Agenda item

The Cabinet is requested to consider the agenda report and its three appendices (contained in the first agenda supplement) and to make the following recommendations to the meeting of the Council on Tuesday 25 July 2017 namely that:

(1)  The final text of the Chichester Vision document, having been reviewed by and (if applicable) subject to amendments suggested by the Cabinet, be approved by the Council.

(2)  The Economic Development Manager, following consultation with the Leader of the Council, be delegated authority to enable minor amendments to be made to the document following any further comments from project partners.

RECOMMENDED TO THE COUNCIL

(1)  That the final text for the Chichester Vision document be approved.

(2)  That authority be delegated to the Economic Development Manager following consultation with the Leader of the Council to enable minor amendments to be made to the document after any further comments from project partners.

The Cabinet received and considered the agenda report and its three appendices in the first agenda supplement (copies attached to the official minutes).

The report was presented by Mr Dignum.

Mr Oates was in attendance for this item.

Mr Dignum said that members had agreed in discussion with officers on the need for a vison for the future of the city of Chichester. It was essential such a vision was supported by the city’s stakeholders, the three local authorities based in the city, businesses and residents. Accordingly a steering group had been established by a Project Partners Group, developed with many stakeholders and with a number of surveys. This collaborative work had culminated in a six-week public consultation, the results of which revealed overwhelming support for the Vision. The aims were to agree a clear definition of ‘what do we want Chichester City Centre to be’ ie what is to be the future form and function of the city centre. This would include (1) defining  Chichester city centre’s offer as a vibrant and attractive commercial and cultural focal point serving residents, workers and visitors, across all demographics; (2) identifying development opportunities realisable without damaging the heritage and in partnership between the private sector and others in the public sector (the Southern Gateway was a prime example aimed at attracting significant new inward investment into the city, thereby generating economic growth and the creation of jobs); and (3) creating a well-managed, well-coordinated, and well promoted city centre to attract visitors.

A central objective had been a drive to generate new ideas and to provide the key data required to take an informed view. The proposals in the Vision had, therefore, been shaped by field research, reviews of previous plans and strategies, facilitated workshops attended by representatives of community and business organisations, and a comprehensive range of studies including (a) research into comparable towns and cities and (b) qualitative and quantitative studies into usage of and satisfaction with the city and its facilities among residents, businesses, workers and visitors.

In short the Vision aimed to develop the city thus: ‘ Attractive, distinctive, and successful …Embracing its heritage and creating opportunity for all, Chichester’s City Centre will be inspiring and welcoming, and at the heart of one of the UK’s leading visitor destinations.’

Three major themes were established during the development process:

·       ‘Living’ - An Accessible and Attractive City Centre

     To achieve this, Chichester city centre will:

o   Be easily accessible but with less traffic, less pollution, further pedestrianisation and well-co-ordinated public transport

o   Give more priority for walking and cycling

o   Have attractive streets and open spaces

o   Be attractive and welcoming to students and young people, while enhancing life for older people

o   Encourage more city centre living with a range of accommodation for all demographics

o   Be a ‘smart’ city that is digitally connected ensuring access to digital services to all

·       ‘Working’ - A Vibrant and Growing Economy

Chichester will have homes for all ages and will be a prestige city where entrepreneurs, employers and employees wish to be. Chichester City Centre will achieve this by:

o   Being a city centre that pursues well-co-ordinated development opportunities making better use of public sector land

o   Attracting and retaining businesses from a wide range of high earning sectors

o   Being a centre of learning

o   Retaining graduates and developing a skilled workforce to meet the needs of the city’s economy

·       ‘Visiting’ - A Leading Visitor Destination

Chichester city centre will be a leading centre of artistic, cultural and heritage excellence at the heart of one of the UK’s leading visitor destinations, which will by day be bustling with shoppers enjoying the best retail experience in the South.

Once the Vision had been approved and adopted, a delivery plan and timetable would be produced and it was proposed to establish a Chichester Vision Delivery Steering Group (CVDSG). The action plan and the governance arrangements for the CVDSG would be brought to the Cabinet for approval in October 2017.

The Cabinet was requested to recommend the final text (appendix 1 to the report) for approval by full Council, which would also have the opportunity to consider a draft colour version of the design and illustrative images for the Vision. A similar process of review and approval is taking place in the other local authorities and the Chichester BID.

Mr Oates emphasised that this was a partnership project and he cited the participating partner organisations. He alluded to the significant level of support for the Vision project and the detailed review and research work that had been undertaken in producing the draft Vision. Chichester City Council had approved the draft Vision (with suggested amendments) the previous week.

Cabinet members commended the draft Vision as a remarkable collaborative and well-supported project, which was very exciting and ambitious, and they congratulated everyone involved in working on and producing it. The Southern Gateway masterplan would be one very important means of taking forward the Vision once adopted.

Mrs Taylor asked about the consultation’s low response rate in the 16-24 age group and how the city’s University and College including the student unions had been involved in the process. Mr Oates acknowledged the challenge posed generally in society about how to engage young people to participate in consultations but added that whilst the response rate was fairly low and naturally a higher level would have been preferred, it was nonetheless pleasing that it had been that high and there had been an important piece of work undertaken with the 18-21 age group.

Mr Dignum concluded by stating that the Vision was not a prescriptive document but espoused a broad aspiration and that specific policies such as those relating to air quality and litter would be developed in the spirit of the Vision to have a beneficial impact on the city centre.

Decision

The Cabinet voted unanimously on a show of hands in favour of making the recommendations set out below.

RECOMMENDED TO THE COUNCIL

(1)  That the final text for the Chichester Vision document be approved.

(2)  That authority be delegated to the Economic Development Manager following consultation with the Leader of the Council to enable minor amendments to be made to the document after any further comments from project partners.