BLAENAU GWENT COUNTY BOROUGH COUNCIL Report to Report Subject The Chair and Members of the Environment, Economy and Infrastructure Scrutiny Committee Footfall Counters Report Author Mark Price. Regeneration Projects Manager. Report date January 2016. Directorate Environment and Regeneration. Executive Portfolio Holder Economy Date of meeting 2 nd March 2016 Date signed off by Monitoring Officer N/A Date signed off by Section 151 Officer N/A Date signed off by Chair 17 th February 2016 Key words Footfall Counters, Town Centres
Report Information Summary 1. Purpose of Report* 1.1 The purpose of this report is to undertake a review of the footfall counters across the Town Centres in Blaenau Gwent. The report also seeks agreement to support the purchase of 4 new cameras from the revenue budget, to support the relocation of 1 existing camera, and to continue collection of the town centre footfall data. This is in order to comply with the requirements of the Corporate Improvement Plan performance targets and grant conditions. 2. Scope of the Report* 2.1 In 2008, footfall cameras were installed in each of BGCBC 5 town centres to assist in monitoring town centre vitality. The Cameras are located in the towns of Abertillery, Blaina, Brynmawr, Ebbw Vale and Tredegar. 2.2 2.3 The data provides an independent source of information that assists officers to report to a range of audiences on town centre activity, including regeneration initiatives, town centre events and the data is included in various funding bids when the opportunities arise. Officers, in association with Experian (who manage and provide the footfall counters), have visited the towns of Abertillery, Ebbw Vale and Tredegar. It has been identified that there is a need to re-locate one existing camera and to purchase four additional cameras. The relocation and purchase of the new cameras is required in order to gain a true reflection of the current footfall in the towns. 2.4 In order to obtain the information, an annual subscription fee 482.79 for each camera is payable. This on-going annual subscription covers general maintenance, troubleshooting, the collation and dissemination of the footfall data and the provision of weekly data reports. The full breakdown of the costs are provided in Section 5 of the main report. 3. Recommendation/s for Consideration* 3.1 For the Environment, Economy and Infrastructure Committee to recommend to Executive Committee the following: 3.1.1 support all of the proposals identified in 2.1.1; and allocate, 28,977.18 of Revenue budget to cover the costs over 5 years (2016/17-2020/21) for the operation of existing and proposed cameras to record footfall in town centres. To receive a separate report on town centre footfall data.
Why this topic is a priority for the Council?* Report author to identify links to the main corporate strategies. Single Integrated Plan (SIP) Corporate Improvement Plan (CIP) X Performance Management Improvement Framework (PMIF) Operating Model Report Date: 22/01/2016 Transforming Blaenau Gwent (TBG Programme) Other (please state) Reporting Pathway* Report author to identify proposed reporting pathway. (To include dates where possible) Directorate Management Team (DMT) Corporate Management Team (CMT) Audit Democratic Services Committee 26/01/16 02/03/16 *Denotes mandatory section Scrutiny Executive Council Other (please state)
1. Background and Context* 1.1 Main Report One of the key priorities identified in the Heads of the Valleys Strategy (2006) was the strengthening of Town Centres across the 5 Local Authorities sub region. 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.8 1.9 In order to measure progress within the Town Centres in a consistent manner, it was agreed by the Heads of the Valleys (HoV) Programme Board that HoV funding be utilised to gather key baseline data across 11 Town Centres and 2 retail parks in the Heads of the Valleys area. The towns targeted in Blaenau Gwent were: Abertillery, Blaina, Brynmawr, Ebbw Vale and Tredegar. The Footfall Counters were installed at the end of March 2008. Where cameras are mounted on private properties, an agreement is put in place between the Authority and the property owner. The only cost implication to the Authority, in relation to this agreement, is if the property owner makes a claim for energy consumption. This is to a maximum value of 6.30 per month/per property (based on consumption data supplied by Experian). To date, no private property owners have submitted such claims. The data collated by the footfall counters generates the production of weekly reports by Experian, providing key data on footfall trends (hourly, daily and weekly data figures along with annual comparisons). The data is collected electronically from cameras mounted on buildings at key locations within each of the town centres. An annual subscription fee of 482.79 is payable for each of the footfall cameras, which covers general maintenance, troubleshooting and the collation and dissemination of the footfall data. The total current annual subscription fee is 2,413.95. Historically, the annual subscription was paid through the Town Centre Management (TCM) budget, funded through HoV. This revenue stream finished in 2010. Subsequently, the Convergence and Regeneration department budget had been used to meet the annual subscription. The Convergence budget finished in June 2015 and the Non-financial support to businesses budget has been utilised in this financial year. There are a number of issues which have become apparent with the location of the existing cameras in Abertillery, Ebbw Vale and Tredegar mainly due to the liner nature of the towns and as a result of the recently completed regeneration programmes a review of the footfall counters is timely. Officers in consultation with Experian have identified a need to re-locate the existing cameras in Abertillery, Ebbw Vale and Tredegar.
1.10 1.11 1.12 1.13 1.14 Further to the site visit with Experian it became apparent that due to the liner nature of Abertillery, Ebbw Vale and Tredegar town centres one footfall counter in each town is not sufficient to capture accurate footfall data. Abertillery Town Centre has one footfall counter located towards the southern end of Church Street, which records footfall entering Church Street from the Multi Storey Car Park and Bus Station. A second camera is proposed for the northern end of Town. The Ebbw Vale town centre currently has one footfall counter which is located on the Police Station; it is largely obscured on market day and during many town centre events resulting in a lower footfall count being recorded than an average day when the reality is often a marked increase in footfall. However, this camera is now picking up increased footfall as a result of the opening of the Ebbw Vale Cableway. Therefore it is proposed to leave this camera in situ. There is however still a need to capture increased footfall especially on Market and special events days. It is proposed to install a second camera at the side of Greggs leading from the recently renovated Bus Interchange to help capture this increased footfall. In Tredegar there has been a request from the current host property at the Walkway to remove the camera and associated fixings and therefore an alternative location has been identified at Restaurant Europa. It is hoped that this will help improve recording footfall between The Gwent Shopping Centre and Commercial Street. In order to capture the footfall in Tredegar associated with the Tredegar Townscape Heritage Initiative (TTHI), it is proposed to install a camera at Circle/Castle Street; the data will provide an independent source of information that will assist officers in reporting on the success of the TTHI and VVP programmes. 2. Options for Consideration 2.1 Proposed options for consideration: 2.1.1 Option 1 Preferred Option a) Purchase and install 2 new cameras in Abertillery, 1 at the northern end of town in the vicinity of the post office, and 1 at the junction of High Street/Somerset Street. b) Purchase and install 1 new camera at the side of Greggs, Bethcar Street, Ebbw Vale, leading from the recently renovated Bus Interchange. c) Relocate the existing Tredegar camera from The Walkway to Restaurant Europa, Commercial Street. d) Purchase and install 1 new camera at the Circle/Castle Street, Tredegar. e) Allocate Revenue budget to cover the annual cost, over 5 years (2016/17-2020/21), for the operation of existing and proposed cameras.
2.1.2 2.1.3 Option 2 Approve some of the above options Option 3 Do not approve the options and identify new proposals. 3. Performance Evidence and Information* 3.1 The footfall data is currently utilised by the Regeneration Division in a number of ways including; Evidencing Performance in line with Corporate Improvement targets. Monitoring and evaluation of the EU Convergence and Welsh Government Grant funded, Town Centre Regeneration Programmes (Abertillery and Ebbw Vale). Monitor and evidence the success of local events. Reporting to committees e.g. Scrutiny. Responding to press enquiries. Comparison between town centres (within Blaenau Gwent and externally). Provide access to the data for town centre businesses, via the bg5startowns website. Providing data to potential new businesses/investors looking to locate to a town centre within Blaenau Gwent. To provide footfall information that can be used to help prepare and evidence future Town Centre Regeneration Bids. A separate report on Town Centre footfall data is proposed. 4. Impact Assessment Against Proposals / Options* 4.1 A result of the loss of this footfall data will impact on the ability of the Council to provide information relating to the following; Lack of reporting/evidencing on performance indicators. Not being able to continue to evidence the impact of Town Centre Regeneration Programmes. Not being able to provide evidence for inclusion in future Town Centre Regeneration Programmes bids. The analysis of footfall data also helps to show the need for the following sustainable development principles to be addressed; Thinking for the long Term (low footfall indicates efforts and investment required to address the position) Taking an Integrated approach (sharing good practice across towns to maximise footfall). Taking a preventative approach (encourage activity and investment to improve footfall).
Collaborating and Involvement (encourage activity, promotion and events to be arranged by town business Forums/Community). 5. Financial Implications* 5.1 The current (2015/16) annual subscription cost of the existing Footfall counters is 482.79 per 1 camera per town = 2,413.95 5.2 5.3 First year, 2016/17 costs of 11,596.74, include Camera relocation, purchase and subscription charges. Thereafter the annual cost of the operation reduces to 4,345.11. The Regeneration budget is able to support these annual costs over the 5 years. The total cost to the Council including Relocation, Purchase and annual subscription charges is 28,977.18over the next 5 years. 5.4 A full cost breakdown of the current and proposed town centre footfall data collection operation is given in table 5.5 overleaf. 5.5 Table 5.5 Town 2015/16 2016/17 2017/18 2018/19 2019/20 2020/21 Abertillery Total 5 Years Additional Camerax2 4,834.42 Annual Fee 482.79 1,448.37 1,448.37 1,448.37 1,448.37 1,448.37 12,076.27 Brynmawr Annual Fee 482.79 482.79 482.79 482.79 482.79 482.79 2413.95 Blaina Annual Fee 482.79 482.79 482.79 482.79 482.79 482.79 2413.95 Ebbw Vale Additional Camera 2,417.21 Annual Fee 482.79 965.58 965.58 965.58 965.58 965.58 7,245.11 Tredegar Relocation 900.00 Additional Camera 2,417.21 Annual Fee 482.79 965.58 965.58 965.58 965.58 965.58 4827.90 VVP Funding -3,317.21 Total 2,413.95 11,596.74 4,345.11 4,345.11 4,345.11 4,345.11 28,977.18 5 Year Total 28,977.18
6. Risk Implications* 6.1 Failure of the Council to secure footfall data will result in the following; Loss of the footfall data for the 5 town centres. Insufficient data to evidence progress relating to performance indicators and grant investment. Impact on ability to report to partners. Inability for comparisons with other town centres both within Blaenau Gwent and in other Local Authorities. Loss of valuable information for presentation in bids for possible future funding bids. No data to provide to potential inward investors. 7. Staffing/Workforce Development Implications* 7.1 No implication; Currently the footfall data is sent from Experian to an officer in the Regeneration Department who uploads information to various websites, including 5* Towns. Information is also provided to businesses looking to invest in the Borough. This information is also included in grant funding bids and is a valuable source of data which informs funding bodies of the success of the various grant programme. 8. Conclusion* 8.1 The footfall data is a valuable data source for a range of monitoring and evaluation purposes that should be retained and where possible strengthened. 8.2 8.3 8.4 8.5 The loss of footfall data would limit the ability of the Authority to independently monitor footfall and the impact Regeneration and other Town Centre Initiatives have on the vibrancy and viability of our town centres. It is proposed that the Authority meets the annual revenue costs associated with the existing and proposed footfall cameras for a period of 5 years up to 2020/21, and to; Agree to the relocation of 1 existing footfall camera in Tredegar. Agree the purchase of an additional 4 Cameras 2x Abertillery 1x Ebbw Vale and 1x Tredegar. *Denotes mandatory section