Issue - meetings

[To consider a report on Wednesfield – Local Economic Development and Growth]

The Chair welcomed the witnesses to the Scrutiny Panel Meeting.  Four witnesses were present, Mr Richard Preston (Enterprise Manager from the Canal and River Trust), Mr Simon Hamilton (Vice Chair Hands on Wednesfield), Mr Simon Archer (West Midlands Magazines) and Mr Ray Fellows (Chairman of the Wednesfield History Society). 

Mr Preston stated that the Canal and River Trust was five years old.  It was presently the third largest charity in the UK.  They were responsible for 2,000 miles of canals and rivers across England and Wales and thus had operating bases across that area.  They were responsible for the maintenance of the assets such as bridges, locks and tunnels.  They were also responsible for the day to day maintenance across the network.  A significant amount of their core funding was allocated to maintenance work.  The Trust wanted canals and rivers to be used in a manner fit for the 21^st Century which included for leisure and residence.  More people living in the London area, due to rising property prices, were increasingly choosing to live on water ways.   The Trust was looking to increase other uses of the canal such as angling, walking and cannoning.  The more canals were used in an appropriate manner, the more natural surveillance there would be, which consequently reduced anti-social behaviour. 

Mr Preston stated that the Trust saw itself more and more as a health and well-being charity because of the positive effect engagement with nature had on people.  There were lots of opportunities for the Trust to work with the Council in the area of health and well-being.  Work had started the previous day on a towpath from Horseley Fields Junction out to Bentley Bridge.  A challenge the Trust was always facing was litter, the Wednesfield section was no different.  They were working with Probation to put together a new workload to allow them to clean more of the water space.  There was a particular deficit in volunteers in the area around Wednesfield.  Cllr Bateman had been doing some sterling work for the Wednesfield Canal Festival which was attracting more support each year.  More volunteers were however wanted. Community groups were able to adopt part of their local canal as part of a national scheme, which he hoped would help attract more volunteers.  He saw the local nature reserve as a massive opportunity. 

The Scrutiny Officer asked if there were any challenges that the Council could assist the Canal Trust in helping them to achieve their objectives for Wednesfield.  Mr Preston responded that the Trust was working with the Council already with the Local Growth Fund on towpath refurbishment.  They were also working with the Council on the Wednesfield Canal’s Local Nature Reserve.  They were a partner with the Council on Blue Network - the European Regional Development Fund bid.  They did suffer from anti-social behaviour and so consequently any assistance from the Council would be appreciated.  He also saw opportunities for the Council and the Trust to work with the Community groups so  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5