Agenda item

The report provides background to a Local Government Association/District Council Network study tour, plus recent expert views on how to innovate and regenerate our Town Centres.

The report proposes that Cabinet is minded to support budget provision of £60k in the 2020/21 Budget for Town Centre events in partnership with other organisations.

The Cabinet

            RESOLVED – That

(1)  The principle of supporting our three Towns in Arun to improve their shopping experiences be supported;

(2)  Officers be requested to investigate ways to develop Town Centre plans with Town Councils and other partners;

(3)  Officers be requested to consider a £60k budget within the 2020/21 Budget considerations; and

(4)  Officers be requested to investigate setting up a Business Rate Fund for new start-up business (in a defined Town Centre area) to help reduce business costs (possibly through the West Sussex Business Rate Pool).

The Leader of the Council, Councillor Dr Walsh, introduced this item and stated that everyone was aware of the devasting effect that the internet was having on High Streets.  Although it was unlikely that High Streets could be brought back to how they once were, there were some moves that the Council could make to help the situation.

            The Chairman invited the Chief Executive to present his report which outlined what could be done to kickstart the High Street economy following a study tour he had attended with the District Council Network.

The Chief Executive explained that his report focused on the work of an acknowledged expert in the retail market and the outcomes of a study tour of Roeselare  in Belgium which he had attended on behalf of the Leader of the Council to explore the key findings of the work and schemes that had been undertaken to see if there were any initiatives that could be explored at Arun.  The key findings from attending the tour were then highlighted.  A short video clip was shown to the meeting highlighting what the shopping experience could be like for the next generation.

The report recommended the development of Town Centre Plans with Town Councils and other partners that would look at event suggestions put forward by the public and the community.  Officers would also investigate setting up a Business Rate Fund for new start-up businesses to help reduce business costs in the early stages of promoting a new business. If approved, Officers would report back with their findings at some point in the future.

Although Cabinet very much welcomed the report and ways in which the High Street could be innovated, it was felt that this could present other problems to resolve.  There would be socialisation aspects to consider.  For some people to remove the social side of the shopping experience could cause isolation in addition to unemployment. It was explained that the idea of community cafes, allowing exhibitions and art/craft events to take place whilst offering free wi-fi, was what was attracting people to towns now.  Members agreed the merits of charity shops which not only acted as amazing recycling centres places but also ticked the sustainability box that was a high priority for young people in particular.  With advances in technology, it was accepted that a cash free world would eventually happen.

It was agreed that for the District’s Towns, it was now a top priority to think of new and fresh ideas.  In looking at working with other partners, the University of Chichester and business school and church groups were suggested as there could be young people that had entrepreneurial ideas and vision that could work.  The Chief Executive confirmed that dialogue was ongoing with the Bognor Regis Town Council, the Bognor Regis Improvement District (BID) and Littlehampton Town Council. 

Councillors Coster, Brooks and Goodheart had indicated that they wished to speak on this item and this was agreed by the Cabinet.  The points that they highlighted were that:

·         the provision of adequate free car parking spaces was key to attracting visitors to shopping areas. 

·         New events needed more support and more volunteers to make them successful.  The increasing cost of health and safety was a problem and threatened the future of events. 

·      The Council needed to make maximum use of its website and web pages such as ‘Sussex by the Sea’ as a portal to promote people to the existing web site. 

·      All of the District’s three towns needed to work together looking at lessons learnt and new incentives.

In response it was agreed that events were key to success and that it was an essential aim to focus on providing new and fresh projects that would attract people into the District’s Town Centres.   Digital support and access to free wi-fi were vital to the future of Towns.

            In summing up the discussion held, the Chairman stated that it was vital for Arun to commence some form of dialogue with similar seaside towns such as Lowestoft, Hunstanton and Margate as they had made huge progress from putting on free festival type events that had generated opportunities for their nearby communities.  It was felt that in the short-term the suggestions put forward in the report would be a good starting point for the Council. 

            The Cabinet

                        RESOLVED – That

(1)       the principle of supporting our three Towns in Arun to improve their shopping experiences be agreed;

(2)       Officers be requested to investigate ways to develop Town Centre Plans with Town Councils and other partners;

(3)       Officers be requested to consider a £60k budget within the 2020/21 Budget considerations; and

(4)       Officers be requested to investigate setting up a Business Rate fund for new start-up businesses (in a defined Town Centre area) to help reduce business costs (possibly through the West Sussex Business Rate Pool).

The Cabinet confirmed its decision as per Decision Notice C/018/071019, a copy of which is attached to the signed copy of the Minutes.