Agenda and minutes

Councillor David Renard, Leader of the Council and Councillor Russell Holland, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Finance and Corporate Services, welcomed the invited representatives of local businesses to the meeting.

To review the Budget Report considered by Cabinet at its meeting on 7^th December 2016 and the minutes arising from that consideration.

Councillor Russell Holland opened  the meeting, advising that it was intended  to inform local businesses of the Council’s projected out-turn for 2016/17 and the financial context for setting the budget for 2017/18. Councillor Holland explained that the 2017/18 draft budget would be submitted to Cabinet for consideration at its meeting on 8th February and that recommendations would then be made to the Council meeting on 23rd February 2017. It was noted that consultation feedback in relation to the budget proposals, including feedback from this meeting, would be included in the submission to the Cabinet meeting.   

Mr Richard Lay, White Horse Holding Group, commented that he recognised the constraints facing the Council, from a business perspective. However, he referred to the new build in Swindon since the last Budget Consultation meeting and suggested that, whilst the new developments were positive initiatives, they had, at the same time, created an issue with car parking in the town centre that might detrimentally effect businesses.  He felt that businesses in the town centre were suffering from a decline in footfall and he was of the view that parking charges were a contributing factor. Mr Lay commented that the Council’s Planning Department had a major role to play in promoting and supporting a successful town centre economy, referring to the planning application for 26 starter units and to the restriction of car parking provision to be associated with for these units.  Mr Lay suggested that residents’ parking areas might be used during the day to provide additional car parking that would enable prospective customers to park nearer to business premises. He also requested the release of additional council-owned land for business projects.  

Councillor Holland thanked Mr Lay for his comments and agreed to ask Councillor Garry Perkins, Cabinet Member for Economy, Regeneration and Skills, to contact him to further discuss his suggestions.  Councillor Holland explained that Planning Policies were set by Central Government but agreed that discussions should be undertaken to help local businesses wherever possible.

Mr Rupert Cox, Stagecoach West, referenced the Council’s long term car parking strategy and the link between car parking and congestion in the town. Councillor Holland advised that the car parking strategy was currently being reviewed.  Councillor Renard referred to the success of the “£2 for 4 hours car parking” initiative in the town centre, aimed at increasing footfall, and was of a view that there was a balance to be struck between encouraging people to come into the town centre whilst still keeping congestion to a minimum.  Councillor Renard commitment to improving the infrastructure, summarising the Council’s level of investment in infrastructure and making specific reference to schemes at Bruce Street Bridges and Greenbridge Roundabout. 

Mr Cox advised that, as a company, Stagecoach believed in the financial viability of re-introducing park and ride facilities in Swindon and as a means of reducing traffic congestion in the town.  Councillor Renard explained that the Council had subsidised the Copse Park and Ride facility but, due to budgetary constraints, and recognition  ...  view the full minutes text for item 2.

Councillor Russell Holland thanked the representatives of the business community and non-domestic ratepayers for attending and hoped they found the meeting useful.  He requested that they continue to liaise with the Council on topics pertinent to the growth and economic well-being of the local business community.