Agenda and minutes

Apologies were received from:

Councillor James Flannery – South Ribble Borough Council

Neil Conlon – Conlon Construction

Anne-Marie Parkinson – LEP

David Berry – C&W Berry

Vicky Willett – Director of Change and Delivery, South Ribble Borough Council

Draft minutes attached for approval.

The minutes of the meeting held on 16 September 2022 were agreed as a correct record.

Further to Minute 13 of 16.9.2022, the Chair, Charles Hadcock updated the Board on a response received from the Government on 13 October 2022.

He read out a letter from Dehenna Davison MP, Minister for Levelling Up, which confirmed the excellent news that the Leyland Town Deal Project Adjustment Request had been approved and that the funding would now be released to enable the programme to start.

Rachel Salter indicated that the project adjustment referred to going from three business cases to two. It was hoped that the first tranche of funding would be released in November.

The Chair confirmed that the Board’s Risk Register would therefore be updated on Monday and circulated at the next meeting.

Charles went on to say that the Board now needed to re-engage with architects and get the programme back on track. He was now confident the Board could move forward and deliver the project.

Rachel Salter confirmed that the total cost of the project was £38m which included significant contingency level of £5m e.g. due to risks associated with inflationary design/construction/labour costs. She referred to the revenue model which had been developed so that borrowing would be financed from the lease of commercial units and sale of residential properties. They would now be looking at how affordable housing fits into the Scheme. She confirmed that contracts had now been exchanged with Iddons, mobilisation on site would take place as soon as possible and demolition was expected early January 2023.

It was noted that now that the £25m government funding was confirmed, remaining funding bids would now need to be made e.g. to Homes England in respect of affordable housing element. Liam Fergusson said he expected no difficulties letting the units. Rachel Salter also stated that land enquiries had already been made.

Katherine Fletcher MP thanked the Board members at the last meeting, Arup’s team who had given freely of their time to despite the fact that their contract had ended and Dehenna Davison MP all of which had enabled the project to move forward.

It was AGREED that the Chair would write to Dehenna Davison MP to express the Board’s thanks.

Contractor Bids

It was stressed that the Board is keen to ensure the project be delivered through a local supply chain, as embedded in the Council’s Procurement Policy (social value element). Some Board member organisations may therefore want to Bid for contracts. Such members need to consider their position and may wish to step back from Board activity to avoid conflict of interest.

It was also noted that smaller businesses may wish to register their interest as a sub-contractor. Engagement should be promoted via the next “Meet the Buyer” event.

Local recruitment should also be considered where possible. Reference was made to the Jubilee Gardens Extra Care Facility, which uses local contractors, local jobs/skills and provides apprenticeships – so the procurement exercise was a success.

It was AGREED that Board members would promote awareness of local opportunities created by the project following the press release today.

Highways Update – Chapel Brow

With regard to progress on Minute 14 on 16.9.22 - Highways Update (Chapel Brow), Rachel Salter indicated that there was no update at present however discussions were taking place with LCC and that a separate conversation would be had with members in due course.

Date of next meeting

It was AGREED that the next meeting be held in 8 weeks’ time.