Decision details

a)         That Members agree to support the emergent Town Centre Partnership with the allocation of £30,000 in the current financial year for the recruitment of a Town Centres Manager and £5,000 to support the establishment of a website, both from the re-allocation of existing budgets.

(b)        That Members agree to the short term secondment of the current Business Development Officer on a 0.5 FTE basis to support the business community with town centres development activities / initiatives.

(c)        That officers be authorised to proceed with the formal establishment of the town centre partnership based around a Community Interest Company model (or similar entity), including the appointment of Directors, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Regeneration, Planning and Town Centres.

(d)        That Members agree to the continued provision of in-kind support to the town centre partnership to assist with the following activities:

(i)         Recruitment of a town centres manager;

(ii)        Formalisation of the town centre partnership;

(iii)       Preparation of an action plan for at least the next 12 months and;

(iv)       Exploration of options for establishing a sustainable funding model for the TCP.

(e)        That Members note the plans included in the revised submitted Portas pilot application.