Agenda item

Paul Carrick, Neighbourhood Working Manager:

a)     gave a power point presentation on the Sincil Bank Regeneration and covered the following main points:

·         Place shaping Strategy

·         Early Successes – Improving the Street scene

·         Our Six Priorities/ Physical Interventions

·         Creating Open/ Green Spaces

·         Archer Street Former Play Area

·         Area Under Pelham Bridge

·         Chelmsford Street

·         Kesteven Street/ Tentercroft Street

·         Redesign of Highways Infrastructure/ Urban Design

·         Hermit Street Redevelopment

·         Residents Parking

·         Palmer Street Garage Site

·         Cleaner Safer Streets

·         Cleaner Safer Streets – CCTV

·         Cleaner Safer Streets – Fly Tipping Week of Action

·         Community Leadership

·         Lessons Learnt

b)    invited members questions and comments

Members discussed the presentation in detail and praised the work that had been undertaken in the Sincil Bank area. They asked the following questions and received relevant responses from Officers.

Question: Asked if the CCTV that covered most of Sincil Bank had helped to address the issue of fly tipping.

Response: The installation of CCTV had been very successful in addressing fly tipping.

Question: Referred to the area under Pelham Bridge and asked if the intention was for the area to be open to the public.

Response: The area would be leased to the Bridge Church, the Council would support the Church with a consultation and feasibility exercise to find out how the community would like the area to be used.

Question: Referred to the potential skate park at Kesteven Street and asked if the Council would support the project.

Response: The project was in its early stages, there was a small pot of money that was available to be used for either this project or another scheme, the decision would be subject to Executive approval.

Question: Referred to Chelmsford Street and asked if the Landlord was working with the Council.

Response: The Landlords would be working with the Council, enforcement powers could be used and also we would work with the Planning Department.

Comment: It was good to see that residents parking was being implemented and the rat runs were being addressed.

Response: : At community meetings the first thing that was asked for was to address the parking in the area. Lincolnshire County Council were currently consulting on Residents Parking with a view to a report going to their Planning and Regulation Committee Residents early next year

Question: Referred to Palmer Street and asked if this would be made into a green space.

Response: The project was in its early stages, residents had asked for green space and would also like accommodation as well.

Question: Referred to the Hermit Street Redevelopment and asked how the community had been involved in the project.

Response: We had worked closely with all of the residents on Hermit Street. Prior to the pandemic there was residents groups, which would be back up and running soon.

Question: Asked if students in the area were engaged with the team.

Response: The Student Union had been involved with the Neighbourhood Board, also lots of projects had been undertaken for example the school of architecture had helped to design the open spaces.

Question: Asked how many empty properties were still in the area.

Response: The number of empty properties was decreasing and there were no high impact empty properties in the area.

Question: Referred to the Hub and commented that this was an important drop-in centre to the community and asked what would happen when the funding for the Hub ended.

Response: Potentially LEAN (Lincoln Embracing all Nations) could take on the Hub and provide support. Also, the Bridge Church would continue to provide support in the area.

The Chair thanked Paul Carrick, Neighbourhood Manager for his presentation and commented that the work had made a huge difference to the lives of people living in the area. She further commented that the Neighbourhood work in Sincil Bank was not intended to be permanent and that other areas of the City were in need of support. She referred to the Shared Prosperity Fund and asked if this could be used in other areas of the City.

Simon Walters, Strategic Director of Communities and Environment responded with the following main points:

·         Previously there had been 3 Neighbourhood Working teams spread across the City, the resources were spread too thin to make a big impact.

·         It was decided to run a pilot and focus on the Sincil Bank area for approximately 5-6 years.

·         Six projects would be delivered in the Sincil Bank area.

·         The Council faced financial challenges and it was important to work with partners to find out what support they could bring to the area.

·         Going forward a different model could be used in different areas of the City depending on the challenges and issues faced.

·         The lessons learned from the work undertaken in Sincil Bank would be applied to other areas, but the model would be changed to fit the area.

The Chair commented that the Shared Prosperity Fund should be used for one project in each area of the City. She suggested that Neighbourhood Boards be facilitated so that residents could raise their concerns.

Simon Walters, Strategic Director Communities and Environment advised that the Shared Prosperity Fund was within the remit of the Strategic Director of Major Developments.

RESOLVED that the presentation on Sincil Bank Regeneration be noted with thanks.