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What’s Next?: The Post-Portas Era Ojay McDonald Research and Policy Manager - ATCM
What’s Next?:The Post-Portas Era
Ojay McDonald
Research and Policy Manager - ATCM
Government’s Response to the Portas Review
Government response to Portas Review was influenced by six hour backbench debate in House of Commons secured by APPG for Town Centres on 17th Jan.
Government agreed with majority of recommendations giving go ahead for 27 Town Team pilots.
Government’s Response to the Portas Review
Additional initiatives taken on by the Government include:
High Street Innovation Fund£500k loan for BIDs development£1million for Future High Street X-Fund
Industry-led Response to Portas Review
All backbench MPs have been asked to become a member of the APPG for Town Centres.
All backbench MPs will be asked to sign a Town Centre Charter committing them to supporting their local high streets.
Industry-led Response to Portas Review
Grant Shapps MP (Minister for Housing and Local Govt) to deliver Portas recommendations as de facto Minister for Town Centres
ATCM to request role becomes explicit and permanent
Industry-led Response to Portas Review
Retail Markets Alliance launches 2 week campaign called ‘Love Your Local Market’ running from 23rd June to 7th July (www.loveyourlocalmarket.org.uk)
Industry-led Response to Portas Review
ATCM launched 10 step Manifesto to encourage local authorities to invest in town centre management during a time of austerity.
Available at www.atcm.org
Industry-led Response to Portas Review
ATCM with the National BIDs Advisory Service co-ordinated a parliamentary meeting on Super BIDs and landlord/BID legislation. Attendees included:BIDs IndustryProperty IndustryAPPG for Town CentresAPPG for Urban DevelopmentDCLG civil servantsDCLG Minister Grant Shapps
Beyond Portas
There are other policy developments which are as equally important to the Portas Review:NPPFLocalism ActLocal Government Finance BillDCLG research on neighbourhood shopping called “Parades of shops: Towards an understanding of performance and prospects”
