| Findings | Minister for Planning and Environment Comments (DoE) |
1 | Retail remains an important sector of the Jersey economy, accounting for approximately 7% of the total GVA and nearly 8000 employment positions. However, the value and volume of retail sales have notably declined since 2008 and there are signs that this trend is likely to continue, particularly with regard to non-food products. | |
2: | The overarching retail policy since 2006 has been the Retail Framework, which has focused predominantly on food retailing, food price competition and supermarket operators. It was last updated in 2010. | |
3 | Although slow to react, since August 2013 the Minister for Economic Development has recognised and begun to act on the need to engage with retailers to develop initiatives and plans to help address the downward economic trends and challenges associated with the on-island retail sector. | |
4 | The Chief Executive of Jersey Business, who has played a significant role working with the Economic Development Department on the development of the draft Retail Development Plan, is leaving the organisation. It is unclear if this will have an impact on any of the draft initiatives currently proposed to involve Jersey Business. | |
5 | Doubts about the positive outcome of a free parking trial on Saturdays were raised amongst TTS, EDD and the Town Team. The approximate cost of such a trial (£300,000) has since been earmarked to assist alternative retail initiatives. | |
6 | The Economic Development Department created avoidable confusion and delays to its own and the Panel’s work in relation to retail, by developing the draft Retail Development Plan with inadequate inclusion of and communication with other stakeholders, and failing to notify the Panel of the ongoing work despite procedural requirements to do so. | DoE: The Department of the Environment would welcome engagement as part of the development of any Retail Development Plan. |
7 | Despite the highly promising purpose and membership of the Town Team, its future is uncertain. There are proposals from the Economic Development Department for the Town Team to be incorporated within or perhaps even replaced by a new ‘Retail Jersey’ brand via the Retail Development Plan. | |
8 | Online competition represents the most significant challenge to Jersey’s ‘high street’ retailers. | |
9 | Online retailers are notably more appealing than traditional bricks and mortar retailers around the issues of price and shopper convenience. | |
10 | It is estimated that 35,350 (85% of the total) Jersey households are purchasing products and services online, with the total online spend in 2013 amounting to £258million. | |
11 | The average annual online household spend in Jersey in 2013 was just over £7,000. | |
12 | Research demonstrates that mobile tablets and, particularly, smart phone devices have become increasingly important as a means of purchasing products and services online. The trend in ‘24/7’ purchasing culture is expected to continue to develop as mobile technology increasingly facilitates anytime-anywhere shopping. | |
13 | 82% of respondents to a shopping habits survey said they would welcome the opportunity to spend more money with local retailers if only they had suitable e-commerce websites. In general, however, the online sales platform and marketing/social media presence of local retailers has not adequately developed to meet the challenge of off-island online retailers, although some creditable and co-ordinated platforms have begun to emerge. | |
14 | Jersey’s high street retailers can continue to aspire to a positive future, but to help achieve this must harness the opportunities provided by ever improving technology. | |
15 | The Minister for Economic Development is broadly supportive of the general concept of the Jersey Chamber of Commerce’s ‘Jamazon’ initiative, but is not convinced that it represents the best value or most suitable option to deliver the desired outcome for the Island’s retailers. | |
16 | Retailers in Jersey will need to continue to develop ‘multi-channel’ retailing models combining bricks and mortar, online sales/booking, click and collect and/or home delivery. | |
17 | Jersey’s many small retailers may require significant co-ordination and some government assistance to overcome the challenges of scale and cost in developing ‘multi-channel’ retailing models. | |
18 | Face to face customer service is widely regarded as one of the opportunities for ‘high street’ retailers to gain advantage over online competition. However, the quality of customer service in Jersey has been found to be highly variable. Retail owners and managers are ultimately responsible for improving this situation, but can be assisted by government. | |
19 | In general, Jersey retailers have not fully reacted to changing customer habits and are potentially restricting shopping opportunities through outdated ‘9 to 5’ opening hours. Later closing times on a more regular basis have been identified as being attractive to shoppers. | |
20 | Sunday trading remains a contentious matter. Opinion on the Minister for Economic Development’s Sunday trading trial has been split, with 54% of respondents to the associated White Paper not in favour of the trial. | |
21 | It is not clear whether current Sunday trading restrictions are a significant barrier to retail in Jersey. Very few retailers are currently restricted from opening on Sundays. | |
22 | Relaxation of Sunday trading restrictions appears to be of more obvious potential economic benefit to certain out-of-town retailers, such as garden centres, than retailers in town. | |
23 | Amending current weekday/Saturday trading hours would appear to be a greater priority than changes to Sunday trading. It could provide greater positive consequences for a larger number of retailers and consumers than a Sunday trading trial with significantly less contention. | |
24 | At the end of Minister for Economic Development’s proposed ‘liberalisation’ trial of Sunday trading legislation, although the legislative position would revert to the current situation restricting those with a sales area of more than 700m², there is concern that it would be difficult culturally to ‘turn the clock back’. | |
25 | Certain negative impacts that might result from the proposed Sunday trading trial, such as small business closures due to increased competition from larger retailers, could be irreversible. | |
26 | Local retailers are effectively forced to compete on an uneven playing field with off-island/online retailers, due to the application of 5% GST on the price of locally sold goods and the existence of the £240 de minimis level under which imported goods attract no GST. | |
27 | Potential GST revenue is being missed out on by the Treasury, and increasingly so, with the growing trend in off-island, online shopping. | |
28 | Reducing or removing the de minimis level would not be straightforward. For instance, although it is estimated that its removal would achieve an increase in GST collection of approximately £800,000, at Jersey Post alone it would necessitate at least an extra 241,000 consignments (averaging 660 per day) requiring customs clearance per year. This would represent an increase in workload of approximately 28%, which would require funding. | |
29 | Amending the de minimis rules with a view to the States forming agreements with off-island online retailers to collect GST on its behalf for sales to Jersey based customers, has been raised as an idea to help ‘level the playing field’. Nevertheless, such a solution holds challenges and potentially significant, if unintended, negative consequences. | |
30 | It is widely agreed that the Retail sector would benefit from the attention provided and generated by an appropriate ‘Retail Champion’. To carry the required authority and ability to influence on retail related matters within the States, it was identified that the ‘Retail Champion’ should be a sitting politician. | |
31 | The ‘Retail Champion’ should be supported with suitable executive support on a day to day basis. This role would include much of the retail related work currently undertaken within the Economic Development Department, and additional work emerging from initiatives such as the proposed activity and co-ordination around an events calendar (see also 7.8.2). Regular liaison through a comprehensive stakeholder group, such as the current Town Team, remains important. | |
32 | Within the draft Retail Development Plan, the Minister for Economic Development Department is considering the establishment of a ‘Jersey Retail’ brand within Jersey Business, through which support to the retail sector could be delivered. The merits of such a structure are not apparent to the Panel. | |
33 | Building on current practice, there is wide support for increased retail activity to be undertaken linking directly into a range of current and potentially new events and/or themed days. It has been widely agreed that this should be actively co-ordinated, with necessary scheduling and focus provided by a dedicated events calendar for retailers. | |
34 | It is not unusual for event organisers to be required to complete significant processes in order to obtain permissions to hold events. The requirements do not always appear to be in proportion to the size or nature of the event. | |
35 | There can be restricted access for events during the year in some of the more suitable and attractive sites. | |
36 | Although visually attractive and creating an often improved atmosphere, it is difficult to strike the right balance between pedestrianisation and the needs of retailers to service premises. Pedestrian priority initiatives, already seen in some parts of the Island, appear to provide an appropriate compromise. | DoE: The Minister for Planning and Environment does not consider it to be difficult to strike a balance between competing uses of road space if it is clear what the objectives are for different parts of the public realm. If we want a town centre that is attractive to people as a place to shop and socialise, and to spend time and money in so doing, then greater priority needs to be given to pedestrians to create a more attractive environment: it is only people who are on foot who spend money in shops. This is already recognised in the 2011 Island Plan (see pp. 303-306 Island Plan 2011: travel and transport chapter ) 8.42 Complete pedestrianisation of town streets is not envisaged during the Plan period, but continued investment in the public realm and an extension of pedestrian priority is considered necessary to support the viability and vitality of the town centre. Proposal 23 Pedestrian priority The following areas have been identified as pedestrian priority areas. The implementation of measures to extend and enhance the public realm in these locations will be supported and approved by the Minister for Planning and Environment, following public consultation and engagement with key stakeholders; - Halkett Place(south of Waterloo Street);
- Library Place, Vine Street and Church Street;
- Dumaresq Street(western end);
- Hue Street;
- Oxford Road(southern end)
The following areas have been identified as areas where there is a presumption in favour of the reclamation of road space to extend and improve the public realm. Applications to change the use of these areas to public open space, and the implementation of measures to improve the public realm will be supported. - Area between Liberation Square and Weighbridge Square;
- Gloucester Street(eastern end) between Parade Gardens.
Extensions to, and reviews of, the pedestrian priority zones will be assessed over the Plan period, specifically in relation to further work undertaken in St Helier Regeneration Zones. To realise these proposals requires some political championing and resource to pursue them to implementation. The Minister for Planning and Environment has, in partnership with other stakeholders, already delivered successful town centre enhancement schemes, giving more space and priority to pedestrians and thus promoting retail vitality, at Broad Street; Charing Cross/York Street; Sand Street; New Street: Colomberie/Green Street; and La Motte Street, under the auspices of the St. Helier Street Life Programme, which was supported by capital funds. |
37 | Maximising the physical attraction and the ease of moving through town were identified as important means of encouraging people to choose to shop in town. However, inadequate pavements and clumsily placed bollards and street furniture were cited as examples of existing physical barriers that negatively impact on the ability of people to enjoy the experience of shopping in town. | DoE: The Minister for Planning and Environment considers that fundamental to the regeneration of St. Helier is the development of a comprehensive Movement Strategy for the town, which defines objectives for the pattern of movement into and around the town for all modes of transport – pedestrian; bike, bus, van and car – and which includes a series of proposals and actions for investment to improve travel by each mode. At the detailed level, this should include a review of the adequacy of existing infrastructure to support the ease of walking into and around the town. This was an integral element of the St. Helier Street Life Programme schemes referred to at 36 above. |
38 | The covered markets should be a ‘jewel in the crown’ of Jersey’s retail sector, acting to stimulate footfall in town and attracting shoppers to a vibrant retail core. Presently however, whilst architecturally attractive, the markets fail to live up to such expectations and radical change has been widely called for to improve on the tired atmosphere and generally underwhelming offering. | DoE: The Minister for Planning and Environment considers that part of the attraction of the covered markets is the sale of fresh produce, which is part of their heritage and vibrancy, the essential character of which is important to retain in any consideration of radical change. |
39 | Although there have been recent moves towards the creation of a trader’s association, there has been a lack of cohesion and collaboration amongst the covered market traders that has been a barrier to progress in the markets | |
40 | Issues regarding parking featured in almost all submissions received by the Panel during the Review. Parking matters present a very real challenge to retailers, but there are workable initiatives that could help improve the situation. | DoE: See 37 and 41 below above: any Movement Strategy would need to include car parking considerations |
41 | Overall capacity amongst town’s car parks is adequate to accommodate demand from commuters and shoppers, but the geographic distribution of spaces is not. The north of town is under-served by the current car parking provision, and Pier Road car park is too frequently under-capacity. | DoE: The St Helier Parking Needs Study (June 2013) reviewed the provision of and need for public and private parking in the town. It presented a series of recommendations, two of which are as follows: Recommendation 5. The primary intent is for the Ann Court site to deliver affordable housing. It is in a central urban location suitable for low parking provision for residents. 200 parking spaces delivered as part of the larger footprint site development should be allocated as public short stay parking with a further limited number set aside for residential use. Recommendation 6. A site in the North Town suitable for acquisition and conversion into a surface car park able to provide at least 200 spaces is sought. The car park should permit and enable long stay. Between 20 to 50 parking bays should be separately operated/demarcated to serve a primary short stay purpose. |
42 | Minden Place is a vital shopper car park, but, as with others, it is outdated and requires significant refurbishment, modernisation, or complete replacement. | DoE: The St Helier Parking Needs Study (June 2013) reviewed the provision of parking at Minden Place, and set out the following recommendation: Recommendation 8. Once additional car park capacity is established within North Town at Ann Court and another site, Minden Place car park is brought forward for refurbishment or replacement as a premium car park or the site is brought forward for redevelopment with minimal on-site parking. |
43 | There continues to be significant frustration with the scratch card system, whilst the automatic number plate recognition system in Sand Street has been widely welcomed. | |
44 | There is wide acknowledgement and support for more bus services to be provided to help people access town at points other than Liberation Station, along with a service that would link urban areas whilst penetrating towards the town centre. The latter could encourage more shoppers to visit town and other retail areas such as Les Quennevais Parade. | DoE: See 37 and 41 above: any Movement Strategy would need to include travel by bus. |
45 | There is some confusion over the status and continued relevance of existing planning strategies for town, notably the North of St Helier Master Plan. | DoE: The States of Jersey’s overall strategy for the town of St Helier is clearly set out in the Island Plan 2011 (pp 128 – 129 Built Environment Chapter): this was approved by the States in June 2011. The North St Helier Masterplan is adopted and extant supplementary planning guidance, as are a series of site-specific development briefs for this area including sites at Jersey Gas and Le Masurier’s land in Bath Street. The North St Helier Masterplan has, in accord with the recommendations contained within it, been supplemented and updated by the St Helier Parking Needs Study: the status of the recommendations within this study, relative to the positions of the Minister for P&E and TTS, are clearly set out. |
46 | The current withdrawal of proposals for development around Bath Street by Le Masurier’s has been a significant setback for retail regeneration opportunities in that area. | DoE: As stated (at 47) below, the retail core is contracting and shifting. The regeneration opportunities in and around the Bath Street area will be principally residentially-led, not retail-led. The Minister’s adopted planning guidance for this area, which is consistent with the 2011 Island Plan, states: The regeneration of this area provides an opportunity to breathe new life and vitality into this part of town, and whilst residential or community-based provision might provide the predominant form of development in terms of floorspace, it is important that a level of commercial floorspace in the area is maintained and renewed in accord with the Island Plan policy of protecting employment land and to increase vitality at ground floor. Accordingly, in formulating the commercial element of the scheme, the developer should have regard to the Island Plan policies: ER2 – Protection and promotion of St Helier for shoppers; ER4 – Development of local shops; ER5 – Development of evening economy uses; ER6 – Take-away food outlets; ER7 – Large scale food shops and ER8 – Large scale non-food retailing. Specifically, there is an opportunity to refresh the retail offer of ground floor frontages that face on to the existing pedestrian thoroughfare of Bath Street in particular, as well as opportunity to create new commercial activity on new pedestrian routes, such as that between the Town Park and Halkett Place. The inclusion of such uses can add vitality, colour and movement to the area throughout the day and potentially into the evening. The Minister would also consider the provision of live-work units, as well as the provision of community and healthcare facilities to serve local needs. |
47 | The town footprint and retail core is shifting south-westerly with the influence of the developing waterfront area. Additionally, there are indications that the town retail core could contract due to the challenging trading conditions, to be increasingly anchored by King Street and Queen Street. | DoE: The 2011 Island Plan already recognises and provides a planning policy framework which reflects the changing retail core of the town: 5.54 Over many years, and for different reasons, the physical extent of the town's retail centre has contracted, reflecting changes in the pattern of shopping. The character of areas such as The Parade, Bath Street (beyond Minden Place), La Motte Street and Colomberie has changed and they have, for the most part, become secondary shopping areas. In some areas, such as Cheapside, David Place, New Street (north of Burrard Street) and the eastern end of Colomberie, they have become primarily local shopping areas, serving the residential areas surrounding them. 5.55 Thus, there has been a long-term shift in retail activity away from the northern and outlying parts of the Town Centre. This shift in the centre of gravity is further emphasised by the prospect of further retailing on the Waterfront with a specialist retail focus, including the developments at Liberty Wharf, the Esplanade Quarter and Castle Quays. Currently, however, they are poorly linked to the town centre. 5.56 The strategy is to redefine the retail centre. Within its boundary, primary retail frontages are identified, where uses will be restricted to retail and a limited number of catering outlets. Secondary retail frontages are also identified, where greater flexibility of use will be allowed with retail, catering, banking, and professional services permitted, providing they provide an active frontage and a service to members of the public. |
48 | Despite certain improvements in Planning application processes, retailers continue to face challenges relating to change of use policies. The challenges can disproportionately affect small businesses and retailers with small premises. The time taken to gain relevant permissions and compliance with bye-laws such as those relating to the provision of toilet facilities were identified as being particularly challenging, Due to the impact of the shifting town footprint in increasing the number change of use applications, such occurrences may become more frequent. | DoE: The Minister for Planning and Environment is undertaking a major review of the Planning and Building (Jersey) (General Development) Order in the second half of 2014. This Order defines various use classes and, importantly, allows premises to move within and between certain classes without planning permission. The Minister is happy to review this Order in the light of the Panel’s views and will actively seek public opinion on whether the current level of control is appropriate. On the matter of toilet provision, the building bye-laws call for adequate provision to be made for staff in all work places and for customers in shops that have a retail area in excess of 1000 m2. As the majority of shops in Jersey have retail areas less than 1000m2 the bye-laws tend to focus on the provision made for staff. Changes were made to the building bye-laws in 2007 aimed at achieving more inclusive design and these call for wheelchair- accessible toilet facilities to be included as part of the overall sanitary provision when the use a building changes to create shop premises. In the majority of cases involving small retail premises, a single wheelchair accessible WC in place of a standard WC is sufficient to meet the building bye-law requirements and this can usually be accommodated without any significant problems. It is however recognised that there are occasions where space constraints are such that provision of a wheelchair-accessible toilet can be considered unduly onerous. In these cases, an applicant is able to propose alternative solutions to show his proposal achieves the objective of inclusive design. This is done in the form of a design access statement which sets out the designer’s philosophy and approach to inclusive design. The access statement enables the Department to make an informed judgement about whether or not a proposal makes reasonable provision in terms of sanitary facilities for people who are likely to work in the building over its lifetime. The Department has accepted toilet facilities that are suitable for ambulant disabled people as an alternative to wheelchair- accessible toilet in change of use situations where floor space is severely restricted. In the Departments experience the objective of achieving inclusive design can normally be met without too much difficulty. In cases where specific challenges exist these can normally be resolved with an access statement. |
49 | King Street and Queen Street have retained almost un-paralleled full occupancy levels over recent years despite the challenging retail environment. | |
50 | Rents have not been identified as currently being a leading challenge to retailing in Jersey. It appears that a number of landlords recognise the challenging retail environment, generally leading to rents being established at levels that have not deterred tenancies being taken. | |
51 | Whilst King Street and Queen Street have retained robust occupancy levels, there have been instances of short and, more significantly, long term unoccupied shops outside of the retail core. There is currently no States policy designed to help address such detrimental occurrences. | DoE: This is not the case: planning policy contained in the 2011 Island Plan enables change of use of ground floor retail uses outside of the retail core. |
52 | Retail, tourist, traffic and general information signage is too often underwhelming, inconsistent and outdated. This is a matter that requires the co-operation and co-ordination of a number of stakeholder groups to improve, including retailers themselves and authorities such as Jersey Tourism (ED), other relevant States Departments and the Parish of St Helier. | DoE: The Minister for Planning and Environment is happy to work with all relevant stakeholders to improve directional signage for the town. Of greater significance, however, is the physical legibility of the town and the ease of movement for pedestrians: if it clear, from the nature of the physical environment, which way you need to go, there is less reliance on signage to tell you. |
53 | Increased use of flags and banners has been identified as a relatively quick and inexpensive means of refreshing and animating retail areas, although concerns were raised about the possible nature of the associated planning process including by the Planning and Environment Minister. | DoE: The Minister for Planning and Environment is due to review the Control of Advertisements Order in 2015. This will allow for further deregulation in this area. Of course, the Minister will also need to bear in mind the potential cumulative impact on public amenity of too much advertising |
54 | Despite related reviews, there are no clear signs that the challenges of avoidable government bureaucracy is easing. This challenge to retailers is amplified by the fact that the majority of retailers are small businesses, often owner run and often with a workforce of below five. | |
55 | The continued presence of undue government bureaucracy can in no small part be attributed to a lack of co-ordinated cross-departmental working within the States. Whilst reform has been slow, there are some positive signs emerging in the form of initiatives such as ‘tell us once’ and ‘unique user id’s’ that are intended to reduce such avoidable over-bureaucracy. | |
| Recommendations | To | Accept/ Reject | Minister for Planning and Environment Comments (DoE) | Target date of action/ completion |
1 | The Minister for Economic Development must not underestimate the challenges faced by the retail sector and should, as a priority, continue to engage with retailers in a structured manner. | ED | | | |
2 | Working with the stakeholders, the Minister for Economic Development should progress initiatives and plans to help address the challenges associated with the on-island retail sector, and develop a new, more relevant and comprehensive overarching Retail Strategy. | ED | | DoE: A significant part of any such work will relate to policy affecting the location of physical retail space and the quality of the environment in which this takes place: linked to this are issues associated with transport and ease of movement. The Minister for Planning and Environment is responsible for planning policy and is leading the work of the Future of St Helier and should, therefore, be involved as a key stakeholder in relation to the development of a new Retail Strategy. Any new Retail Strategy needs to be clear about the issues and challenges faced by convenience and comparison shopping. | |
3 | The Minister for Economic Development should work with retail representatives to identify the most appropriate way to assist the retail sector to embrace technology. Support might include the funding of a feasibility study into an appropriate, co-ordinated on-line sales platform, and the provision of appropriate training opportunities and shared practice workshops. | ED | | | |
4 | The Minister for Economic Development should work with relevant Ministerial colleagues, and potential private sector providers, to put in place and promote suitable learning and training opportunities for retailers in areas such as high quality customer service. | ED (SOC-SEC/ ESC) | | | |
5 | The Minister for Economic Development should extend the one-off 2013 Mystery Shopper customer experience audit into an annual piece of research. This will help inform the need for and nature of relevant future training initiatives. | ED | | | |
6 | The Minister for Economic Development should seek to co-ordinate an agreement amongst retailers to be more flexible in their approach to opening hours where benefit can be accrued. Particular attention might focus on later closing times on a more regular basis, and, in a more targeted fashion, achieving more flexibility in opening hours during peak summer tourist season and events. | ED | | | |
7 | If the States approve the proposed 18 month trial of liberalised Sunday trading, the Minister for Economic Development must ensure a robust process for monitoring and recording of all associated aspects (including economic, employees’ welfare, social and cultural impacts). | ED | | | |
8 | Specific attention should be paid by the Minister for Economic Development to mitigate the potential loss of small businesses due to increased competition from larger retailers during any trial period of Sunday trading. | ED | | | |
9 | In order to inform possible strategies to alleviate undue negative impacts of the uneven playing field associated with the de minimis level, the Minister for Treasury and Resources is recommended to undertake the following studies: • An immediate (and subsequently on an ongoing basis) review of the de minimis provision, to ensure that it is set at the lowest appropriate rate; • A feasibility study of entering agreements with off-island online retailers for the collection of GST relating to sales to Jersey based customers. | T&R | | | |
10 | To provide suitable focus to the role of ‘Retail Champion’, the Minister for Economic Development should either more actively assume responsibility for promoting economic development within the retail sector, or formally delegate the role to an Assistant Minister. If delegating, this should be clearly reflected within the title of the Assistant Minister. | ED | | | |
11 | The executive support for the ‘Retail Champion’ should be provided by the Economic Development Department, with industry input continuing to be sought through a comprehensive stakeholder group, such as the current Town Team, or an equivalent body. | ED | | | |
12 | The Economic Development Department should undertake the active co-ordination and promotion of an event calendar linked retail initiatives in conjunction with all the necessary stakeholders. | ED | | | |
13 | The Minister for Economic Development (or delegated ‘Retail Champion’), should examine the current processes related to event permissions and identify any work that might be undertaken or support that can provided to reduce avoidable barriers to such initiatives. Similarly, any restrictions to the use of event friendly sites, such as the Royal Square, should be identified and addressed where appropriate. | ED | | | |
14 | Pedestrian priority initiatives should continue to be implemented, and a feasibility study of such a scheme in Halkett Place from Amyson Corner along the length of the Central Market should be co-ordinated as a priority by the Minister for Transport and Technical Services, with input from the Town Team or equivalent comprehensive stakeholder organisation. | TTS | | DoE: The 2011 Island Plan already provides the policy framework for the provision of further pedestrian priority in St. Helier (see 36 above). To ensure that any schemes deliver optimum benefit that enhances the quality and character of the town centre (as opposed to just delivering a traffic management outcome) it is important to engage a range of skills , interests and perspectives at the design stage of any proposal. | |
15 | Through the Town Team or equivalent body, the Minister for Economic Development should co-ordinate a plan to identify and implement relevant improvements to the physical town environment, including removal of ‘physical barriers’ that negatively impact on the ability of people to circulate easily through town. | ED (with TTS) | | DoE: The Minister for Planning and Environment is leading the work that is focussing on the Future St Helier. The development of a Movement Strategy for the town, to include specific proposals to enhance key pedestrian access routes and desire lines, is an integral element of this. | |
16 | A clear strategy should be developed by the Minister for Treasury and Resources (the Landlord) regarding the covered Markets. This should be informed by consultation with all relevant stakeholders on the wide range of initiatives and views held, and include assessment of a fundamental overhaul of the interior layouts and retail offering. Changes must also be considered to outdated opening hours. | T&R | | DoE: The Minister for Planning and Environment considers that the character and vitality of the covered markets, provided in part through the sale of fresh produce, is an integral element of the retail offer of these buildings and the town centre: this should remain a primary consideration in any proposals to overhaul the retail offer. | |
17 | The Minister for Treasury and Resources (the Landlord) should explore the immediate revision of outdated opening hours within the markets to better reflect customer expectations relating to the both the overall and individual retail offerings. Thursday afternoon closing should be removed as a priority. | T&R | | | |
18 | The Minister for Transport and Technical Services should undertake the necessary work with colleagues and other stakeholders to achieve the following: • A clear decision on the future provision of north of town car parking • The roll out of automatic number plate recognition systems (or similar) in all covered car parks to end the pre-dominance of scratch cards • A fully developed strategy for the phased modernisation and refurbishment of all car parks • A review of all initiatives, including charging structures, that might encourage a more appropriate distribution of commuter and shopper parking. | TTS (with P&E/ T&R) | | DoE: Clear recommendations, in relation to the provision of parking in the north of St Helier, are set out in the The St Helier Parking Needs Study (June 2013) (see 41 and 42 above). Resources are required to progress these proposals to implementation. | |
19 | The Minister for Transport and Technical Services should work with Liberty Bus to develop proposals for more buses to access town at points other than Liberation Station and a service that would link a range of urban areas whilst also penetrating towards the town centre. | TTS | | DoE: The Minister for Planning and Environment is leading the work that is focussing on the Future St Helier. The development of a Movement Strategy for the town, to include specific proposals to enhance bus access routes, should be an integral element of this. | |
20 | The Minister for Transport and Technical Services should work with Liberty Bus to develop a service that would link a range of remote areas to bus routes that access urban shopping districts. | TTS | | | |
21 | The Minister for Planning and Environment should assess the merits of revising and/or clarifying the current strategies relating to development in town, notably with regard to their relevance to retail. This will be essential in providing a structure to the south-westerly shifting town footprint and potentially contracting retail core. | P&E | Reject | DoE: The Minister for Planning and Environment considers that the current planning framework for retail development is clear and is set out in the 2011 Island Plan, and is supplemented by specific supplementary planning guidance for the North of St Helier and key sites within it. | |
22 | The Minister for Economic Development should work with the Town Team or equivalent body, and the Constable of St Helier, to develop plans that could help address and discourage long term empty shop occurrences. | ED | | | |
23 | The Minister for Economic Development should work with the Town Team or equivalent body, and notably the representative from the Environment Department, to ensure that change of use processes and laws are as appropriate and efficient as possible. | ED/ P&E | | DoE: The Minister for Planning and Environment is undertaking a major review of the Planning and Building (Jersey) (General Development) Order in the second half of 2014. | |
24 | The Minister for Economic Development should address the issues of underwhelming, inconsistent and outdated signage with the Town Team (or equivalent) to help improve the town experience for all users. | ED | | | |
25 | The Planning and Environment Minister should examine the planning process and legislation associated with flags and banners to ensure that they are as appropriate and efficient as possible. | P&E | | DoE: The Minister for Planning and Environment is due to review the Control of Advertisements Order in 2015. | |
26 | In his lead role in the States Modernisation Programme, the Minister for Economic Development should demonstrably tackle the issue of a lack of co-ordinated cross-departmental working within the States. Furthermore, he should ensure that initiatives such as ‘tell us once’ and ‘unique user id’s’ significantly assist in reducing the bureaucratic burden placed particularly, although not exclusively, on small businesses including many of the island’s retail sector. | ED | | | |
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