To encourage a dialogue on the plan for Clacton for the next ten years, the Board will receive a presentation from Tendring District Council’s Deputy Chief Executive looking back at some of the key world leaders and headlines from 2015 (10 years ago) and how different the world was then. It will also reference key challenges faced in the intervening period and look forward to what the world could be adjusting to over the next 10 years (to 2035).

In order to encourage a dialogue on the plan for Clacton for the next ten years, Tendring District Council’s Deputy Chief Executive presented a series of slides.  He looked back at some of the key world leaders and headlines from 2015 (10 years ago) and how different the world was then.  He also referenced key challenges faced in the intervening period.

The presentation then looked forward to what the world could be adjusting to over the next 10 years (to 2035).  These included, a growing and diverse population, Energy transition to be less reliant on fossil fuels, the potential that by 2035 88% of new jobs could be graduate entry, renewed interest in space travel and business opportunities that flow from that, the growth in the application of artificial intelligence and the impact of driverless vehicles. 

In seeking to think about the future it was important to address what the reality was locally.  This reality included low levels of economic activity in Clacton, higher levels of school students being persistently absent (10% of sessions or more), higher levels of retail and leisure unit vacancy rates and a demographic profile locally that was increasingly becoming older.

Clacton was set to grow in size and households in the Local Plan to 2033 by the addition of mixed-use development at Hartley Gardens, Rouses Farm and Cooks Green Farm (north of the Clacton Shopping Village).   

It was also a distinct positive for the Town that previously it had benefitted from the coastal protection works between Clacton Pier and Holland-on-Sea with the creation of whole new stretches of sandy beaches through the granite ‘fish tail’ groynes.  The scheme had a budget of £36M, bringing in funding from Tendring District Council, the Environment Agency and Essex County Council.  It had been delivered on time and on budget.

In addition, through funding secured in the last Parliament and confirmed in this, Clacton was receiving £40M of funding through the Government’s Levelling Up Fund and the Community Regeneration Partnership. This funding would see the gateway area into the Town Centre of Carnarvon Road regenerated with a new learning and library hub, housing and retail units, landscaping and enlarged multi-storey car park.  This new and enhanced civic quarter would house a relocated Adult Community Learning facility and the University of Essex’s Coastal Community Centre.  Other schemes included:

·                 Repurposing a town centre building for community and cultural use (subject to acquisition);

·                 Repurposing scheduled ancient monument on At Risk Register, Martello Tower E, into a cultural, event or visitor venue;

·                 Improving the public realm to enhance wayfinding between the seafront and the town centre;

·                 Providing grants and support to improve shopfronts;

·                 Next phase of development of an Active Wellbeing Centre and All Wheels Park at Clacton Leisure Centre

·                 Repurposing disused public conveniences as an arts and community micro venue

·                 A spatial plan for culture to shape a creative/cultural quarter in the town centre

·                 New bus infrastructure in Clacton

·                 Three new Community Transport Buses for local initiatives

·                 Skills Hub fit out providing equipment for the skills hub at the new Clacton Hub.

·                 Contribution towards a remodelled Urgent Treatment Centre and primary care facility at Clacton Hospital

In addition to the above, in 2025/26 there would be funding for a range of businesses and organisations through the transitional UK Shared Prosperity Fund administered through Tendring District Council.

In the discussion around this matter, the updated Integrated Care Board’s 10-year plan would be important in identifying challenges and intervention to improve health outcomes locally.  In respect of education, the measures to support readiness for school, to address long term absenteeism and to support reading by school aged children was referenced.  Raising the aspirations of young people to pursue continued and higher learning was vital and IntuEducation was praised for its work in this area.  

The Board’s Chair directed the Board to consider the issues raised in the presentation and which could be taken forward, with the community engagement outcomes, to develop the Board’s 10-year plan for Clacton.

It was AGREED to receive the presentation with its subsequent circulation to Board Members.