BOROUGH OF POOLE
LOCAL ECONOMY OVERVIEW GROUP
8th SEPTEMBER 2005
The meeting commenced at 7.00 p.m. and concluded at 9.45 p.m.
Present:
Councillors Adams, Brooke, Mrs Dion (Vice-Chairman), Eades, Gregory, Mrs Hives, Mason, Parker, Pethen, Rampton and Wilson (substituting for Councillor Collyer).
Members of the public present at the meeting: 1
1. ELECTION OF CHAIRMAN
Councillor Rampton was elected Chairman of the Local Economy Overview Group for the remainder of the ensuing Municipal Year and therefore took the Chair.
2. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Collier.
3. MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING
RESOLVED that the Minutes of the Meeting held on 23 June 2005 be confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.
4. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
Councillor Brooke declared a non pecuniary interest in M.4 as a trader in High Street.
Councillor Parker declared a personal interest in M.6 as Vice-Chairman of the Poole Tourism Management Board.
5. POOLE STREET MARKET
The Town Centre Manager presented a report informing Members of the outcomes following the 12 month trial period of the Thursday Street Market and the impact this had on the Town Centre and local retail economy.
The Meeting was advised that the market was made up of approximately 85 pitches with some traders occupying more than one pitch. All traders (excluding the butcher and cheese traders) traded under continental style canopies which looked smarter and were more colourful than traditional market awnings, adding some wonderful contrasts to the High Street scene. Poole Town Centre Management had been vigilant about monitoring the quality and diversity of the traders which had meant that some lower quality or poorly displayed stores had been moved on. The initial trial period had been promising, especially in such a tough trading environment but showed much promise in future years.
The Town Centre Manager stated that generally most comments had been very positive and any negative comments tended to be more specific and had been recorded and responded to. Only 3 retailers had formally expressed undue concern about a downturn in trade on Thursdays and one of them was in the second week of the weekly market so it was difficult to tell at that stage what the overall impact would be.
Boat owners from Poole Quay had seen the market as an opportunity to bring more people to Poole and had targeted Thursdays because it was Market day. The Poole Tourism Panel had given strong support for the Market. The meeting was advised that there had been a marginal increasing footfall trend on Thursdays at the lower High Street, Old Orchard end. The footfall in the Chapel Lane area of High Street was more erratic and there did not appear to be any change overall in numbers of people coming into that area.
The launch of the market was a great success but awareness that the Market was there to stay was a priority for Poole Town Centre Management. The overall consensus was that the market did create vitality and vibrancy throughout the Town Centre on Thursdays and Poole Town Centre Management wished to see the market continue as a permanent feature. It was very important for Poole to use its charted Market Town status and provide a Market for its residents and visitors each Thursday.
In the 12 month trial period, Poole Town Centre Management had reinvested the market income (in the region of £25,000) in Town Centre improvements, the Route One bus service, additional events and promotional activities and details of these were explained to members of the Overview Group.
Members felt that advertising and signage issues needed to be addressed but the Overview Group welcomed the initiative which appeared to be creating vibrancy and vitality to the Town Centre area.
AGREED that
(i) The Portfolio Holder for Local Economy be asked to approve the introduction of a weekly general Market in Poole Town Centre on a permanent basis; and
(ii) The Portfolio Holder for Local Economy be asked to agree that Poole Town Centre Management continue to provide management and co-ordination functions for the Market under assigned licences from the respective Council Service Units (ie Transportation and Property Services).
For: Councillors Adams, Mrs Dion, Eades, Gregory, Mrs Hives, Mason, Parker, Pethen, Rampton and Wilson
Abstained: Councillor Brooke
6. DRAFT POOLE TOURISM STRATEGY 2006/2015
The Chairman welcomed Mr B Grant-Braham, Chairman of Poole Tourism Management Board who gave a short presentation to the Overview Group on the Draft Tourism Strategy document produced by the Poole Tourism Management Board as part of the formal consultation process.
He stated that in drafting the document the Poole Tourism Management Board had felt that the current Strategy still held good and that a full re-working and overhaul of Core Values, Strategic Aims and Objectives was not required, but more of an update and revision. The consultation period continued until the end of September, and comments would be reviewed by the Poole Tourism Management Board at the October meeting where final approval was being sought. The main emphasis and thrusts of the revised Strategy would be:
· a re-statement of existing Core Values
· a stronger emphasis on brand identify
· an even greater emphasis on Poole Quay which would include:
a) pursing new visitor attractions
b) developing new and different special events
c) improve public toilets, lighting and street furniture
d) increase in the size of the Town Quay Boat Haven
e) a bylaw to restrict drinking on Poole Quay to within the managed areas
f) the continued improvement to ground floor and first floor Quay facing properties for retail and visitor related use.
· consideration of a new “marketing concordat” with Bournemouth
· identifying new campaigns
· to seek additional hotel investment
· a re-evaluation of the hotel retention policy
· to support the case for improvements to the A31 and A350 to allow greater access to the town.
Members endorsed the general principles contained in the Strategy and highlighted the following:
· aspirations for branding, image and quality were supported
· a concordat with Bournemouth needed to be carefully undertaken and to protect Poole’s separate identity
· family activities should be encouraged
· loss of attractions was a concern for the future
· quality toilet provision was essential at Poole Quay
· regeneration of the Quay was welcomed
· ensuring that heritage was part of the Tourism message
· mobility issues in Lower High Street needed addressing to include parking
· too many attractions had been lost to pubs/restaurants
· the objective of managing outside drinking to restricted areas was noted but that this needed more examination.
AGREED that:
(i) the Local Economy Overview Group supports the aspirations and vision of the Draft Strategy document, while recognising that specified Development Policy proposals will require a more detailed examination by the Council; and
(ii) the Local Economy Overview Group commends the work being undertaken by the Poole Tourism Management Board.
For: Councillors Adams, Brooke, Mrs Dion, Eades, Gregory, Mrs Hives, Mason, Parker, Rampton and Wilson
Abstained: Councillor Pethen
7. SUB-REGIONAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY – “RAISING THE GAME”
The Head of Strategic Planning Services presented an update report on the latest version of the Sub-Regional Economic Development Strategy which took account of comments from Stakeholders during the recent consultation process. The Draft Strategy had been well received by those consulted which had also included Dorset businesses and the Chambers of Trade.
The Head of Strategic Planning Services drew attention to the Action Plan and summary of Key Actions which was appended to the Report. It sought to quantify aspirations and proposed a Strategy based on the need to address five key issues:
· improving the business environment
· improving the skills of the working population
· providing the necessary physical infrastructure
· ensuring adequate provision of affordable housing
· securing effective partnership working so that the Sub-Region was clear about its aspirations and signed up to what had been done.
Members considered the Draft Strategy and two main areas were highlighted:
· concerns about links with the Region, especially the Regional Assembly and Government Office for the South West
· the skills issue and links between Education and Businesses needed to be addressed.
AGREED that
(i) the Local Economy Overview Group endorses the latest Sub-Regional Economic Development Strategy noting that there might be future minor changes before submission to Cabinet;
(ii) the latest version of the Draft Strategy be noted including the comments from Stakeholders and that the Strategy has the endorsement of the Poole Partnership and Dorset Strategic Partnership; and
(iii) it be noted that this version of the Draft Strategy is to go to the Bournemouth Economy Forum and the Federation of Small Businesses in September for approval.
For: Unanimous
8. CORE STRATEGY – ISSUES AND OPTIONS
The Head of Strategic Planning Services presented an Issues and Options report for the Core Strategy which included a summary leaflet which would form the basis of the informal consultation in the preparation of the Core Strategy document of the Local Development framework. The Core Strategy was one document within the Local Development Framework and would set out the Strategic Vision for Poole and the Policies to deliver the Vision. The issues which had been identified had been arrived at from a number of sources:
· Government, Regional and Sub-Regional Policies and Strategies
· Community and Stakeholders issues as identified through the Community Strategy and other Strategies
· Issues arising from evidence gathered from a range of data sources internally and from other organisations.
The Options were intended at this stage to represent alternative ways of addressing the Issues and were initial thoughts to be expanded on through consultation. This was an informal stage in the preparation of the Core Strategy and allowed the widest possible consultation in accordance with the Statement of Community Involvement. Community Involvement would aim to involve all those who asked to participate in the Core Strategy preparation and a wide circulation beyond this. The consultation would be carried out through a variety of measures throughout the Autumn, including an event for stakeholders, presentations to meetings and Area Committee Meetings, talks to Groups and individuals, exhibitions, Poole News and publicity material. The leaflet would form the basis of the broad consultation with the community and the Issues and Options paper would offer more detail.
The consultation stage on the Issues and Options would commence at the end of September and continue through the Autumn with issues and preferred options being identified. This would lead to the preparation of a preferred Options Report accompanied by a formal sustainability appraisal report which will be brought to the Overview Group in March 2006.
The Head of Strategic Planning Services emphasised that the Core Strategy was one of three documents which replaced the Local Plan after 2011. The Issues and Options document would be a “kick-start” on consultation and it was hoped that this would encourage debate over the next few months on the issues facing Poole and the conurbation.
Members made minor alterations to the Issues and Options document and also highlighted the following:
Main Issues and Options Report
· Greenfield releases: Option 4, Issue d (Employment Land) - would like to caveat along lines of: "to come forward only when existing brownfield allocations have been developed"
· Affordable housing - issue c: could mention shared housing as an option for improving access to housing market
· Issue c: error - need to clarify that increase from 967 to 1267 is per annum.
· Economy Issue e: delete 'do nothing' option
· Renewable energy/energy efficiency (issue k): Delete 'do nothing' (option 1)
Leaflet:
· 2nd issue bullet point - unhappy with wording 'get the right sort of housing'. Would like to emphasise affordability and mix of housing types
· Reword 2nd bullet point on how issues can be resolved (ie concerned that we given national planning policy guidance on densities – the proposed bullet point would unrealistically raise expectations)
· Reword issue re provision of open spaces? ie we are not actually providing new open space.
· Delete 'expansion' arrows from Creekmoor & Canford Magna (ie on map)
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Bernie Topham, Policy Director, felt that in view of the discussion on Affordable Housing and Planning Policy, that it might be beneficial for Members to discuss this further and she undertook to arrange a Seminar on this topic in the near future.
AGREED that taking account of the above comments and amendments, Cabinet be asked to endorse the Issues and Options paper and Summary Leaflet as prompts for early consultation on the Core Strategy of the Local Development framework.
For: Councillors Adams, Mrs Dion, Gregory, Mrs Hives, Mason, Parker, Pethen and Rampton.
Abstained: Councillors Brooke, Eades and Wilson.
9. REVISION OF LOCAL DEVELOPMENT SCHEME
The Head of Strategic Planning Services reported on a request to revise the Local Development Scheme to include a further document which would set out a planning Policy and Implementation framework for the Kingland Road area and Sainsburys’ site in an Area Action Plan.
The Local Development Scheme was the programme of work for the preparation of Local Development documents which made up the Local Development Framework. The Local Development Scheme stated that an Area Action Plan for the Area in the vicinity of the Dolphin Centre, Arts Centre and Sainsburys would be considered if the Borough’s Retail Capacity Study identified significant growth in non-food floor space needs. The Study reported in July 2005 and identified significant floor space requirements for food and non-food shopping in the period up to 2016. Given very strong retail growth predictions, this area was likely to undergo considerable change and warranted the level of detail offered by an Action Area Plan.
The inclusion of the Town Centre North Area Action Plan into the Local Development Framework required a revision of the Local Development Scheme. The revision would address the Resourcing, Risk Management and Implications of the new Action Area Plan for other documents. The report included a schedule of the consequential amendments to the existing Local Development Scheme.