Town's revamp chief to stand down (From Swindon Advertiser)

Town's revamp chief to stand down

8:10pm Sunday 14th March 2010 in

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COUNCILLOR Phil Young, the man charged with Swindon’s regeneration, is to stand down from his position.

The cabinet member for culture, regeneration and economic development has decided to leave politics entirely from May 6 to devote more time to his family.

His decision comes only a matter of days after cabinet members supported the formation of a new organisation to take the town’s regeneration forward.

He said: “At times it has been rewarding, at times hugely frustrating.

“There is a lot of good stuff likely to happen in Swindon, I still firmly believe we’re on the right track and things will and can happen in a year or 18 months.”

Coun Young, pictured, follows in the footsteps of Fionuala Foley who announced she would not seek re-election as deputy leader or a cabinet member.

She will however remain a councillor for Old Town and Lawns and a member of the Conservative group.

Coun Young, who has been a councillor for Covingham and Nythe for the last four years, gave his continued support to the Conservative cabinet and did not rule out a return if the circumstances were right.

The father-of-three will now devote his energies to his children and running his own business.

He said: “Trying to juggle all of that, family and work, I don’t think it is fair on my family to put them bottom of that priority list.”

During his time in the role, Coun Young has been heavily involved in plans to revitalise Canal Walk, Regent Street, the old Swindon College building and a provide new music venue for the town in the former Mecca Bingo hall.

He said: “It’s easy to look at the regeneration and say we wanted to have achieved more by now and then you look at it in the context of Cabot Circus (in Bristol) which took 20 years.

“I have always said regeneration is a long-term process.”

Coun Young admitted the timing of his departure was disappointing.

At a cabinet meeting on Wednesday cabinet members backed the establishment of a subsidiary company Forward Swindon Limited (FSL) to oversee marketing, economic development, inward investment and cultural development in the town.

This will see the transfer of undertakings mainly from the New Swindon Company to FSL, which will come into effect from April 1.

The New Swindon Company is controlled by three bodies - the Homes and Communities Agency, South West Regional Development Agency and the council.

Coun Young said this had led to confusion over roles and unnecessary duplication of systems. Coun Young said the new company Forward Swindon is entirely accountable to the council and will extend the regeneration remit to the rest of the town.

“This will create the organisation that will be far better placed to deliver regeneration and I’m confident I’m handing over a portfolio that’s in better shape than when I took it on.”