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Decision details

Final Report of the Council-owned Neighbourhood Parades Scrutiny Panel

Decision Maker: Cabinet

Decision status: Recommendations Approved

Is Key decision?: Yes

Is subject to call in?: Yes

Purpose:

To consider and agree the recommendations of the Council-owned Neighbourhood Parades Scrutiny Panel.

Decision:

RESOLVED

 

That the Cabinet:

 

i)        Engages the Council's Business and Economic Development Team to signpost all neighbourhood parade tenants to business and training support, advice, and resources (e.g., the West Sussex Retail Hub) at the beginning of and, when appropriate, during their tenancy.

 

ii)       Incorporates into any future review of CCTV coverage in the borough an assessment of any blind spots at any neighbourhood parades, including through representations to the Safer Crawley Partnership.

 

iii)      Prepares and sends an annual questionnaire to parade shop tenants, with the process reviewed after the second year, based on the experience of the extent of demands on officer time this creates.

 

iv)      Subjects the lease agreement to an external test of the language used (e.g. Crystal Mark accreditation) and produces a summary version in plain language, accompanying while not substituting for the legal content of the main lease, for which tenants must continue to ensure they obtain their own independent legal advice before signing.

 

v)       Requests the Cabinet Member for Public Protection and Community writes to the local district commander at Sussex Police requesting that they enhance the arrangements of a zero-tolerance policy on alcohol consumption at the parades and increase patrols from Sussex Police/PCSOs.

 

vi)      Requests that Sussex Police provides tenants with updates on the mechanisms for crime and anti-social behaviour reporting.

 

vii)    Considers a capital resource allocation to assess a further round of neighbourhood parade improvements, to maintain the benefits delivered by the previous programme.

 

viii)   Requests that officers circulate to all councillors details of the Asset Team's small budget allocated for improvement works on the neighbourhood parades.

 

ix)      Raises awareness among parade businesses on options for putting together their own Business Improvement Districts (BIDs) if they consider that matters such as an enhanced inspection and cleaning regime and dedicated warden patrol patterns would be desirable as an increased priority for the neighbourhood parades.

 

x)       Gives instructions to the Asset Team that confirm that they must pro-actively prevent the build-up of unacceptably high tenant debt in the interests of the tenants and Council taxpayers, to include the realistic consideration of an early termination of tenancy in preference to allowing an increasing debt with no prospect of repayment.

 

xi)      Continues to maintain a web presence for all neighbourhood parade shops that wish to be represented, with this forming part of the offer of a new lease assignment.

 

Reasons for the Recommendations

 

The Cabinet adopted those recommendations which it considered practical and viable considering the current financial restraints on the Council, whilst having due regard for the detailed work of the Panel.

 

The Panel’s original recommendations reflected the objectives set out in the scoping framework.  The main aims of the Panel were to examine the various roles of Crawley Borough Council’s neighbourhood shopping parades, explore how effectively these were being discharged, and to consider any improvements that could be made.

 

The Panel’s recommendations were consciously framed with a whole Council approach, noting that contributions can be made by various departments beyond that responsible for the Property Strategy, and by partner organisations.

 

Report author: Karen Hayes

Publication date: 08/09/2022

Date of decision: 07/09/2022

Decided at meeting: 07/09/2022 - Cabinet

Effective from: 14/09/2022

Accompanying Documents: