Agenda item

To consider the report of the Assistant Director Economy - report circulated

The City Centre Manager presented a report, updating Members on the preparation of a new City Centre Strategy to cover the period from 2013 to 2022. The current Strategy had reached its conclusion, and a new framework was now needed to maintain the momentum of the recent changes in the city centre, and meet the challenge of the continuing renewal and investment over the next five to ten years.  The new Strategy would relate to the Exeter Vision and map out timescales for key developments and activities. It would also provide the basis for in-depth dialogue with a range of stakeholders and key partners.  It is intended that the new City Centre Strategy would be published by June 2013.

Members welcomed the report and made the following comments:- 

·         the City Council’s efforts to maintain high city centre standards should be acknowledged and not taken for granted.

·         the introduction of ‘taxi marshals’ to manage taxi queues in the later evening would be welcomed. The City Centre Manager undertook to pass on this suggestion to the Exeter Night Time Economy Group and the Assistant Director Environment.

·         the apparent exodus from the city centre at 5.00pm, in contrast to the influx of people later in the evening, might have an effect on those visitors remaining in the city in the evening. 

·         whether there was enough local allegiance, particularly in views of the number of national chains in the High Street to ensure a successful future.  The City Centre Manager reminded Members that Exeter had a good mix of both national firms and a wealth of local independent shops and a successful BID would ensure funding for future projects. 

·         nurturing the burgeoning cafe culture seems to have encouraged the older generation to stay in the centre in the evening and he welcomed any opportunity to encourage more cultural activities and venues. 

·         whether the May deadline was too soon for a further report to Scrutiny, particularly when such a wide consultation exercise was planned.

·         it was interesting to consider how ‘high streets’ were likely to fare over the next decade with the rise of internet sales. The City Centre Manager agreed this was a challenging issue and at a recent retail conference held in the city centre those businesses who could meet both the online and high street challenge were more likely to succeed.

·         concern for the rise of pockets of graffiti throughout the city. The Strategic Director confirmed that a working group had been set up to look specifically at this issue, including the identification of the ‘tags’.

·         whether any influence could be brought to direct the flow of people in a different direction through the city centre in an effort to stimulate less successful areas of the centre.

·         that Members should look at the future funding of Christmas lights in a more measured way.  Councillor Bull suggested convening a Christmas Lights Task and Finish Group. It was proposed the Group should include the Portfolio Holder for Economy and Tourism, the Chair of the Scrutiny Committee - Economy and one Member from each of the political groups represented on the Committee. The Group Leaders would be approached to seek nominations.

·         concern that the gateways to the city and other areas throughout the city including the Bus Station and some pedestrian areas were all in need of being renewed. The Strategic Director (KH) referred to the significant impact of the Bus and Coach Station development, and the considerable step change that it will make to the evening and night-time economy. The development will transform the centre with the emphasis on leisure rather than retail and the challenge will be to deliver the investment and vision.  He acknowledged there had not been the funding to address some of the city’s gateway issues and appreciated that this remained a long standing issue.  The Strategy should reinforce the continuing commitment and ongoing investment made by the City Council to ensure the city functions and thrives on a day to day basis. 

Scrutiny Committee - Economy supported the following: -

(1)        progress made on the City Centre Strategy to date and on the proposed themes and project work streams;

(2)        development of the City Centre Strategy on the proposed timetable; and

(3)        the presentation of a brief scoping report including the terms of reference for the Task and Finish Group to look at the funding of Christmas lights for the city centre to the next meeting of this Scrutiny Committee, and

recommended Executive to endorse:-  

(4)     the draft City Centre Strategy as the basis for public engagement and consultation with stakeholders.

(Report circulated)