A key feature of the regeneration of the Ouseburn has been partnership working between Newcastle City Council, the Ouseburn Trust, businesses, organisations, owners of property and individuals based in the Valley.

The Ouseburn Partnership, which ran from 1997 to 2002 led by the Ouseburn Trust, was replaced by the Ouseburn Advisory Committee (OAC), which advised the City Council Executive on Ouseburn matters. This was chaired by Bob Langley from the Ouseburn Trust and comprised local councillors, Trust directors and representatives of groups in the Ouseburn.

At the end of 2007 a new structure was formed: The Byker Ouseburn Project Board and, replacing the OAC, the Ouseburn Management Board.

The Ouseburn Management Board (OMB) will continue coordinating regeneration in the Ouseburn, discussing issues and providing strategic direction to the City Council officer team based in the Valley. The OMB has been constituted after a review of partnership working carried out in 2006. It comprises 10 members as listed below and meets monthly

• Newcastle City Council Members for Ouseburn and Byker Wards (2)
• Ouseburn Trust (2)
• Business Steering Group (1)
• Arts and Culture Steering Group (1)
• Residents’ Forum (2)
• Regeneration Forum (2)

Papers from OMB meetings are available to download at the bottom of this page.

Business and Arts and Culture Steering Groups
The two steering groups have occasional joint meetings.  A larger forum meets 3 or 4 times a year when everyone on the mailing lists is invited, normally discussing broader topics or issues.  The Arts and Culture group often has theme or sector based meetings i.e. music/visual arts etc, where the main topics and participants are more specialised.  Minutes of meetings are available to download at the bottom of this page

Resident’s representation
These representatives have not yet been appointed

Regeneration Forum
This forum was set up to encourage a wide range of participation in Ouseburn matters not linked to any sector or organisation. It has been organised over the past few years by the Ouseburn Trust and has developed into a forum for discussing various ideas applicable to Ouseburn, normally with guest speakers. It meets 4 times a year and generally attracts a different audience from the Business and Arts and Culture Steering Groups.

The Byker Ouseburn Project Board is a new body, replicating boards in the other main regeneration areas in Newcastle – Walker Riverside, Scotswood and Benwell and North Central.

The Board objective is to ensure that the Council and its partners are responsive, delivering effective regeneration in a strategic and systematic manner. The Board brings together stakeholders in partnership, including the Council, the community, key public agencies and, where appropriate, the private sector. However, members of the Board remain responsible to their own organisation.

The Project Board has responsibility for overall strategy direction, enabling the authority to progress individual proposals to completion.

The Project Board membership represents the interest of key partners and stakeholders as set out below:-

• Newcastle City Council (Members representing the 3 wards plus the Executive Member) (5)
• Your Homes Newcastle (1)
• Ouseburn Management Board (1)
• Bridging Newcastle Gateshead (1)
• Residents representatives (4)
• Community & Voluntary Sector (2)
• Business Community (2)
• Local Strategic Partnership (1)

(TOTAL 17)

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