Economic Regeneration

Progress Report

January – March 2018

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About this Report

This report provides a brief update of the Economic Regeneration activity within South Tyneside. This report is not a comprehensive guide to all work undertaken by the Group but rather provides key points and information about high profile projects and news updates.

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Contents Page Regeneration Hebburn 4 Jarrow 5 South Shields 6

South Shields Transport Interchange 7 Foreshore 8 Riverside 9

Culture and Events

The Word 10

What's On? 11 Planning for Growth

IAMP 12 Transport 13 Inward Investment 14 Superfast Broadband 14 Business Centres 14 Business, Events and Networks 15 The Exchange 16

Regional update 17 Contacts 21

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Hebburn

Westmorland Court

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Proposed CGI of Aldi store

Mayor Punchion at Mountbatten shopping centre

Demolitions Work commenced on the demolition of Westmorland Court in Hebburn in January 2018, this is a 35 week programme and work is due to be completed in the autumn of 2018. This area will then be included in the wider redevelopment of the Hebburn New Town area with options for the future of the site currently being considered. Demolishing has started on the Father James Walsh Centre and development options are being considered for affordable housing or assisted living. New Aldi Supermarket Works for a new Aldi Supermarket at Glen Street are progressing well. Aldi have undertaken significant utility diversions, including a main sewer diversion and a main gas pipe diversion. Aldi have relocated the substation and have undertaken further drainage works. Construction of the new Supermarket will commence in spring 2018 and the new store should be open by the end of 2018. Mountbatten Shopping Centre The Council is working closely with the owners of the newly refurbished and relaunched Mountbatten Shopping Centre to support efforts to attract new tenants into the Centre. The Council has carried out environmental improvements as part of the town centre regeneration and further minor public realm improvements are planned. Housing New housing sites are being brought forward by a number of housebuilders including the new partnership at Victoria Road West between Miller Homes and Home Group where 334 new units will be developed. South Tyneside Homes are proposing improvements to properties at Trent Avenue, Kelly Road and Ellison Street where residents will be consulted directly. South Tyneside Homes continue to update residents on further Fire Safety works planned for Durham Court including timescales for a new sprinkler system being installed. Former Hebburn Civic Centre site Terms have been provisionally agreed with the developer for the sale of the Hebburn Civic Centre site. Plans for redevelopment are being reviewed.

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Jarrow

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Martin Hall, Jarrow

Medieval Battle at Jarrow Hall

Demolitions Martin Hall in Jarrow was demolished in January 2018 and Nolan Hall in Jarrow was demolished in February 2018. Options to redevelop both sites will be considered. Demolitions of Perth Green House and Perth Green Youth Centre are due to commence in spring 2018. Jarrow Hall Jarrow Hall is the Anglo-Saxon Farm Village and Bede Museum based at Church Bank in Jarrow. Visitors can discover the incredible world of Anglo-Saxon Northumbria and the extraordinary life of Bede, the father of English history at the 11-acre historical and environmental oasis in the heart of Jarrow, South Tyneside. It also features a museum dedicated to exploring the fascinating life and legacy of Bede, an extensive Anglo-Saxon demonstration farm and reconstructed Anglo-Saxon dwellings. Jarrow Hall hosts a number of cultural events, from gin tasting sessions, wedding fayres, ghost hunts, animal discovery workshops plus many more interesting and family fun activities and events. They also offer guided tours including a British sign language tour – ‘Sign It Hear’. Discover more information by contacting them on 0191 424 1585 or via email at Jarrowhall@groundwork.org.uk. Jarrow Hub Jarrow Hub is the new exciting project which will transform the popular Jarrow community facility. The £3m revamp will see the current community centre in Cambrian Street transformed to create a multi-purpose leisure facility. The Hub will incorporate a new library and gym, along with refurbished changing rooms, dance studios and theatre space, as well as a new entrance and external façade. The aim of the project is to improve and revitalise the facilities on offer, creating a vibrant social venue that enhances the health and wellbeing of both residents and visitors to the Borough. Developed by ENGIE, the new look building is set to re-open towards the end of the year and will be managed and branded as part of the Council’s core leisure offer.

CGI, Jarrow Hub

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South Shields

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The Round @ The Word, National Centre for the written word

New Post Office King Street

Housing South Tyneside Housing Ventures Trust continues to develop affordable housing across the Borough. They are currently developing a scheme in Simonside in South Shields at Edhill Avenue which is due for completion in April 2018. This will consist of 4 properties, 2 x two bedroomed bungalows and 2 x two bed apartments. These have been advertised and are for people aged 55 and over. These are the first of their properties to be built by South Tyneside Homes Property Services Team. The Word – National Centre for the Written Word Work started on 12th February to transform the rooftop space into The Round, a creative events space that will hold 150 people. It will incorporate ICT equipment, digital screens and a fully fitted kitchen. It is expected that the works will be completed by mid-May. The work is ongoing whilst the building is open to the public. 365 Phase 3 Demolitions Demolitions of two properties are currently underway at Barrington Street to make an start on site clearance for Phase 3, the retail and leisure phase which is due to start on site at the end of 2019. The gable end of the retained 1-2 Charlotte Terrace unit will be rendered and the ground cleared, levelled and a trip rail installed around it in April 2018. Highways works are currently programmed to commence in July 2018. Relocation of Post Office and Royal Mail depot The Post Office moved into new premises on King Street which was officially opened by the Leader of the Council in January 2018. The former premises on Keppel Street are within the Transport Interchange phase and this was a priority relocation for the Council with significant resources going into facilitating this relocation. In late 2017 Royal Mail, also in Phase 2, relocated to a brand new depot at West Walpole Street to a site owned by the Council. The successful relocation of these important businesses was a key component of the delivery of Phase 2 of the South Shields 365 regeneration.

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Transport Interchange

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The Transport Interchange is the expansion and refurbishment of the current Metro Station and the new Bus Station interchange facility linked to the heart of South Shields Town Centre regeneration scheme. The new interchange will improve the connectivity between the metro and bus networks, have direct concourse access from the bus station to the Metro and provide improvements to the rail infrastructure. There will also be amendments to the existing highway network around the town centre offering a more efficient public transport system. The project is progressing well seeing all the demolition work completed in March 2018, along with the appointment of main contractor to deliver construction phase. Once the new interchange is completed, the Council will then commence demolition of the existing Metro station and implement Public realm improvements to Keppel Street. The new station is due to be completed in autumn 2019 and the overall scheme completion due in summer 2020.

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Foreshore Projects

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South Shields Foreshore has seen some transformational development over the years from both the private and the public sectors. This development has contributed to the rise in visitor numbers to the Foreshore year on year which is increasing the demand for further development on our popular coastal destination. South Tyneside Council has been successful with our bid for funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund Round 2 application, which will see the regeneration of North Marine Park. We are currently awaiting permission to start the works. Round 5 of the Coastal Communities Fund scheme has been announced and potential bids are currently being considered by Council Members and Officers. The new toilet block, located at the Littlehaven Car Park opened to the public in September 2017 and the Marsden Limekilns have been upgraded and were completed in autumn 2016. The Council is currently working with the National Trust to develop a plan to expand the offer and a range of activities at Gypsies Green. This will complement the recently developed Ghandi’s Temple at Gypsies Green which was transformed into Colman’s Seafood Temple in spring 2017. The Temple is a welcome addition to the ever popular South Shields Foreshore.

Gypsies Green Foreshore Toilets

Colman’s Seafood Temple

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Riverside Projects

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Trinity South

Holborn

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Harton Quays Car Park

Holborn

Trinity South There has been good progress made with the new estate at Trinity South. The apartment block is approaching completion and work has commenced on the linear park. The project is on track for completion by the end of 2018. The Housing Ventures trust has acquired 12 apartments in the block next to Reed Street that will be made available for general needs. This is in addition to the 20 affordable houses to be delivered via the Development Agreement. Harton Quays Park The Ribbon Wall sedum panels have been badly damaged predominantly due to vandalism. The decision was taken by the Council to replace the wood paneling. Contractors are anticipated to be appointed in May with new panels being in place by mid-summer 2018.

Holborn Holborn will be a vibrant mixed used site which provides new office and residential opportunities at a stunning riverside location. The scheme will link into South Shields town centre and further contribute to our overall economic regeneration objectives. The Council acquired the Middle Docks at Holborn in December 2017 and there are now only a few small private land interests that remain. The site investigations have commenced and will continue over the next few months. These investigations will contribute to the master planning works currently being designed. The Enterprise Zone bid was submitted to the NELEP in November 2017 and will be considered in May 2018. This funding will support 200,000sq.ft Grade A office space proposed at Holborn.

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The Word, National Centre for the Written Word

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The Word has welcomed more than 500,000 visitors since it opened in October 2016 and won 19 regional, national and international awards. Delivered as part of phase one of South Shields 365 as a catalyst to attract more people to the town centre, The Word is certainly performing with visitors coming from the wider North East, nationally and internationally as well as seeing residents from across the Borough. The Word has delivered more than 400 events to date ranging from authors’ talks, storytelling, murder mystery nights, poetry slams, FabLab, coding and much more alongside a high quality exhibition programme which has seen exhibitions including Sir Ridley Scott: Past, Present and Future Visionary, Shiver Me Timbers: Pirates on Page, Stage and Screen and Lost Dialects. The newest exhibition Monsters! The Good, The Bad and The Cuddly was opened to the public on 17th March 2018. The Word is dedicated to supporting aspiring and established writers of all ages and runs a number of workshops, commissions writers in residence and hosts the WRITE Festival. This year’s WRITE Festival (12th – 25th May) boasts more than 40 events over 2 weeks that will inspire and inform writers as well as provide residents and visitors with an interesting programme of performances and events. Events will also be delivered at The Customs House, across South Tyneside Libraries and at The Stags Head, South Shields as part of the programme as well as engaging with local communities and schools from across the Borough. The Word has achieved successful bids for external funding from Arts Council England and Heritage Lottery Fund which have been used to enhance the events and exhibition programme and allow for community engagement and artist commissions. We have also achieved sponsorship from Port of Tyne, Mirabaud, BT, JP Morgan and Colmans. The Friends scheme has already attracted its first Friends of The Word.

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What’s on?

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South Tyneside Festival Monsters, myths and magic will herald the start of a summer of entertainment, when the South Tyneside Festival returns. The three-month long event is once again bringing together music and family fun across a whole host of venues in South Shields, cementing it as one of the UK’s biggest free festivals. The annual Summer Parade will take place on 30th June, when hundreds of youth groups, schools and community organisations will be taking up the theme of monsters, myths and magic, under the artistic direction of South Shields-based Community Interest Company, Creative Seed. The parade will make its way throughout the town and end at Bents Park, where visitors can enjoy a range of family-friendly activities and live music. The town’s Sandhaven Amphitheatre will be the venue for a whole range of performances, with live music every Thursday and Saturday evening from 2nd – 23rd June. It will also host brass band concerts every Sunday afternoon from June through to August, apart from 1 July, when music lovers can enjoy Proms in the Park which this year will move to Bents Park. Bents Park will once again be hosting the extremely popular Sunday concerts on 8th,15th, 22nd and 29th July, with the promise of big names to follow in the footsteps of the previous acts who have taken to the stage. The Kids Fun-Fest is also returning to the amphitheatre, with activities every Tuesday and Thursday afternoon from 2nd – 23rd August. The latest news can be found at www.southtynesidefestival.co.uk, at South Tyneside Events on Facebook and on twitter @STynesideEvents.

Other Event Highlights Armed Forces day will be staged on 24th June at Bents Park from 10.00am until 5.00pm. Now in its ninth year this event is organised by the Badlanders Motorcycle Club with support from the Council, 205 Battery RA (V), Royal British Legion and Durham Light Infantry Association. The event involves a cavalcade of 300 motorcycles, a military parade and service followed by a fun day all of which raises funds for armed forces charities.

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International Advanced Manufacturing Park (IAMP)

The International Advanced Manufacturing Park (IAMP) development seeks to expand upon the existing North East automotive manufacturing hub to enable a step change in South Tyneside and Sunderland’s economic growth and continue the strong local track record of high quality, adaptable manufacturing. IAMP will develop a 150 hectare site, close to the A19 and A1, for a nationally significant and internationally respected location for advanced manufacturing and European-scale supply chain industries. It will be a planned and sustainable employment location that maximises links with Nissan and other high value automotive industries, including over 350,000m2 of commercial space, set alongside new infrastructure and services. The new development will not only create over 7,000 jobs and unlock over £400million of private sector investment; it will help underpin the continued success of the automotive and manufacturing sectors in the North East and across the UK. Progress to date: • Henry Boot Developments Ltd appointed as development partner for the IAMP, responsible for the delivery of both infrastructure

and building on site; • Area Action Plan (AAP) adopted in November 2017 – sets the planning context and removes the land from the Green Belt; • £42m Local Growth Fund prioritised by Central Government for IAMP, accessed via NELEP; • Land required for Phase 1 of the development acquired by Councils; • Planning application submitted for phase 1 development in January 2018. Future milestones: • Development Consent Order (DCO) application for Phase 2 planning permission submitted – Spring 2018; • Phase 1 start on site – infrastructure & buildings – June 2018; • Phase 1 buildings ready for fit out – June 2019; • DCO Examination process completes – Summer/Autumn 2019; • Phase 1 first buildings operational – November 2019; • Phase 2 commences – 2021/22; • Phase 2 completes – 2029/30.

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Lindisfarne and Arches The improvements to Lindisfarne and John Reid Road junctions were successfully completed on time in July 2017. At peak times delays have been greatly reduced with all vehicles currently getting through each of the junctions within a single cycle of the traffic signals system. The Arches Junction Improvements commenced on 29th January 2018, and is progressing well. This 12 month long scheme is on one of the most important junctions in South Tyneside. These improvements will ensure that the road system has the capacity to cope with predicted increases in traffic flow well into the future, and therefore provide a catalyst for planned local economic growth. Future road improvements To achieve the Council’s overall vision, ambitious plans are in place which includes significant investment in highway infrastructure. A package of key strategic transport investment projects is being developed to reinforce the economic potential of borough. There are two schemes which are being funded through the Government’s National Productivity Investment Fund. The first is an estimated £2.17m project which will review the current congestion / constraints on the A194 / Mill Lane Roundabout. This has been identified by the Council and Highways England as a 'bottleneck' junction which could constrain economic growth and developments identified in the local plan. The Council has completed an appraisal of the junction and has identified a scheme that will maximum the throughput of traffic, whilst reducing congestion and improving air quality. The second project will seek to improve the current congestion on the A19 network Northbound between the Lindisfarne junction and the Jarrow turn off. The total cost for this scheme is circa £2.65m. Testo’s / Downhill Improvements Defined as the Economic Artery of South Tyneside, the A19 will improve access into the Nissan plant, IAMP site and wider region. The proposals will improve the junction by raising the A19 on a flyover and building new slip roads to connect the A19 to the A184. The Downhill Lane junction improvement will provide enhanced capacity between the A19 and the A1290 junction, supporting the plans for the International Advanced Manufacturing Park (IAMP) and improving access into Nissan. The project has been recognised as a National Significant Infrastructure Project and is a priority for government. The scheme will be delivered by Highways England with South Tyneside Council assisting in the DCO process. Work will start in January 2019, completed by 2021 and Costs around £120m

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Down Hill Improvements

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Inward Investment Inward Investment - the Business Investment Team continues to work to attract inward investment to South Tyneside, including Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), UK company relocations and/or North-shoring of operations mixed with re-investment from our existing businesses. The focus for inward investment targets Advanced Manufacturing (inc. Automotive and Offshore Marine), Business Services, Digital/ICT. Investment - The £120m JEREMIE 2 fund will launch next month and support the growth of hundreds of businesses in the North East with a range of equity investments and loans. It is expected that 600 businesses could be supported by the fund, creating up to 3500 jobs. Business Centres

• Overall occupancy is 82% across the four centres ; • 8 new businesses moving in December 17 – February 18.

Planning for Growth

Superfast Broadband

Thousands more South Tyneside homes and businesses can now access high-speed, fibre-based broadband as a direct result of South Tyneside Council’s investment in the multi million pound Digital Durham programme. 98.8 per cent of homes and businesses in the borough can now access superfast broadband speeds, which is the highest coverage of North East local authorities. The Business Investment Team are currently working on a bid to the Local Full Fibre Network (LFFN) fund to increase Gigabit connectivity in the Borough.

Business Events and Networks DynamoNet (Quadrus Centre with INEE) We provided The Lake Room at Quadrus to host the January networking meeting with Dynamo which is a membership organisation supporting the North East’s digital organisations. Invest North East England highlighted their activity within the sector with inward investors. Scaleup North East Launch The North East LEP launched the Scaleup North East programme; members of the Business Investment Team attended and we are working with the LEP to register as a referral partner and ensure local companies are aware of the programme. Fairstone 10 year anniversary celebration Boldon based Fairstone celebrated 10 years of being in business at their recent AGM. We attended along with their partners and staff to recognise the successes, job creation and growth of the company. Update to NE Chamber John Scott provided an update on key projects at February’s South Tyneside Committee of the North East England Chamber of Commerce. Digital Union membership We have joined Digital Union as a member to influence to the growing digital community within the North East, and contribute to their events programme by hosting in South Tyneside. Advanced Manufacturing Forum’s Process Innovation Group sponsorship We are sponsors of the AMF’s Process Innovation Group which provides access to improvement programmes and best practice to utilise technology within manufacturing environments.

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The Exchange

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The Exchange is the South Tyneside Education and Business Partnership, led by South Tyneside Council. The Partnership has the strategic objective of improving links between business and education to support the delivery of a relevant and high quality careers education programme in South Tyneside schools and college. The Exchange Board membership includes senior education leaders, civic leader as well as business leaders from economic sectors that represent important employment and growth opportunities within the borough and the wider region: • Advanced manufacturing and engineering; • Business services; • Construction; • Digitech; • Health and care; • Small to medium size businesses. The Exchange programme provides funding to support a number of activities which allow schools access to businesses and work related programmes for pupils and staff, including Business in the Community (BITC), Enterprise Challenge, careers events, Steps to Success Information Advice and Guidance and Primary Engineers. Following a refresh of the Board in 2017, it was agreed that its first task would be to consider the findings of the pilot of the Gatsby Good Careers Benchmark and the new requirements of the Government’s Careers Strategy. The Board will consider how it can support the development of a local interface to help business and education to work together to ensure that planned activity adds value to schools and supports their delivery of quality careers education for all pupils. The work of the Board will be done with consideration of initiatives that the North East Local Enterprise Partnership are working to bring to the area, including a North East Careers Hub, a Careers Leader Support programme, the Education Challenge and the Primary School Careers pilot.

BREXIT – Regional Implications NE Brexit Group The North East Brexit Group was set up to gain clarity on region’s Brexit priorities, concerns and opportunities, and the specific challenges of different communities, sectors and key industries with the aim of ensuring that these needs are considered in the Government’s Brexit negotiations. The membership of the group includes the Confederation of British Industry, the Federation of Small Businesses, Engineering Employers Federation, Trade Union Congress, Entrepreneurs Forum, North East LEP, North East Local Authorities, North East Universities, The Association of Colleges, Voluntary Organisations Network and the Government’s Local Growth Team. The North East’s key messages – The group has agreed a set of key messages about the North East priorities as the UK and European Union negotiators continue Brexit discussions: The North East is open for business: • The North East remains committed to the ambitious growth targets within

our Strategic Economic Plan, which includes a strong focus on attracting and supporting inward investment and skilled migrants.

• During Brexit negotiations, the economic interests of the North East should be clearly considered: the region must not be disadvantaged through any immigration or trade agreements.

We need a strong ongoing relationship with the European Union (EU): • Exports are a major part of the North East economy and an

unusually high proportion (58%) go to Europe; we need to continue to enjoy frictionless, barrier-free, trade in key sectors;

• Ensure the continued success of existing foreign-owned companies and secure future flows of inward investment;

• Continued free flow of skilled individuals to allow the region’s future growth and workforce needs to be met, while EU nationals currently living in the region must continue to be able to do so;

• Universities and researchers must be able to collaborate productively with EU partners, while there should be no barriers to the recruitment of EU students.

Post-Brexit, the UK must develop new policies that • Provide the long-term public-sector investment needed to

deliver the North East’s priority of more and better jobs. The UK Shared Prosperity Fund – and other economic development, rural, research and regeneration funds- need to provide resources at least comparable to current levels. This should include replacement of ERDF and ESF funding;

• Support our businesses to take advantage of new opportunities and increase international trade with the EU and beyond;

• Support our residents to gain the skills they need to fulfil their potential and meet the needs of our key growth and employment sectors;

• Provide businesses with effective access to finance and other support that enables them to start up and scale up

• Protect workers’ rights, so that they do not fall behind those across the rest of Europe;

• Protect our unique natural assets whilst enabling our rural and coastal communities to flourish.

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BREXIT – Regional Implications Migration Advisory Commission – NE Response In July 2017, the Government commissioned the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) to advise on the economic and social impacts of the UK’s exit from the European Union and also, how the UK’s immigration system should be aligned with a modern industrial strategy. As part of the call for evidence the Committee was seeking responses by the end of October around: • EEA Migration Trends; • Evidence about recruitment, training and skills practice; and • Economic, social and fiscal impacts.

Through a comprehensive consultation process, the North East Brexit Group developed a response to the MAC’s call for evidence, which included: • Both the relatively small size of the current stock of migrants in the

labour force, but also the longer term demographic trends, and the flows and trends as a result of internal and external migration.

• The relative concentration of migrants in higher value roles in key growth sectors, including manufacturing, life sciences, digital and tech services and education and their importance to the regions key businesses

• That in considering numerical data about migration in the North East the presence of students and returning UK citizens in the data needs to be understood. Labour market modelling should take into account the dynamic effect of an overall reduction in migration on labour markets in the UK regions. If there is a significant reduction of migration from the EEA, or indeed elsewhere, into London, it should identify the extent to which this will pull migrants and other workers into the capital and the South East. Past experience and trends would suggest that, unless managed carefully, an overall reduction of migration into the UK would have a proportionately much greater impact on the regions and would have a damaging effect on those specialisations where capital or labour is particularly mobile such as in the digital and tech sector.

In the context of any future schemes, businesses in the region are concerned that: • Schemes which set down requirements for an earnings level

for migrants must take into account the fact that wages in general are lower in the NE and there needs to be a mechanism for ensuring that any new requirements do not disadvantage regions outside of London for example by ensuring that wage levels are set relative to levels prevailing in local labour markets;

• Schemes which seek to put a ceiling on the number of migrants entering the country should not do so in such a way which disadvantages the North East’s need to build its working population to both grow employment and meet replacement demand;

• Schemes which seek to direct migrant labour to specific parts of the country must not create friction for those internationalised businesses whose workers move in and out of the UK, or who need to move around the UK to and from the North East;

• Sectoral classifications need to be considered carefully in the design of any sectoral allocations given the way that sectors are developing. In the North East context for example, recruitment in key manufacturing sectors increasingly relies on digital skills to support high value manufacturing processes. Many North East shared services centres (often mistakenly described as call centres) deliver high level support in both the public sector and private sectors in organisations such as PWC Legal services, HMRC and DWP IT services;

• Given the importance of the Universities to the North East, schemes should not prevent the recruitment of EEA staff and students, and should enable higher skill students to join work related training schemes and remain to fill skills shortages in key North East businesses.

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On 24 Nov 2017 North of Tyne (NoT) Authorities agreed a ‘minded to’ devolution deal with Government. The Deal includes: • Establishment of a mayoral Combined Authority; • £600 million, over 30 years, to boost growth (£20m revenue for 30

years); • An Inclusive Growth Board to take forward skills and employment

reforms across the area, including a pioneering North of Tyne Education Improvement Challenge;

• Full control of the Adult Education Budget to allow North of Tyne to shape local skills provision to respond to local needs;

• Collaboration on an Employment Support Framework Agreement; • Establishment of a Housing and Land Board, with powers for the

Combined Authority to acquire and dispose of land, and mayoral powers to take forward compulsory purchases and establish Mayoral Development Corporations; and

• A Rural Productivity Plan. To take forward the Devolution Deal the NoT Authorities carried out a Governance Review which demonstrated that proposals would be an improvement on current arrangements. A ‘Draft Scheme’ was then developed which set out: • The amendment of the boundaries of North East Combined Authority

(NECA) to remove the NoT Authorities; • The creation of a new mayoral combined authority for the NoT area

with devolved powers; And • A Transport Joint Committee, to carry out transport functions across the

seven Local Authority NE footprint. This draft order was then consulted on between 14th Dec 2017 – 5th Feb 2018, with a summary of the consultation responses submitted to the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government.

North of Tyne Devolution

South Tyneside Council hosted a consultation event on 22 January 2018 to ensure businesses, residents, partners and elected members were able to inform the Council’s response to the consultation. Residents and businesses were also encouraged to respond directly to the consultation. The South Tyneside Council response highlighted the Authority’s consistent and a strong advocacy for collaboration across the North East region to promote economic growth and to deliver the priorities of the North East Strategic Economic Plan, and that key strategic functions continue to be best delivered at this geographic level. A consistent theme from the consultation and reflected in the response was that, whilst being supportive of the NoT proposals, this was on the explicit basis that they do not lead to any detriment to the economic, social and environmental wellbeing of the residents and businesses of South Tyneside. The NECA Leadership Board is due to make the decision on consenting to the formal order to make the necessary legislative arrangements at an extraordinary meeting later in the Spring . Subject to consent the Secretary of State will then lay the orders before Parliament. The North of Tyne Combined Authority would be set up following this, with an interim Mayor appointed to oversee the authority until a Mayor is elected in 2019. In addition a Joint Committee for Transport will be set up to manage the transport arrangements in both the North of Tyne and NECA areas.

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Future Policies - UK Shared Prosperity Fund The 2017 Conservative Manifesto included a commitment to create a UK Shared Prosperity Fund which would “use the [European] structural fund money that comes back to the UK following Brexit to create a UK Shared Prosperity Fund” “designed to reduce inequalities between communities across our four nations” and “…deliver sustainable, inclusive growth, based on our modern industrial strategy”. Government are widely expected to consult on this fund later this year. As an important fund for the Borough in the future the North East Combined Authority’s Economic Development and Regeneration Advisory Board (EDRAB), chaired by Cllr Iain Malcolm, has discussed the proposed fund and agreed the below principles to inform the fund. As a fund to promote inclusive growth and productivity in the North East, informed by learning lessons from European Structural & Investment Funds (ESIF) and beyond, EDRAB endorsed the following characteristics proposed for the UK Shared Prosperity Fund: 1. A long-term, fully devolved funding programme, aligned to the regional

strategic economic framework (the North East Strategic Economic Plan (SEP));

2. A multi-year funding programme (minimum 7 year); Fully devolved to the North East to allow strategic management and long term investment decisions;

3. At least at a scale of the current EU structural fund programme (c€560m);.To start before 2020/2021 to ensure continuity in activity;

4. A flexible fund which avoids a restrictive siloed approach, and instead funds activities across areas such as innovation, skills, business support, regeneration, and employment support, to fit the needs of the area;

5. Targeted to reflect economic conditions, recognising the latent potential in many currently underperforming areas, and not allocated on a competitive basis;

6. Support the aim to reduce disparities between and within regions; 7. A shift towards more broadly defined growth benefits (e.g. ‘quality

GVA’); 8. Flexibility to both lever in private funds or other public funds where this

is suitable or offer a wholly-financed approach where appropriate; and 9. Flexibility to fund both revenue and capital. These principles will inform the response to the Government’s formal consultation when launched.

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Paul Scrafton, Acting Corporate Director; Economic Regeneration E-mail Paul.Scrafton@southtyneside.gov.uk Telephone (0191) 424 7969

Derek Smith, Corporate Lead; Highways & Engineering Services; (Highways, Street Lighting, and Landscape Issues) E-mail Derek.Smith2@southtyneside.gov.uk Telephone (0191) 424 7515

George Mansbridge, Head of Development Services; (Housing, environmental health, transport strategy, planning, other regulatory issues, and regional activity) E-mail George.Mansbridge@southtyneside.gov.uk Telephone (0191) 424 6599

John Sparkes, Head of Regeneration; (All Physical Regeneration Projects) Email: John.Sparkes@southtyneside.gov.uk Telephone: (0191) 424 7603

Emma Jobson, Regeneration Officer; Report Author E-mail Emma.jobson@southtyneside.gov.uk Telephone (0191) 424 7674

John Scott, Corporate Lead; Business Investment; (all business, employment issues, including IAMP, inward investment, sectors, business events and workspace) E-mail John.Scott@southtyneside.gov.uk Telephone (0191) 424 6250

Sarah McMillan, Corporate Lead; Economic Strategy & Skills; (Economic Strategy, skills, including apprenticeships and the Exchange Programme and regional activity) E-mail Sarah.mcmillan@southtyneside.gov.uk Telephone (0191) 424 7948

Hayley Johnson, Corporate Lead, Strategy and Performance; (all communications and press issues) E-mail Hayley.Johnson@southtyneside.gov.uk Telephone (0191) 424 7014

Tania Robinson, Head of Marketing & Culture; (the Word programme, culture and events) E-mail Tania.Robinson@southtyneside.gov.uk Telephone (0191) 424 7817

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