Agenda and minutes

To sign as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 18 July 2023 (copy enclosed). 

Consideration was given to the minutes of the meeting held on 18 July 2023.

AGREED:

That the minutes be signed as a correct record.

Where a Councillor has a Disclosable Pecuniary Interest the Councillor must declare the interest to the meeting and leave the room without participating in any discussion or making a statement on the item, except where a Councillor is permitted to remain ad a result of a grant of dispensation.

There were none.

To view actions arising from the meeting held on the 18 July 2023

Consideration was given to the actions of the last meeting on 18 July 2023.

AGREED:

That the actions be noted.

The Assistant Director – Strategic Growth and Development to provide a presentation.

The Assistant Director for Strategic Growth and Development gave a presentation to update the Forum on the Spalding Town Centre Improvement Plan, which covered the following points:

• The Spalding Town Centre Plan was launched in February 2020, as a Council-led initiative to develop a programme of work to deliver improvement to Holbeach and Spalding Town Centres. This was subsidised by a £500k one-off investment to develop initiatives, supported by a coordinator, along with an officer, employed for a fixed period of time to help kick start the project.

• Spalding had previously not been identified in the government funding to award £25 million towards Town Centre Regeneration, however Spalding took a view to set up a steering group, partnered up with businesses, local representatives, stakeholders, charities, and various other organisations, chaired by SHDC. The prime issues they wanted to address were Town Centre access, promoting Independent Businesses, Public Realm, Heritage, Culture, and Events.

• The Spalding Town Centre Improvement Plan has a number of aims, including:

·         Diversify the Town Centre offer.

·         Laying foundations for long term impact, alongside with delivering immediate activity.

·                 Focus on building partnerships, especially those that may support with securing access to future and additional funding Such partners include the Arts Council, National Heritage Fund and National Lottery, along with private funding.

·                 That town centres generally have been hugely impacted by the pandemic, the cost-of-living crisis and contraction in retail nationally.

The Assistant Director for Strategic Growth and Development set out four key areas of note, in respect of the plan.

·                 Under the theme of Supporting Local Business, that the authority was activity supporting local businesses in an exercise to develop a Business Improvement District for the town. This work was being led by the Spalding Business Board; a newly formed group with an aim to aid independent businesses.

·                 The Spalding Business Board’s ambition would be to raise £1m over 5 years under a Business Improvement District model, with objectives to invest in;

• SHDC had committed £30K to allocate toward professional advice and guidance to support the group and develop the BID to the next stage.

• Plans had been positively progressed. Spring 2024 would be the expected timescale to vote on Business Improvement District Proposals.

• A cohesive supportive business community would help to attract new businesses within the Town,

• Under the theme of heritage and public realm, The Assistant Director for Strategic Growth and Development set out details of the Spalding Reconnected Project. The National Lottery, Heritage Fund and Historic England were major funders of Town Centre investment. The council had sought to develop a relationship with these funders, leading to £235k being secured using £12,500 in match funding from SHDC. The Spalding Reconnected Project would deliver five heritage projects that explore both short and long-term investment for the town, including;
  • Improved wayfinding totems - to enable the public to navigate around the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 17.

To receive an update on the Spalding Traffic Restriction Order and to discuss the survey results.

The Chairman asked Michelle Gant from The Engaging People Company to provide a presentation on the Spalding Traffic Restriction Order Survey results.

The Chairman informed the STF, that the previous Chairman had requested that a small working party be formed to look at the Town Centre Traffic Restriction Order. Michelle Gant had been commissioned to raise a piece of work, which took 6 months to complete and presented the findings to the Forum.

The Members had been provided with the presentation prior to the meeting.

The overview stated that the survey took place between 3-24 July 2023, the survey was run by STF and was delivered under a new brand – Love Spalding and covered the following points:

• The survey garnered 815 responses.
• To drive engagement, postcards and posters were distributed in key town centre locations.
• A letter promoting the survey was sent to 442 local businesses combined with press release, social media and emails to Community Groups and Organisations.
• A briefing note was distributed to all councillors containing frequently asked questions.

The key findings from the survey relayed that a pedestrian only (no vehicles) access in the Town Centre was extremely important, along with a desire for a safer and more pleasant shopping environment for pedestrians:

• More than half of the respondents confirmed that access should be for emergency vehicles and essential use only.

• The survey then broke down access preferred at weekdays and Saturdays between 10am – 4pm.

• The significant majority of responses advocated NO general vehicle access on weekdays and Saturdays between 10am and 4pm and no vehicle access at all on Sundays.

The survey also asked for narrative feedback from the participants so their answers could be fully explained, and the key points raised were:

• The general feedback was that residents wanted the restrictions to be consistent to avoid any confusion or misinterpretation.
• The majority of respondents said access for delivery vehicles and disabled/mobility access was the most popular option.
• Residents responded that less vehicle access would reduce the likelihood of accidents occurring. Safety of the public should be paramount.
• Clarity on restrictions was needed.

Responses came from all over the District and included local businesses and the overall findings indicated:

• Residents wished for an improved Town Centre experience, to see Town Centre Improvements, clarity, and consistency on access times with emergency access a priority.

The Chairman informed the Forum that once the findings from the survey had been gathered, he, along with the Portfolio Holder for Health and Wellbeing, Conservation and Heritage, presented the results to LCC Highways.

The Leader of SHDC, had been informed along with the Portfolio Holder for Strategic Housing, Leisure Centre Delivery and Spalding Town Improvement, as this would fit in with the Town Centre Improvement Plan that was currently being conducted.

Everyone was on board to find out how the STF would move forward with these findings.

Members raised the following questions:

• Was there any indication on the next stages and the time scale for a barrier to be erected  ...  view the full minutes text for item 18.

NOTE:            To discuss any other business that the Chairman deems significant.

Items of additional business were raised in relation as follows.

The Chairman detailed that the new seating area would make a huge difference and feel to the Town Centre.

With regards to ASB, it was suggested to approach the Police to request that their priority would be to tackle the issue of ASB in the Town Centre.

The Chairman would want to see the current circle of seating removed and lobbying for increased Police enforcement.

George Scott of the Spalding Transport Forum enquired if the Transport Forum could be added as an agenda item for the next STF meeting.

• The Chairman responded that he would contact Democratic Services to accommodate his request. The Chairman stated he was keen to involve new Community Groups and Organisations to the Town Forum.

The Chairman noted in the Town Centre Improvement Plan Presentation, that it was stated Christmas in the Town Centre received funding for 2021/22 which left a gap for 2023. The Chairman asked to use the STF budget of £750 towards the cost of a Christmas Tree, with Councillors making up the remainder from their Designated Councillor Budget.

A question was raised to look at forward planning for Christmas 2024 and looking to extend the Christmas Market offering.

The Chairman thanked the Forum, Michelle Gant from the Engaging People Company and the Assistant Director for Strategic Growth and Development for their attendance at the meeting.

At the meeting of Spalding Town Forum on 18 July 2023 it was agreed to hold meetings bi-monthly. Please note the dates of meetings of the remainder of 2023/24. Also detailed are the dates of any cancelled meetings.

17 October 2023 - Cancelled

29 November 2023

30 January 2024

27 March 2024

29 November 2023 at 6:30pm