Agenda and minutes

Members will disclose any pecuniary and any other significant interests they may have in relation to the matters to be considered at this meeting.

None.

To confirm as a correct record the minutes of the previous meeting held on Thursday 3 October.

The minutes of the previous meeting of the Blackpool, Fylde and Wyre Economic Prosperity Board (EPB) held on Thursday 3 October were approved by those who were in attendance.

If the discussion during the items 8 and 9 of this agenda involves the disclosure of “exempt information”, as defined in Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972 and the Board wishes to move to confidential session, it may at any point pass the following resolution: “That the public and press be excluded from the meeting whilst the agenda item(s) are considered, on the ground that their presence would involve the disclosure of exempt information as defined in category 3 (Information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person, including the authority holding that information) of Part 1 of Schedule 12(a) of the Local Government Act, 1972, as amended by the Local Government (Access to Information) Variation Order 2006 and, that in the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information”.

Owing to the disclosure of commercially sensitive information the Board agreed that the public and press be excluded from the meeting whilst the agenda items 8 and 9 were considered, on the ground that their presence would involve the disclosure of exempt information as defined in category 3 (Information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person, including the authority holding that information) of Part 1 of Schedule 12(a) of the Local Government Act, 1972, as amended by the Local Government (Access to Information) Variation Order 2006 and, that in the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information.

For the Board to consider the following topics for the inclusion in a EPB Forward Plan and to make suggestions for additional topics to be added:

•              Fylde Coast bathing water quality

•              Leisure and the arts (shared funding bid opportunities)

•              Strategic coastal projects

•              Infrastructure opportunities including the tramway

•              Flooding

•              Morecambe and Morgan Offshore Windfarm application

The Chair, Councillor Vincent introduced this item which covered suggested topics for the inclusion in a Forward Plan for the Blackpool, Fylde and Wyre Economic Prosperity Board.

The Chief Executive of Wyre Council, Rebecca Huddleston, confirmed that the Board was being asked to consider the following topics and agree that these be scheduled as items for discussion at future meetings:

•                  Fylde Coast bathing water quality

•                  Leisure and the arts (shared funding bid opportunities)

•                  Strategic coastal projects

•                  Infrastructure opportunities including the tramway

•                  Flooding

•                  Morecambe and Morgan Offshore Windfarm application

The Board discussed the importance of each item. Councillor Vincent particularly raised interest in the infrastructure opportunities including the tramway item specifically the potential to expand the tramway in Wyre.

Councillor Buckley, Leader of Fylde Council, discussed the Morecambe and Morgan Offshore Windfarm application. She informed the Board that the application was in progress and highlighted several environmental impacts of the project, particularly on the Fylde area. She mentioned an alternative connection point at Stanah, which could bring economic benefits to the Hillhouse Technology Enterprise Zone. However, she noted that this proposal had not gained interest from the Government or the National Grid. She also raised concerns about the lack of infrastructure at Stanah, particularly the electricity limitations. Councillor Buckley asked the Board to either note or support the alternative proposal if it were to become a reality.

Councillor Vincent expressed concerns regarding the alternative proposal and stated that he would need evidence of its impact before he could support it. He confirmed that the Board would note the comments raised and suggested that the Board review the proposal if it received Government support.

After further discussions, Councillor Vincent emphasised the importance of addressing one item per meeting to ensure the relevant officers could attend.

Therefore, the Board agreed that:

•                  To merge the topics of Fylde Coast bathing water quality and strategic coastal projects and for this to be brought to the March meeting of the Economic Prosperity Board.

•                  Infrastructure opportunities including the tramway be brought to the following meeting.

•                  Leisure and the arts (shared funding bid opportunities) be brought to the meeting thereafter.

It was also agreed for the Forward Plan to be submitted to the next meeting.

Report of Nick Gerrard, Growth and Prosperity Programme Director, Blackpool Council, Mark Evans, Head of Planning, Fylde Council and Marianne Hesketh, Director of Communities, Wyre Council.

Owing to the documents size, appendix 1 and 2 can be found here.

Please note that the link will expire 30 days after publication, therefore please contact democratic.services@wyre.gov.uk if you have any issues with accessing the documents.

Nick Gerrard, Growth and Prosperity Programme Director Blackpool Council, Mark Evans, Head of Planning Fylde Council and Marianne Hesketh, Director of Communities Wyre Council submitted a report to present the findings of the Fylde Coast Economic Needs Update and Employment Land Review (ELR) 2024.

Fiona Riley, Planning Policy Manager Wyre Council, Eddie Graves, Principal Planning Officer Fylde Council and Jane Saleh, Head of Planning Strategy Blackpool Council attended the meeting to present to the Board.

Eddie Graves introduced a presentation which summarised key findings from the report.

The presentation covered the following topics:

• Labour market profile: recent trends and forecasts to 2042: projected population change
• Employment/unemployment rates: trends
• Qualifications: trends and forecasts to 2042
• Socioeconomic profile: recent trends and forecasts to 2042 – deprivation
• Socioeconomic profile: recent trends and forecasts to 2042: recent change in employment by sector
• Socioeconomic profile: recent trends and forecasts to 2042: projected change in employment by sector
• Socioeconomic profile: business counts by industry 2022
• Property market report: transactions industrial, office, industrial supply, office supply
• Inward investment market: stakeholder views
• Existing large businesses’ investment plans
• Objectively assessed needs for employment land: offices (including R&D)
• Objectively assessed needs for employment land: industrial land
• Combined needs for Fylde Coast to 2042 (68.90 ha – Blackpool 16.07 ha, Fylde 28.68 ha & Wyre 24.15 ha)
• Realistic employment land study
• Meeting employment land needs to 2042

The headline conclusions and recommendations  of the report were as follows:

• The councils seek to protect their employment land supplies from loss to alternative, non-E(g)/B2/B8, uses.
• Recommended future land need (OAN) identified above
• To meet Blackpool’s office need: focused on Blackpool Town Centre; provision through later phases of Talbot Gateway with public sector support; refurbishment of existing properties previously in other use; engagement between Blackpool and Fylde Councils regarding the Knowledge Quarter to collectively accommodate sub-regional office need of the two local authorities.
• To meet office need in Fylde and Wyre, proactively encourage office developments/refurbishments in town centres.
• Blackpool’s industrial land need was approximately met by supply, with ongoing need for future monitoring.
• Fylde’s industrial land needs were met but allocated land should not be lost to other uses.
• Wyre’s industrial land needs were met but heavily dependent on Hillhouse; consideration was given to identifying contingency sites.

In response to Councillor Buckley's question about employment sites that remained allocated but undeveloped, officers confirmed that the study had surveyed which sites should remain allocated and which should be considered for alternative uses. They added that tests throughout the planning application process had to demonstrate that the land was no longer suitable for employment if proposed for an alternative use.

Addressing an earlier question, Fiona Riley confirmed that Fylde's office requirement was 9.95 hectares, with the Blackpool Airport Enterprise Zone comprising two-thirds of this land.

Regarding the accuracy of previous projections, Jane Saleh stated that the Blackpool Local Plan for 2012-2027 had a higher employment land requirement, which was lower in this review due to reduced SLB funding. Eddie Graves noted that the projections were based  ...  view the full minutes text for item 17.

To receive verbal updates from representatives from each council.

Blackpool Council, Fylde Council and Wyre Council had submitted a presentation to provide the Board with economic updates for each authority.

Mark Fenton, Economic Development Manager (Wyre Council) introduced the presentation. This covered the following topics:

·       The development of the Economic Development and Visitor Economy Strategy

·       Fleetwood Waterfront Leisure Masterplan

·       The Wyre Business Awards results

·       Successful UK Shared Prosperity Fund Projects

Charlie Richards, Head of Regeneration and Engineering (Fylde Council) introduced the presentation. This covered the following topics:

·       St-Anne’s-On-The-Sea Town Centre Masterplan

·       St Anne’s High Street Improvements – phase one

·       The Island site

·       Peir Link – phase two

·       Kirkham futures

·       Future projects looking ahead

Nick Gerrard, Growth and Prosperity Programme Director (Blackpool Council) introduced the presentation about Blackpool’s £350m Talbot Gateway and the Multiversity. The presentation involved three main strands including town centre regeneration (Talbot Gateway), extending the tourism season (Blackpool Central and Blackpool Illuminations) and jobs in growth sectors (Enterprise zones).

He provided an update on the phasing diagram of the Talbot Gateway project and specific updates regarding the progress of the multiversity, the phases were as follows:

·       Development Agreement signed 2009/Start on site 2012

·       Phase One complete 2014

·       Phase Two complete 2024

·       Phase Three to complete 2025

·       Phases Four planning approved – plan to start 2025

·       Phase Five planning approved – plan to start 2025

·       Phase Six to planning this year

He also provided an update on the education offer by Blackpool and the Fylde College who received foundation degree awarding powers in September 2016 and bachelor’s degrees awarding powers in September 2022. He also covered current skills demand, future skills needs and the role of the multiversity in improving the skills of residents across the Fylde Coast.

The presentations were noted.

To review the work of the Blackpool Airport Enterprise Zone and its future work and priorities against its role and remit.

Rob Green, Head of Enterprise Zones (Blackpool Council) submitted a report to review the work of the Blackpool Airport Enterprise Zone and its future work and priorities against its role and remit.

Rob Green introduced the report, providing updates on two masterplans: a detailed technical masterplan for the relocation of airport infrastructure and a new masterplan for Silicon Sands (formerly known as the Knowledge Quarter). The Eastern Gateway access road project was progressing well, with the latest completion date set for 13 January 2026, though it was expected to be finished by Christmas 2025.

The report was noted.

To review the work of the Hillhouse Technology Enterprise Zone and its future work and priorities against its role and remit.

Rob Green, Head of Enterprise Zones (Blackpool Council) submitted a report to review the work of the Hillhouse Technology Enterprise Zone and its future work and priorities against its role and remit.

Rob Green introduced the report.

He explained that the primary focus was advancing the revised Hillhouse masterplan. He provided an update on recent investment inquiries but noted that significant challenges remained, particularly concerning infrastructure.

The report was noted.