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The Executive Director - Resources gave a presentation which detailed the salient points of the Council's Budget for 2024/25.
Councillor Plant asked whether the Business Rate Relief Scheme was still due to finish in April 2024. The Executive Director - Resources reported that the scheme had been extended for a further 12 months.
Mr Newman asked whether Central Government had frozen the multiplier for the small business rate relief scheme as this would impact on the BID Levy. The Executive Director - Resources reported that there was no increase in the multiplier as the Government had frozen it for a further year.
The Leader of the Council gave a verbal update on the major projects which were being delivered by the Council in the borough; the Market Place redevelopment which would be opened by Her Worship, The Mayor, on 21 February 2024. Councillor Plant gave an update on the public realm improvement works planned for the Market Place and assured the meeting that the works would not impact on the height of the summer season period. These works would tie in to the Heritage trail and would be completed by Christmas 2024. The Leader of the Council reported that the Market Place car park would include 6 x 30 minute free car parking spaces.
Mr Newman asked if the gates to the Market Place would be removed. The Leader of the Council confirmed that access to the Market Place would be between 09:00 to 18:00 and would not conflict with the school opening hours. Mr Newman asked if the GYTCP could have sight of the revised plans and artists impressions for the Market Place redevelopment. Councillor Plant reported that the Member Working Group had finalised the Public Realm improvements scheme and timeline to rationalise the street furniture, seating, lighting and bins and the Leader of the Council agreed to send a copy of the plans to Mr Newman for him to distribute amongst his members.
The Leader of the Council gave an update in regard to The Place Learning Centre, North Quay, The Conge, The Wintergardens & The Herring Bridge.
Councillor Plant reported that buildings on the east side of the Conge would be used as the works depot for the public realm works in the Market Place. The depot would be mobile and the works phased.
The Leader of the Council reported that an important announcement in relation to the Wintergardens project would be made in conjunction with the Chair of the National Heritage Lottery Fund on the 29 February 2024.
The Leader of the Council reported that the development of The Place would increase footfall in the Market Place by 70%. Councillor Plant reported that it was also hoped to densify housing in the Town Centre which would make it economically viable for traders to operate from the Market Place.
The Leader of the Council asked for an update in regard to The Arcade. Mr Newman reported that it had been sold and an event was planned as a refresh. Mr Newman reported that it was the same owners but a different board of directors. Mr Newman proposed that the ownership and running of the the Arcade needed to be looked into and it would be beneficial to the Town if a local purchaser could be found.
The Executive Director - Resources confined that the business rate multiplier had been frozen for small businesses but for normal businesses it had been increased by CPI from 51.2% to 54.6%.
The Leader of the Council thanked all those who had attended the meeting.
The meeting closed at 09:32.