Minutes:
We received a Town Team update from Aaron Reeks on various projects.
The Committee noted the project report for Caldicot market and noted the following;
· The project had grown in popularity over the year, culminating in their largest market, the Christmas gift market which featured 33 stalls.
· Running costs were higher during January-June due to the hire of a vehicle and trips to Abergavenny market to collect and use MCC stalls.
· Running costs reduced considerably since the purchase of 10 gazebos.
· The programme of markets for 2017 has been confirmed with bookings already made by stall holders.
The Committee noted the project report for Caldicot Goes Pop! and noted the following;
· The shop had an occupancy rate of 90%.
· It was rented out the equivalent of 35 full weeks.
· Charities received 33 days of free rental.
· 30% of S106 budget was recuperated in the first 4 months of the project.
· The shop has hosted 14 traders with 2 returning.
Other updates included;
· Shoe Fayre – this unit will become an Italian restaurant with building works starting January and opening Easter 2017.
· British Heart Foundation – this unit will become a Domino’s Pizza, taking half of the space currently taken by Concorde. London & Cambridge will offer other space to Concorde.
· Morgan’s Travel – this unit is currently under offer by an existing local business who are looking to move.
· Penny Barton’s is currently the only empty unit.
· The pop up shop no longer has a premises.
The Town Team’s Annual General Meeting will take place on Wednesday 18th January, 6.30pm at Caldicot Choir Hall followed by a Caldicot In Bloom meeting, members and non-members welcome.
The Town Team presented the Head of Operations with a business plan to take over the maintenance of some of the flower planters in the town centre. After recently cleaning out some of the overgrown planters, a number of drug syringes and a large bladed knife were found. The Head of Operations confirmed that a meeting was planned on the 10th January 2017 to discuss. The Town Team advised that they were looking for local business adverting/sponsorship to cover the costs of the beds and were looking introduce new hanging baskets to the town.
Members of the public were unanimous in their support for the Town Team’s work & dedication to improving the town and spoke of the fantastic job Aaron and his team were doing.
Town Councillor Stephens voiced an objection to a recent release by the Town Team regarding CCTV cameras and felt it implied that Town Team look after the cameras which is not the case, they are the responsibly of the Town Council and he felt that the Town Council deserved more recognition.
Councillor Easson asked that in light of a recent incident involving the distribution of a leaflet that the Town Team should publish a statement stating they have no affiliation with any political party. The Town Team confirmed were now aware of the issue, it had been dealt with and they would draw up a statement confirming their political neutrality.
A Member of the public, Marie Stephens asked about the disappointment and frustration felt by residents by the lack of progress with the linkage scheme and stressed the dangers of walking in that area of the town. In response we were told that the linkage scheme delays were the responsibility of the landlord London and Cambridge, not MCC and that the work was now finally able to start on the 16th January 2017 with approx. 12 weeks construction. Aaron reassured residents that he will document the work and keep residents up to date with the progress.