Economic Development
Our Vision and Role?
© Bishop’s Stortford Town Council
How the Town is Perceived
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EHDC “in transition”
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Wessex Economics – “town faces two challenges”
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accommodating the potential for growth without sacrificing quality of life
provision of modern business space for employers in the right location
Regeneris/ Hertfordshire Employment Sites Study “potential at risk”
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A minor sub-regional centre, major change underway through re-development of sites
Traditional market town becoming a larger settlement /greater significance
Close to Stansted, positioned for airport-related activities/visitor services attractive place to visit
employment land & premises a key challenge, critical to identify sufficient space
Marketing and Inward Investment important for competitiveness
opportunity to extend evening economy/link to an emerging cultural quarter
opportunities related to Stansted airport –
possible sub-regional business area but no suitable sites, few vacancies
Future site locations unclear – significant risk town’s potential cannot be realised
Common message: Town has potential to grow economically but:
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We don’t have the employment sites
We don’t have a clear picture where they will go
© Bishop’s Stortford Town Council
Economic Development - The Players
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Hertfordshire Local Enterprise partnership
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Hertfordshire County Council
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Runs market, dabbles in tourism, co-funds Economic Development
project manager, various project activities
Chamber of Commerce, Retail Partnership
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Projects: “Stimulating enterprise”, “Low Carbon Economy”,
“Stepping Stones” (Developing a skilled workforce), Infrastructure
improvements, Inward investment projects (through the LEP)
East Herts District Council
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Government’s chosen growth engine
Priorities currently unlikely to benefit Bishop’s Stortford significantly
Currently competing for funding 2015 onwards
BusinessStortford initiative - stimulating inward investment
Support to members, Networking events
Lobbying
Our role and focus?
© Bishop’s Stortford Town Council
District Councils - Example activities
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East Herts District Council
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Wychavon Council
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Managed £2.8 million fund to stimulate the economy, over 60 projects commissioned.
Local shopping campaign drawing in private sector investment of £2.9 million
Wyfe Forest District Council
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led major retail development: department store, M&S, Sainsbury’s, 54 retail units, civic square,
restaurants and cafes, cinema complex, bowling rink, new library & bus terminal, 48 residential
units.
Assisted with the creation of a BID, Shopper numbers have increased and 2,200 jobs created.
Calderdale
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JV with Waitrose to acquire land and build a supermarket in a previously run-down high street.
Wycombe District Council
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Employment Land Studies, SME’s mentoring work, Markets , Local Economy Audit, Tourism, East
Herts Learners Forum, My Incubator Project (Ware), Deliver LSP projects (eg Get Britain Working),
Deliver the Eastern Plateau Rural Development Project, Industrial Estates projects, Development of
high Value jobs
£12,000 spent to bringing 10 empty shops back into use through business rate discounts.
Bicester
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Partnership to provide two free hours parking (50/50 funded with Sainsburys)
© Bishop’s Stortford Town Council
Town/Parish Councils – Example
activities
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90 out of 353 ‘larger’ councils engaged: Scope, content and definition varies widely
BSTC (principal activities)
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Co-fund EDPM (10K), CCTV(22K), Christmas lights(14K), Carnival(11K), Toilets(7K), ‘In Bloom’ (7k), Empty Shops
project
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Devizes
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Falmouth
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27K for town regeneration/business enterprise
Hatfield
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86K for Town Centre manager and BID support
Hailsham
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20K for CCTV
Match-fund Town Centre Coordinator
Houghton Regis, Litchfield
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Staff time only
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Woodley
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Sawbridgeworth
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12K to support Town Centre Manager
fund 1hr free parking, Christmas lights & switch on
Frome – very active
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Economic Development & Regeneration Manager, Town Team & Economic Development Plan,
Business Networking, Welcome pack for investors & new residents, Empty shops project, Skills training workshops,
Business start up training/support. Shop local app
Christmas Lights & switch on (22.5k), other events (15.5k) , Newsletters (£3.5K), Economic Research (10k)
Keep Frome Clean
© Bishop’s Stortford Town Council
Questions
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What is our vision for the economic development
of the Town?
What is our role in the context of the other
players?
How do we avoid trying (and failing) to be ‘all
things to all people’?
© Bishop’s Stortford Town Council
Backup
© Bishop’s Stortford Town Council
Economic Development Project Manager
– Recent History
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Origins
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Transition
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‘Town Centre manager’ role jointly sponsored by EHDC and BSTC (nominally
£10,000 = 10hrs/week each)
Combined with BSTC-only role focused on event organization (principally
Carnival, Remembrance & management of let offices)
2009-2011 - Role became increasingly unsatisfactory – “all things to all
people”
Town Centre Partnership placing challenging demands
Role of chair of TCP became inappropriate and impossible to manage
2011 – By agreement with EHDC chair vacated, role redefined, links with
TCP redefined
Initial adverse reaction from TCP, relationship now improved
Current
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Role free to move with business needs
Reviewed annually between BSTC and EHDC
© Bishop’s Stortford Town Council
EDPM 2013/14 Projects
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Encourage & support investment opportunities , retail and other (50% BSTC
funding)
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Respond to enquiries, signpost, match make, support
Produce quarterly retail vacancy rates and use class statistics
Operate Bishop’s Stortford Radio Link
Operate Drab to Fab = display material for selected empty shops
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Support Bishop’s Stortford Chamber of Commerce (50% BSTC funding)
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Funded by radio link and occasional grants
Establish the viability and sustainability of Business Stortford project, implement or exit - aligned to
BSTC Strategic plan
Propose ideas to increase Chamber capacity to support members, raise profile & add value
Town Centre Events (100% BSTC Funding)
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Carnival
Remembrance
Planning WW1 2014 anniversary
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Christmas Lights (100% BSTC Funding)
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Management of let Offices on 2nd floor (100% BSTC Funding)
© Bishop’s Stortford Town Council