Paul Prescott - Portfolio holder for Planning, Environmental Services and Transport

Main roles and responsibilities of the portfolio

• To govern the delivery of the Deal 2030 priorities and pledges in the Wigan Council Recovery Plan
• To champion, promote and support the delivery of the outcomes of our Climate Change Strategy
• To drive forward the Community Wealth Building approach including using our planning powers to ensure land is used in the best interests of our residents
• To champion, promote and support the delivery of the outcomes of our Our Town Programme
• To support the operational delivery of environmental services including:
  • Planning and transport policy and strategy
  • Development management and building control
  • Waste collection/disposal
  • Street scene, highways
  • Transport provision and projects
  • Building maintenance
  • School catering
  • Environmental protection
  • Environmental health
  • Licensing.
  • To support our Waste management, looking at the long-term recycling and future management of the borough’s waste
  • To ensure that there is efficient functioning of the borough’s highways network, and takes forward issues such as congestion, community safety, cleansing and environmental health.

Priorities for 2023/2024

• Secure investment in the Borough by progressing development proposals through the planning process
• Maximise the contribution that development makes to improving local infrastructure through Section 106 agreements
• Progress our long-term plan for development and infrastructure investment, working across authority boundaries and with a range of partners
• Influence funding and investment decisions at Greater Manchester and national level
• Identify and drive new sources of income to support our service budgets and improve our offer
• Progress the Places for Everyone Plan
• Secure the completion of the current suite of Supplementary Planning Documents that are underway
• Progress a Transport Strategy for the borough
• Develop the Wigan Local Implementation Plan as part of the Transport Strategy
• Secure support for sub-strategies of the Greater Manchester Transport Strategy 2040 and ongoing implementation of the associated delivery plan
• Complete the Growth Deal Minor Works Cycling and Walking Programme
• Deliver the first priority phase of the Mayors Challenge Fund (MCF) Cycling and Walking Programme
• Secure additional external funding for agreed transport priorities
• Implement the Historic Environment Strategy
• Progress a trees and woodlands strategy and action plan for the borough
• Improve the cleanliness of our borough including reducing littering.
• Increase the borough’s recycling rate
• Reduce all levels of environmental crime across our borough.
• Work closer with our communities, young people, and businesses to increase volunteering opportunities and help build self-reliance and pride in our place
• Improve the quality of borough’s roads and its traffic flows
• Keeping our borough safer - food hygiene regulation, licensing and regulation, environmental health, trading standards, winter maintenance, pest control.

Functions covered by the portfolio

• Planning
• Development Management
• Building Control
• Transport Strategy and Policy
• Climate Change Strategy
• Our Town Programme
• Trees and woodlands strategy / policy
• Conservation
• Walking and cycling schemes / major transport projects
• Car Parking Strategy, management and enforcement
• Pest Control
• Highways
• Road safety traffic
• Street lighting
• Refuse collection
• Highways design Bridges
• Waste management and recycling
• Provision of council vehicles and plant
• Utilities
• Highways and Building Services
• Food and Health and Safety
• Licensing and regulation
• Public health Trading standards
• 20 MPH speed limit
• Environmental enforcement
• Highways maintenance and transport
• Bereavement Services.

Council Appointments

• Greater Manchester Culture & Social Impact Fund Committee
• Transport for the North – Scrutiny Committee
• Transport for the North General Purposes Committee
• Clean Air Charging Authorities Committee
• Air Quality Administration Committee
• Clean Air Scrutiny Committee
• Green City Region Board
• Draft Joint Development Plan – Places for Everyone Committee
• Statutory Functions Committee
• Northwest Regional Flood and Coastal Committee
• Greater Manchester Forests Partnership
• Local Access Forum (formerly known as Public Rights of Way)
• PATROL Adjudication Joint Committee.