The Mayor welcomed Annette Kendall from Friends of Watford Museum who was observing the Cabinet meeting. 

The Managing Director explained that the Masterplan before Cabinet underpinned the vision set out by the Mayor to create a welcoming and vibrant town centre.  There had been substantial success from the intu shopping centre and restaurant quarter which meant there was a strong draw to the lower end of the High Street.  There had been a vision created in the Cultural Strategy of a strong cultural hub at the top of the town.  The college and leisure centre contributed to this along with the library and colosseum.  The Masterplan co-located the museum with the library in a shared facility.  This could enable some joint facilities but would also retain the independence of the museum as a strong cultural centre.  Whilst the Heritage Lottery Fund bid for the museum had not been successful, the Mayor wanted to see a positive outcome for the museum so that it would be more accessible with the right setting for exhibitions, national tours of artwork and community events. 

The Managing Director continued that due to pressures on financial resources it was tougher to maintain sustainable uses of heritage properties.  These buildings required the right investment to ensure that they would not degrade.  The council was working with Historic England who were supportive of the benefits that could be provided with a sympathetic conversion of the Town Hall site to a high quality hotel.  Similarly Historic England had seen the potential of returning the current museum site to residential use.

The proposal before Cabinet was to go out to consultation across the town and would bring the outcome back to Cabinet in September or October.

With regards to the Town Hall site, it would retain a civic use for the committee rooms and chamber so that residents and councillors could use the facilities.  The council offices could be re-provided on the existing site or in an appropriate site in the town centre.

There were proposals to create a shared use arena around The Avenue roundabout and to concentrate parking in that area along with an appropriate mixed use development to encourage footfall located on the redesigned roundabout.  The council needed to consult and engage with Highways and Hertfordshire County Council however in principle they were supportive of increased pedestrianisation and cycle paths.

Other proposals within the masterplan included the lower grade buildings at the top of the town which could be renewed.  There was a bold idea of a pedestrian crossing over Rickmansworth Road, replacing the subway. The new owner of the market site would have an opportunity to re-provide a new market with a combination of indoor and outdoor stalls with potentially a focus on food.

The Mayor commented that one of the key benefits from the masterplan would be to improve the link from the indoor to outdoor market.  At the LGA conference this week the Mayor had heard that the main factor for millennials in choosing a place to live was the cultural offer so this was an important focus for the town.

The Group Head of Corporate Strategy and Communications had given a presentation to the Heritage Group at Watford Museum which had received a positive response.  There would now be an eight week consultation period using different types of engagement such as an online survey and targeting specific groups, including those representing disabled people and young people.  The consultation would be carried out by a provider who was independent from the council. 

Cabinet discussed the potential for improving the market.  They also commented on the possibility of a display of names of residents who had died during the First World War to be located in the cultural hub.  Cabinet welcomed the proposed new museum as an opportunity to better display the large number of artefacts which the museum currently stored in the basement.

Following a question from Councillor Bell the Group Head of Communication and Engagement explained that the consultation would start following the Cabinet meeting and would run to the end of August.  People had more free time in the summer and the council would be encouraging people to get involved.  If there was concern about the number of responses received then the consultation period could be reviewed.

Councillor Bell commented on previous plans for the Town Hall site and the relocation of the police.  The Mayor responded that the main reason for the masterplan was to seize an opportunity, there were still ongoing discussions with the police.

Cabinet further discussed the proposals and the need to set a bold vision for the top of the town.

Cabinet and the Managing Director thanked the Planning Policy Team for their work in producing the masterplan presented to Cabinet.

RESOLVED

That Cabinet:

1.         Approves the draft Watford High Street (North) and Cultural Hub Masterplan (attached as Appendix A to the report) which provides a 20 year blueprint to regenerate and enhance the Town Centre area north of Exchange Road flyover through to The Avenue Car Park for consultation.

2.         Agrees to proceed with public consultation on the draft Masterplan and further engagement with key stakeholders including the County Council, landowners, local businesses, Watford Chamber of Commerce and Watford BID.

3.         Delegates to the Managing Director in consultation with the Mayor and the Portfolio Holder for Regeneration and Development authority to make editorial changes to the document prior to external consultation.