The Strategic Director, Regeneration will submit Document “H” which updates the Committee on progress with city centre regeneration since its Scrutiny hearing in October 2015.

Recommended-

That the progress on city centre regeneration since the Committee’s  meeting in October 2015 be welcomed.

                                                            (Clare Wilkinson – 01274 433537)

Previous reference: Minute 16 (2015/2016)

The Strategic Director, Regeneration submitted Document “H” which updated the Committee on progress with city centre regeneration since its scrutiny hearing in October 2015.

The Economic Development Programmes Manager delivered a presentation on the improved retail offer in the city centre, the City Centre Growth Scheme and Priority Streets, during which she reported that footfall had increased in the city centre by 24.5% since the Broadway Shopping Centre opened in November 2015.  Darley Street and the top part of the city centre were recognised as challenging areas and Members were informed of work being undertaken to bring back in to use vacant ground floor units in key streets as part of Priority Streets.  It was reported that the Season of Light 2016 was due to be launched soon with the Forest of Light in City Park on 6 October and that it also aimed to attract footfall up to the top end of town. 

It was agreed that the 2015 and 2016 footfall figures for Market Street, which had an increased footfall of 82%, would be circulated to Members.

The Markets Manager addressed the Committee and stated that the Oastler Centre had seen a decrease of an average of 5,000 shoppers per week since the closure of the Morrisons store in the city centre in April 2016.  He outlined the temporary time limited support, as detailed in paragraph 6.6 of the report, that the Council were offering to support market traders whilst a new user was sought for the Morrisons building.  It was reported that the markets’ footfall had not been impacted upon when the Broadway Shopping Centre opened, but had decreased significantly when Morrisons had closed and the Broadway Shopping Centre had reduced their car parking fees.  He also highlighted the reliance on footfall from the Oastler Centre to Kirkgate Market of which there had been a stable reduction.

The Chair thanked officers for the report and welcomed the update.

A discussion took place regarding the City Plan.  The Assistant Director, Economy and Development Services informed Members that it had been endorsed by the Executive and that an internal review was considered necessary given the changes that had taken place this year.  Consultations were currently being undertaken with stakeholders and she agreed to present a detailed report to the Committee on the City Plan.

A Member expressed his disappointment at the lack of a robust strategic plan for the city centre markets.  He also raised concerns about what would happen in the city centre once the short term plans and assistance to businesses had come to an end.

In response to a Member’s question, the Markets Manager stated that, following a consultation with market traders, the Council had decided to keep both city centre markets operational and that this decision had been made prior to the opening of the Broadway Shopping Centre.  Investment in the Oastler Centre was due to take place but had been put on hold due to the closure of Morrisons and until the strategic direction of markets had been assessed.  It was agreed that a report on city centre markets would be presented to the Committee in six months for further scrutiny.

In response to a Member’s question about what was being done to attract new businesses and boost footfall on Darley Street, it was reported that it was part of Priority Streets which included business rates rebates and support packages.

A Member questioned what conversations were taking place with property owners in order to get dilapidated buildings into an appropriate state for letting.  In response it was reported that officers were engaging with property owners but not all were willing to engage in discussions and that some of those buildings were listed or had heritage issues.  It was highlighted that if the application to the Heritage Lottery Fund for a Townscape Heritage Initiative for the City Centre was approved, funding would be available to bring those buildings back into use; a decision on the funding bid was expected in January 2017.

Whilst welcoming the work of SkillsHouse, a Member queried what the cost had been of helping 628 unemployed people into jobs.  It was agreed that this would be circulated to Members after the meeting.  The Chair reminded Members that an update report on SkillsHouse was due to be presented to the Committee in March 2017.

A Member referred to the significantly higher footfall at Forster Square Station in comparison to the Interchange which indicated that the city centre was attracting people from the valley line but struggling to do so from Leeds, Halifax and the Calder Valley.  He queried whether any marketing work was being undertaken to increase visitors via the Interchange routes.  In response it was stated that the Broadway Shopping Centre was carrying out research into where their customers were coming from and that the Council would need to work with them to promote the city centre.

A Member spoke of the need for a longer term plan with regard to the property market in the city centre which would give property owners the assurance that there was a long term commitment from the Council no matter what political changes there were.  He referred to rents charged in some properties in the city centre which were incredibly high and that some were not fit for purpose. 

The Portfolio Holder for Regeneration, Planning and Transport acknowledged the need for a longer term strategy and stated that the Council would continue to support and add to the short to medium terms measures as outlined in the report.

In response to Members’ questions it was reported that:

·        The city centre vacancy rates of neighbouring local authorities were not publically available and therefore a comparison to Bradford’s could not be made.

·        Bradford based retailers located outside of the city centre were not drawn to the city centre partly due to rental figures and car parking charges.  However, there were specialist retailers in the Broadway Shopping Centre, albeit not Bradford based ones.

·        A review of Priority Streets was taking place to see if there were other areas that could be supported in the city centre.

·        ‘Meanwhile’ uses were being supported in vacant city centre units to help maintain footfall.

·        Further information on the Jacob’s Well building would be provided to the Committee within the Asset Management report due on 24 October 2016.

·        There was no marketing budget for the city centre; marketing was undertaken in conjunction with the Kirkgate Centre and the Broadway Shopping Centre.  The Assistant Director, Public Affairs and Communications was in the process of commissioning a piece of work on place marketing.

A Member stated that businesses were being encouraged into areas where buildings opposite had windows missing.  He considered there was a need for more enforcement action, such as compulsory purchases, in order to get dilapidated city centre properties back into use, particularly where the property owners were not engaging in discussions with the Council.  In response, the Assistant Director, Planning, Transportation and Highways stated that there were challenges around this type of enforcement relating to the cost to the Council and the time the process could take.

In relation to paragraph 3.1.6 of the report, stating that 72 empty city centre units had been brought back in to use, a Member requested comparative figures of what space had been lost.  He also stated it was frustrating that the Council would not be receiving any business rates for empty properties and considered the same rates method should apply as it did to council tax on residential properties.  In response, the Assistant Director, Economy and Development Services stated there was a sensitive balance between the ‘carrot’ and ‘stick’ approach and that business rates consultation meetings were taking place to look at the measures the Council could adopt.

A Member stated that he hoped all options would be considered and reported back to the Committee in future reports.

A Member questioned why pre-prepared vegetables were bought in from a private company and supplied to schools in the district rather than being bought from Bradford markets.  In response, the Assistant Director, Economy and Development Services stated that this was due to cost savings.

Resolved -

(1)  That the Committee thanks officers for arranging the tour of regeneration sites within the city centre that took place prior to the meeting.

(2)  That the progress on city centre regeneration, since the Committee’s meeting in October 2015, be welcomed.

(3)  That an update on the city centre markets be presented to the Committee in 6 months.

(4)  That a report on the City Plan be presented to the Committee on 24 October 2016.

(5)  That information on the purchase of empty shops in the city centre be provided in the Asset Management report scheduled for 24 October 2016.

ACTION        Strategic Director, Regeneration