DECISION

1.    To note the progress made to date in developing the Town Centre Strategy for Tower Hamlets.

2.    To note the draft Town Centre Strategy included as Appendix 1 to the report.

3.    To note the outcomes of the application of the ATCM indicators of a successful town centre across the 10 District Centres as shown at Appendix 2 to the report.

4.    To agree to undertake formal consultation with regard to the adoption of the Town Centre Strategy.

Action by:

CORPORATE DIRECTOR, PLACE (A. DALVI)

(Interim Divisional Director, Growth and Economic Development (A. Scott)

(Business and Town Centre Manager (M. Aust)

The Mayor introduced the report on the Town Centre Strategy setting out a list of town centres and the resources available to them, the approach to managing them over the next few years and also the links to wider regeneration.

During the discussion Councillor John Pierce, Chair of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee highlighted that the area around Redchurch street was changing significantly and officers reported that it would be part of the Brick Lane regeneration programme because of that, however they would also look to see if it should be included elsewhere in the strategy.

Councillor Peter Golds, Leader of the Conservative Group, highlighted the additional challenge facing the Borough due to the lack of larger scale town centres. He reported on work undertaken in other Boroughs by residents looking to develop their own areas. He also noted the problems with fast food outlets and fixed odds betting terminals.

The Mayor thanked all Members for their contribution to the debate and also noted the point about the need to be careful on how the Whitechapel area developed. He agreed the recommendations as set out in the report.

RESOLVED

1.    To note the progress made to date in developing the Town Centre Strategy for Tower Hamlets.

2.    To note the draft Town Centre Strategy included as Appendix 1 to the report.

3.    To note the outcomes of the application of the ATCM indicators of a successful town centre across the 10 District Centres as shown at Appendix 2 to the report.

4.    To agree to undertake formal consultation with regard to the adoption of the Town Centre Strategy.