Issue - meetings

Report attached separately

The committee received a progress report from the Mill Road Coordinator. 

Members thanked the Mill Road Coordinator for her hard work and the improvements that had been made. Thanks were also expressed to the Chair of the Mill Road Traders Associated for attending the meeting.

In response to member’s questions the Mill Road Coordinator and the Head of Tourism and City Centre Management confirmed the following:

i)                A capital grant of £5,000 was available to fund the Mill Road Information sign.

ii)              The Mill Road Traders Association has a current membership of 188 (1 representative from each individual business). This is a high percentage of the traders on Mill Road but a survey has been conducted to find out why the others have not joined. The findings will be reported back to members in due course.

iii)             The weekly email bulletins are sent to a mailing list of 195 people and opened by an average of 45% – which is a good return rate.

iv)            As small businesses have many conflicting priorities, this may account for the very low number (1 to date) of applications for the forecourt improvements.

v)              The work being undertaken in Mill Road is part of a pilot that, if successful, could be rolled out to other areas in Cambridge with a high concentration of independent traders.

vi)            Plans for the Farmers Market events in 2014 are progressing and stall holder applications are being received. Acknowledge comments about the benefit of having a more regular timetable for these events but highlighted location as an issue.  

Members agreed to forward any further comments regarding the Mill Road Information sign to the Mill Road Coordinator.