This report sets out proposals for addressing the issues facing Wirral’s town centres as identified in the Strategy for Town Centres, Retail and Commercial Leisure agreed by Cabinet in January 2010 and puts forward a framework for more detailed action planning work and future interventions. The development of more detailed proposals will inform the draft Core Strategy Development Plan Document.  

A report by the Interim Director of Corporate Services served to update Members on the progress made in taking forward the recommendations agreed by the Cabinet at its meeting on 14 January 2010 in respect of the Strategy for Town Centres, Retail and Commercial Leisure.

In addition the report set out proposals and options for future actions.  These actions included:

·  Appraising the vitality of each of the town, district and local centres identified in the Strategy to provide a clear evidence base for progressing any potential actions and investment;

·  Proposals for putting in place a phased programme of centre-specific Action Plans that would be developed in partnership with local traders, residents and shoppers.

RESOLVED: That

(1)  a detailed evidence base for each of the retail centres identified in the Town Centre, Retail and Commercial Leisure Strategy be produced in order to inform the Core Strategy Development Plan Document and that this be the subject of a further report to Cabinet upon its completion; and

(2)  the approach to the production of a phased programme of Action Plan development for the local town centres addressed by the detailed evidence base work be agreed.