Agenda item

To receive and note the Position Statement.

In receiving and noting the Position Statement, particular discussion took place on the following main topical projects:-

·         Littlehampton Town Centre Public Realm Scheme – Further information was provided by the Town Centre Regeneration Officer confirming that over the Summer a funding bid had been submitted to the Coast to Capital Local Enterprise Partnership Local Growth Fund in the sum of £1.38m to fund delivery of the next phase of public realm improvements.  With the agreement of the Leader of the Council, a further bid had been submitted bringing the final total up to £2.3m to deliver Phase 3 of the programme.  A grant of £564k had been awarded for Phase 3, however, this this fell short of the full amount needed to deliver the scheme [£900k].  In liaison and conjunction with Littlehampton Town Council, Arun and LTC were topping up the outstanding money so the full scheme could be delivered to include the Beach Road element. The next step was for Officers to meet with the scheme’s designers, LDA Designs, who would be working up more detailed design specifications by February 2020.  The Group Head of Economy outlined that it would benefit Members if she could organise a “walk through” of the scheme to highlight how it would work using maps and drawings so that the Sub-Committee could see and understand exactly was being proposed.  Over the Summer months Officers had liaised with traders to gain their understanding and views on some of the issues that would need to be taken into consideration for the next phase.  The issue of vehicles using the High Street for deliveries had been the main concern and so Officers were gathering more data on this. In response, Members commented that it was vital to sort out the mixed paving for this aspect of the scheme as it was felt that a flat plaza could lead to dangerous confusion between pedestrians and vehicles.  It was Members’ wish that this viewpoint be forwarded onto the designers.  It was felt vital that the Arcade needed to be included as part of this phase to show that it was an integral and welcoming part of the High Street.  It was hoped that lighting would be fully updated in line with the rest of the High Street. Further points made were:

o   Would the ‘walk through’ be for information purposes or would Members have an opportunity to make comments that would be taken into consideration? 

o   Concern was expressed over accessability and paving surfaces.  It was outlined that there was the need to ensure that those with disabilities would be able to access all new paving areas and that these would be appropriate. 

o   The placement of trees was important

o   Precise timeframes for the project were requested.

o   How were traders’ views being formulated and incorporated?

o   Members asked to see the survey results so that they had the opportunity to comment

o   The Group Head of Economy outlined that it had taken a huge Officer resource to get the project to this point.  The views of Members would form part of the next stage of work. The intention was to ensure that Members were fully consulted on each stage of the project and not excluded from the decision making process.   Communication with traders and stakeholders would also continue to take place. Now that the bids had been submitted the Officer team could focus on the next stages of work.

o   A request was made to see the measures of success. 

o   Information was requested on traffic flows around the railway station seen as key information.

o   The Chairman thanked Officers for their work undertaken in securing the money and she reassured Members that this work had taken place in consultation with Members.   The next steps were cost evaluation looking at every part of the scheme and affordability.  Engineering, construction and work on traffic regulation orders then needed to take place.  This was a huge piece of work and Members needed to appreciate the lead in time for this and as this involved a lot of background work first before any physical advantage would be seen.

o   It was outlined that it was hoped to be able to put on a display in one of the empty shops, if possible, to set out the next stages.  The key stages of the next part of the project were then outlined by the Group Head of Economy.  It was hoped that some work would commence during Summer 2020.   Traders would be given notice of any works starting.

·         Town Centre Safety – Detailed discussion took place on a number of issues: -

§  An update was provided following the launch of the Littlehampton Traders’ Partnership DISC scheme, which was supported by the Police and was working well, this was being led by the traders themselves who had been issuing banning orders for their own shops.

§  Littlehampton Shopwatch – this had merged with the DISC scheme. 

·         Town Traders Partnership – during the Summer WSCC had introduced a new charging regime whereby tables and chairs situated on the highway would incur a cost.  The Partnership was strongly against this proposal and conducted a ‘sit-in’.  The Highways Manager had since confirmed that this decision was being reviewed and that options would be presented to the Cabinet Member for Highways at WSCC soon. 

A Traders Breakfast meeting would be taking place on 3 December 2019 and the new PSCO would be in attendance. 

·         Markets & Events – the festive lights switch-on had been moved to this Friday, 22 November 2019.  A request was made that the footfall for this event be recorded as this would provide useful information.  It was explained that WSCC had terminated funding for this mechanism.  Questions were asked about how the Council used Twitter to promote its own and other events as the light switch on could not be found on social media. It was agreed that this would be looked at.  The Friday market date had also been changed as a result of the switch-on and concern was expressed that there was no mention of this on social media. Discussion then focused on the market and its range and quality of stalls. It was explained that this was under review and that a full update would be provided to the next meeting of the Sub-Committee. The Chairman asked if a survey of the business could be undertaken to assess if there were footfall increases on market days.  She wanted to know if the market was beneficial and if there were historical records that could be used as additional information gathering tool.  This led to discussion that there was the need to look at using the Greens on the seafront more to promote bigger events that would bring visitors to the Town.  Mention was made of organising a Sussex Food Festival as an example. 

·         New Café and Watersports Venue – The Group Head of Economy confirmed that having spoken to the operator, this project was now moving forward and that foundation work would be starting soon. 

·         Shopfront Grants – The Business Development Manager explained in more detail the shopfront grant scheme and the latest round of awards that had been made.  She outlined that there was still an opportunity for businesses to apply which was important for those wanting to upgrade their shopfronts. A further bid for retail training and shopfront enhancement was imminent - this was being put together by Chichester District Council.  More details would be provided to the next meeting of the Sub-Committee. As there was concern expressed about the poor quality of many shopfront facias in the Town, the question was asked if bidding could include making improvements to floors above a shop premises.  This was confirmed as being possible, as long as an application had been submitted to include the shopfront area.  Members asked if this could be publicised and made clear in the guidance document.  Further discussion saw Members asking if Section 215 letters could be issued to landlords to motivate further applications to this scheme.  Officers were also asked to design and distribute to the Town a one-off leaflet to circulate ahead of the next round of bids which would take place in the Spring.  It was outlined that this was all possible, but funding was quite limited and so it was not ideal to raise hopes until it was known if the further funding bid was successful

·         Littlehampton Town Centre Management – An update was provided on the Littlehampton railway where it was explained that a decision was still awaited on the outcome of the £50k allocation to the station from the GTR Passenger Fund for priority improvements to waiting room and toilet.  Nothing had been confirmed about how this money would be allocated.  One Member expressed concern as questions about this had been raised at the last meeting in June and still no progress had been made.  It was agreed that further pressure would be put onto the Southcoast Line Group to push for a conclusion. 

·         North of Littlehampton Public Art Project – There was nothing further to add.

·         Gigabit West Sussex – progress was moving forward in a positive way and the next phase which was the second roll-out of connections with City Fibre was explained. 

·         Fitzalan Link – there were nothing further to add. 

·         Look & Sea – there was nothing further to add as this had been discussed as part of an earlier agenda item.

·         Visitor Information Points - again, this had been discussed in full as part of an earlier agenda item.

·         Media Coverage/Marketing - work was continuing with the Communications Team in pulling together a series of short videos promoting independent businesses in the Town.  A video had been made about one business in the Arcade and one on Beach Road, future videos were planned for a business in East Street and Manor Parade.  Feedback received to date was positive and it was outlined that a survey would be undertaken with all those who had taken part to assess the worth of this exercise. Some Members stated that they were not aware of these videos and that these could not be found on Twitter or Sussex by the Sea.   

·         The Chairman raised the issue of the Littlehampton Health Centre as the NHS had confirmed that it no longer wished to own property.  She stated that she wished to progress this matter and had met with the Council’s Chief Executive to look at possible solutions.