NORTH LINCOLNSHIRE COUNCIL
DEPUTY LEADER CABINET MEMBER
10 February 2003
24 (7) REGENERATION STRATEGY - The Director of
Environment and Public Protection submitted a report seeking
approval for the proposed Regeneration Strategy for the period
2002-2005
Central government first recognised the role that local
government had in economic development/regeneration through the
Housing Act 1989. This act recognised this role but also placed a
statutory obligation on a council that if it was to undertake
regeneration activity it must publish an associated strategy.
This element of the act had since been superseded through the
Local Government Act 2000. This act no longer placed a legal duty
on a council to write a strategy if undertaking regeneration
activity but did place a responsibility on all councils to look
after the wellbeing of the economic, social and environmental
aspects of its population. To this end, to research, consult, write
and publish a Regeneration Strategy was good practice.
The Regeneration Strategy set the strategic direction of
regeneration activity throughout North Lincolnshire. It provided a
framework for both the council and complementary organisations
through which to deliver projects and programmes. It had for the
first time taken a more medium term and encompassing view of the
economic direction of North Lincolnshire and this was reflected in
both the reach and timescale on consultation, and also its more
cross-cutting approach.
A copy of the Regeneration Strategy 2002-2005 was appended to
the report.
Resolved - That the Regeneration Strategy be
approved as the framework for the council’s activity within
regeneration for the period 2002-2005.
25 (8) HUMBER INDUSTRIAL SYMBIOSIS PROJECT
(HISP) - The Director of Environment and Public Protection
submitted a report informing the cabinet member of the Humber
Industrial Symbiosis Project programme and seeking approval for the
location of the programme to be based within the council.
The main purpose of the HISP was to identify and quantify waste
and by-products being produced by companies and try and find
alternative uses for this and/or develop new products. This was
seen as a necessary step towards the elimination of
waste/by-products altogether, i.e. zero waste, and the realisation
that within the foreseeable future, certain industries would find
it extremely hard to fulfil zero waste options.
The project would operate within the Humber sub-region for three
years and was funded primarily through Yorkshire Forward. The
driving force behind the initiative was the Business Council for
Sustainable Development (BCSD) of which the council was a
management committee member.
The aims of the project were summarised in the report.
The project would initially target larger companies within the
sub-region and then in turn work on their supply chains. Due to the
nature of the target audience and the likely location of such
eco-parks the project clearly supported and complemented the
proposed development of the South Humber Bank.
A team, initially two members of staff, would be provided
through Environmental Business Communications Ltd (EBC), the
company responsible for the secretariat support to the BCSD. It was
proposed to initially locate staff within the Regeneration section
based at Church Square House. Later it was proposed to re-locate
the project to the Barton Waters' Edge facility due for
completion in March 2004. This again would complement other
environmental related projects such as the database project and
INCA, again reinforcing North Lincolnshire’s lead in
attracting leading firms and projects from within this sector.
Resolved – (a) That the project and
subsequently the council’s involvement with its delivery be
approved, and (b) that the initial location of the delivery team
within the Regeneration and Planning Division be approved.
26 (9) CHEMICAL CONFERENCE - The Director of
Environment and Public Protection submitted a report informing the
cabinet member on progress on the proposed chemicals conference to
be held within North Lincolnshire, and seeking approval of the
route forward and also the funding required to underwrite the
event.
The Humber sub-region was synonymous with the chemical industry.
It was one of four geographical areas recognised nationally by the
Department of Trade and Industry as central to the UK’s
chemical sector.
The council was the lead partner on the proposed development of
the South Humber Bank. One of the key sectors to be targeted within
the development of the South Humber Bank was speciality
chemicals.
The chemical industry itself was about to go through a state of
change with the imminent publication of the European Union’s
white paper on the industry. This would place extra emphasis on
environmental aspects incorporating both the supply chain and the
productive process.
It was proposed that the council host a chemical conference
using the white paper as a core theme. This would not only generate
a high level debate on the subject matter itself and through doing
so inform local companies of the implications, but would also show
to a wider audience the strength of the Humber’s chemical
industry and the proposed development of the South Humber Bank.
Key partners within this proposal were Humber Chemical Focus
(HCF) and Yorkshire Forward. HCF was a non-profit making body
comprising both public and private sector organisations with the
objective of enhancing the chemicals sector within the Humber
sub-region. Its funding was through the private sector companies
themselves, North East Lincolnshire Council and the European
Regional Development Fund.
EBC Ltd was putting an indicative itinerary and organisational
workplan together and associated costings.
EBC Ltd was the organisation behind the Business Council for
Sustainable Development Ltd, organised last years’ Rural
Conference and was contracted with the council and Yorkshire
Forward to deliver the Humber Industrial Symbiosis programme.
The proposed date for the event was 15 April 2003.
Resolved – (a) That the event and the
approach taken be endorsed, and (b) that approval be given to a
maximum contribution of £6,000 from the council towards the
event.
27 (10) THE MEDIPHRASE PROJECT - The Director
of Environment and Public Protection submitted a report seeking
approval for in principle support for the Mediphrase project.
Officers had been working with a company called Mediphrase
Online, which utilised a technology for delivering accurate text
and audio translation to the medical profession in clinical
situations using a phrase book approach. The technology was in a
working prototype stage of development.
Mediphrase Online was a subsidiary of Lucid Systems and had been
developed by this organisation. Both Mediphrase Online and Lucid
Systems were now permanently based in Normanby Gateway.
It was proposed that the Mediphrase project, a research and
development project, would be delivered by a consortium of private
and public sector organisations in North Lincolnshire with varying
degrees of commitment to the project.
Both North and North East Lincolnshire Primary Care Trusts would
participate in funded feasibility studies and were part of the
proposed consortium. The North Lincs Net would provide technology
infrastructure facilities.
It was proposed that the council’s support role would
involve participation as a consortium member and possibly as a
Board member but crucially as facilitator and applicant for
European Union funding on behalf of the Consortium in accordance
with the European Union 6th Framework Programme. The European Union
6th Framework is a funding regime dedicated to public/private
sector research and development programmes.
If successful the council would be required to act as recipient
of European Union funds and provide treasurer administration and
controls to the project.
Resolved – (a) That approval in principle
be given to support the Mediphrase project as outlined in the
report, and (b) that final details and proposals to be brought back
to the cabinet member for approval at a later date.
The following item contains exempt information as defined in
paragraph 9 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act
1972.
28 (11) SOUTH HUMBER BANK - The Director of
Environment and Public Protection submitted a report updating the
cabinet member on progress with the development of the South Humber
Bank, and seeking approval on key aspects to enable the programme
to proceed.
The South Humber Bank is the term used to describe the land
allocated for industrial development running alongside the Humber
Estuary from just west of Grimsby to East Halton in North
Lincolnshire. The area of land within North Lincolnshire is
approximately 2,000 acres.
Due to several factors now being in place, namely, political
vision, sources of finance and the direct involvement of the
private sector, the time was now ripe for a strategic and holistic
view to be taken in the development of this under utilised asset.
The key partners recognising the potential were North Lincolnshire
Council, Yorkshire Forward, Conoco Global Power Ltd, Humber Forum
and North East Lincolnshire Council.
It had been agreed by all parties concerned that, due to the
large-scale nature of any development within this area, a full
masterplanning and economic viability exercise needed to be
undertaken before commissioning relevant infrastructure and
marketing work. The process of appointing consultants to undertake
this work which would take an estimated ten months has been entered
into in accordance with the council’s contract standing
orders and the consultancy firm recommended for appointment was BDP
Consultants. The appointment procedure had been verified at each
stage by all of the partners. The council would be the lead partner
in project managing the programme.Yorkshire Forward would fund the
master planning feasibility exercise.
If the consultants’ report recommended that the project
was viable, funding would be sought for the commissioning of full
infrastructure works for the development of the South Humber Bank.
At the same time a development company could be established to
ensure not only a coherent marketing approach to the area was
entered into but also to act as one voice in terms of the promotion
and development of specific parcels of land.
The whole project was to be viewed at its minimum as a ten year
programme with the likely benefits estimated at 3,000 direct new
jobs.
Resolved – (a) That BDP Consultants be
appointed as the consultants for the Feasibility and Masterplanning
Study, and (b) that the council be the lead partner on the
project.
