Agenda item

Report of Director of Customers and Communities (Copy herewith)

1.    Cabinet reaffirmed the town centre as a major strategic priority for the council and agreed to add it as an improvement project to Northampton Alive.

2.    Cabinet agreed to establish a Town Team to lead the town centre improvement agenda, as per paragraphs 3.1.76/7 of the report, to provide the strategic vision and operational management for Northampton town centre and to oversee a detailed plan for implementing the actions arising from this report.

3.    Cabinet, in accordance with the Administration’s manifesto commitment to appoint a High Street Czar, agreed to appoint local businessman Stephen Church for a period of four months, for the purpose of producing an independent report proposing a strategic and collaborative vision for the town centre and agreed that the position will be known as Town Centre Summit Chairman.

4.    Cabinet agreed to host a Town Centre Summit, on 20th September 2013, led by the Town Centre Summit Chairman, to allow partners and stakeholders to actively inform the town centre vision.

5.    Cabinet agreed to introduce a regular town centre newsletter from the council to town centre businesses to keep stakeholders well informed and up to date about what is going on.

6.    Cabinet agreed to a summer trial of free car parking all day Saturday and for two hours on week days during the whole of August 2013 in the council’s pay on exit car parks (St John’s, Mayorhold and St Michaels), with Sundays continuing to be free all day, leading to a reduction in income that could be £180,000.

7.    Cabinet agreed to review the impact of car parking reductions following the August 2013 trial.

8.    Cabinet approved in partnership with Northamptonshire County Council (subject to agreement of the detailed business case), the utilisation of the £100,000 received by the council from the Town Centre Innovation Fund to implement pay on exit at the Grosvenor Centre Car Park, including the option to pay by credit and debit card.

9.    Cabinet agreed that pay on exit machines be procured from Metric Group Limited for the reasons set out in paragraphs 4.2.5/6 of the report.

10. Cabinet endorsed the proposals in the council’s 2013/14 Capital Programme to install improved car park signs on the main entrance roads into the town centre to direct motorists to their most convenient car park and provide up to the minute information on where spaces are available.

11. Cabinet acknowledged the contribution that Northampton Town Centre Limited (the Town Centre BID), has made to improving the Town Centre.

12. Cabinet agreed to commence consultation with local businesses on the creation of a business improvement district for Wellingborough Road.

13. Cabinet acknowledged the challenge that empty shops and negligent and/or absent landlords present to the council’s ambitions for a vibrant and thriving town centre and requested that an action plan be promptly developed to address the problem with a public register of landlords.

14. Cabinet approved proposals for major improvements to the public realm in the Cultural Quarter, to be delivered in partnership with Northamptonshire County Council, set to be outlined later this year.

15. Cabinet endorsed the establishment of a town centre ranger post, dedicated to keeping the town centre in pristine condition.

16. Cabinet made a commitment to try to reduce the blight of discarded chewing gum on town centre streets.

17. Cabinet agreed that in partnership with Northamptonshire County Council, to launch a formal consultation process to determine whether to re-open the middle section of Abington Street to vehicles to allow easier access for shoppers and visitors to the town centre.

18. Cabinet agreed to relocate the Francis Crick Memorial Statue to a suitable location.

19. Cabinet agreed to rollout free Wi-Fi across the entire town centre.

20. Cabinet agreed that an exciting programme of summer events be developed to bring more visitors into the town centre, including regular performances provided from a town centre bandstand. 

21. Cabinet agreed that dedicated busker spots are created around the town centre to encourage more and better quality buskers.

22. Cabinet agreed that a review of the town’s night time economy be undertaken to make certain the council, local businesses, Northamptonshire Police and other partners work together effectively to ensure the town centre is safe, as well as vibrant, and has something to attract a wide cross section of visitors.

23. Cabinet acknowledged the problem of street drinkers and beggars in the town centre and requested that an action plan is promptly developed to address the problem.

24. Cabinet endorsed the work currently being undertaken, in partnership with Northamptonshire County Council, on a pioneering urban bicycle-hire scheme, to be implemented in the town centre during the summer.

25. Cabinet agreed that a public consultation be undertaken on the future of the Market Square fountain during the summer of 2013.

26.Cabinet accepted all of the recommendations made in Overview and Scrutiny Committee’s May 2013 Retail Experience report and thanked Overview and Scrutiny Committee for its valuable work.

27.Cabinet endorsed the allocation of £195,000 from the New Homes Bonus Reserve, in accordance with the delegations in the Constitution, to fund recommendations 2.6, 2.18 and 2.19 in 2013/14 and, for all of the remaining recommendations that have a financial impact, with the exception of recommendation 2.8, agreed that they will be funded from previously approved revenue and capital budgets.

Councillor Beardsworth commented that she had sat on the Scrutiny Panel concerned with the retail experience and stated that the recommendations made were excellent. She noted that if people did not have a positive retail experience the footfall would diminish further and suggested that more individual and independent shops be encouraged to the town.

Councillor Glynane asked why little action had been taken to tackle discarded chewing gum and questioned whether some of the recommendations were merely due to a lack of enforcement, such as street drinking.

Councillor Mackintosh welcomed the Chair of the Town Centre BID, Sue Robert and BID Director, Richard Clinton, to the meeting submitted a report and thanked the members of the Scrutiny Panel for their hard work. He stated that work had already been undertaken to improve the town centre and noted that a High Street Czar had been appointed, which had been a manifesto pledge.

Councillor Hadland commented that there were a number of positive changes to car parking in the town centre, including a summer trial of free parking all day Saturday, the implementation of a ‘pay on exit’ facility at the Grosvenor Centre Car park and improved signage on main entrance roads. It was noted that free wifi was also being rolled out across the whole town centre.

Councillor Hallam addressed Councillor Glynane’s comments and noted that with regards to enforcement there was going to be a Town Centre Ranger who would be dedicated the keeping the town in a pristine condition. With regards to the discarded chewing gum it was noted that the current machinery was ineffective but that the purchase of newer, more effective machinery was being considered. It was further explained that with regards to street drinkers, an on-going campaign had been effective in reducing the problem and noted that an action plan be developed to address the problem.

Councillor Eldred commented that there were a number of events being held to encourage more visitors to the town centre which would also include regular performances from a town centre bandstand and designated ‘busker spots’ to encourage live and quality performers.

RESOLVED:

1.         That the town centre as a major strategic priority for the council and agreed to add it as an improvement project to Northampton Alive be reaffirmed

2.         That a Town Team to lead the town centre improvement agenda, be established as per paragraphs 3.1.76/7 of the report, to provide the strategic vision and operational management for Northampton town centre and to oversee a detailed plan for implementing the actions arising from this report.

3.     That in accordance with the Administration’s manifesto commitment to appoint a High Street Czar, it be agreed to appoint local businessman Stephen Church for a period of four months, for the purpose of producing an independent report proposing a strategic and collaborative vision for the town centre and agreed that the position will be known as Town Centre Summit Chairman.

4.     That  a Town Centre Summit be hosted, on 20th September 2013, led by the Town Centre Summit Chairman, to allow partners and stakeholders to actively inform the town centre vision.

5.     That a regular town centre newsletter be introduced from the council to town centre businesses to keep stakeholders well informed and up to date about what is going on.

6.     That a summer trial of free car parking all day Saturday and for two hours on week days during the whole of August 2013 in the council’s pay on exit car parks (St John’s, Mayorhold and St Michaels), with Sundays continuing to be free all day, leading to a reduction in income that could be £180,000 be agreed.

7.     That a review the impact of car parking reductions following the August 2013 trial be agreed.

8.     That in partnership with Northamptonshire County Council (subject to agreement of the detailed business case), the utilisation of the £100,000 received by the council from the Town Centre Innovation Fund to implement pay on exit at the Grosvenor Centre Car Park, including the option to pay by credit and debit card be approved.

9.     That pay on exit machines be procured from Metric Group Limited for the reasons set out in paragraphs 4.2.5/6 of the report be agreed.

10.  That the proposals in the council’s 2013/14 Capital Programme to install improved car park signs on the main entrance roads into the town centre to direct motorists to their most convenient car park and provide up to the minute information on where spaces are available be endorsed.

11.  That the contribution that Northampton Town Centre Limited (the Town Centre BID), has made to improving the Town Centre be acknowledged.

12.  That consultation with local businesses on the creation of a business improvement district for Wellingborough Road be agreed to commence.

13.  That the challenge that empty shops and negligent and/or absent landlords present to the council’s ambitions for a vibrant and thriving town centre and requested that an action plan be promptly developed to address the problem with a public register of landlords be acknowledged

14.  That proposals for major improvements to the public realm in the Cultural Quarter, to be delivered in partnership with Northamptonshire County Council, set to be outlined later this year be approved.

15.  That establishment of a town centre ranger post, dedicated to keeping the town centre in pristine condition be endorsed.

16.  That a commitment to try to reduce the blight of discarded chewing gum on town centre streets be made.

17.  That in partnership with Northamptonshire County Council, to launch a formal consultation process to determine whether to re-open the middle section of Abington Street to vehicles to allow easier access for shoppers and visitors to the town centre, be agreed.

18.  That relocation to the Francis Crick Memorial Statue to a suitable location be agreed.

19.  That a rollout of free Wi-Fi across the entire town centre be agreed.

20.  That an exciting programme of summer events be developed to bring more visitors into the town centre, including regular performances provided from a town centre bandstand be agreed. 

21.  That dedicated busker spots are created around the town centre to encourage more and better quality buskers be agreed.

22.  That a review of the town’s night time economy be undertaken to make certain the council, local businesses, Northamptonshire Police and other partners work together effectively to ensure the town centre is safe, as well as vibrant, and has something to attract a wide cross section of visitors be agreed.

23.  That the problem of street drinkers and beggars in the town centre and requested that an action plan is promptly developed to address the problem be acknowledged.

24.  That the work currently being undertaken, in partnership with Northamptonshire County Council, on a pioneering urban bicycle-hire scheme, to be implemented in the town centre during the summer be endorsed.

25.  That a public consultation be undertaken on the future of the Market Square fountain during the summer of 2013 be agr.

26.  That all of the recommendations made in Overview and Scrutiny Committee’s May 2013 Retail Experience report be accepted and thanked Overview and Scrutiny Committee for its valuable work.

27.  That the allocation of £195,000 from the New Homes Bonus Reserve, in accordance with the delegations in the Constitution, to fund recommendations 2.6, 2.18 and 2.19 in 2013/14 and, for all of the remaining recommendations that have a financial impact, with the exception of recommendation 2.8, agreed that they will be funded from previously approved revenue and capital budgets be endorsed.