Support for Independent Retailers
In 2006, in response to resident’s concerns
about the loss of much-valued independent retailers, the Council
set up a Commission on Retail Conservation to investigate what
could be done to preserve and enhance the character and vitality of
the Royal Borough’s shopping centres.
The final report of the commission
‘A Balance of Trade’ (2007) [PDF] (file size
1.64Mb) identified a number of recommendations for Government,
local authorities, landlords and retailers. The majority of these
recommendations were endorsed by the Council in the Response
to Report Retail Commission: A Balance of Trade (2007)
[PDF] (file size 302Kb).
Most of the recommendations for action by the
Council relate to:
- ensuring that retail diversity is a key
strand of the Local Development Framework Core Strategy (see
visions for our town centres and the
full document);
- appointing a retail champion for the borough
(appointed in 2008);
- lobbying for changes to the planning system that would give
additional powers to prevent the amalgamation of small shops (less
than 80sq m) into larger units and create a new use class for
coffee shops that are currently classed as A1 shops not A3
cafes. Details of the Council's lobbying activities can be
viewed here.
In 2010 the Wedge loyalty card for
independent retailers was launched borough-wide.
In 2011 we launched visitors' web pages that promote the borough's
town centres and the diversity of shops, bars, cafes and
restaurants.