Issue - meetings

Report of the Director of Planning and Property attached.

Decision Made:

That the provision of Council support for a Leyland Truck Trail II in 2018 be refused it is not considered to be the best use of Council resources at this time.

The Cabinet considered the report of the Director of Planning and Property which provided details of the Leyland Truck Trail project undertaken in 2017 and sought the views of the Cabinet Members on supporting a second Leyland Truck Trail, in the light of the success of the Initial Leyland Truck Trail installation and the Place Promotion Marketing and Skills and Education programme. 

Although it was accepted that the Truck Trail had been immensely successful particularly around engagement with schools across the borough to raise awareness of skill requirement in this sector, the Cabinet considered that a second truck trail would not have the same impact at this stage. Consultation with local businesses had been undertaken and feedback received had indicated that the new Apprenticeship Factory would address any future need.

Decision Made:

That the provision of Council support for a Leyland Truck Trail II in 2018 be refused as it is not considered to be the best use of Council resources at this time.

Reasons for Decision:

The Leyland Truck Trail as delivered in 2017 was a one off ‘event’ but the Council had consequently been approached for support in 2018 of a Truck Trail 2.

The Truck Trail 2017 delivered a successful and unique Place Promotion project that attracted a significant level of media coverage and helped focus attention on our local Truck building heritage and engineering capabilities. Beyond the value of the Truck Trail 2017 as a Place Promotion initiative, the schools skills programme linked to the project was very well received, engaged a large number of pupils and provided a genuine legacy to the project providing a basis for future related Stem ( Science, Engineering Technology and Maths) work in South Ribble Schools.

Other Place Promotion opportunities are now our priority and in particular, promoting the delivery of major Projects in the Borough such as the Cuerden Strategic Site – Lancashire Central. The current focus on skills for the Council rests in further developing the Apprentice Factory project and this is now our priority, supporting skills development for existing and inward investing businesses in South Ribble.

Alternative Options Considered and Rejected: 

The Promotion of South Ribble as the Best Place in the UK is now a Corporate Priority for the Council and in addition to this and associated marketing of the Borough as part of routine business, a further programme of Place Promotion activity is in development based on the provision of budget for this work in 2018/19 and related Corporate Priorities.

Further support for Stem based work with our local schools may become a feature of work associated with the recently approved central Lancashire Supplementary Planning Document for Employment and Skills and in addition the Cuerden Employment and Skills Plan as these emerge over the coming months.