Agenda item

(Cllr Lynda Rice arrived at 18:42 for the commencement of this item)

The Cabinet Member for Regeneration presented a report concerning the draft Barking Town Centre Strategy, which was appended to the report.

Barking Town Centre was identified as one of the five Growth hubs in the Council’s new Vision and Priorities and formed a key part of the adopted Growth Strategy.  The draft Barking Town Centre Strategy had been produced in order to establish a shared way forward and set out how partners could work together realising Barking’s full potential.

The draft Barking Town Centre Strategy had five strategic objectives which together aimed to ensure Barking realised its full potential and established its own unique position in East London as a place to live, work, learn and spend time.  The five objectives were:

1.  Housing Delivery: Provide a wider choice of quality housing.

2.  Places of Work: Increase the town centre’s profile as a place to do business, enable the creation of attractive workspaces and create more jobs.

3.  Barking as East London’s cultural hub: Increase creative industries and participation in arts and culture.

4.  Accessibility: Improve the transport infrastructure and provide convenient access to the town centre.

5.  Place making: Continue to improve the quality of buildings, spaces and to value the heritage and diversity. Plus, engaging Barking’s diverse communities in delivering the vision.

The strategy set out the detail of numerous development opportunities and included an action plan of deliverables.

Reference was made to Barking becoming the cultural hub of East London, which would promote the creative industries and participation in arts and culture.  Rather than seeking to compete with neighbouring large retail centres such as Lakeside and Westfield, the aim was that Barking would become a destination place for alternative shopping and cultural events.

With regard to consultation, the Cabinet Member for Regeneration advised Cabinet that there would be an exhibition rather than a public meeting to ensure engagement with local people.

Cabinet Members spoke in support of the draft Barking Town Centre Strategy and made a number of observations which included:

·  Creating a theme in the Town Centre, especially with the cultural offer growing;

·  Becoming a zone for culture;

·  The need for regular cleaning of the Town Centre especially in relation to bird droppings;

• Changing the frontage of Barking Station and articulating a greater vision for station improvements such as lifts, escalators and making the case to Transport for London for a bus stop outside the station;

·  Creating spaces for young people;

·  Greater signage for the area;

·  Aspirations for a cinema;

·  Increased arts activities outside Barking Town Hall.

In response to some of the comments made, the Cabinet Member for Regeneration advised that whilst there were already retail opportunities in the Town Centre, there would be further opportunities in Barking Riverside also.  There had been an increase in eating establishments coming to the Town Centre which in itself was attracting trade.

With reference to Barking Station frontage and improvements, it was noted that the bridge infrastructure was a significant barrier to achieving major structural changes. That said it was acknowledged that improvements were required to improve accessibility.  Unfortunately due to the footprint of the station, it would not be possible to introduce escalators although lifts could be brought in.

Reference was made by the Cabinet Member for Children’s Social Care to the private rental development by Grainger plc in the Town Centre and has asked for an analysis of the pros and cons of this type of development.

Finally, the Cabinet Member of Regeneration confirmed that the Council was committed to increased signage and to examine the business case for a cinema.

The Leader responded to a question regarding TfL zoning and confirmed that the cost had been estimated at £7m, meaning such a proposal would not be appropriate for the Council to undertake at this time.

Cabinet resolved to:

(i)  Approve the draft Barking Town Centre Strategy (Appendix 1) for public consultation; and

(ii)  Authorise the Director of Growth to make any non-substantial amendments to the Strategy following the public consultation and, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Regeneration, to approve the final version for publication, subject to the proviso that any proposed substantial amendments to the Strategy are presented to the Cabinet for decision.