Meeting documents

To approve as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting held on 17 January 2018.

RESOLVED –

That the Minutes of the meeting on 17 January 2018 be approved.

For Members to consider the attached report.

Contact Officer:          Teresa Lane               01296 585006

Diana Fawcett             01296 585082

Members were provided with a report that gave an overview of the work carried out by the Aylesbury Town Centre Partnership over the last sixteen months. The report also highlighted key work that would be undertaken throughout the next 12 months. The item was attended by Diana Fawcett, the Aylesbury Town Centre Manager at AVDC, who provided a presentation to the committee.

The Aylesbury Town Centre Partnership (ATCP) was an organisation which supported the business community in Aylesbury town centre and intended to improve and promote public footfall and investment. The ATCP plan was aligned with the Aylesbury Town Centre Improvement Plan which was an overarching document which set out the vision for the town centre, the challenges the town faced, principles that guided future development and actions for the different areas of the town centre across the town centre. In order to maintain consistency in the development of the town centre, these elements were included in the draft Vale of Aylesbury Local Plan (VALP) and the Aylesbury Town Centre Manager was on the Board of Aylesbury Garden Town (AGT). ATCP had an annual business plan which had five key features:

Partnership and communications

The partnership liaised with a range of local organisations and groups with an expanding membership that currently stood at over 110. By comparison, similarly sized town centres had a membership of between 20-30. One of the major benefits of joining the Partnership was that you received regular communications from the Town Centre Manager on town centre issues, weekly and monthly general updates and quarterly meetings. Businesses had found the updates on town events particularly useful when planning their staffing rotas. The meetings were well attended and allowed the opportunity to network and ask the Partnership questions. There were three tiers of membership which ranged in pricing (£30, £300 and £3,000). Social media had an increasing role to play in communicating positive messages to the public about the town centre and challenging negative perceptions.

Clean and attractive town

This was seen as vital due to town centres shifting towards being a social environment. Improvements needed the cooperation by all businesses and a range of improvements had been implemented which included:

·         Cleaning of seating

·         Identification of ‘grot spots’ and rubbish removal

·         Posters and illegal notices removed

·         Repainting of street furniture

·         Encouragement of outside street trading

·         Managing and regulating buskers and charity collectors

·         Work with AVDC on Christmas light decoration

·         Snow clearance

The Partnership also sought to positively manage buskers and Big Issue sellers and also regulate charity collectors. Planters around the town centre were also used to brighten up areas. Commercial waste had been an issue of a lack of space which had also been exacerbated by the conversion of business premises into residential dwellings. 

Safe town

Aylesbury had secured coveted Purple Flag status in 2011 which meant that the town centre was a safe and welcoming location in the evening. The status had been successfully renewed annually ever since and work was being undertaken to secure 2018  ...  view the full minutes text for item 2.

To consider the future work programme. Meetings are scheduled as follows:-

23 May 2018:                          Aylesbury Vale Estates Business Plan 2018/19

Car Parking Strategy

12 September 2018:              No items as yet

13 November 2018                No items as yet

Members considered there work programme as per the agenda. In addition to upcoming work, the Committee saw the benefit of the following coming to Committee:-

·         NIC update for the September meeting if possible

·         Enterprise Zones update

·         Industrial Strategy

·         Market towns being supported across Aylesbury Vale

Members also saw merit in receiving an update from Connected Counties and the provision of broadband in rural areas to the North and West of the District. The Committee expressed an interest in Gigaclear attending a future meeting to understand their strategy in broadband provision.

RESOLVED –

That the current work programme be noted.