Emergency Town Centre Recovery Fund

Somerset West and Taunton Council (SWT) approved the creation of a £500,000 fund to support town centres across the district at their Full Council meeting in late September 2020 as part of their commitment to recovery, investment, jobs and opportunity. The Emergency Town Centre Recovery Fund (ETCRF) is a special fund to support, rebuild and transform High Streets with short-term interventions to help secure the future of local Town Centres.

Minehead was awarded £100,000 from this fund and it was agreed that Minehead BID (BID) would be the custodian of this money. A legally-binding service level agreement (SLA) has now been signed between the BID and SWT.
 

The SLA requires the delivery of a Town Centre Recovery Plan over a 12-month period.
The indicative plan submitted as part of the SLA included a programme with a strong focus on marketing, public realm improvements and training for businesses which would encourage people to come back to Minehead when the covid restrictions are lifted.
 

This Fund is separate to the work of Minehead BID and projects funded by BID levy and a separate Steering Group has been formed to agree and deliver projects.
 

The Steering Group will compromise 7 members and will be chaired by Julian Abraham, Owner of the Old Ship Aground in the town. Julian will be joined by 3 other business representatives, Jon Lee of Stuarts Home Furnishers, Debbie Sawatzki of Lovely Boutique and Graham Sizer Minehead BID Chair. Cllr Anne Lawton will represent Minehead Town Council, Cllr Andy Hadley – SWT and Cllr Mandy Chilcott – Somerset County Council.
 

The group will be supported by officers from Minehead BID, Minehead Information Centre, MTC and SWT.

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STEERING GROUP MINUTES

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Steering Group Meeting 1 - 26th November 2020

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Steering Group Meeting 2 - 3rd December 2020

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Addendum to Meeting 2 - 5th January 2021

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Steering Group Meeting 3 - 16th February 2021