The Economic Development Committee of Ribble Valley Borough Council met on 4 September 2025, approving a shop front improvement grant scheme, receiving the Climate Change Annual Report and 2024-25 Action Plan, and agreeing with the Climate Change Working Group's recommendation not to adopt Doughnut Economics as a decision-making framework. The committee also discussed revenue, the Clitheroe Food Festival, and the Farming Champion role.

Shop Front Improvement Grant Scheme

The committee approved recommendations for the Shop Front Improvement Grant Scheme, allocating funds to 11 businesses across Clitheroe, Longridge and Whalley. The scheme, which had previously been discussed in the Economic Development Committee meeting on 12 June 2025, makes up to £5,000 available to independent businesses, with the business providing 30% match funding.

The Director of Economic Development and Planning submitted a report with details of the applications:

• 15 King Street, Clitheroe: £1,197 was allocated for the removal of paintwork and repainting of the shop front for The Apricot Meringue.
• 19 Berry Lane, Longridge: £4,295 was allocated for a new shop front, including stonework.
• 13 Moor Lane, Clitheroe: £5,000 was allocated to Anne-Louise Designer Dress Agency for updating wood panels, covering stone bases with tiles, replacing footstep tiles, and installing new signage and LED lighting.
• 31 King Street, Whalley: £2,577 was allocated for repainting the exterior, replacing a window and sign, and installing a new lighting system.
• 3 Market Place, Clitheroe: £5,000 was allocated to Valley Living for reinstating a traditional retractable shop canopy with branding, subject to planning permission being obtained.
• 33 King Street, Whalley: £5,000 was allocated for replacing a softwood Georgian style window with a hardwood, double/triple glazed equivalent.
• 14 Moor Lane, Clitheroe: £1,928 was allocated to Clitheroe Lighting and Electrical Limited for replacing shop signage.
• 5 Wellgate, Clitheroe: £5,000 was allocated to Wellgate Fisheries for removing the existing shop front and canopy, and installing a new hardwood entrance door and traditional shop front.
• 8 – 10 Wellgate, Clitheroe: £5,000 was allocated for removing existing paint, repairing render, installing a new door and signage, and painting the front of the property occupied by Brioche Sandwich & Coffee Bar.
• 51 Moor Lane, Clitheroe: £3,006 was allocated to Castle Chippy for replacing the existing PVC shop front with aluminium.
• 33 Castle Street, Clitheroe: £5,000 was allocated for a new shop front.

The committee also agreed to re-invite eligible businesses who responded to the call for applications to complete a full application. Members discussed potential funding to extend the scheme and explore further initiatives to attract people into town centres, noting the number of empty units.

Climate Change Annual Report and Action Plan

The committee received the Climate Change Annual Report and 2024-25 Action Plan Update. The Director of Community Services submitted the report, which covered the period from 1 April 2024 to 31 March 2025. The report included updates on the progress achieved with the 2024/25 climate change action plan, details on the national vs local context, local authorities and the carbon budget, the 2025 Climate Emergency UK Scorecards, a climate strategy summary, headline metrics, and achievements of the council.

The committee agreed to publish the report on the council website.

Climate Change Working Group Update

The committee reviewed updates from the Climate Change Working Group (CCWG) meeting held on 31 July 2025, as detailed in the report submitted by the Director of Community Services, and approved the recommendations made by the working group. These included:

• Agreeing to the updated Terms of Reference for the CCWG.
• Accepting the invitation to become a member of LancsCAN, a network supporting community-based climate action in Lancashire.
• Publishing the One Carbon World (OCW) RVBC Carbon Footprint Report 2023/24 on the council website.
• Sharing the link to the new Climate Change pages on the council website with all members.

Doughnut Economics

The committee considered the Climate Change Working Group's findings regarding Doughnut Economics and the Cornwall Development and Decision Wheel (CDDW). The Director of Community Services submitted a report informing the committee of the working group's discussions and recommendations.

Following a motion to the committee on 31 October 2024, the working group had been tasked with considering whether the Doughnut Economics framework could inform the council's policy development. However, the working group recommended against adopting the Doughnut Economics model and the CDDW for creating a new decision-making framework for Ribble Valley Borough Council.

The committee agreed with the working group's recommendation, suggesting that officers consider how committee reports already demonstrate considerations in the decision-making process, particularly for reports impacting sustainability.

Revenue Outturn 2024/25

The Director of Resources and Deputy Chief Executive submitted a report providing information on the outturn for the financial year 2024/25 on the revenue budget for the committee. The report indicated an overall net underspend of £4,103 on the committee's net cost of services in 2024/25, with no transfers to or from earmarked reserves.

Revenue Monitoring 2025/26

The Director of Resources and Deputy Chief Executive also submitted a report providing information on the position of the 2025/26 revenue budget for the committee for the period April to July 2025. The comparison between actual and budgeted expenditure showed an overall overspend of £36,863 for the first four months of the financial year 2025/26.

Clitheroe Food Festival

The Director of Economic Development and Planning submitted a report providing an update on the Ribble Valley Taste Fest and Clitheroe Food Festival. The report noted the success of both events, with the Clitheroe Food Festival drawing in a record number of visitors.

Members discussed ways to improve the food festival, including extending the hours or holding the festival over two days, obtaining input from hospitality businesses, and advising stallholders to ensure adequate staffing to avoid long queues.

Farming Champion

The Director of Economic Development and Planning submitted a report updating the committee on the Ribble Valley Farming Champion role, which had been approved at the Full Council meeting on 15 July 2025. Councillor John Atherton had taken on the new role for the municipal year 2025/26. The report provided details on the champion's remit, including understanding the issues faced by the borough's farmers from a food production and security perspective, and signposting farmers to available assistance and advice.

Corporate Plan Year-End Performance

The Chief Executive submitted a report informing the committee about the 2024/25 year-end Corporate Plan performance. The report included analysis of key performance indicators (KPIs) related to the committee's responsibilities.