Agenda item

1.    PROPOSED BY COUNCILLOR PULLEN

“At the beginning of November 2022 there were 11 empty units in The Eastgate Shopping Centre. This is a sad reflection on the state of the economy, the state of retail business and the changing face of the city centre.

Businesses have failed and moved out because they haven’t been unable to afford rising costs and business rates, have been unable to compete with on line shopping and as the way the public buy things has changed, some businesses have been unable to keep up.       

Having empty units in the Eastgate Centre is costly to the council, is economically unviable and results in a loss of income.

Empty units are also unsightly, gives the impression of a lack of investment, leads to a rundown environment, which in turn affects footfall.

Now that the Gloucester City Council owns the Eastgate Centre one way in which the council could address the issues with empty units is to introduce a ‘Meanwhile Space’ initiative. Such a scheme would enable local community organisations, small business start-ups, social enterprises and similar organisations the opportunity to use empty units for temporary or short term periods based on realistically reduced and affordable terms and conditions.

Such occupancy would not only fill vacant premises in the Eastgate Centre but would also bring a diversity of uses and illustrate to the public the wealth of community initiatives and organisations that exist in Gloucester.

It would also be far better to have units used for alternative purposes rather than keep them empty for an extended period. 

This council therefore resolves to:

·       Initiate a Meanwhile Space scheme in the Eastgate Centre.

·       Consider vacant units that could be put to Meanwhile Space use

·       Identify potential organisations, community groups and business start-ups who might take advantage of the scheme

·       Lead by example and encourage landlords in other parts of the city centre to consider Meanwhile Space usage.”

2.    PROPOSED BY COUNCILLOR HILTON

“This council notes that Gloucestershire County Council has put in an expression of interest in creating so called investment zones, a scheme proposed by the short lived Liz Truss government.

 
This council notes that one of the areas proposed for central Gloucestershire is located around Gloucestershire Airport.

This council agrees that the best way to boost investment in Gloucestershire would be for the UK to re-join the European Single Market and Customs Union.

This council also notes both Stroud District Council and Cheltenham Borough Council have confirmed that they oppose the establishment of these so called investment zones, which will give businesses operating within them an unfair tax advantage over other well established businesses operating elsewhere in Gloucestershire.

This council also notes that the creation of these investment zones could undermine the planning polices established in the Joint Core Strategy, which is also currently under review. It would mean local residents getting less say on planning matters.

This council agrees not to support the county council’s bid, whilst the full implications of creating these mini tax havens with watered down planning controls in Gloucestershire, are still unknown.”

3.    PROPOSED BY COUNCILLOR RADLEY

“This council recognises that micro-generation is a useful way for residents and businesses to make a contribution to energy sustainability and security.

This council notes that micro-generation is the production of heat, electricity or both on a small scale from a low/zero carbon source. Many of the technologies use renewable sources, such as solar and wind power etc.

This council requests that the climate change and decarbonisation officer produce a report on how to expand micro-generation projects in the city of Gloucester within 3 months to better understand the opportunity and challenges this presents.”

37.1       Councillor Pullen proposed and Councillor Bhaimia seconded the following motion:

“At the beginning of November 2022 there were 11 empty units in The Eastgate Shopping Centre. This is a sad reflection on the state of the economy, the state of retail business and the changing face of the city centre.

Businesses have failed and moved out because they haven’t been unable to afford rising costs and business rates, have been unable to compete with on line shopping and as the way the public buy things has changed, some businesses have been unable to keep up.       

Having empty units in the Eastgate Centre is costly to the council, is economically unviable and results in a loss of income.

Empty units are also unsightly, gives the impression of a lack of investment, leads to a rundown environment, which in turn affects footfall.

Now that the Gloucester City Council owns the Eastgate Centre one way in which the council could address the issues with empty units is to introduce a ‘Meanwhile Space’ initiative. Such a scheme would enable local community organisations, small business start-ups, social enterprises and similar organisations the opportunity to use empty units for temporary or short term periods based on realistically reduced and affordable terms and conditions.

Such occupancy would not only fill vacant premises in the Eastgate Centre but would also bring a diversity of uses and illustrate to the public the wealth of community initiatives and organisations that exist in Gloucester.

It would also be far better to have units used for alternative purposes rather than keep them empty for an extended period. 

This council therefore resolves to:

·       Initiate a Meanwhile Space scheme in the Eastgate Centre.

·       Consider vacant units that could be put to Meanwhile Space use

·       Identify potential organisations, community groups and business start-ups who might take advantage of the scheme

·       Lead by example and encourage landlords in other parts of the city centre to consider Meanwhile Space usage.”

37.2       Councillor Norman proposed and Councillor Kubaszczyk seconded the following amendment:

“At the beginning of November 2022 there were 11 empty units in The Eastgate Shopping Centre.

This is a sad reflection on the state of the economy, the state of the retail business sector, and thechanging face of the city centre and the council being unable to enter into long term leases until we hear the outcome of the Levelling Up Fund round two bid.

Businesses have failed and moved out because they haven’t been unable to afford rising costs and business rates, have been unable to compete with on line online shopping and as the way the public buy things has changed, some businesses have been unable to keep up.

Having empty units in the Eastgate Centre is costly to the council, is economically unviable and results in a loss of income means that the council are unable to reach the full earning potentialof this asset.

Empty units are also unsightly, can gives the impression of a lack of investment, leads to a rundown environment, which in turn affects footfall.

Now that the As Gloucester City Council owns the Eastgate Centre one way in which the council could address the issues with empty units is to introduce a since the start of 2022, it has been working on a new managing agent tender, which was awarded in late summer and includes options to help combat the issue of empty units. This includes a ‘Meanwhile Space’ initiative. Such a scheme would which enables local community organisations, small business start-ups, social enterprises and similar organisations the opportunity to use empty units for temporary or short term short-term periods based on realistically reduced and affordable terms and conditions.

Such occupancyies would not only fill vacant premises in the Eastgate Centre but would also bring a diversity of uses and illustrate to the public the wealth of community initiatives and organisations that exist in Gloucester.

It would also be far better to have units used for alternative purposes rather than keep them empty for an extended period.

This council therefore resolves to:

·       Initiate Continue its work on developing a Meanwhile Space scheme, in the Eastgate Centre which in Gloucester will form part of the Place Activation Strategy which will cover all of the council’s assets in the city centre.

·       Consider vacant units that could be put to Meanwhile Space use, whilst considering the impact of a successful Levelling Up Fund round two bid.

·       Continue to Iidentify potential organisations, community groups and business start-ups whomight take advantage of the scheme

·       Lead by example and encourage landlords in other parts of the city centre to consider Meanwhile Space usage.”

37.3       Councillor Hilton withdrew the Liberal Democrat Group amendment.

37.4       The motion as amended was put to a vote and carried.

37.5    RESOLVED that -

At the beginning of November 2022 there were 11 empty units in The Eastgate Shopping Centre.

This is a sad reflection on the state of the economy, the retail business sector, and thechanging face of the city centre and the council being unable to enter into long term leases until we hear the outcome of the Levelling Up Fund round two bid.

Businesses have failed and moved out because they haven’t been able to afford rising costs and business rates, have been unable to compete with on line online shopping and as the way the public buy things has changed, some businesses have been unable to keep up.

Having empty units in the Eastgate Centre means that the council are unable to reach the full earning potentialof this asset.

Empty units are also unsightly, can gives the impression of a lack of investment, leads to a rundown environment, which in turn affects footfall.

As Gloucester City Council owns the Eastgate Centre since the start of 2022, it has been working on a new managing agent tender, which was awarded in late summer and includes options to help combat the issue of empty units. This includes a ‘Meanwhile Space’ initiative which enables local community organisations, small business start-ups, social enterprises and similar organisations the opportunity to use empty units for temporary or short-term periods based on realistically reduced and affordable terms and conditions.

Such occupancies would not only fill vacant premises in the Eastgate Centre but would also bring a diversity of uses and illustrate to the public the wealth of community initiatives and organisations that exist in Gloucester.

It would also be far better to have units used for alternative purposes rather than keep them empty for an extended period.

This council therefore resolves to:

·       Continue its work on developing a Meanwhile Space scheme, which in Gloucester will form part of the Place Activation Strategy which will cover all of the council’s assets in the city centre.

·       Consider vacant units that could be put to Meanwhile Space use, whilst considering the impact of a successful Levelling Up Fund round two bid.

·       Continue to identify potential organisations, community groups and business start-ups whomight take advantage of the scheme

·       Lead by example and encourage landlords in other parts of the city to consider Meanwhile Space usage.”

37.6       Councillor Hilton withdrew the motion relating to investment zones.

37.7       Councillor Radley proposed and Councillor Conder seconded the following motion:

“This council recognises that micro-generation is a useful way for residents and businesses to make a contribution to energy sustainability and security.

This council notes that micro-generation is the production of heat, electricity or both on a small scale from a low/zero carbon source. Many of the technologies use renewable sources, such as solar and wind power etc.

This council requests that the climate change and decarbonisation officer produce a report on how to expand micro-generation projects in the city of Gloucester within 3 months to better understand the opportunity and challenges this presents.”

37.8       The Motion was put to a vote and carried

37.9    RESOLVED that: -

This council recognises that micro-generation is a useful way for residents and businesses to make a contribution to energy sustainability and security.

This council notes that micro-generation is the production of heat, electricity or both on a small scale from a low/zero carbon source. Many of the technologies use renewable sources, such as solar and wind power etc.

This council requests that the climate change and decarbonisation officer produce a report on how to expand micro-generation projects in the city of Gloucester within 3 months to better understand the opportunity and challenges this presents.