Agenda item

To receive the report of the Leader

            RESOLVED

(i)         That the representations and responses received during the consultation be noted (Appendix C to the report) and the Horsham Town Centre Vision statement be approved, as amended (Appendix E to the report).

(ii)        That the Vision Delivery Schedule be endorsed (Appendix D to the report).

(iii)       That the Leader of the Council be authorised to approve, prior to publication:

(a)        minor editorial changes, including expanding the list of consultees; and

(b)        an introductory statement, summing up the Vision.

REASONS

(i)         Amendments have been made in the light of responses received on the draft Horsham Town Centre Vision statement.

(ii)        To provide guidance on the future development of Horsham Town Centre and to implement a Delivery Schedule of projects to further develop the Vision in detail.

(iii)       There is a need to allow for minor editorial changes. Any significant changes to the document would need to be reported back to Cabinet for approval before publication.

Four members of the public spoke with reference to the need for an overall vision for cycling into and across the town centre; the identified potential for additional car parking and housing on the Royal Sun Alliance & Station car parks, with particular reference to the possible loss of New Street Gardens to provide access to the site; and general comments on the Vision as a whole.

The Leader reported that in May and June of this year the Council had proactively sought the views of the Neighbourhood Councils and other key organisations regarding ideas for Horsham town.  Early engagement was also undertaken through Members’ seminars, a stakeholder workshop and individual discussions.  In addition, a thorough review of Horsham town was undertaken looking at population, social and economic factors, retail, visitor and hotel accommodation, and a car parking study was also undertaken.  The review included an analysis of the town centre’s current strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats.

This information was used to draft a Vison for the town, which formed the basis of a public exhibition and consultation.  The exhibition attracted over 1100 visitors and 164 individual written responses to the survey were received together with many other suggestions and observations.  The overwhelming message from this exercise was that, whilst embracing change, Horsham’s ‘market town’ character should be kept and enhanced.  There was significant support for all seven strategic directions described in the Vision document.

The Town Centre Vision Statement was amended as a result of this feedback and a further public consultation ran from mid- September to mid- October 2017.  The proposals included improvements to Blackhorse Way and to the public realm in the Bishopric, a refurbished Queen Street entrance to the town and improved wi-fi hotspots, lighting, planting and pedestrian walkways.  Whilst the Council did not own many of the sites mentioned, it would work closely with landowners to explore and deliver schemes that bene?ted the town.

This was a visionary rather than a planning document, setting the high level direction of travel whilst clarifying the issues to be addressed.  Detailed projects, as listed in the report, would follow in due course.

The Leader emphasized that each project would be a major and detailed area of work in itself and gave assurance that there would be full consultation before any of the proposals were progressed.

Approval of the Town Centre Vision statement, which had been amended in the light of public and stakeholder representations received during the consultation carried out in September and October 2017, was therefore now sought.

Members of Cabinet discussed a number of issues including the development of cycle routes and links; the need for designs sensitive to the character of the town; changes in retailing; and the need for appropriate planting.

Other Members welcomed the Vision as a basis for improving and making the town centre more attractive, whilst retaining its character as a market town.

            RESOLVED

(i)         That the representations and responses received during the consultation be noted (Appendix C to the report) and the Horsham Town Centre Vision statement be approved, as amended (Appendix E to the report).

(ii)        That the Vision Delivery Schedule be endorsed (Appendix D to the report).

(iii)       That the Leader of the Council be authorised to approve, prior to publication:

(a)        minor editorial changes, including expanding the list of consultees; and

(b)        an introductory statement, summing up the Vision.

REASONS

(i)         Amendments have been made in the light of responses received on the draft Horsham Town Centre Vision statement.

(ii)        To provide guidance on the future development of Horsham Town Centre and to implement a Delivery Schedule of projects to further develop the Vision in detail.

(iii)       There is a need to allow for minor editorial changes. Any significant changes to the document would need to be reported back to Cabinet for approval before publication.