Issue - meetings

      Report by Chief Executive Officer – Terence Herbert

The Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Economic Development, MCI and Communications presented the report which provided an update on the strategy that Wiltshire Council and its partners has developed to reshape Salisbury’s city centre offer, to be submitted to the Government’s Future High Street Fund.

The Leader explained that Wiltshire Council has been leading a holistic recovery programme for Salisbury since the economic shock following the nerve agent incidents of 2018. These caused a significant loss of footfall into the city with a resultant loss of trade and confidence. Footfall over the last 2 years has not returned to 2017 levels. Salisbury has the largest leisure, retail and hospitality sector in Wiltshire, responsible for one third of employment in the city.

The Cabinet welcomed the proposals to address a number of factors affecting the footfall levels and to drive the economic recovery programme to enable Salisbury to re-establish a thriving city centre for the benefit of residents, businesses and visitors.

Cllr Thorn, Leader of the Liberal Democrats welcomed the proposals and the involvement of partners to breathe health and vitality into the Salisbury city centre.

In response to comments and questions from Cllr Yuill about bus travel into the city centre, the Leader confirmed that discussions with the bus company had been held about these issues and these discussions would be ongoing.

Resolved:

1.    Agrees the contents of this report.

2.    Delegates authority to the Chief Executive Officer - in consultation with the Directors for Economic Development and Planning, and Legal, Electoral and Registration Services and the Cabinet Member for Economic Development to approve and submit the Salisbury Future High Street Fund business case, application and funding request to MHCLG.

3.    Agree to match fund the Station Forecourt and redevelopment of 47 Blue Boar Row and if through funding of Stone Circle, such investment and commercial terms to be undertaken on arms lengths terms and delegate authority to Chief Executive in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Economic Development and the Director for Finance to negotiate an agreement with Salisbury City Council as to the future management and ownership of that property

4.    Note that the Future High Street Fund contract arrangements, conditions including procurement processes for project delivery and arrangements with SCC will come back to Cabinet for review and approval.

Reason for Decision

Salisbury’s economy is reliant on the retail, leisure and tourist offer within the

city, which is responsible for a third of all employment. Salisbury City Centre

economy has now experienced two economic shocks, the nerve attack in 2018 and now, Covid-19 in 2020, resulting in a significant decline of the vitality, attractiveness and perception of the city centre.

These shocks are exacerbated by seismic changes taking place in the retail

market, as it moves to an on-line market place. In Salisbury, persistent

structural challenges around transport access and poor linkages, demographic shift and heritage investment significantly threaten long term vitality.

Salisbury needs to restructure its offer to attract residents, visitors and workers  ...  view the full minutes text for item 81