Agenda item

Pop Up Retail Project - Bognor Regis and Littlehampton

The project proposes to provide Pop Up Retail space in Bognor Regis and Littlehampton.  This would be available on a short-term basis, the exact maximum term to be agreed, to allow businesses to market test their product or, where they already have this confidence, to give them a start with High Street trading. This report provides an outline and asks Cabinet to agree this project.

 

 

 

Decision:

Cabinet

 

RESOLVED – That

 

(1)  The contents of the report be noted;

 

(2)  Funding set aside in the 2020/21 budget for “New Start Up Business Town Centre Fund” be used for this project instead;

 

(3)  The use of Unit 10 Bognor Regis Arcade for the project be noted;

 

(4)  Agreement be given to enter into negotiations to take a lease, at a competitive price, on an appropriate property in Littlehampton, with delegated authority being given to the Leader of the Council and the Cabinet Member for Economy; in conjunction with the Director of Place to approve this.

 

(5)  Authority be delegated to the Director of Place, in consultation with the Leader of the Council and the Cabinet Member for Economy, to determine the details of the scheme.

Minutes:

The Group Head of Economy presented this report which proposed to provide Pop-Up Retail space in Bognor Regis and Littlehampton.  It was outlined that this report followed on from the Innovating High Streets report that Cabinet had approved in the latter part of 2019.  As both Towns were struggling with vacant units there was a need to find a way to respond to this.  The initiative of providing pop-up retail space was a way of assisting the crisis in the High Street.  It was explained that this would operate on a short-term basis with the exact maximum term to be agreed, to allow businesses to market test their product, or where they already had this confidence, to give them a start with High street trading.  The report before Members provided an outline to this new project and sought agreement to proceed with it.

 

The report identified a vacant unit in Bognor Regis and Littlehampton and sought agreement to enter negotiations to take up leases to allow the project to proceed. It was explained that in respect of the lease proposals for Littlehampton, further negotiations needed to take place and so the premises highlighted in the report could not be confirmed yet.  In view of this, a slight amendment was proposed to Recommendation 4 to now read as follows:

 

“Agree to enter into negotiations to take a lease, at a competitive price, on an appropriate property in Littlehampton, with delegated authority being given to the Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Economy in conjunction with the Director of Place to approve this”.

 

 

The Chairman outlined that he fully supported this project and that it would help revitalise the District’s High Streets at a time of experiencing challenging economic conditions.  The scheme would help new start-up retail businesses test their viability and have a foothold in a retail property. Councillor Dr Walsh stated that he believed this intervention would bring more economic activity to the District’s Town Centres and would support local entrepreneurs.

 

Cabinet fully supported this project and referred to some of the discussion that had taken place earlier in the meeting on shop premises vacancy rates in both Towns.  The Chairman confirmed that there were Members in the Public Gallery that had indicated a wish to speak on this item.  Cabinet approved this.

 

Those speaking welcomed this proposal but asked if Unit 10 in the Bognor Regis arcade would be rented or used on a rent-free basis.  It was explained that funding for this project had been allocated by Cabinet on 7 October 2019 but that the project was dependent upon income which was difficult to estimate.  The set-up costs had been outlined in the report and it was stated that the Council needed to focus on the retention of businesses not just the start-up of them. Rent would be paid as part of the business plan for the Arcade. Questions were asked in terms of what the measures of success would be for this project?  The Group Head of Economy outlined that as the project moved forward, the measures of success would be moving small start-up businesses into their own premises and then occupying these for a reasonable amount of time. 

 

 

The Cabinet

 

            RESOLVED – That

 

(1)  the contents of the report be noted;

 

(2)  the funding set aside in the 2020/21 Budget for “New Start Up Business Town Centre Fund” be used for this project instead;

 

(3)  the use of Unit 10 Bognor Regis Arcade for the project be noted;

 

(4)  agreement be given to enter negotiations to take a lease, at a competitive price, on an appropriate property in Littlehampton, with delegated authority being given to the Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Economy in conjunction with the Director of Place to approve this; and

 

(5)  authority is delegated to the Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Economy and the Director of Place to determine the details of the scheme.

 

The Cabinet confirmed its decision as per Decision Notice C/045/090320, a copy of which is attached to the signed copy of the Minutes.

 

Supporting documents: