Agenda item

[To consider the support package to businesses impacted economically by the Public Realm works]. 

Briefing note is marked: To Follow. 

The Deputy Leader Inclusive City Economy gave background information on the trader’s board, which had formed to give local businesses a direct voice to the Local Authority on business disruption caused by the City’s regeneration works. The Director of Regeneration began the presentation (a copy is attached to the signed minutes) and gave more detailed background information on the Public Realm Improvement Works. £15.5 million had been invested into the City as part of the Government’s Future Highstreet Programme.

The Director of Resident Services summarised the interactions the Local Authority had had with businesses disrupted by the works. The Council had been clear to state that it was not legally responsible to make disruption payments, but had given a commitment to support local businesses where clear and substantiated evidence had been provided. Transparency and Scrutiny on this matter was fundamental.  The Head of Enterprise set out in chronological order the planning, interaction with partners and business representatives and construction periods from the end of 2018 until present. The main contractor for the development had a liaison officer for businesses on site every day, with multiple outlets utilised for communications with businesses. Businesses had engaged and inputted with the contractor and the Local Authority throughout. Further reviews had been taken since then with another report planned in the near future. Business support was changing as European Union funding was coming to an end post-Brexit. The Council was now working with the West Midlands Combined Authority and other stakeholders to develop a new business support programme in place of the EU schemes.

The Vice-Chair asked how many advisors had been employed by the Council to deal with the issues facing businesses and the development. He also enquired about business support payments and wanted to know if the 6 businesses that had gone out of business could provide evidence that their loss of earnings was caused by the developments that they would be given money.

The Deputy Leader Inclusive City Economy explained that the Trader’s Board agreed with the investment and works that were being done in the City and that the reduced footfall had occurred post-pandemic due to people increasingly moving to online shopping. This market fact, he argued, complicated matters and that a legal framework had to be followed when handling public money. He said that all works had been done in consultation with and in agreement with the local traders.

A Councillor gave examples of the entertainment industry and asked if the Council was reaching out to those within that industry to look to set up businesses within the City, as he felt the City and Council shouldn’t just focus on retail trading. The Director of Communications and Visitor Experience agreed and said the Council was looking towards all investors to increase footfall in the City centre.

A Councillor cited newspaper articles which discussed issues with business viability in the City centre due to the roadworks and asked how the Council could change the perception of the City to attract new investors. The Director of Communications and Visitor Experience explained to the Panel that as new projects completed, this would help alter perceptions and increase footfall in the City, he cited the newly renovated Civic Halls as an example. He explained that events were planned in the future in the City which would attract people and business, which would help transform the perception of the City as it moved through and out of its transition period.

A Councillor asked if the RSN report would be made available for the Panel to view. The Head of Enterprise replied confirming it would be made available to the Panel. The Deputy Leader Inclusive City Economy added that some content would be redacted for data protection purposes.