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SCRUTINY COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION ACTION AND IMPLEMENTATION PLAN (SCRAIP)
Report Title: The Image of Maidstone Town Centre Review
Report of Environment and Leisure Overview and Scrutiny Committee
Date of Publication: 15 March 2008
Dates to report back to Committee:
|
Update |
Date |
Completed? |
Note |
|
1st |
9 January 09 |
|
6 months after Cabinet Meeting |
|
2nd |
9 July 2009 |
|
12 months after Cabinet Meeting |
|
Recommendation[i] |
Cabinet Member[ii] |
Response[iii]
|
Timetable[iv] |
Lead Officer[v] |
|
That the existing public toilets in Maidstone Town Centre and signage to them be improved. |
Cllr Wooding |
The nature, number and quality of public toilets in the town centre is currently being reviewed.
|
Report in September |
Steve Goulette |
|
That the possibility of introducing a community toilet scheme in Maidstone be investigated.
|
Cllr Wooding |
This will be considered as part of the current study. |
Report in September |
Steve Goulette |
|
That the ‘Image of Maidstone Town Centre’ report be used by Cabinet and the Corporate Services Overview and Scrutiny Committee to inform the development of the Strategic Plan in order to address residents’ negative perceptions.
|
Cllr Garland |
The report can certainly be used as a basis although Cabinet’s aspirations for improving the town centre, and its image, go beyond the recommendations of the study. |
Report on Town Centre enhancements in Autumn 2008. |
Brian Morgan |
|
That the Council investigates and promotes solutions to mitigate traffic congestion as part of the Strategic Plan, for example walking buses, cycling and traffic plans.
|
Cllr Wooding |
The Council will continue to work with KCC to find innovative solutions to circulation in the town. |
Report early 2009 |
Brian Morgan |
|
That the Council lobbies and works with Kent County Council Highways Department to improve town centre roads and to find an effective solution to Operation Stack. |
Cllr Wooding |
Through the joint Transportation Steering Group the Council works with KCC to improve circulation (the UTMC is an example of successful innovations) and this has been included lobbying for improvements to the current Operation Stack arrangements.
|
Regular six monthly updates |
Trevor Gasson |
|
That the Cabinet Member reviews Maidstone’s planning process to ensure that it is effective and efficient.
|
Cllr Greer
|
The issues concerning the operation of the planning committee raised through O&S, along with a range of other matters impacting on the effectiveness with which business is conducted have been considered by the Planning Committee Chair and Group Spokespersons Group. The perceptions prevalent in the business community will be tackled through training and feedback.
The Cabinet Member maintains oversight of the Committee through “wash up” meetings with officers after each committee meeting and at the conclusion of processes for major applications. |
Regular review via the Quarterly Planning Committee Chair and Group Spokespersons meeting
Continue regular review of the operation of the planning committee and key applications |
Rob Jarman |
|
That the marketing of the number of independent stores in Maidstone be improved. |
Cllr Greer |
The Independent Retailers Group of MTCM specifically seeks to enhance marketing and the attraction of Maidstone to independent retailers. The fact that 50% of its shops are independent is one of Maidstone’s features as a traditional town centre.
|
Regular meetings and updates. Report in Spring 2009. |
Trevor Gasson |
|
That the Council encourages new and existing businesses to maintain presentable frontages. |
Cllr Greer |
The MTCM has produced guidance to encourage businesses to maintain their frontages to a reasonable standard and it will continue to press this.
|
Update and report in Spring 2009 |
Trevor Gasson |
|
That the University College for the Creative Arts at Maidstone be assisted in finding venues to display students’ art work in the town centre. |
Cllr Greer |
The Borough Council worked with UCCA to find a location for the summer exhibition. More importantly the Council is now working with UCA to encourage it to locate its new campus in Maidstone.
|
Update Report in early 2009 |
Trevor Gasson |
|
That the creation of an additional, larger theatre venue be supported. |
Cllr Moss |
The Cabinet does not feel that a larger theatre venue would necessarily be worthy of support. The Hazlitt Theatre and the Arts Centre provide small, intimate and well patronised spaces which attract good and loyal audiences. Whilst a larger theatre, attracting national tours, is on the face of it appealing, there are already many established venues of this scale in the region and a larger theatre is likely to require substantially greater subsidy than the present HAC, always assuming the Capital funding can be found. The Council is however continuing to support the establishment of a Concert Hall in Maidstone.
|
Annual report 2009 |
Trevor Gasson |
|
That the Cabinet Member reviews the marketing strategy of Maidstone to businesses and residents including its museums, theatre and history. |
Cllr Garland |
An officer Working Group is already looking at ways in which the marketing of Maidstone and its facilities (as opposed to advertising) can be more cost effective. A report will be submitted to Cabinet later in the years. |
January 2009 |
Roger Adley |
Notes on the completion of SCRAIP
[i] Report recommendations are listed as found in the report.
[ii] Insert in this box the Cabinet Member whose portfolio the recommendation falls within.
[iii] The Officer/Cabinet Member responsible for responding to the recommendation should indicate in this box either the acceptance or rejection of the recommendation.
If the recommendation is rejected an explanation for its rejection should be provided. The ‘timetable’ and ‘lead officer’ boxes can be left blank
If the recommendation is accepted an explanation of the action to be taken to implement the recommendation should be recorded in this box. Please also complete the ‘timetable’ and ‘lead officer’ boxes.
[iv] The Officer/Cabinet Member responsible for responding to the recommendation should indicate in this box when the action in indicated in the previous box will be implemented.
[v] The Officer/Cabinet Member responsible for responding to the recommendation should indicate in this box the Officer responsible for the implementation of the action highlighted in the ‘response’ box.