Workshop format for October NCA meeting
SHOVEL readiness will be the focus of the Northern Canals Association meeting on Sunday, October 9 at the Hollingwood Hub.
Hosted by the Chesterfield Canal Trust, it will be different in format from most previous meetings in that the main presentations will be workshop based. The trust’s development manager George Rogers will be leading the day. He explained: “In particular, we will be discussing Levelling Up Funds and other similar government programmes.
“All of these programmes have to meet the criteria set out in the HM Treasury ‘Green Book’, so we will be investigating how schemes comply and what this means for planning and delivery of your projects – learning from the Chesterfield Canal Trust’s successful application to the Towns Fund.
“Whichever colour of government and whoever the PM, government programmes are assessed through the Green Book, so be assured the content will remain relevant longer than the current turmoil of British politics.”
Green Book uses a ‘Five Case Model’, with the project examined from a Strategic, Economic, Financial, Commercial and Management perspective. The Strategic and Economic cases broadly set out why the project should be delivered.
Patrick Moss, f rom Mos s Naylor Young, will be leading a presentation and workshop on these elements. The other cases broadly cover how the project will be delivered and George Rogers will be leading a presentation and workshop on these elements.
Alongside the workshops, there will be the usual update on the progress of the Chesterfield Canal Trust, progress updates from other societies and a chance to visit the recent works completed at Staveley Town Basin and the route of the Towns Fund scheme beyond.
As 55 groups are represented by the NCA, demand is expected to be keen for the 45 available places so early booking is advised; contact the NCA at www. northerncanals.org
Dates have already been fixed for meetings in 2023: Sunday, February 12 will be hosted, it is hoped, by one of the Black Country restoration groups and Sunday, October 8 by the Manchester, Bolton and Bury Canal Society. Any group wishing to host future meetings can let NCA know.