To receive an update on the work being
carried out by the Aldershot Task and Finish Group and the latest position.
Minutes:
The Panel received a presentation on the current position
with Aldershot and plans for the future.
Andrew Lloyd, Chief Executive, provided a strategic overview on the way
forward for Aldershot. The Panel was
advised that work was being undertaken at an officer level on the regeneration
project to ensure there was cohesion to take all projects forward. A group had undertaken some work to provide a
model to encourage properties into a fund to drive investment in the town. Members were briefed on a report on The
Fragmented Ownership Group which focussed on working with towns with various
owners. It offered a potentially good
solution for Aldershot.
David Phillips, Town Centre and Cultural Manager, updated
the Panel on the current issues:
·
Aldershot Town Centre Prospectus - had been published in January which included development
of the Galleries, Union Street East, the Railway and Bus Station and the
Magistrates Court and Police Station.
·
Homeless - a press
release had been issued to show what action was being taken to address the
homelessness issue in the town. Planters
were being placed in some empty shop doorways and hoardings and shutters were
being put up on others to try to prevent homeless individuals locating there.
·
Marks and Spencer Unit – a general discount store would be leasing the unit from Marks and
Spencer and likely to move into the unit in the summer.
·
The Galleries – the
owner, Threadneedle, was close to finalising a deal
with a development company to provide a mixed-use development with
leisure/retail on the ground floor with residential above.
·
The Empire and The Palace – both premises had been leased for fifteen years, The
Empire was operating as a banqueting suite and The Palace had been opened as a
nightclub.
·
Wellesley Development –
the development was progressing well and residents had started to move into properties
in December 2015. Building on Phase II
was due to start in May 2016.
·
Public Realm Improvements – improvements had been made to Barrack Road, Court Road
and Union Street.
·
Shop Front Improvements
– a fund of £200,000 had been made available for businesses to apply for up to
£10,000 for shop front improvements. To
date nine businesses had received funding and two composite schemes were being
developed.
·
Business Improvement District – Aldershot was being taken forward to create an Aldershot
Business Improvement District.
The Panel expressed concern about the continuing issues
with street homeless in Aldershot. The
Panel was advised that The Vine was working daily with the homeless residents
to try to engage with them and identify what help they needed to take them off
the street. The Council’s Homelessness
Officers had also been working with The Vine.
It was proposed that discussions should also be held with the Probation
Service to see if there were any links with those currently homeless in Aldershot. It was confirmed that addressing the issues
was considered to be a high priority for the Council and the approach sought
was to balance the need for timely enforcement with actions to support those
willing to engage.
The Panel NOTED the
presentation.