Agenda item

To receive an overview of the process of achieving Purple Flag status and an update on next steps to renew Gloucester’s Purple Flag status for 2023.

95.1   The Cabinet Member for Communities and Neighbourhoods, Councillor Raymond Padilla, provided an overview of the Purple Flag accolade, explaining that it was an international award aiming to raise standards and broaden the appeal of town and city centres during the evening and night-time.  He explained that accreditation of the award was run by the Association of Town and City Management (ATCM) and was the benchmark for good night-time destinations with a safer atmosphere. Councillor Padilla further informed Members that Gloucester City Council would be applying for its sixth consecutive Purple Flag award over the coming months.

95.2    Councillor Hilton stated that he was aware that there had been issues with knife carrying and drink spiking in the city. He noted that he was pleased with the work and wished Officers success for the Purple Flag application, however he raised concerns that some businesses in Gloucester were refusing to accept payment by cash. The City Centre Manager noted that this issue could not be addressed through Purple Flag due to its narrow terms of reference, however he agreed to take the matter up with street trading colleagues. A discussion ensued and Councillor Hudson suggested that this was an issue which could be taken up with Gloucester Business Improvement District (BID).

95.3    Councillor Wilson referred to the narrative in the update concerning the overnight 12-hour assessment and asked whether judges would stay for the full duration. The City Centre Manager confirmed that the judges would stay for the full duration as every element of the night-time economy would be assessed, including taxi martialling, dispersal, security cameras and street medic coordination. He noted that this assessment was undertaken twice annually, once through the City Council and subsequently Purple Flag. The Chair of the Purple Flag Working Group noted that interested Members were welcome to attend the overnight assessment.

95.4    The Chair of the Purple Flag Working Group explained that her role within the partnership was to convene stakeholders and noted that work on making the city safe during the evening and night-time went on throughout the year. She noted that safety was an ongoing issue which had improved over the years and that Purple Flag status would not have been achieved without input and investment from the City Council in the night-time economy, such as CCTV upgrades.

95.5    In response to a query from Councillor Radley as to awareness of the city’s Purple Flag status amongst night-time economy users, the City Centre Manager noted that work was ongoing following the latest City Council self-assessment to raise awareness. He explained that door staff wore badges promoting the city’s Purple Flag status and that the Purple Flag Working Group had attended a Freshers event at Hartpury University. The City Centre Manager noted that resource limitations were a challenge, but it was important that users, businesses and parents felt reassured.

95.6    In response to an additional query from Councillor Radley regarding the cost of a Purple Flag application, the City Centre Manager explained that this depended on the size of the city, but the cost to Gloucester City Council would be £800. Councillor Radley asked whether this also covered the cost of the assessment itself which the City Centre Manager confirmed, however he noted that although there was no additional cost for the assessment, significant resources were needed for the successful administration of the 12-hour assessment.

95.7    The Chair expressed the view that it was important that the public were made aware of the work undertaken to make the city safer and queried whether the Purple Flag accolade had had any impact on city centre footfall. The Chair of the Purple Flag Working Group confirmed that it had and that businesses operating in the night-time economy sector were noticeably busier. She referred to the relationship which had been built with Hartpury University and noted that Gloucestershire Police did not need to provide as heavy a resource in Gloucester city centre during the night-time at it did previously.

95.8    Councillor Hudson paid tribute to Officers, the Purple Flag Working Group and its Chair for their hard work in consecutively achieving Purple Flag status. He noted that city centre accommodation for Hartpury students was now readily available in the Blackfriars Residence and expressed the view that this investment in the city would not have taken place without the safety accolade. Reflecting on the student population, he noted that this was growing and was very important to the thriving city.

95.9    The Chair noted his agreement with this sentiment and commented that students were very important to the city of Gloucester and its economy.

95.10  In response to a query from Councillor Ackroyd regarding a ‘Night Time Economy’ tour for Councillors which had been postponed, the City Centre Manager explained that this tour was an initiative of the Licensing Team rather than the Purple Flag Working Group, however a further invite was likely to be extended to Members in due course. The Chair recommended that Members make use of this experience.

95.11  The City Centre Manager advised Members that a previous comment received from the Purple Flag judges was that Gloucester city had set the standard for other towns and cities and that he had been informed on many occasions that Gloucester was much safer due to this work and had good partnership working. The Chair thanked the City Centre Manager, Councillor Padilla and the Chair of the Purple Flag Working Group for their informative update.

          RESOLVED – That the Overview and Scrutiny Committee NOTE the update.