Purpose

The final report of the Night Time Economy
Scrutiny Task and Finish Group

Content

That
the following 15 recommendations contained in the Night Time
Economy Scrutiny Task and Finish Group Final Report be
approved:

 

1.   
The City, supported by the Council, needs to formulate an Evening
and Nighttime Economy (ENTE) strategy and action plan. 
 

2.   
City centre partners, including the Council, need to work together
to invest in brighter and better lighting in the City centre to
make people feel safer and to improve the visual appearance of the
City to visitors. 
 

3.   
The Council needs to work with West Midlands Police and other
partners to make people safer and improve public perception of
safety in the City centre at night, especially during the
evening. 
 

4.   
Signposting around the City centre to key visitor venues needs to
be improved and a ‘zoned’ approach to this needs to be
considered.
 

5.   
Working with key City partners, the Council should work to
encourage the consolidation of forums to bring venue operators
together, be they pubs, clubs, music venues, restaurants, or the
University of Wolverhampton. Public-private partnership and working
to maximise economic opportunities in the City centre all year
round is key to an effective, co-ordinated approach.  
 

6.   
The Council needs to ensure a data-led approach to regeneration and
visitor economy investment with data sharing with the private
sector encouraged to maximise a targeted approach to economic
development and growth. 
 

7.   
The Council should designate a team or individual, who would work
with Councillors in the appropriate forum, who is dedicated to ENTE
to enable this work to be delivered in conjunction with
partners. 
 

8.   
To work with the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) and public
service transport operators to improve the availability of public
transport access on key evenings in the City to improve footfall
retention. 
 

9.   
To identify and designate a ENTE Ambassador/Champion. 
 

10.Council to
strategise, enable and encourage City
centre living and housebuilding to create new communities in the
City centre which create footfall both during the day and at
night.
 

11.Acknowledging the
current financial climate and challenges, to consider the pricing
of evening and nighttime car parking and to consider opportunities
to offer special one-off lower fees to appeal to specific days in
line with marketing and events.
 

12.For the Council to
consider cross marketing events and opportunities.
 

13.To input into the
Economy and Growth Scrutiny Panel remit an annual requirement to
consider the Evening and Night Time Economy.
 

14.The task and finish
group welcomed the input of City youngsters and many of their
recommendations are included into points above but the group
recommends that officers specifically consider how the wider offer
and activities in the city centre can be improved to bring in more
young people as they are the future of our city centre.
 

15.For the information
and evidence gathered from this Panel to be shared with the
consultants the Council has hired to develop the city’s ENTE
strategy.