Community

PLANNING FOR THE DAY WHEN THE ‘R-RATE’ STANDS FOR ‘RECOVERY’

Cllr Matt Hall, Finance Portfolio Holder, Sherborne Town Council

One core principle sits at the heart of Sherborne Town Council’s pandemic recovery budget for 2021-22. How do we best use taxpayers’ money to invest in a healthy future for our town and all the people who live and work here?

By the time the new tax year begins in April, many of us should have had at least one round of the COVID vaccine. So, I hope some prospect of recovery may be in the spring air.

Near the top of the Town Council agenda is investing in upgrading our parks, gardens and playing fields. During the COVID pandemic, these beautiful outdoor spaces have been important for our mental wellbeing as well as physical fitness. The pandemic has made us value the simple things in life. Whoever thought that a walk in the park would become so precious?

A resident phoned me the other day to say thank you to the Town Council for upgrading the pathways at the Quarr Nature Reserve. The resident concerned is just about to celebrate her 90th birthday and walking the dog at the Quarr is her one chance to get outside and catch up with friends, albeit at an appropriate social distance.

Equally important is long-term investment in green projects to play our part in tackling the climate emergency, including solar energy at the Terrace Playing Fields. How to encourage all of Sherborne to explore ways to tackle climate change will be a big debate in the coming year. Humble things like keeping rents low on council allotments are all grist to the mill.

We have ring-fenced money for a pandemic recovery fund designed to help community and voluntary organisations survive the worst effects of COVID.

And a financial priority for the council is helping Sherborne’s tourism sector get going again after what must be one of the worst shocks to the system since the Second World War. At the same time, we will do everything we can to make sure that struggling businesses have access to all the financial support available from central government and Dorset Council.

Of course, all of this is a tight-rope walk for financial planning. The council’s own income has gone down significantly during the COVID pandemic. For example, income from events hire at the Digby Hall and office rents at the Manor House has disappeared almost completely. That is not a complaint. I know that almost all residents of Sherborne have faced very tough financial choices over the last year and some businesses will be wondering if they have a future.

The pandemic simply highlights the dilemma facing Sherborne Town Council’s finance team: how to invest in a prosperous and healthy future while keeping council tax as low as possible. All town councillors are determined to plan now for the day when the R-rate talks about recovery and not illness.

sherborne-tc.gov.uk

A PROPOSAL FOR THE REGENERATION OF SHERBORNE TOWN CENTRE

Sir Christopher Coville, Joe Benjamin, Peter Shorland, Peter Neal and Andy Foster

Our town centre has suffered a progressive decline over the past few years. Pressure on high streets generally, increased outgoings and the pandemic have taken a heavy toll on the very heart of this beautiful abbey town. As coronavirus is eventually controlled, there will be an opportunity to turn the tide by regenerating the cultural and commercial core of Sherborne, so increasing employment and enriching the lives of its citizens and its many visitors. But time is short. The putative Local Plan is already out for consultation, and the opportunity to include town centre regeneration should not be missed.

Over the past few years, three cultural projects have enjoyed varying degrees of support and progress: Sherborne House; The Paddock Project; and The Art Farm at Barton Farm development. Now that Sherborne House is moving forward, it is timely to consider the three programmes in a more holistic context; not only the cultural but also the commercial opportunities that such assets could bring. The Sherborne House project now stands alone, albeit sharing some common cultural aspirations with Paddock and the Art Farm. With this in mind, it would seem realistic to consider combining these remaining two projects. This, alongside an identification of other development opportunities, could present attractive options for potential investors, enabling a commercially sustainable pathway for economic and cultural expansion. Whilst direct comparisons can be problematic, the impact on the area surrounding Bruton of external investment in artistic and environmental projects has been profound, and demonstrates what can be achieved with leadership, expertise and funding. Sherborne already has many advantages: a splendid Abbey, an attractive high street and a rich architectural heritage. Moreover, there are many areas in the town which could be developed further, especially those brown field sites which are underused or redundant. In recognising this opportunity, we have developed an outline plan for the regeneration of Sherborne Town Centre, based upon four guiding principles: •Synergy with the character of existing buildings •Enhanced commercial benefit •Bold planning decisions to provide adequate external investment •Enrichment of cultural activities

Getmapping.com

The proposal has been briefed to a core group of the Town Council, and the County Planning Team; support has been strong albeit provisional at this stage.

In order for this initiative to succeed, it is vital that the Local Plan incorporates at least the outline of a regeneration proposal. Whilst this could be offered independently, it would carry far more weight if it were seen to enjoy the support and provenance of the Town Council. Accordingly, we recommend the following: •Agreement by Sherborne Town Council to include in the Local Plan a proposal for the regeneration of the Town Centre. We can provide an initial outline should it be required. •As already agreed, we will brief more fully the

Council at the monthly meeting in February, virtually if required •The establishment of a Stakeholder Group, including at least one Councillor, to drive forward the initiative •An accompanying media campaign to inform and gain support from the town citizens

Sherborne is ripe for a regeneration project to enhance the commercial and cultural attractiveness of the town. But time is short. We urge the Council to throw their weight behind a project which could see a new beginning and a brighter future for our beautiful town.