Director's Update - Philip Mousdale
Policy and Resources Committee
Policy and Resources councillors met last Thursday (24 October) to discuss a number of issues including the former Blockbusters in Colne, the future of Elliott House and flood resilience work in West Craven.
Former Blockbuster store
Councillors agreed that we should investigate a Compulsory Purchase Order for the former Blockbuster store at 45 Market Street in Colne. The building has been vacant for a while and is now becoming an eyesore in a prime town centre location.
Elliott House
Two organisations, Positive Action in the Community and The Lightbeam Academy, are interested in buying Elliott House and developing it into a community hub. Councillors have requested that full expressions of interest, along with sealed bids to buy the building, be invited from both organisations.
West Craven flood resilience
The West Craven Committee asked that Policy and Resources support its aim to find the £3.3m funding gap for the Birley Playing Field Flood Storage Area Scheme. Councillors agreed letters be sent to the Environment Agency, the Chairman of the Yorkshire Flood and Coastal Committee and Pendle's MP Andrew Stephenson to ask for help in plugging this funding gap.
The Environment Agency will also be reminded of the need to ensure that the completion of the schemes for the flood wall on New Cut (Albert Street/Boot Street) and the Victoria Clough Foot Storage area in Earby comply with the timescales for securing European Structural and Investment funding (ESIF).