ONE Haverhill to oversee town centre master plan
Thursday, 26th September 2013.
The next priority of the ONE Haverhill board will be to oversee the development of a new masterplan for the town centre, town councillors were told this week.
Town clerk Will Austin, who is one of the council's representatives on ONE Haverhill and makes a report on its latest proceedings, said work on the youth facilities and street environment priorities had been developed and now a new one was needed.
The intention was to evolve a strategy within the master plan so that it was more than just a planning document.
There would be public consultation as part of the process, he said.
The board, which met last week, also discussed opening its meetings to the public, but a decision was deferred for an electronic vote by all members.
It debated an idea to turn the former Corn Exchange in Withersfield Road into a heritage centre for the town.
Mr Austin said that if a robust business case showing a sustainable use for the building could be produced, the town council might consider purchasing the building and leasing it to a trust formed to take the idea forward.
He asked town councillors for guidance on a vote to be taken on whether council officers on the ONE Haverhill board should be able to vote, as at present.
Some county council officers felt they were put in a difficult position if asked to vote beside county council members.
There are over 20 board members, but only six of them are elected councillors.
Cllr Maureen Byrne said it would be wrong njot to have the vote of someone who had the town's best interests at heart as much as the clerk did.
Suffolk County Council officers were a bit different because they were not Haverhill people, but if they felt awkward they could always abstain.
Cllr Clive Turner said: "In my experience the town bclerk always acts in the best interests of the people of Haverhill and I have full confidence in him voting on our behalf."
Town clerk Will Austin, who is one of the council's representatives on ONE Haverhill and makes a report on its latest proceedings, said work on the youth facilities and street environment priorities had been developed and now a new one was needed.
The intention was to evolve a strategy within the master plan so that it was more than just a planning document.
There would be public consultation as part of the process, he said.
The board, which met last week, also discussed opening its meetings to the public, but a decision was deferred for an electronic vote by all members.
It debated an idea to turn the former Corn Exchange in Withersfield Road into a heritage centre for the town.
Mr Austin said that if a robust business case showing a sustainable use for the building could be produced, the town council might consider purchasing the building and leasing it to a trust formed to take the idea forward.
He asked town councillors for guidance on a vote to be taken on whether council officers on the ONE Haverhill board should be able to vote, as at present.
Some county council officers felt they were put in a difficult position if asked to vote beside county council members.
There are over 20 board members, but only six of them are elected councillors.
Cllr Maureen Byrne said it would be wrong njot to have the vote of someone who had the town's best interests at heart as much as the clerk did.
Suffolk County Council officers were a bit different because they were not Haverhill people, but if they felt awkward they could always abstain.
Cllr Clive Turner said: "In my experience the town bclerk always acts in the best interests of the people of Haverhill and I have full confidence in him voting on our behalf."
Comment on this story
[board listing] [login] [register]
You must be logged in to post messages. (login now)