Issue - items at meetings - Support for the Retail Sector Scrutiny Panel

7.1 Councillor Gill Mitchell, former Overview and Scrutiny Commission Chair and Chair of the Support for the Retail Sector scrutiny review, introduced the Panel’s report. She was pleased that it had been a productive review, covering many key issues.

7.2 The Panel objectives had been taken from the Streets Ahead event in 2011. The Panel Members had heard from a wide range of witnesses and there had been many good suggestions.  The officers had worked hard and there had been publicity for the Panel’s work not only via press release, local newspapers and the website but also for the first time ’live chat’ social media had been used for the scrutiny review, that had been particularly successful.

7.3 The Panel had featured on Latest TV. Tesco and Sainsburys gave information and other evidence was still arriving at the time the report was being drafted. The findings of the Portas independent review also fed into the scrutiny.

7.4 Parking and transport topics were mentioned by all who spoke to the Panel. There were discussions on the levels of rent and business rates and landlords viewed as inflexible in difficult financial times. ‘Pop up’ shops and short term lets were seen as a good idea for otherwise hard to fill empty properties. The Council’s retail premises had a 100% occupancy rate. Some retail areas eg North Laine raised signage as an issue and some felt they lacked a distinctive ‘feel’ or band.

7.5 There was a call for a city centre retail strategy. The post of city centre manager that had formerly been in place, was missed as a point of contact and liaison for traders with the Council.

7.6 Trader Associations and the Business Improvement District were mostly well regarded by those who belonged; but not necessarily by other traders. They were particularly useful in achieving economies of scale and common procurement eg waste collection services. Supermarkets had expertise to share for instance in working with communities, setting up traders associations.

7.7 There was a call for more flexibility and shorter timescales within the planning processes eg for change of use of premises, with a suggestion that provisions of the Localism Act be used to support retailers more. There were divergent views on street markets; these were regarded as more likely to be supported if they could be specifically ‘themed.’ It was therefore suggested that the Council should lobby for local regulatory powers over markets. Some retail areas felt they were not being promoted widely enough. The effect of on-line trading was also investigated. Some independent traders would benefit from help and advice on this.

7.8 Councillor Gill Mitchell thanked the officers especially Sharmini Williams Scrutiny Officer for her excellent support of the Panel.

7.9 In considering the report OSC agreed to exclude debate on the City’s parking policy, that was being dealt with elsewhere.

7.10 Members discussed signage, charity shops, coffee shops and the profile of some out-of-centre retail areas. It was felt that street markets added to the City’s vibrancy.

7.11 Minutes of the Panel meeting with Tesco, held after the three scheduled public meetings, was available as part of the evidence.

7.12 The Committee asked what was known about what makes a successful shopkeeper – this was a skill that perhaps could be acquired by training. In this regard there would be much to learn from charity shops, that did attract shoppers to Brighton & Hove.

7.12 Answering questions, Councillor Mitchell told the meeting that the commercial agent knew the qualities that made a successful retail outlet. Market testing was essential – start-ups would be advised to undertake enough early research. A speaker from the Chamber of Commerce was well-informed about national and local retail studies. Landlord advice (eg regarding terms and conditions) was seen as necessary, though this may not be a council function. There needed to be clarity about where traders could get information and advice.

7.13 Signage for the North Laines area could be dealt with under the Brighton Station Gateway proposals.

7.14 The Council had prepared a bid for Round 2 of the Portas Pilots on the London road area which closed at the end of June and more information would be forwarded to OSC Members.

7.15 It was clarified that the findings and recommendations of the scrutiny review would  be reported to October Policy & Resources (P&R Committee.

7.16 Members agreed that it would be useful to circulate the report to appropriate Council Committees plus community groups, Local Action Teams and other organisations across the City.

7.17 Some Members queried the feasibility of costing the implementation of these and other scrutiny recommendations and a report was requested to the next OSC meeting.

7.17 RESOLVED 1) that the report of the Scrutiny Panel on Support for the Retail Sector be referred to Policy and Resources Committee, requesting that a lead officer be given responsibility for responding to all the recommendations;

2) that following P&R, the report be circulated to other appropriate Council Committees and relevant organisations across the City;

3)  that a report on the feasibility of costing the implementation of scrutiny recommendations be provided to OSC.