Issue - meetings

Stalham High Street Task Force

 

 

Meeting: 05/06/2023 - Cabinet (Item 11)

11 Stalham High Street Task Force pdf icon PDF 214 KB

Executive Summary

Stalham was selected as a suitable town for an investigation into the opportunities for improving the health (vitality and viability) of its town centre. A successful application was made in 2022 for a government-funded scheme and the Council subsequently progressed the initiative. A meeting took place in March with the appointed consultants and relevant stakeholders and subsequently a report was prepared, entitled ‘Unlocking Your Place Potential.’   

Options considered

 

The study has been undertaken and the further offer of support is available. The alternative option of taking this no further would not be sensible, however, once the further work has been done options for further support to the town’s High Street will be considered.

 

Consultation(s)

In the lead up to the preparation of the HSTF initiative, representatives of Stalham Town Council (STC) and Stalham Business Forum (SBF) were engaged to agree the scope of the activities. Through the ‘Unlocking Your Place Potential’ study, representatives of Stalham Neighbourhood Development Committee, the Museum of the Broads, New Anglia Local Enterprise Partnership and Norfolk County Council were involved, alongside officers and members from NNDC and representatives of STC and SBF.

Recommendations

 

Cabinet is asked to endorse the findings of the UYPP report and agree to the following actions:

  • Continue to work with interested organisations in Stalham to progress options for supporting its town centre and local businesses operating there
  • arrange a meeting in the summer to discuss the findings of the HSTF investigation and to develop a scope for future actions by the relevant stakeholders
  • host a workshop in Stalham on improving local capacity, leadership and partnerships led by a High Streets Task Force expert that will consider governance and place management partnership structures, with an awareness of identified needs and potential future responsibilities
  • following the workshop, act on the recommendations to establish a partnership with a timetable and cycle of meetings suitable to prepare a joined-up plan and coordinate future delivery
  • evaluate the scope for a ‘Place Making Programme’ workshop to follow on from the above actions.

Reasons for recommendations

 

To support the further exploration of ways for Stalham’s town centre to be improved.

Background papers

 

Stalham High Street Task Force Unlocking Your Place Potential (attached as an Appendix)

 

 

 

 

Wards affected

Stalham

Cabinet member(s)

Cllr Paul Heinrich, Cabinet Member for Sustainable Growth

Contact Officer

Rob Young, Assistant Director for Sustainable Growth

Tel: 01263 516162

Email: robert.young@north-norfolk.gov.uk

 

Links to key documents:

 

Corporate Plan:          

Boosting Business Growth

Medium Term Financial Strategy (MTFS)                                

None

Council Policies & Strategies

North Norfolk Local Plan

 

Corporate Governance:

 

Is this a key decision 

No

Has the public interest test been applied

N/A

Details of any previous decision(s) on this matter

None

 

 

Additional documents:

Decision:

To endorse the findings of the UYPP report and agree to the following actions:

  • Continue to work with interested organisations in Stalham to progress options for supporting its town centre and local businesses operating there
  • arrange a meeting in the summer to discuss the findings of the HSTF investigation and to develop a scope for future actions by the relevant stakeholders
  • host a workshop in Stalham on improving local capacity, leadership and partnerships led by a High Streets Task Force expert that will consider governance and place management partnership structures, with an awareness of identified needs and potential future responsibilities
  • following the workshop, act on the recommendations to establish a partnership with a timetable and cycle of meetings suitable to prepare a joined-up plan and coordinate future delivery
  • evaluate the scope for a ‘Place Making Programme’ workshop to follow on from the above actions.

 

Reasons for the decision:

 

To support the further exploration of ways for Stalham’s town centre to be improved.

Minutes:

The Chairman opened this item by explaining the background to the report. He explained that Stalham had been selected as a suitable town for an investigation into the opportunities for improving the health, vitality and viability of its town centre. A successful application was made in 2022 for a government-funded scheme and the Council subsequently progressed the initiative. A meeting took place in March with the appointed consultants and relevant stakeholders and subsequently a report was prepared, entitled ‘Unlocking Your Place Potential. In the lead up to the preparation of the HSTF initiative, representatives of Stalham Town Council (STC) and Stalham Business Forum (SBF) were engaged to agree the scope of the activities. Through the ‘Unlocking Your Place Potential’ study, representatives of Stalham Neighbourhood Development Committee, the Museum of the Broads, New Anglia Local Enterprise Partnership and Norfolk County Council were involved, alongside officers and members from NNDC and representatives of STC and SBF. The Chairman said that it was important that this partnership approach was fostered, so that local priorities could be identified. There was still a lot of work to do but the report set out a path towards a defined project.  

 

The Portfolio Holder for Sustainable Growth, Cllr P Heinrich, said that the High Streets Task Force report clearly set out the key issues that needed to be addressed which were capacity, leadership and partnership working. The focus now was on bringing all the key organisations and stakeholders together to hopefully agree on a shared view about what needed to be done in the town. He added that the Council had learned from the North Walsham Heritage Action Zone project and he believed that this project could benefit from that.

 

It was proposed by Cllr P Heinrich, seconded by Cllr T Adams and

 

RESOLVED

 

To endorse the findings of the UYPP report and agree to the following actions:

  • Continue to work with interested organisations in Stalham to progress options for supporting its town centre and local businesses operating there
  • arrange a meeting in the summer to discuss the findings of the HSTF investigation and to develop a scope for future actions by the relevant stakeholders
  • host a workshop in Stalham on improving local capacity, leadership and partnerships led by a High Streets Task Force expert that will consider governance and place management partnership structures, with an awareness of identified needs and potential future responsibilities
  • following the workshop, act on the recommendations to establish a partnership with a timetable and cycle of meetings suitable to prepare a joined-up plan and coordinate future delivery
  • evaluate the scope for a ‘Place Making Programme’ workshop to follow on from the above actions.

 

Reasons for the decision:

 

To support the further exploration of ways for Stalham’s town centre to be improved.