Agenda and minutes

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 meeting of the Town Centre Overview and Scrutiny Task Group held on 23 February 2010 (Minutes enclosed).

The minutes of the meeting of the Town Centre Overview and Scrutiny Task Group held on 23 February 2010 were confirmed as a correct record for signature by the Chair.

In accordance with the Task Group’s recommendations at its meeting on 23 February 2010, the Town Centre and Markets Manager will present at the meeting a short term action plan for the enhancement of the appearance and vitality of the Flat Iron Market in particular, in the context of the long term proposals for the Market.  

The Task Group, at its last meeting on 23 February 2010, had requested the Town Centre and Markets Manager to submit to this meeting a short-term action plan for the enhancement of the appearance and vitality of the Flat Iron Market in particular, in the context of the long-term proposals for the Market.

The members agreed to consider the action plan presented with the remainder of the material to be assessed at the following item.

A summary of the recommendations and proposed initiatives suggested for consideration by the Task Group at previous meetings of the Group will be provided for assessment by Members.

The Task Group will be requested to consider the suggestions in depth and determine which of the proposals should be supported for inclusion in the Group’s findings report.

(Report to follow).

The Task Group had been provided with a summary list of recommendations and proposed initiatives which had been suggested for further consideration by the Task Group at earlier meetings of the Group.  The proposals had been categorised and listed under the various themes identified and examined by the Group over the course of the inquiry.

The Chair indicated that the Members would need to consider the suggestions in depth and determine which of the proposals should be supported for inclusion in the Group’s findings report.  The Group would need to decide its priority recommendations and principal focus of the findings report and delete duplicated and unviable suggestions.

Following a comprehensive debate, it was AGREED:

(1)               That the suggestions put forward by the Task Group in relation to Sport and Play facilities be not included in the findings report as the issues are outside the remit of the Task Group.

(2)               That the following prioritised and categorised proposals to enhance the vitality and viability of the Town Centre be approved for inclusion in the Task Group’s findings and recommendations report for consideration by the Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

Formulation of a comprehensive Marketing Action Plan

That the following concepts and ideas put forward by the Task Group be assessed by a Task Group of the Town Centre Workshop, with a view to the formulation of a comprehensive Marketing Plan for the Town Centre with the ultimate aim of attracting more shoppers and visitors to the town centre (eg through quality and attractive environmental improvements;  reasonable car parking fees structure;  provision of sufficient restaurants and cafés (especially to accommodate evening shoppers):

·          selected coach operators (eg Shearings) be reminded of the Markets and other attractions within the town centre and requested to contact the Town Centre and Markets Manager for information on available coach parks;

·          examination of the means of enhancing the localised nature of the Farmers’ and other themed markets to improve their distinctiveness by, for example, naming them ‘Chorley Farmers Market’ or linking them to relevant themes (eg Cake Fairs, etc) with more effective advance promotion and advertising;

·          the expansion of the present marketing and promotional campaigns and strategy to encompass the whole of the town centre, with the wider distribution of promotional leaflets throughout the town centre;

·          address the currently insufficient co-ordination of town centre promotion and marketing between the Council and High Street and independent traders;

·          accept that the degree of business experienced by town centre traders is, to a large extent, dependent on the commodity sold (eg shoppers are attracted to Markets on Tuesdays and Fridays;  certain shops’ business is brisker on Wednesday, etc), and target future promotions accordingly;

·          promote the wide variety of shops available in the town centre, particularly the number of quality independent retailers, in an attempt to attract both residents who do not normally visit the town centre and other visitors from the surrounding catchment area through the production of a user friendly A4 promotional leaflet and Parish Council newsletter inserts;

·          promotion of the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 18.