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Councillor Bick: The future of Cambridge city centre
Council is aware of the large
structural changes in the retail sector occurring during the pandemic, both
reflecting and accelerating the trend towards online shopping, and that recent
bankruptcies impact a significant proportion of retail space in Cambridge city
centre;
Council believes that this has the
potential for profound impact not only on the precious environment in the
centre itself but also on the economic and social contribution it makes to the
whole of our city and beyond; that this represents a challenge beyond
straight-forward bounce-back recovery; and that it is therefore timely and
opportune to start a conversation to take stock of the centre's recent
evolution and to re-imagine it for the future, using a placemaking approach in
the public interest.
It resolves that the council, as the
city’s representative body and, with its key roles in planning, streets &
open spaces and commercial property ownership, should lead this process,
working with partners and stakeholders and involving the public: the broad aim
of the exercise to maintain the city centre as a destination of vitality and
jobs for local people, and of hospitality to its many visitors, in a way which
complements its identity as historic university city encircled by public open
spaces and residential areas and growing city quarters with neighbourhood
centres of their own.
In the process it urges consideration
of:
Council requests the Chief Executive to
bring an initial report to the July meeting of Strategy & Resources
Scrutiny Committee on how the council can most effectively start to take this
matter forward.
Minutes:
Councillor
Bick proposed and Councillor Porrer seconded the following motion:
Council is aware of the large structural
changes in the retail sector occurring during the pandemic, both reflecting and
accelerating the trend towards online shopping, and that recent bankruptcies
impact a significant proportion of retail space in Cambridge city centre;
Council believes that this has the
potential for profound impact not only on the precious environment in the
centre itself but also on the economic and social contribution it makes to the
whole of our city and beyond; that this represents a challenge beyond straight-forward
bounce-back recovery; and that it is therefore timely and opportune to start a
conversation to take stock of the centre's recent evolution and to re-imagine
it for the future, using a placemaking approach in the public interest.
It resolves that the council, as the
city’s representative body and, with its key roles in planning, streets &
open spaces and commercial property ownership, should lead this process,
working with partners and stakeholders and involving the public: the broad aim
of the exercise to maintain the city centre as a destination of vitality and
jobs for local people, and of hospitality to its many visitors, in a way which
complements its identity as historic university city encircled by public open
spaces and residential areas and growing city quarters with neighbourhood
centres of their own.
In the process it urges consideration
of:
Council requests the Chief Executive to
bring an initial report to the July meeting of Strategy & Resources
Scrutiny Committee on how the council can most effectively start to take this
matter forward.
Council is aware of the large
structural changes in the retail sector occurring during the pandemic, both
reflecting and accelerating the trend towards online shopping, and that recent
bankruptcies impact a significant proportion of retail space in Cambridge city
centre;
The pandemic has had a major impact on theCouncil believes
that this has the potential for profound impact not only on the precious environment in of the city
centre itself but and also on the economic and social
contribution it makes to the whole of our city and beyond;.
Equally concerning has been the effect of
COVID 19 on neighbourhood shopping areas such as Mill Rd, Cherry Hinton Rd,
Arbury Ct., Chesterton Road and Chesterton High St. Council recognises the work
undertaken to date to prepare for the future and thanks all City Council staff
for their outstanding endeavours over the last 12 months. Council notes the
structural changes in the retail sector that have occurred over the last twelve
months and of the significant challenge still to come. Therefore, it is timely
to take stock, and review and coordinate our ongoing activity with an eye to
the future.
that this represents a challenge beyond
straight-forward bounce-back recovery; and that it is therefore timely and
opportune to start a conversation to take stock of the centre's recent
evolution and to re-imagine it for the future, using a placemaking approach in
the public interest.
We therefore welcome the proposed appointment
of the Economic Recovery Officer as set out in the Budget Setting Report. It We also resolves that the
council, as the city’s representative body and, with its key roles in planning,
streets & open spaces and commercial property ownership, should continue
to lead the process of preparing the City’s recovery, building on the effective
work undertaken to date to respond to COVID19. This work should be undertaken
in conjunction with the Cambridge Business Development (BID), established
partnerships such as the GCP and the Combined Authority, working with
stakeholders and actively involving the public.
lead this process, working with
partners and stakeholders and involving the public: the broad aim of the
exercise to maintain the city centre as a destination of vitality and jobs for
local people, and of hospitality to its many visitors, in a way which
complements its identity as historic university
city encircled by public open spaces and residential areas and growing city
quarters with neighbourhood centres of their own.
In the process it urges consideration
of: The proposed Review will consider:
·
The work of the Economic Recovery
Officer in facilitating the recovery of the city centre and neighbourhood
shopping areas
Council requests the Chief Executive to
bring a report to the July meeting of Strategy & Resources Scrutiny
Committee on the ongoing work that the council has taken to respond to the
needs of the City. an initial report to the July meeting of Strategy
& Resources Scrutiny Committee on how the council can most effectively
start to take this matter forward.
On a show of hands the amendment was carried by 21 votes to 0.
Resolved (by 21 votes
to 0) that:
The pandemic has
had a major impact on the precious environment of the city centre itself and also on the economic
and social contribution it makes to the whole of our city and beyond. Equally concerning
has been the effect of COVID 19 on neighbourhood shopping areas such as Mill
Rd, Cherry Hinton Rd, Arbury Ct., Chesterton Road and Chesterton High St.
Council recognises the work undertaken to date to prepare for the future and
thanks all City Council staff for their outstanding endeavours over the last 12
months. Council notes the structural changes in the retail sector that have
occurred over the last twelve months and of the significant challenge still to
come. Therefore, it is timely to take stock, and review and coordinate our
ongoing activity with an eye to the future.
We therefore welcome the proposed appointment of the
Economic Recovery Officer as set out in the Budget Setting Report. We also
resolve that the council, as the city’s representative body and, with its key
roles in planning, streets & open spaces and commercial property ownership,
should continue to lead the process of preparing the City’s recovery, building
on the effective work undertaken to date to respond to COVID19. This work
should be undertaken in conjunction with the Cambridge Business Development (BID),
established partnerships such as the GCP and the Combined Authority, working
with stakeholders and actively involving the public.
The proposed Review will consider:
·
The work of the Economic Recovery Officer in
facilitating the recovery of the city centre and neighbourhood shopping areas
Council requests the Chief Executive to bring a report to
the July meeting of Strategy & Resources Scrutiny Committee on the ongoing
work that the council has taken to respond to the needs of the City.