Issue - meetings

The Cabinet were presented with a report from the Director of Place, which informed Members about the new Tiverton Shopfront Enhancement Scheme launching in October / November 2022 and requested approval for the revised Scheme.

The Cabinet Member for Planning and Economic Regeneration noted that this was a relaunch of the shopfront enhancement scheme that was successfully delivered from 2015 until 2020, when the allocated funding was depleted.The purpose of this scheme was for shopfronts to be maintained as well as visual appearance of the shopping areas to be improved in order for footfall to be promoted.Each grant offered would provide up to 50% of the total costs for improvements up to a maximum of £2,500. The grant could be used for repairs, redecoration and signage in keeping with the conservation area.

The Leader thanked the Cabinet Member for their presentation and opened the floor to questions which were as followed:

• A Cabinet Member asked if Cullompton would have a shopfront enhancement scheme, to which the Cabinet Member for Planning and Economic Regeneration noted that there was an existing scheme within Cullompton’s heritage action zone already.

• A Cabinet Member noted that this scheme was vitally important and that Tiverton’s shopfronts had improved compared to a number of years ago.

• A Cabinet Member wanted to know to what extent had discussions taken place with Tiverton Town Council and to what extent was their influence on this scheme and could they take it further to enhance the scheme’s benefits. The Director of Place explained that Tiverton Town Council were aware of the scheme and had been involved in the scheme’s formation, with recommended improvements to the scheme been received from the Town Council. The Director of Place also confirmed that work was underway so that this scheme could be aligned with other schemes.

The Leader asked who the nominated Tiverton Ward Members might be, but it was explained by the Director of Place that recent conversations had been undertaken but not yet confirmed.

RESOLVED: That the new Tiverton Shopfront Enhancement Scheme be approved and three Tiverton Ward Members be nominated to be part of the Funding Panel for the Scheme.

(Proposed by Cllr C Slade and seconded by Cllr D Knowles)

(Cllr C Eginton abstained)

Reason for Decision: This supports the Corporate Plan priority of ‘Economy’, in particular: “Identify strategic and tactical interventions to create economic and community confidence and pride in the places we live. This includes a continued focus on Town Centre Regeneration”