The Leader of the Opposition and Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group, Councillor Howard Sykes MBE, has asked Oldham’s Council Leader to bid for new Government money that is intended to revitalise Britain’s high streets. Councillor Sykes also wants the Leader to invite the Communities Minister James Brokenshire MP to the Borough to showcase some of the excellent work that is being done by Oldham’s voluntary sector.
Councillor Sykes explained: “We all want to see a thriving and vibrant town centre economy and equally thriving district centres, in places such as Chadderton, Failsworth, Lees, Royton, Shaw, and Uppermill, but sadly in recent years our retail and leisure economy has been in decline, threatened by out-of-town shopping centres and the growth in online retailing.”
“Last year, I was therefore pleased to hear the Government announcing the launch of a new £675 million Future High Streets Fund. For once, this was positive news as the fund is intended to improve transport links and amenities in our town and district centres and to bring empty spaces back into use as homes, offices or community hubs. In December, the Government invited local Councils to bid for money from the fund before the 22 March 2019. I believe we should do so. At a time when Government funding for local authorities has been cut to a record low – and it will get even worse in the future – this pot of money is most welcome.”
Councillor Sykes has written to the Council Leader urging him to make an application and ensure that the needs of district centres, such as Shaw, are included in the proposal. Councillor Sykes sees another benefit from a successful bid:
“As the fund has the potential to convert under-used town and district centre spaces into homes, it has the potential to provide finance for new accommodation on brownfield sites and so reduce the pressure on greenbelt sites currently allocated for housing under the Greater Manchester Spatial Framework.”
Councillor Sykes has also suggested that the Communities Secretary James Brokenshire MP be invited to Oldham to see first-hand some of the excellent work being done by the borough’s voluntary sector in providing for the needs of the communities they serve, most especially in the provision of welfare services to disadvantaged and vulnerable groups.
The letter is below:
31 January 2019
Councillor Sean Fielding, Leader and Cabinet Member for Economy and Enterprise, Oldham Council
Dear Councillor Fielding,
I am sure that like me you wish to see a thriving, vibrant retail and leisure economy in our town centre and in each of our district centres. I am writing to you to urge this Administration to apply to join several new initiatives from the current UK Government, that for once are welcome as they are intended to revitalise our high streets.
Last month, the Government published a call for proposals for funding from the £675 million Future High Streets Fund, launched last year by Communities Secretary James Brokenshire MP. The fund will support transport and infrastructure improvements and turn under-used retail spaces into homes, offices and community hubs.
The document issued by the Government sets out how the Fund will operate, with expressions of interest from councils requested by 22 March 2019 (links inserted below refer).
As the fund has the potential to convert under-used town and district centre spaces into homes, it has the potential to provide finance for new accommodation on brownfield sites and as such reduce the pressure on greenbelt sites currently allocated for housing under the Greater Manchester Spatial Framework.
Mr Brokenshire also recently announced a new Open Doors project to reduce loneliness and increase visits to high streets by linking landlords of empty premises with local groups. This can offer services to younger and older people through the creation of intergenerational projects and pop-up galleries. The first phase inviting the participation of landlords has now closed, and I am unaware if there were any applications submitted from Oldham. There will however be a second phase involving community groups for which we should apply.
There will be a Communities Roadshow where the Minister and his team will be visiting projects around the country to learn from schemes where local people are leading the way to improve their communities and finally the Government will work with the Prince of Wales’s charity Business in the Community, to support firms offering employees volunteering opportunities.
I would like to ask you how this Administration will be responding to these initiatives, specifically relating to the questions inserted below:
- Will we be submitting a proposal for consideration for the Future High Streets Fund?
- Will the submission confirm that the needs of our district centres, such as Shaw and Uppermill, will be considered as part of a bid?
- May I suggest that we invite the Ministerial Community Roadshow to visit our Borough?
As always happy to discuss and do hope we can take advantage of this fund.
Best wishes, Howard Sykes