Todmorden town centre could soon be set for a funding boost as Calderdale Council’s Cabinet discuss proposals for the future of the town’s Development Board.
The Todmorden Development Board was established in 2013, and currently comprises of elected members from Calderdale Council and Todmorden Town Council. Since its creation, the Board has made some real progress in focusing activity to support improvements within the town centre, and particularly within Todmorden Town Hall.
On Monday 10 August, Cabinet will discuss options to ensure the success of the Board can continue and allow funding to be utilised to provide support to the town.
It is recommended that Cabinet approve plans to co-opt two business and two community representatives on to the Todmorden Development Board, to provide valuable input and feedback to discussions regarding the future economic development of Todmorden and also help the Board to bring in wider support for proposed projects.
In December 2013 Cabinet approved the allocation of £70k to allow for a new lift to be installed in Todmorden Town Hall. The full amount of this allocation was not spent, and it’s now also recommended that Cabinet approve the surplus funding of £23k to be used to deliver a number of identified priority projects within the Town Hall.
Cabinet will also discuss proposals delegating authority to spend a further £50k on projects identified and recommended by the Development Board.
All these recommendations would allow the Todmorden Development Board to make progress towards realising their ambitions for the town and for the Town Hall.
Calderdale Council’s Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Economic Development, Cllr Barry Collins, said:
“We are committed to giving a new and revitalised lease of life to Todmorden. By working with the Development Board, who are focussed specifically on the Todmorden area, we can ensure that funding is directed where it’s needed.
“A lot of work has already gone in to making improvements in Todmorden, and by utilising existing funding, discussing opportunities to bring in external funds and widening the participation of the Board we can ensure this hard work can continue.”
The recommendations will be discussed at the meeting of Calderdale Council’s Cabinet on Monday 10 August at 6pm at Halifax Town Hall.