Agenda item

To scrutinise the Monmouth, Abergavenny, Magor with Undy Place Making Plans.

Daniel Fordham introduced the report, delivered a presentation and answered the members’ questions with Craig O’Connor:

Councillor Crook questioned the wording in the Magor with Undy Placemaking Plan in paragraph 3.14, which states that the recently opened walkway train station had made the area accessible to all. He pointed out that the station is not yet open and suggested the language could be misleading.

The officer clarified that the section is written from a future perspective, describing what the area would be like after the plan’s delivery in 10-15 years. It was acknowledged that, out of context, the wording could be confusing, and a suggestion was made to clarify this in the document.

Councillor Groucutt highlighted the positive impact of recent changes in Abergavenny, such as restricting traffic in the town centre, despite initial opposition, and noted how these changes have improved the area. Councillor Groucutt emphasized the importance of local history and heritage, mentioning notable historical events and figures connected to Abergavenny, and how these contribute to community pride. He commended the Placemaking Plan process for bringing together councillors and community members, fostering collaboration, and supporting the town’s continued progress into the 21^st century.

Councillor Thomas praised the collaborative process of developing the Placemaking Plan, which involved county councillors, town councillors, and local groups, ensuring wide scrutiny and good discussion. He highlighted the positive impact of pedestrianisation since 2017, making the town centre more pedestrian- and user-friendly. Councillor Thomas commended the plan for building on previous successes, especially improving gateways and enhancing green spaces like Bailey Park. He concluded by supporting the plan, emphasising the extensive consultation and agreement, and urged moving forward with its approval and implementation.

Councillor Pavia asked how the proposed delivery groups for the Placemaking Plans will have the authority, capacity, and continuity to move from planning to actual delivery, especially for large-scale projects involving multiple funding sources and agencies. He queried whether the regeneration team has sufficient capacity to support the delivery of all town plans, and asked how resident and business participation will be maintained during the delivery phase and how community input will influence future project sequencing.

The Chief Officer acknowledged the importance of resource capacity and stated that, following Cabinet consideration of the plans, the next stage will focus on setting up delivery groups and assessing resource needs, including funding. The officer clarified that the plans are not solely the responsibility of the County Council’s regeneration team; delivery will involve town councils, businesses, and community groups, with resource requirements spread across these partners. The officer also explained that delivery groups, likely mirroring the steering groups, will play a key role in maintaining engagement and that the most effective way to sustain participation is through the delivery of individual projects, which naturally engage residents and businesses

Councillor Dymock asked how community engagement will be maintained and evolve throughout the delivery of the Placemaking Plans, expressing concern that public participation might diminish over time. She requested clarification on what specific metrics and timelines will be used to evaluate the success of the plans across different towns, referencing the report’s mention of outputs and outcomes.

The officer responded that ongoing community engagement will likely focus on the development and delivery of individual projects, with continued involvement from the County Council, town councils, and other partners as projects progress. He explained that the evaluation section in the Placemaking Plans provides initial ideas for assessing project impact, but detailed metrics and evaluation methods will be developed as individual projects are further defined and delivered.

Councillor Brown asked about progress with Chepstow’s Placemaking Plan.

The officer explained that Chepstow’s Placemaking Plan, called the Transforming Chepstow Master Plan, was adopted by both the County Council and Chepstow Town Council in 2023. A delivery group has been established, bringing together town and county councils, and has overseen the delivery of several projects, including improvements to buildings, bringing vacant properties back into use, and small-scale public realm projects. Delivery is well underway.

Councillor Dymock asked officers to explain the difference between a ‘Placemaking Plan’ and a ‘Place Plan’.

The Chief Officer explained that Placemaking Plans are strategic regeneration documents focused on enhancing town or city centres, while Place Plans are local-level guidance documents related to land use and development, mainly for planning purposes. He noted that the names are unfortunately similar but refer to different types of plans.

Councillor Newell expressed strong support for the Placemaking Plans, thanking Roger Hoggins for chairing the group and the officers for their work on the report. As someone who has lived and worked in Monmouth all his life, the Councillor said he is excited about the plans, fully endorses them as both a ward county councillor and town councillor, and looks forward to seeing them come to fruition.

Chair’s Summary:

The Chair concurred with the positive comments made about the Placemaking Plans and emphasised the importance of ongoing consultation with residents, highlighting that they are the ones who pay the bills and elect the council. The committee agreed the recommendations.