and local Community. Much of this good work has been recognised by the Government because of the way any funding monies has been used. We have been able to demonstrate cohesion in the town and have tried to overcome certain issues in the town such as street drinking and anti-social behaviour. Central Government have recognised the ground breaking work which has taken place in the area and have used some of the work we have undertaken for case studies in other parts of the country who have the same issues. Unfortunately the national perception of Wisbech which is frustrating, particularly when there have been instances where National media visit Wisbech and create a media item which then portrays the town in a bad light.
18. Councillor Seaton stated that Wisbech is known for Operation Pheasant rather than the positives. Under the signpost of Wisbech 2020, Councillor Seaton asked whether it would be feasible to encourage meetings with the non indigenous business holders of which there are many in Wisbech as they will have more weight within their own communities than the Council currently has. This could possibly be the opportunity to build bridges through an economic and business forum.
19. Councillor Boden commented that it is an interesting idea but feels that the potential will not be able to be achieved until they are recognised as part of the community.
20. Councillor Boden commented that Gary Garford had referred to the measure of success in Wisbech being in some way related to the IMD 2015 figures and Councillor Boden asked whether the IMD is the best measure of success of anything and if it is relevant are there any concerns of the variation between super output areas and are we looking to address it.
21. Gary Garford stated that he gave that as an example of this generation compared to the last generation where IMD has not changed and therefore measuring can only take place in the long term. It is a litmus test on the way a town is performing in terms of its social outputs and we need to measure the performance of each project to influence it, so when it is measured again in the future we can recognise it as being more positive than it is now.
22. Councillor Boden asked whether the Low Super Output Areas (LSOA) variation is causing any concern. Gary Garford stated that the super output areas are linked to that and are the worst in the country in the Wisbech wards, so these are being focussed on and that is why Clarion are also involved. There are rural areas of deprivation as well including Elm and March and it is about trying to focus what contributes deprivation levels so that outcomes can be improved.
23. The Chief Executive stated that Super Output areas give insight into where more deprivation exists, so in terms of prioritising resources and focus it provides a better picture. Parts of Fenland are affluent and therefore where the socio/economic challenges are we would not want to be focussing the same degree of resource into those more wealthy areas.
24. Councillor Boden stated that he has been concerned that some of the conversations that have taken place over the dualling of the A47 seem to be focussing on then A47 Norfolk rather than the parts in Cambridgeshire and could Councillor Seaton provide any update. Councillor Seaton confirmed that the proposals are from the A16 just outside Peterborough through to West Walton.
25. The Chief Executive stated that along with Councillor Seaton, they both sit on the A47 Alliance so they are able to reinforce the case for the Cambs A47 improvements.. Councillor Seaton added that there has been some interest from the City of Birmingham who see that the road improvements as link from there to the East Coast and if the dualling is completed it will take some of the pressure off of the A14.
26. Councillor Tierney stated that he carries out a yearly questionnaire around Wisbech and the same 2 issues are raised every time. The top one is improvements to the hospital and the second is always Wisbech Rail. Whilst he recognises the importance of the A47 dualling, the community and Councillors of Wisbech consider that Wisbech rail is the number one objective for the future.
27. Councillor Booth commented that with regard to rural parishes and public transport, this must not be forgotten within the Wisbech 2020 vision. With regard to flooding there has been no mention of the Internal Drainage Boards who are working on these activities and need to be given some recognition on the works that they are doing.
28. Gary Garford stated that in terms of the drainage boards, the Chief Executive of the North Level IDB is part of the Garden Town Project and is involved in developing a solution. Fenland has a unique drainage landscape and we are modelling the flood impact and also their pumping model. With regard to transport, currently Community transport is the best way to transport residents from within rural areas into the towns. The bus franchises are unfortunately disappearing as they are no longer commercially viable and subsidised grants are not present. Councillor Boden commented that County Council are no longer responsible for transport it is now the Combined Authority. Gary Garford stated that the Combined Authority was looking into grant aid for key routes and that will only be limited to key routes. Councillor Booth stated that it is important to keep the rural routes alive and transport needs to be in place to stop rural isolation.
29. The Chief Executive commented that he agrees with Councillor Booth that in a rural area, isolation is a key issue and the Combined Authority are carrying out a bus review which as a District Council we will fully engage with and forward our strong representations, highlighting that Cambridgeshire is a rural area on the whole.
30. Councillor Tierney commented that the days of large buses facilitating rural areas is coming to an end as most of the time they are underutilised and other models and options need to be looked at.
31. The Chief Executive agrees with that point and the Combined Authority will hopefully look at transport in a wider picture and find solutions that are financially sustainable.
32. Councillor Booth commented that with regard to action plans, can we ensure that any actions are deliverable.