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Agenda item
Developing our Theory of Change
Facilitated by members of the Towns Hub
2:25
Minutes:
Rebecca and Rob explained the Theory of Change, how it will be used to achieve changes in Hastings and deliver the desired outcomes.
Victoria explained the outcome of the recent SWOT (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threat) analysis, which was used to identify the key challenges around the themes of urban regeneration, connectivity and skills.
The meeting then split into 6 facilitated break out groups to discuss the key challenges, how the Theory of Change can help achieve changes in Hastings and deliver the desired outcomes.
The feedback will be analysed by the project team and a summary appended to the minutes of this meeting.
The challenges and priorities will be finalised and circulated for agreement by 6th October to enable prioritisation of the projects. The vision and impacts of the TIP will be re-visited, the Theory of Change will be finalised and a draft TIP will be presented for review at the November board meeting.
Developing our Theory of Change – feedback summary
Group 1 – Low paid jobs and low household aspiration
Recorded only partly and attached with some written notes from the meeting.
Key notes from the discussion: the two issues are connected; both deep rooted and prevalent in many coastal towns; to tackle the issues needs capital but also joint working and co-commissioning of services; requirement of Health and Wellbeing Hub similar to Bromley By Bow offering food, health care and advice, child care; learning; socialising opportunities (in one place) etc. Skilled jobs needed to retain young people who do have aspirations and achieve goals (but currently move away from Hastings). Opportunities needed for people to come back to; start up facilities in town centre; home working may enable the town to retain those who do achieve success as well as invite new.
Group 2 – Lots of empty shops and town centre feels unloved
Deliverability (by 2026) against repurposing of town centre some disagreement. Meanwhile use could create vibrancy and create its own niche for the town given time. Independent retail may be the future, but rents needs to be kept low. Long term changes more challenging. Retail not all lost but changing.
Connectivity between the town centre and tourist hotspots (Old Town and Pier) important but lacking. Need to tackle the ‘no man’s land’ – Argos, MMH, Pelham and the Bingo facility. Places in the town centre for making / manufacturing would be a change.
Group did not get to discuss their second challenge as ran out of time.
Group 3 Housing unaffordable and our Heritage
Technical failure – no recording.
Group 4 - Reducing Co2 emissions challenge
- Agreement that it’s a cross cutting theme rather than a specific challenge
- New buildings and active use auto create new emissions – how do we minimise the impact/contribute to net approach to zero
- Could do overall impact assessment of the projects on clean growth
- Need new way of thinking for capital projects and how to embed clean growth, change of perspective needed with capital projects and may need allocated more funds to make buildings green with long-term benefits
- SELEP encouraging the region to think this way?
- Recognition that coastal places are likely to be the most effected by climate change, but also opportunity or coastal towns around clean growth agenda – hydro generation, wind, solar etc – energy generation as a piece and the job growth this sector can create. Perhaps as a broader package beyond the town deal programme
- What possible industries/clusters could we attract? We need to be seeking the opportunities with everyone playing their part – make sure we have the right partners around the table.
Lack of strong industry focus
- As a region in SELEP there is a problem that we don’t have a large specific highly skilled based sector that keeps us apart. Would be good to introduce the green growth sector into it. Although we need to support existing sectors like tourism etc, we need to think about new areas/sectors. Coastal towns have an opportunity – for lots of companies like this good place to be placed next to the coast.
- Do agree scale of challenge is quite high
Yes, as we know we don’t have big industry people knocking at our door to come here? Have to recognise that we are competing against other town deal areas who potentially will also want things like this so how do we address this?
Across SELEP lots of spare office blocks, is that the same here? Pandemic could cause moving towards hybrid working model for office types.
- What is our aim for the sector focus? High value, low density jobs? Or generate lots of employment? Add to this furlough ending/self-employment locally – lots of unemployment potentially. How do you could that challenge with addressing this new industry focus?
- Maybe consider focussing on/nurturing risk taking small businesses/entrepreneurs rather than large industry who are risk adverse especially at the moment. Small ones then tend to want to stay in places they started in.
Group 5 – We are 65 miles from London, but it feels like 200 miles
Less of an issue with changing work patterns. Little influence over this issue. People seem to more and more disregard geography as an issue. Covid has meant being feeling so far from London is no longer an issue.
Golden opportunity to make Hastings a place to visit and stay which is far enough from London to feel like it’s a break/holiday. Appears increasing wealth coming into the town, does this have knock on effect for affordability for housing. How do we turn this into benefits for the whole town? Gentrification does bring employment opportunities but can bring problems in driving people away from the town and affordability.
We are close enough to London – we don’t want to be closer and become a commuter town. But we do want to sort out our more local transport issues – gateway road.
Our business community may view this differently.
Regional and National transport links shouldn’t be as part of towns fund challenges, but potentially longer-term regeneration issue and should be recognised at least within the narrative.
Town centre not well connected to all its assets – station to the seafront and other cultural assets (pier, castle etc)
Main road (A259) should become a shared space not a main trunk road. In terms of making it a great place – we need to connect everything. This is at the heart of what is achievable with the town deal, what can make the best impact. This is the time to make the town centre attractive. The disconnect between the seafront and town centre needs addressing.
Tippex test – castle, Norman history, town centre used to be old Norman harbour, fishing fleet, maritime heritage. Need to address dissection of the town from its assets.
The community need to have confidence in our town – our history and stories could help this – energises people. Unique, that all our best assets are walkable – should be major part of our spend.
Will addressing this challenge address other things – yes! Town centre unpleasant especially on arrival to station. Need people to experience more coherent offer. Need to be able to compete with other coastal towns and encourage businesses to want to relocate.
This challenge strengthens some of the other challenges. If heritage assets good and people have pride in them – feel more aspirational in general – might address these issues in outlying estates. Need to make sure all parts of our community can access whatever we do.
Key driver of this challenge – A259. Public realm, make most of our assets (e.g. castle etc)
Is sorting out the A259 in scope? It may cause issues with deliverability.
Group 6 – Local public transport not well connected, infrequent and expensive
Cheaper buses and more buses – all require revenue funding not capital. Through the quality bus partnership – all places that stagecoach and others said that needed priority corridors/new services and routes etc have been done. Happy to consider further through the Quality Bus Partnership forum.
Digital connectivity on offer to businesses, voluntary sector and homes limited
Some think this need is overstated. In experience of town centre and industrial estate broadband already really fast – for e-commerce, design etc. Download speeds seems to be fine, but upload speeds seem to the issue – so maybe this is the focus as a specific issue? For the Source (which has broadcast live events) not an issue from their point of view,
Tech Box – don’t see it as an issue either.
Due to Covid – can we capitalise on people working for home in Hastings?
Priory Meadows shopping centre – businesses not reported any issues, but don’t have any businesses that require large upload speeds.
Is digital exclusion the issue instead (i.e. no laptop, can’t afford connection) – this should be explored more by the TD project team as part of the core reason for Town Deal – levelling up. Will require revenue funding. Should link this to the low skills agenda as part of the problem.
Library has publicly accessible computers. ESCC has paid for and issued laptops to very low-income groups during lockdown. It’s about more than just having a laptop but making sure all have access to share this and broadband around.
Question: could we use the Town Deal to invest in 5g for the town, then opens other companies to provide the service rather than be beholden to BT. But this is controversial!
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