Minutes:
The Board received a report of G Wood, Economic Development Manager, which provided an update on the delivery of the Stronger Town Board-Quick Wins – Pop up retail projects.
The report proposed an adjustment to the delivery of the agreed quick wins to expedite progression through to completion.
Proposals submitted by South Durham Enterprise Agency proposed the
reuse of a vacant retail unit in Newgate Street providing a pop-up retail
opportunity within the town. Earlier in 2023 the Enterprise Agency confirmed that they were unable to progress the project through to delivery and confirmed the balance of funds held once legal and design fees had been accounted for.
The Board were advised that £215,461.30 remained available under this project budget and that two projects had been presented for consideration;
D Madden presented the Board with details of the Art Hub events and Town Promo as outlined in the report and demonstrated by the video.
J Layfield, presented the Board with details of the food and beverage initiative put forward by Bishop Auckland College as outlined in the report.
In response to questions from the Board, it was confirmed that tenders were expected to be received the following week and that two prices had been requested. One cost was being obtained for the original project and another which would include the food and beverage initiative. Should the Board not accept the proposal, the original project would remain unaffected, albeit without the kitchen and restaurant.
In response to a query from Councillor Zair, the Board were advised that this was capital budget.
The Chair confirmed that South Durham Enterprise Agency had originally proposed the reuse of a vacant retail unit in Newgate Street providing a pop up retail opportunity within the town. R Yorke advised that TAP did not want to replicate what BAC were doing whilst operating opposite one another and therefore decided to pull out of the scheme for the money to be utilised elsewhere. TAP wanted to ensure visitor numbers which could only be generated with marketing.
In response to a question from Councillor Scott, J Layfield advised that the McIntyres project would not be delayed if the Board did not approve their proposal, it would simply be delivered without the additional facility. Contractors would start work at the end of October.
D Madden advised that TAP’s proposal would increase visitor numbers and revenue in the town. He advised that there were already significant numbers of Artisan producers in the County, which had been incorporated into other projects. It was his opinion that the only shortfall across the programme was that of promoting the town to potential operators, developers, visitors and tourists. He proposed the money was spent on generating interest and in turn increasing footfall.
As per the Terms of Reference D Madden, J Layfield and N Davison-Terranova withdrew from the meeting for deliberation of the proposal and took no part in the decision.
The remaining Board Members discussed both proposals at length observing the following;
· The ability for BAC to deliver a similar proposal to the original programme
· The lack of a detailed estimated cost for the revised pop-up retail project
· The high quality of the promotional video and the need to consider how interest from business sectors is achieved in order to increase footfall
· The potential to transfer any identified surplus budget to cover the current shortfall for the Bishop Marras Statue
J Gilroy advised that the funding for the Quick Wins projects had conditions attached that required it to be spent on capital projects.
RESOLVED
a) That the designation of Bishop Auckland College as the
alternate project sponsor to complete delivery of the agreed pop-up retail project based on its fit with the existing approved project be APPROVED subject to confirmation of costs.
Items 7 – 10 were deferred and the Chair requested an earlier start time to allow the Governance Review to be properly considered.