Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were submitted on behalf of Councillors Julia Berry and Mick Muncaster.

Members are reminded of their responsibility to declare any personal interest in respect of matters contained in this agenda. If the interest arises only as result of your membership of another public body or one to which you have been appointed by the Council then you only need to declare it if you intend to speak.

If the personal interest is a prejudicial interest, you must withdraw from the meeting. Normally you should leave the room before the business starts to be discussed. You do, however, have the same right to speak as a member of the public and may remain in the room to enable you to exercise that right and then leave immediately. In either case you must not seek to improperly influence a decision on the matter.

There were no declarations of interest by any of the members of the Task Group in any of the meeting’s agenda items.

To confirm as a correct record the minutes of the meeting of the Town Centre Overview and Scrutiny Task Group held on 8 October 2009 (Minutes enclosed).

The minutes of the last meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny Task Group on Town Centre Vitality held on 8 October 2009 were confirmed as a correct record for signature by the Chair.

The principal purpose of the meeting will be to consider issues around the gateways into the town centre and directional signage around the town, as part of a number of environmental issues to be assessed.

The Task Group may wish to consider, amongst other factors, the adequacy of current connections in to the town centre (particularly from Chorley East Ward); the present state of underpasses, roundabouts and gateway signs; the adequacy of directional signage within and on the periphery of the town centre; and other highways and environmental matters that impact on the town centre.

Martin Walls (Service Manager – Streetscene Services) and Alan Capstick (Lancashire County Council’s Assistant Area Manager (Highways)) have been invited to attend the meeting, along with other Officers, to advise the Group of present policies and practices, and future proposals.  

There will be an opportunity to question the Officers and determine preliminary recommendations for assessment at a later stage.

The Chair reminded the Task Group that the primary purpose of the meeting was to consider issues around the gateways into the town and the adequacy and effectiveness of informative and directional signage around the town centre, as part of the environmental issues to be assessed.

The Chair welcomed, in particular, Alan Capstick (Lacashire County Council’s Assistant Area Manager (Highways)) and Martin Walls (Service Manager – Streetscene Services) who had been invited to attend the meeting to advise the Members of the current policies and practices on highway and access issues.

Cath Burns (Economic Development Manager) reminded the Group that the Town Centre Urban Design Strategy included a number of measures aimed at enhancing visitor information by:

• developing a heirachy of information and signage to reveal town centre locations and attractions;
• introducing a comprehensive and co-ordinated signage palette to consist of a variety of signs;
• identifying and defining ‘gateways’ to the town centre.

Cath also confirmed that a new Town Centre Map was in the final stage of production.  The final draft would be displayed on the town centre notice board during a short consultation period, following which it would be exhibited on the town centre car park signboards.

The Task Group’s discussions focused on the following principal elements of the access and signage issues:

• The lack of signs directing visitors approaching the town centre to nearby car parks was highlighted.

• The Task Group favoured the installation of a large brown motorway information sign to advertise Chorley’s markets and other attractions, complemented by other directional signage at appropriate locations close to roundabouts and gateway points and within the town centre.

Alan confirmed that the Highways Agency was the responsible authority for the erection and maintenance of motorway signs, to whom bids for new signs could be submitted by either the Lancashire County Council or the Borough Council.  A large brown sign was expected to cost in the region of £10,000.  Additional highway signs would need to comply with the statutory highway regulations and directives and be authorised by the County Council.

The Members also accepted the need for a co-ordinated approach in relation to the network of town centre signs to ensure a consistency and uniformity in the size, colour and content of the signs.

• Reference was also made to the dependence of the vitality and viability of the town centre on the availability of sufficient and easily accessible car parking areas.

• The Task Group members drew attention to the wide variation in the appearance and attractiveness of gateway notices, highlighting the need for a prioritised programme of improvement to be incorporated in the pending Signage Strategy and Action Plan.

• Martin Walls reminded the Group of the role of the Neighbourhood Officers in helping to maintain a clean and tidy town centre and referred to the current negotiations with the County Council to produce a practical enforcement policy to apply to the town centre in relation to Cafe and street furniture, ‘A’ boards and potential obstructions in the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 33.

The next meeting of the Task Group is scheduled to be held on Thursday, 3 December 2009 at 6.30pm, or on the rising of the Executive Cabinet.  The topic area will be agreed with the Chair.

It was AGREED that the next meeting of the Task Group on Thursday, 3 December 2009 consider issues around vacant premises in the town centre.