New Council Plan aims to build on record of success
The Council has published its new Council Plan, setting out its vision and key priorities for the next four years.
Demonstrating some of the organisation’s previous achievements, consistency in forward planning and the commitment to good local services, a prosperous borough and safe and welcoming places for all, the Council Plan has been shaped around four key priorities.
- One Council delivering for local people
- A successful and sustainable growing borough
- Healthy, active and safe communities
- Town centres for all
The new plan follows on from the previous Council Plan (2018-2022) and the successful work already completed or started during that period.
The Council Plan covering the period up to 2026 follows the local election in May that saw the Conservative Group secure a majority on the Council.
Leader of the Council, Simon Tagg, said: “I am proud of this plan, it speaks to our ambitions in continuing the regeneration of our town centres so that they are fit for the future, in making our environment more sustainable and continuing to improve our public services.
“The success we have already had in drawing down hugely significant amounts of external funding shows that we have the full confidence of the government, and our partners, in what we want to achieve.
“Some of the changes we will all be able to witness happening in the coming years, as major redevelopments take shape across the borough, will be fantastic. It will be my priority to take full advantage of this ‘once in a generation’ opportunity for our borough”
The four key priorities outlined in the Council Plan:
• One Council Delivering for Local People
The ‘One Council’ programme has already started and is set to bring about financial savings and service efficiencies of more than £1m per annum over six years – the first year’s savings having been fully accounted for in the Council’s Medium Term Financial Strategy.
As part of the programme, a new Workforce Strategy will build and support professional talent across all services in the Council’s workforce.
The Council has established a recycling service that has increased the levels of recycling processed. Remarkably, this was initiated during the pandemic and has been a huge success with households.
The authority also refreshed and reopened the Guildhall as a successful voluntary sector hub, bringing the historic building back to community life in Newcastle’s town centre.
Collaborative work, which proved itself so vital during the pandemic, will continue over the next four years with key partners including Aspire Housing, Staffordshire County Council, the Staffordshire Leader Board, Newcastle’s town centre BID and Staffordshire Police.
• A Successful and Sustainable Growing Borough
Environmental targets and shared ambitions across the county will be part of the work of the new Staffordshire Sustainability Board, with Newcastle helping to lead the way.
The Council has already started work on its own Sustainable Environment Strategy including an extensive tree-planting programme across the borough, new carbon capture areas and changes to the way services are provided in order to support the aim of the borough being carbon neutral by 2050.
The Council is working towards its own operations being carbon neutral by 2030.
A Statutory Nuisance Abatement Notice was served on Walleys Quarry landfill operator in a legal action taken to support local residents, businesses and communities. The appeal case brought by the site’s operator continues and is currently proceeding through the Magistrates Court.
In Newcastle, more than £23m of Town Deal funding is facilitating the redevelopment of gateway sites of ‘Zanzibar’ and Midway as well as delivering 200 new homes in Knutton and Chesterton.
In Kidsgrove, Town Deal funding will support the Chatterley Valley Enterprise Zone, helping to create more than 1700 quality jobs for local people. It will also finance improvements to Kidsgrove Railway Station and the local canal network, as well as supporting a local ‘service hub’.
The Borough Council has also been allocated £4.8m from the Shared Prosperity Fund and will support its aims in connecting and providing local people with employment skills and training will also be delivered as part of the Council Plan.
Bids for external funding will continue to be made by the Council as a matter of course in order to maximise the potential for future growth and development in the borough.
• Healthy, Active and Safe Communities
The Council’s commitment to Kidsgrove Sports Centre, including a £4m financial investment, has seen the centre reopen in recent weeks and begin to thrive once again.
Brampton Museum reopened earlier this year, after significant refurbishment and an extension. It now has brand new gallery, exhibition and event space, a café with both inside and outside seating so that the wonderful views of Brampton Park can be enjoyed even more.
Jubilee2, in Newcastle, has also benefited from a complete refurbishment of the gym with new fitness equipment installed and the superb pump track at Newchapel attracts huge numbers of cyclists of all ages and continues to be patronised by professional BMX cyclists.
Next year will see the Council celebrate the 850th year of the borough, with a 12-month programme of events and activities that will give residents and visitors a year to remember.
• Town Centres for All
The Town Deal funds secured by the Council have seen unprecedented levels of funding and investment in both Kidsgrove and Newcastle.
The redevelopment of the Ryecroft area – itself allocated £7m – will take shape over coming months as the ‘blueprint’ plans for a town centre hub, hotel, new public space, residential accommodation and a modern car park to replace the old-fashioned and outdated Midway multi-storey become reality.
With the Council’s purchase of York Place earlier this year, plans for that area will now be brought forward. They are expected to include a restaurant quarter and a new plaza linking with the redevelopment at Ryecroft.
Councillor Tagg added: “The Council Plan is a strategic working document for the priorities, services and activities of the Council but it is a vision for the whole of the borough, for the benefit of all of our residents, businesses and communities.
“It is not something that we can achieve alone. The success of the Council Plan will rely on collaborative partnership working, the dedication and enthusiasm of the Council’s workforce and a shared willingness to bring the vision to life for the benefit of everyone who lives, works, and spends time in the borough.”
Newcastle’s Cabinet will review the Council Plan at its meeting on Tuesday 6 September.
The meeting can be observed via a link on the Council’s website, from 2pm, and a recording will be available on the Council’s YouTube channel following the meeting.
The agenda and associated reports, including the full Council Plan document, can be viewed here: https://tinyurl.com/49pedzyr