Action Plan 2006/7

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Strategy

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Action Plan 2006/7

Action Plan Summary

Theme 1 – Urban Living

Theme 2 – Feeling Secure

Theme 3 – Access

Theme 4 – Environmental Sustainability

Theme 5 – Destination Management

Theme 6 – Developing skills and Educating

Theme 7 – Continuity

THEME 1 - URBAN LIVING

Key Partners

• This theme covers several key areas
• The creation of employment opportunities
• The sustained cleanliness of the town centre
• Sustained use of public spaces
• Making the town centre vibrant
• Design improvements

SRB programmes which support job creation and safeguarding projects come to an end in March 07.
 
A new consultation process that develops the existing Town Centre Improvement Programme Grant Panel into a Property Development Forum where property experts assess the impact of new developments may be a way forward.
 
A strong independent sector is vital. TCM can encourage groups of small traders to coalesce into associations and may be able to offer them added resources via external funds to help them engage with other regeneration initiatives.
 
The development of Business Improvement Districts in Hastings may also be a way of sustaining services and improving secondary (independent) retail areas. (see Theme 7 - Continuity)
 
Events are one of the cornerstones of TCM activity, especially Christmas, TCM will also continue to coordinate the Late and Live programme of late Thursday evening shopping and entertainment
 
The value of urban design - which informs identity has now been recognised in St Leonards as the Community Forum presses ahead with a Design Manual and physical alterations to Kings Road

Future Plans and Targets

THEME 2 - FEELING SECURE  

THE HASTINGS AREA BUSINESS CRIME REDUCTION PARTNERSHIP
(A trading division of Hastings Town Centre Management)

Key Partners

Hastings TCM employs a full time watch co-ordinator.

The partnership currently comprises of Shopwatch and Barwatch. More businesses will be encouraged to join the new partnership from 2006/7

New targets include restaurants, hotels, filling stations, car parks and transport providers.

Fewer than 50% of the current membership use radios to exchange intelligence and summon assistance.

An exclusion notice scheme is already in place for both day and evening economy banning - offenders from member premises.

A photograph sharing scheme with Sussex Police is in place.

With financial support from the Safer Hastings Partnership, the partnership will have the services of a dedicated night time co-ordinator from 2006/7

As a Hastings Town Centre Partnership initiative, only members of the Partnership are eligible to join HABCRP.

The partnership will be self -sustaining and have its own business and marketing strategy.

One key aim is to substantially increase the number of radio users taking advantage of intelligence exchange.

Any surpluses made by the partnership are re-invested in crime reduction initiatives.

Public sector support is matched by private sector leverage. Priory Meadow and The Trojan Group provide substantial cash and in-kind support estimated to be worth approx. £38500 per annum

Key Future Plans and Targets

Future Cash Funding targets

TCM acknowledges the support given to this project by

THEME 3 - ACCESS

Key Partners

TCM will take action on a number of fronts

• Assisting to lobby for improved transport links and services
• Working to cut out disability discrimination
• The concept of a multi-ethnic town centre

Hastings is not an easy town to access by road.
Rail and motorway access give competitive advantage to Brighton and Kent towns including Maidstone, Tunbridge Wells, Ashford, Folkestone and Canterbury.

In the town centre, access for the disabled has improved with extended pedestrianisation, Priory Meadow and organisations such as Shopmobility.

TCM can work with the Access Association, Shopmobility and the Council to improve areas beyond the pedestrianised centre - and with transport providers to improve access to information.

Hastings has seen a shift in its demographics over the last few years. The town centre has the potential to become a focal point for an emerging multi-ethnic population.

Traditional town centre services such as the provision of Christmas lights need to be re-addressed in the light of an expanding EU and a new demographic mix

Future Plans and Targets

THEME 4 - ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY

Key Partners

Hastings Sustainable Business Partnership & Hastings Environment Network

Hastings TCM has a role to play in encouraging environmental awareness in town centre businesses.

The opportunity exists to assist businesses to reduce their heating, lighting and refuse overheads by promoting energy-saving technologies and awareness training couses.

The expansion of the farmers market and environment awareness events sit within this theme

Future Plans and Targets

THEME 5 - DESTINATION MANAGEMENT

Key Partners

The town centres of Hastings and St Leonards are not widely recognised as a destination in their own right unlike for example, Canterbury or Bluewater. However, they can add value to an overall package.

The town centre can benefit from activities of the tourism sector such as events and business tourism but it could benefit further by continually improving visitor care, cleanliness, visual merchandising etc.

Town centre management does not enjoy resources skilled in tourism and needs to work in partnership with tourism marketing and training agencies within a wider destination management strategy.

A strategic alliance with Bexhill could possibly be a future objective. By marketing and promoting the wider offer, both town centres could derive benefit

TCM could be well placed with key partners to develop a more commercial approach to tourism marketing and promotion given pressure on local authority budgets

Future Plans and Targets

THEME 6 - DEVELOPING SKILLS & EDUCATING

Key Partners

TCM will take action in 2 key areas

Working in partnership to create training regimes for town centre businesses and to encourage younger people to take up retailing as a profession

• Working with partners to educate people in ethical business such as Fairtrade
• Work has already started with Hastings College and the Retail Centre of Vocational Excellence to develop ideas for retail training programmes

Hastings has been selected by the LSC as a destination to focus on developing retail awareness in school-leavers.

TCM already has contacts with colleges and local charities to offer work experience programmes

The steady increase in Fairtrade awareness offers TCM the opportunity to become a central player in securing Fairtrade status for the town.

The LEGI bid may offer other opportunities, directly or indirectly for TCM to identify and develop retail up-skilling programmes

Future Plans and Targets

THEME 7 – CONTINUITY

Core Cash Funding Organisations

Core In-Kind Funding Organisations (estimated value)

(There are numerous other small in-kind funding organisations)

Future Plans and Targets