Agenda item

Questioner’s Name

Name of Councillor Responding

Ahmad Darvishi, Parade Tenant

I have been a Crawley tenant for over 30 years and unfortunately, there have been lots of problems, particularly at Tilgate and Furnace Green. Last December there was an issue following a break in at the shop and also with flooding. Having contacted the Asset Team we were informed to complete the work, which was difficult given the time of year, but the issue is still ongoing.  I’ve sent the documentation to the Council and I have yet to receive any insurance money.  I have contacted the insurance department and I have not received any response. There is a lack of communication and support with the Council.

Supplementary –

I would like to thank Richard Gammie who came and saw the completion of the work.  With regards to empty shops these should not be given to fast food outlets, as we have enough of these.  Shops should be on a tender basis.  Elderly residents require shops to be open on a parade. Please bring back the traditional shops; greengrocers, butchers and charge them less.

Councillor Belben (Chair of the Overview and Scrutiny Commission) -

I apologise you do not feel you have not had the support from the Council but we will take your details away and look at this further.

Councillor Jones (Leader of the Council) –

I am not aware of the individual matters of this case, but I am sure we can look into the matter further and respond to our tenant.

Richard Gammie (Commercial Asset Manager) -

I am aware of the case and I’m afraid I do not have the latest information, but we will pick up the details separate to this discussion.

Richard Gammie (Commercial Asset Manager) –

I am happy to look at this if it relates to empty properties and marketing but it does need to be at the correct level of rent.

Councillor Irvine (Overview and Scrutiny Commission Member) -

I sympathise and agree. My concern would be with empty units at the parades and the decline of the parades as they equate to a large part of the Council’s income. Unfortunately some of the traditional choices do not exist anymore.  Think the Council does its best to ensure the parades are viable.

Councillor Hellier (Overview and Scrutiny Commission Member) -

Furnace Green parade has two empty units on it and as a result of the empty units the trade has declined.

Councillor Lanzer (Overview and Scrutiny Commission Member) -

Sometimes a unit is physically empty but has already been let, however the tenant has yet to move in.  Empty units cannot be determined by the frontages of the shops. National policy will dictate the use of Post Offices on the parades.

Councillor Khan (Overview and Scrutiny Commission Member) -

Huge concern when the post office closed in town particularly as the local post offices are important to residents.

Martin Stone, Business Owner Town Centre

Firstly I would like to commend the Scrutiny Panel’s report. With regards to 15.1a, “Maintain a list of essential/traditional and desirable parade uses to allow consideration of lower offers for essential/traditional trades” and I’m just wondering what that means? Does that mean the Council will be getting the right sort of shops on the parades and would be willing to offer 3-6 months rent-free periods as an incentive for them to take on the shops?  In the report it does say, subject to still obtaining a market rent to be decided upon.  What other areas would they be willing to support please?

Councillor Lanzer (Overview and Scrutiny Commission Member) -

Thank you for your question and for your comments on the report. The market rent point is important but it is an obligation under the 1972 Local Government Act to secure a reasonable return for residents. Some uses will tend to command a higher return than others because they are profitable perhaps hot food takeaways and bookmakers.  It is important for the Council to be transparent in its thinking of what trades it would like to see on the parades and the reason behind maintaining a list of trades and that would be something for Cabinet/Cabinet member to develop and it is used in other councils.

Some of the uses increasingly reflect the way people live their lives and the return on certain businesses is helpful in terms of maintaining the viability of the neighbourhood parades overall, whilst not compromising the Council’s desire to maintain a good balance of trade.