Fylde councillors will discuss the appointment of a Town Centres Manager and Economic Development Officer as part of a funding boost for the borough’s town centres.
Councillors on the Finance and Democracy committee will meet on Monday (November 23) to look at a range of measures to boost the economy – most notably the borough’s town centres of St Annes, Lytham and Kirkham.
The Fylde Corporate Plan 2020/24 includes ‘Economy’ as a key theme and includes ambitions and actions are set out to support the wider economy and promote the prosperity of the borough’s three town centres.
Leader of Fylde Council and Chair of the Finance and Democracy Committee Cllr Karen Buckley said: “We have won a multi-million pound bid for Kirkham, and have another hopefully to be announced soon. We’ve put money aside to improve the street scene in Lytham and we are looking at wholescale renewal in St Annes.
“What we need to help improve our town centres further is dedicated professional officers to drive forward the improvements this council and our local businesses want to make.
“These officers will be tasked with working with our local businesses to identify issues and improvements and to secure further external funding for them.”
The Council’s Town Centres Working Group (TCWG) which was established in March 2020, identified the need for both posts.
The committee will also be asked to fund an experienced project manager for the Blackpool Airport Enterprise Zone (BAEZ) as part of the council’s commitment to supporting the key Fylde coast employment site.
The delivery of the Enterprise Zone is also a vital element of the Fylde Local Plan to 2032, with its success key to the economic strand of the local plan’s development strategy.
To date, the Council has seconded an officer to support the establishment of the zone and the drafting of a masterplan aimed at attracting and guiding new investment. The BAEZ is now at a stage where the nature of the support has changed and an experienced project manager is required to assist in the delivery of the project.
Decisions from the committee will be published following the meeting on Monday.
