Issue - meetings

A presentation will be made by the Corporate Head, Sustainable Communities and the Economic Development Portfolio Holder.

Following a short introductory speech by the Economic portfolio holder, Councillor Mrs Cartwright, a presentation was made to the Council by the Corporate Head, Sustainable Communities on the Grantham Growth Bid.

[A copy of the presentation is appended to these minutes.]

The Corporate Head explained the origin of the growth point concept, how this council had initially responded to invitations to bid, and stressed the huge opportunity that a successful bid would represent to the locality.  In October 2007, the Government had announced £1.7b funding for growth areas, new growth points and eco-town projects.  She explained the criteria for growth point applications and this would involve applicant authorities making a good case for economic and housing growth, the long term sustainability of development, and how the private sector investment will be funded.

The bid put forward by South Kesteven had been highly commended by the Government as one of the best put forward so far.  Whilst that was no guarantee of success at this stage, the officer went on to highlight what achieving growth point status would mean to Grantham and the wider hinterland.  She outlined the proposals by contrasting the picture of the town as at the present time with the aspirations for 2015.  The proposals were based around four major sites:  the south quadrant, the northwest quadrant, the town centre (which in itself comprised four key projects) and the development of the Grantham canal basin area.  Individual project groups had been set up for these main sites.  Members were advised about the importance of the various partnerships needed to deliver this massive undertaking with emphasis being on close working relationships with other local authority partners, public sector agencies, local businesses and other stakeholders.  Such was the size and complexity of the proposals that it was inevitable that virtually all service areas across the council would be affected in some way.

Before taking questions from the floor, the Chairman advised members that such was the importance of this growth bid that a departure from the normal format of the council agenda to receive this presentation had been considered necessary.

The Corporate Head was thanked for her excellent and clear presentation.  She responded to questions about the “trickle down” effect of the growth bid for the rural areas, whether the council’s priorities would be reviewed as a consequence (particularly for tourism), and if the major landowners in the area were being kept informed.  Members asked that they be kept fully informed at all stages as the bid progressed.  Assurances were also sought that any support was directed not just to the Earlesfield ward but also Harrowby ward which had similar problems.  Concern was expressed that alongside any future housing growth there were systems in place to support economic development and employment opportunities.  On this latter point, the Corporate Head explained that she had been closely monitoring how Milton Keynes had approached the significant housing growth it had experienced.  She acknowledged that creating large housing estates on their own was not  ...  view the full minutes text for item 58