Issue - meetings

Report DRR14/007

Members received an update on activities undertaken by the Council’s Town Centre Management and Business Support Team up to April 2014.  The report also summarised priorities for the period until the end of September 2014.

In particular, Members considered a draft ‘Spatial Management Strategy for Bromley Town Centre’.  This provided an outline of what sort of activities would be encouraged by Town Centre Management, working alongside colleagues in Streetscene Services and how those activities would be managed once the improvement works were completed in the pedestrianised area of Market Square.

Commenting on the percentage figures for the number of vacant retail units in the Borough, Councillor Michael considered it interesting to note that Penge had the lowest percentage of vacancies whilst Orpington had the highest.  It was anticipated that regeneration of The Walnuts at Orpington would have a significant positive impact on vacancy rates. 

Councillor Michael asked when the new planters and flower tower for Keston would be delivered.  The Head of Town Centre Management and Business Support would be asked to respond to Councillor Michael via e-mail.

An updating report on the success of the Bromley Means Business event would be submitted to the PDS meeting in September 2014. 

Councillor Rutherford asked what was being done to clean the street surfacing in the Bromley North/East Street area.  Members were informed that officers were working with environment colleagues to initiate an enhanced street cleaning regime using a gum-busting treatment.  Leaking refuse bins would also be replaced.  Should the proposal for a Bromley BID prove successful, future responsibility for undertaking this work could fall within the BID’s remit. 

At the suggestion of Councillor Morgan, a proposal to request further funding to support various improvement projects at local parades would be submitted to a meeting of the Executive Committee.

RESOLVED that:-

1)  the key developments and activities within the Town Centre Management and Business Support Team (as summarised in Appendix 1 of the report), be noted; and

2)  the draft spatial management plan for Bromley Town Centre pedestrianised area (as set out in Appendix 2 of the report), be noted.