Issue - meetings

An update report on Keynsham Town Centre scheme – retail. Please note that Appendix One – Marketing brochure will be circulated at the meeting.

Richard Long, Head of Property Services and Mike Dawson, Group Manager – Commercial introduced the report. They passed around a marketing brochure (this brochure is kept on the minute book for the Panel).

The Panel raised the following points and asked the following questions:

Councillor Macrae commented on the positive image and asked about reporting back at the stage when applications had been sifted. The Group Manager (Commercial) explained that there is a monthly check around the applications and sifting stage which explains the potential consequences in each case.

Councillor Gerrish stated that the information in the report bore little resemblance to what local businesses feel. He reported that there is some dissatisfaction around mixed message from DTZ and the Council. He explained that the Council has employed a business advice company for the businesses in Riverside but that this company had provided minimal help. He re stated that there is significant dissatisfaction among local traders who feel they are not getting answers and are hearing different messages. He asked if it was correct that there was a surplus of applicants for the new units. The officer confirmed that there are two companies talking to the existing Riverside tenants, one of which is business support. He stated that there are six offers, three from existing tenants from Riverside. The Strategic Director stated that this had been important feedback from Councillor Gerrish, he noted that the Council is not the landlord of Riverside and does not therefore have full control. Councillor Bull agreed that it was uncomfortable feedback. Councillor Gerrish stated that businesses feel they are in limbo as they have been running businesses for many years, they don’t know the level of compensation so they cannot plan to rent new units/stock them/fit them out as they do not have the financial information to make these decisions. The Strategic Director stated that a message must go out to traders giving a timetable of what is going on.