Agenda item

To consider the joint report of the Assistant Director Economy and City Centre Manager - report circulated

Councillor Denham attended the meeting and spoke to the Scrutiny Committee under Standing Order 44.

The City Centre Manager presented a report which updated Members on the preparation for a new City Centre Strategy to cover the period 2013/22, and sought their support for the document as drafted. The case for a new City Centre Strategy had previously received the backing of the City Centre Management Partnership Board (CCMPB) in 2012 and, following initial consideration, of a draft Strategy framework in early 2013, there had been an extensive consultation and listening exercise with a wide range of City Centre stakeholders including Devon County Council, the Police, the business community and Exeter Chamber of Commerce. The City Centre Manager referred to the consultation exercise having significantly strengthened the link with city centre businesses, specifically the independent sector, but emphasised the importance of businesses playing an ever greater role in the delivery of the City Centre initiatives during the lifespan of the City Centre Strategy. He added that the Strategy would only be of real value if the Action Plan was used as a framework for regular review on strategy delivery. The Strategy would be overseen by a reconstituted City Centre Management Partnership Board,(CCMPB) and include representatives from the city centre based business community, the Princesshay and Guildhall shopping centres, the City Council, Police and County Council. Once agreed, each body would need to account for progress on those aspects of the Strategy for which they were responsible.  Following the Executive, further work would take place to ensure that the final Strategy was presented in a more attractive format. 

Councillor Denham considered that this Strategy would set the way for the next decade. The draft document was significantly different to the earlier version, which had left little opportunity for meaningful engagement to shape the process.  She welcomed the reconfiguration of the CCMPB membership, which would include a broader range of people and representation of retail in Exeter.  It was understood that many of the projects could only go forward with the development of a successful Business Improvement District (BID).  The Exeter Chamber of Commerce had taken the lead on this and would provide an update to this Scrutiny Committee later in the year.

The following responses were given to Members:-

• The City Centre Manager reiterated the difference between the early evening and late night economies and referred to the efforts being made through the Night Time Economy Forum to work to progress a number of projects. A shift in the trading hours would make a difference to the culture of the city and the environment.

·        The City Centre Manager agreed that many of the potential projects, identified in the City Centre Strategy, were dependent on developing and identifying new and additional private sector income streams.

• The Assistant Director Economy referred to on-going process monitoring and would take on the suggestion for more ‘feeling based’ monitoring. He agreed this may provide an opportunity to gather and in effect sample new straplines to promote the city. They were currently pursuing a number of initiatives following on from the Food Festival, involving independent restaurants and cafés to seek to promote the quality of eating places in the city, building on its growing reputation.

Members also made the following comments:-

• the burgeoning independent retail sector in Exeter should be acknowledged, as there was an interesting café culture trail, whose businesses were already predominately using local produce and reference in the Action Plan would be welcomed.
• a request that a list of consultees/respondents should be published.
• the particular problem of a lack of treatment of weeds at this time of year in the city was raised.

• a request for the City Council to write to Devon County Council ‘s Highways Authority requesting a review of signage in the city centre relating to vehicular access, in an effort to address the increasing number of vehicles driving up High Street and Sidwell Street.

Scrutiny Committee – Economy welcomed the final draft of the City Centre Strategy and sought Executive approval, and also for the following:-

(1)       that the City Centre Partnership be asked to oversee the delivery of the  Strategy and Action Plan,  and the City Council  work with the Partnership to review its membership to include representatives from the various distinctive areas, types of business and other interests which depend on the City Centre; and

(2)       Scrutiny Committee Economy to receive at least an annual presentation and progress report.

(Report circulated)