Agenda item

Report of Cabinet Member for Economic Development, Culture, Tourism and Wellbeing, Councillor Max Wilkinson

In the absence of the Cabinet Member for Economic Development, Culture, Tourism and Wellbeing, the Leader read out an introduction from him, which highlighted the following:

-       high streets and town centres and the demand for retail space are changing, not just because of recent economic woes but because of on-line shopping and conversion of retail space to warehouse use for online retailers such as Amazon;

-       local areas can either do nothing or adapt their approach and make the best use of what they have; this report is part of CBC’s response;

-       an audit by a national high streets expert has shown that Cheltenham’s High Street and retail environment is performing relatively well, with lower-than-average vacancy rate and new retailers moving in, although we cannot afford to be complacent;

-       the report’s recommendations will feed into the action plan later in the year, which will include enabling more residential accommodation in the town centre by converting underused space into new homes, utilising brownfield sites in an environmentally and economically sustainable way;

-       regular discussion with commercial landlords and agents to get units let, bringing people together, using planning regulations imaginatively to re-zone some parts of the town centre will feed into future strategic plans;

-       while these changes are not always easy to contemplate, and may not be easy to achieve with units owned by investors, but must be planned and embraced in a sensible and pragmatic way;

-       the report is the start of a journey to keep the town centre prosperous, with a vibrant mix of retail, leisure and housing.  The formal action plan will be brought to Cabinet for discussion in the autumn.

The Leader thanked the Cabinet Member for Economic Development, Culture, Tourism and Wellbeing for his report, agreeing that it is good to come up with a plan to tackle the empty shops in Cheltenham.

The Head of Place Marketing and Inward Investment said the action plan will take a holistic view of the town centre, businesses and landlords, with proactive measures to ensure all partners work together, and that any actions will sit alongside measures to increase visitor numbers.  She looks forward to updating Cabinet in September.

The Cabinet Member for Cyber, Regeneration and Commercial Income noted that Cheltenham’s vacant unit rate is lower than the national average, with only 28 in the study area, of which all but 10 are currently in the process of being let or refurbished.  This is good news for the town and he looks forward to the update.

The Cabinet Member for Finance and Assets said this is a difficult problem, but doing nothing is clearly not an option.  Cheltenham attracts good businesses at present, but needs to do something before real problems arise.

The Leader thanked officers, and asked that the Cabinet’s thanks be passed on to the BID, which has worked really hard.  She said a lot of effort has gone into tracking down who owns many of the buildings, with many overseas landlords and pension funds, but a more proactive and dogmatic approach is paying off.

 RESOLVED THAT:

1.    the findings of the review of vacant premises in five town centre streets - Cambray Place, The Strand, High Street, The Promenade and Montpellier – are noted;

2.    the council is recommended, in partnership with Cheltenham BID and with engagement from the Cheltenham Economic Advisory Board, to develop an action plan to be presented back to Cabinet in September 2023 setting out how the recommendations will be delivered in partnership with local business organisations.

3.    the council is recommended to work proactively with other organisations and developers, as well as through its own powers and resources, to enable and support more town centre living in unused and underused spaces to provide much needed accommodation and increase footfall to the high street.

4.    the council, as local planning authority, is recommended to continue to apply national and local planning policies in dealing with the impact of structural changes in the high street, and can look to develop helpful future planning policies, including the promotion of conversion to residential uses to maximise brownfield development and increase efficiency in land use.