Issue - meetings

      Report of the Chief Executive

Councillor Richard Clewer, Leader of the Council, introduced the report which provided details on progress in delivering the Future High Streets Fund programmes in Trowbridge and Salisbury.

Councillors Stewart Palmen and Jo Trigg commented on the report, noting the works to the town hall and highways improvements. In response to queries it was stated that the vacant commercial units fund, as a capital grant, needed to be invested in buildings, but that options were being explored on how to help prospective leaseholders.

At the conclusion of discussion, it was then,

Resolved:

That Cabinet:

1)    Notes the contents of this report

2)    Delegates authority to spend allocated FHSF grant funding to the Corporate Director of Place, in consultation with the Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Climate Change, MCI, Economic Development, Heritage, Arts, Tourism and Health & Wellbeing in line with the FHSF funding criteria as set by DLUHC.

3)    Delegates authority to appropriate development, procurement and delivery of individual workstreams within the programme to Corporate Director for Place, in consultation with the Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Climate Change, MCI, Economic Development, Heritage, Arts, Tourism and Health & Wellbeing in line with programme outcomes.

Reason for Decision

Town centres have been negatively affected by a number of factors over a long period of time, resulting in a significant decline of the vitality, attractiveness and perception of the town centre. Over the previous two decades, high streets across the country have been affected by widespread change in consumer behaviours and shopping habits largely in the form of out-of-town shopping and more recently online retail.

These changes have contributed to the decline of the town centre as the heart of the community and continues to threaten long-term viability of business operators.

Government has sought to address these impacts through the formation of the High Street Task Force and Towns Fund, which includes the Future High Streets Fund.

Through Future High Streets Funding, Trowbridge and Salisbury have the chance to significantly kickstart the strengthening and diversification of the offers and accessibility to their high streets.

This report provides an update of the FHSF projects which are being developed and delivered to support enhancements to the centres of Trowbridge and Salisbury.

Interventions are in line with the funding criteria as set out by Government through the FHSF Prospectus and guidance documents

Trowbridge was awarded £16,347,056
Salisbury was awarded £9,355,731

Successful and timely delivery of the Future High Streets Fund Programme will enable Wiltshire Council to work with partners to initiate that process and attract in other public and private sector funding to rejuvenate town centres.