Issue - meetings

To consider the report of the City Surveyor.

Place Scrutiny Committee considered the report at its meeting on 14 September 2017 and its comments will be reported.

The City Surveyor presented the report regarding the future of South Street and the Corn Exchange block including feedback from the Public Consultation held in February. The report proposed to action priorities in an incremental way and would provide an opportunity to enhance the connectivity and bridge the gap between the city centre and the Quay. It was proposed that an Urban Designer be appointed to facilitate this work. This would be within existing resources.

The City Surveyor clarified that the key public highway issues would be addressed through a joint forum with the City and County Council.

Members supported the way forward and, in particular, any improvements to the links between the Quay and South Street acknowledging that there was a need to ensure that stakeholders were fully consulted on any suggested proposals.

The City Surveyor stated that he would circulate the brief to Members before the procurement of the Urban Designer.

Place Scrutiny Committee considered the report at its meeting on 14 September 2017 and its comments were reported.

RESOLVED that:-

(1)        the results of the South Street public consultation exercise held in February 2017 (Appendix 1) be noted;

(2)        an incremental approach to improvement focussing on individual areas where development opportunities present themselves be supported; and

(3)        an Urban Designer be appointed to be given a realistic brief based on the priorities identified in the public consultation to give context for current and future development opportunities.

To consider the report of the City Surveyor.

The City Surveyor presented a report and referred to ongoing work towards the regeneration of South Street including the Corn Exchange block. This would provide an opportunity to enhance the connectivity and bridge the gap between the city centre and the Quay.  The developing City Centre Strategy would also address ways to deliver the policy. The report included the results from the public consultation event held in the Corn Exchange in February 2017 as well as a course of activity to action those priorities in an incremental way.  The exercise identified three key priorities for the area namely, cultural activity and entertainment, independent businesses and the Farmer’s Market.  The consultation also identified a number of improvements such as  

·           Gateways and connections;

·           Appearance of buildings;

·           Public spaces and the street scene;

·           Transport and getting around;

The report also outlined a practical approach by moving such improvements forward in an incremental way through a series of dialogues and further consultation with stakeholders including the City Council’s tenants and BID representatives. It was proposed that an Urban Designer be appointed to set a context and framework for any potential development and priorities identified in the public consultation exercise.  The brief would also be to prioritise any suggested enhancements tempered with the practicalities of budget and timescale. He anticipated a report on one element of the brief which was to look at an entertainment and arts venue, which would have an impact on the whole area and the Western Quarter would be made to the November Place Scrutiny Committee meeting. 

The City Surveyor responded to a Member’s enquiry on vacancies in South Street, and confirmed that he had just received instructions for the letting of three vacant units.  He was not complacent over the challenges of operating a business in this area, but they were working closely with new tenants to deliver a better offer.

Place Scrutiny Committee noted the results of the South Street public consultation exercise held in February 2017 (as detailed in an appendix to the report) and recommended approval by Executive of the following:-

(1)     support for an incremental approach to improvement focussing on individual areas where development opportunities present themselves; and

(2)     appointment of an urban designer to be given a realistic brief based on the priorities identified in the public consultation to give context for current and future development opportunities.