MIDDLETON TOWN TEAM COMMUNITY EVENT
Thursday 12 March 2015
5.30pm - 8.00pm
Middleton Arena
Meet the members of the Middleton Town Team, hear about their key achievements in 2014 and have your say on future activities to support Middleton town centre.
Agenda
A light buffet & refreshments will be served from 5.30pm
MIDDLETON TOWN TEAM MEETING
Thursday 12 March 2015
5.30pm - 8.00pm
Middleton Arena
Meet the members of the Middleton Town Team, hear about their key achievements in 2014 and have your say on future activities to support Middleton town centre.
Agenda
A light buffet & refreshments will be served from 5.30pm
6.00pm Welcome - Elaine Simones (MC)
6.05pm Introduction
Liz McInnes - MP for Middleton & Heywood
6.15pm Middleton Town Team Review & Forward Plan
Adam Torevell - Chair (Middleton TCM Co)
Steve O'Toole - Vice Chair (Boots Store Manager)
6.25pm The National Picture
Lisa Durkin - North West Town Teams Advisor (ATCM)
6.35pm Destination Middleton
Mark Widdup - Executive Director, Rochdale Council
6.45pm Ideas Generation Discussion
All
7.10pm Group Feedback
All
7.30pm Networking
8.00pm Close
MIDDLETON TOWN TEAM MEETING
Wednesday 07 January
2015, 5.45pm – 7.00pm
Middleton TCM Offices
A G E N D A
ITEM
|
|
1.
|
Minutes
of previous meeting & matters arising
|
2.
|
Review
of Membership
|
3.
|
Community
Event / Business Plan
|
4.
|
2015
Events & Campaign Diary
|
5.
|
Any
Other Business
a)
Budget Update
|
6.
|
Time
& Date of Next Meeting
To Be Confirmed
|
MIDDLETON TOWN TEAM MEETING
Tuesday 4th November 2014, 5.45pm – 7.00pm
RBS Middleton
Minutes of Meeting
Attendees:
Adam Torevell-MTCM (Chair), Steve O’Toole-Boots (Vice-Chair), Alison Johnson-Lord’s
Butchers (Minutes), Cathie Partington-McDonalds, Elaine Simons, Peter
Carey-Sedgwick Legal, Tina Wright-M24 Arts, Bev Harmstone-Hopwood Hall College,
Gareth Bacon-RBS..
Apologies:
Cllr June West, Ashleigh Webb-MTCM, Claire Costigan-Middleton Arena, Graham
Duckworth-Middleton Arena, Lauren Mason, Tony Nugent-Anthony K Associates.
Absent:
Lee Todman-O2, Peter Dawson-Community Rep, Tesco.
In
Attendance: Frances Fielding-RMBC, Andrew Bradwell-RMBC.
1) Minutes of previous meeting and matters
arising.
Adam
Torevell chaired the meeting. The minutes of the previous meeting were agreed
as an accurate account.
Adam
thanked Gareth for agreeing to host the meeting.
2) Oktoberfest Review.
Adam gave a quick review of last month’s Oktoberfest. This
year the event was held on a Sunday and it didn’t seem to be the best day, there
is a lot more footfall in the town centre on a Saturday; the beer tent did not
sell as much as the previous year. However 1166 people visited the event; the
event was highly publicised in the local media and online, and where possible
all sponsors of the event including the town team were mentioned.
It is undecided whether the event will take place next year
as developments are being planned by the shopping centre for the site (opposite
bus station), a final decision will be made after Christmas.
3) Christmas Lights Switch On& Reindeer
Parade.
The Christmas lights switch on will be taking place on
Saturday 15th November, a wide variety of events will be taking
place on the day including performers, a giant snow globe, rides and the market
being on until later in the day. The lights will be turned on at approximately
6pm by the Mayoress followed by a firework display paid for by the shopping
centre.
On Sunday 16th November the shopping centre will
also be organising a reindeer parade.
Howard has sadly left his post at the shopping centre and
currently a permanent replacement has not been found.
4) Small Business Saturday
Small Business Saturday will be taking place on the 6th
December. A wide variety of events will be taking place across the borough, in
Middleton we will be holding the window dressing competition again, please
email anthony.jackson@rochdale.gov.uk
if you are interested in taking part.
MTCM is working with local businesses to produce a series of
voucher which can be used in local businesses throughout December, please email
Ashleigh middletontcm@hotmail.co.uk
if you are interested in taking part.
There is also a competition running amongst small, new
businesses to find Rochdale’s Hidden Gem, for further details go to www.blueorchid.co.uk/RochdaleSBS
GB says he is willing to advertise events in the RBS.
5) Town Team Pop Up Shop
Anthony Jackson has been in discussion with Link for Life
and the shopping centre about obtaining a shop like we did last December.
Unfortunately the shop they are offering is located on the
top floor; members of the town team present were concerned that there would not
be the enough footfall to make it a success.
There was also concern about the town team sharing the space
with link for life; link for life wish to put gym equipment and a mobile box
office in the shop, we were concerned whether this would be intimidating for
people wishing to visit the shop for town team purposes.
AJ is currently on holiday, but when he returns he and FF
are going to speak with link for life and the shopping centre again to see if
any alternatives can be found.
AT has said we could have a market stall.
FF/AJ to email
proposals next week.
6) Middleton Promotional Items.
FF has received quotes for a variety of I Love Middleton
merchandise; town team members have voted to purchase Thermal Mugs and Pens at
a combined cost of £414.50. These would be sold at any events the town team
puts on.
AJ has purchased 2 pop up banners at a cost of £160 which
promote the town team, again these can be used at any events that we put on.
SO thinks it would be a good idea if we produce a scrap book
of all the things we have done.
7) Any Other Business
a)
Budget Update.
Unfortunately Tony was unable to attend the
meeting, so the budget update will be deferred to the next meeting.
b)
Great British High Street Award
Unfortunately we were not shortlisted for
an award.
c)
Social Enterprise Update
AB informs us that it will take a couple of
months for everything to be registered/made official; currently there are
issues about the difference between directors and members and whether they are
users or supporters.
AB will keep us updated.
TW asks whether we would be able to invite our new MP to the
meetings.
FF is going to write a
letter inviting her.
Time and Date of Next
Meeting
Thursday 11th December 2014
5.45pm – 7.00pm
MTCM Offices
MIDDLETON TOWN TEAM MEETING
Tuesday 23rd September 2014, 5.45pm – 7.00pm
MTCM Offices
Minutes of Meeting
Attendees:
Adam Torevell-MTCM (Chair), Steve O’Toole-Boots (Vice-Chair), Alison
Johnson-Lord’s Butchers (Minutes), Tony Nugent-Anthony K Associates, Rob
Chambers-McDonalds, Elaine Simons, Peter Carey-Sedgwick Legal.
Apologies:
Cllr June West, , Ashleigh Webb-MTCM, Claire Costigan-Middleton Arena,
Graham Duckworth-Middleton Arena, Emma Neil, Tina Wright-M24 Arts, Bev
Harmstone-Hopwood Hall College, Cathie Partington-McDonalds.
Absent:
Lee Todman-O2, Peter Dawson-Community Rep, Leanne Dempsey-Tesco.
In
Attendance: Frances Fielding-RMBC, Andrew Bradwell-RMBC, Anthony
Jackson-RMBC.
1) Minutes of previous meeting and matters
arising.
Adam
Torevell chaired the meeting. The minutes of the previous meeting were agreed
as an accurate account.
2) Social Enterprise Update.
Andrew
Bradwell gave a short update. The Co-op has offered to look over and help
register the Middleton Town Team as a CIC Ltd by guarantee.
The Co-op
would charge us £250 + VAT for a basic service and £500 +VAT for an advanced
service; these services would check for errors and make amendments in our
application (cost depends on how many amendments need to be made) it would also
include registering the MTT at companies house and on the CIC register.
AB says
RMBC would be willing to fund half of the costs.
Members
of the town team present voted in favour of the advanced service.
AB will sort everything out.
3) Review of Middleton’s Grand Day Out.
FF reviewed the day’s events.
£38 was made on the town teams stall.
331 people took a ride on the land train.
Red Cape Marketing helped to promote future events in
Middleton by publicising them in picture frames they were giving away.
However several points can be learned from if we ever decide
to do this event again:
·
Disappointed with the lack of involvement and
communication from the Arena, it was learned that later on in the day the Arena
would be hosting a wedding.
In future would it be an idea to build a relationship
with the events side of the Arena.
·
The land train was unable to get to St Leonards
Church.
Maybe a minibus could be used next time.
·
No activities or people were outside the Edgar
Wood Centre; people were unsure how to get in or whether there were any
activities on.
·
There was a lack of knowledge of the event with
local businesses.
TN says next time more leaflets/posters need
to be made and handed out to shops.
FF thinks we should make this an annual event, town team
members present agree.
4) Middleton Promotional Items
Anthony Jackson informs us that of all the I Love Middleton
merchandise that we had made for the pop-up shop last December we now only have
bags left.
AJ is going to sort
out a quote for additional merchandise for the next meeting.
AJ also gave a presentation about having a pop-up shop again
in the shopping centre at Christmas. The proposed dates are 8th-18th
December.
The space is being offered rent free. The contribution
needed from the town team would only be about £500-£600 as Link for Life wish
to work in partnership with us to operate the shop, Link for Life wish to use the space to
promote their own activities i.e.) pantomimes and gym membership.
Link for Life have offered to have the agreement in their
name and then business rates would not apply.
This proposal will be discussed in more depth at the next
meeting.
AJ will bring costs.
AJ -The slogan for the shop will be “you said, we did”
Between now and then if anyone has any ideas please email.
5) Christmas Events Programme.
AT says everything is booked for Oktoberfest, which is on
Sunday 5th October this year.
The Xmas Lights switch on will be on Saturday 15th
November, and once again the shopping centre has agreed to pay for the
fireworks display.
SO asks whether Rochdale Online is promoting these events?
AT says at the moment it is promoting Oktoberfest but it
will change to the Xmas Lights switch on.
MTCM would like some funding of £2,000 from the town team
for these events, as Adam can’t vote on this matter there is no longer a quorum
present at the meeting, so voting will be conducted by email.
SO raises the point that there is still an out of date
cinema advert in the shopping centre; he also wonders what has happened to the
Arena’s proposal for a vision mixer, AT believes this has been put on the back
burner.
6) Small Business Saturday-6th
December
This is a nationwide event which is supported by government,
last years event was quite successful, especially the shopping trail sticker
hunt (over 50 were filled in).
However no one turned up for the cash mob.
This year there will be more communication with the local
small businesses, and information packs will be sent out to them.
7) Empty Shops Strategy.
Work is finally happening to refurbish the old Middleton
Guardian offices.
The quotes have come back from Shutter Media; it would cost
£20,000 to do all the buildings.
ES suggests going back to City Dressing for a quote.
ES thinks we should encourage other businesses to come to
our next community event to discuss ideas and funding for the empty shops and
shutters.
Alison says could we get a quote for just painting the
shutters.
PC says we could use the Skills Centre to carry out the
work. The skills centre helps young people get into training and learning a
trade.
All the town team would have to do is to provide funding for
the materials; it would be very good publicity for the town team and as SO says
it will last.
PC is going to get
more details for us.
8) Any Other Business
Jim Dobbin MP sadly passed away a few weeks ago.
SO says he was a great asset to us, especially in our last
meeting where he managed to get us additional funding for ‘A Grand Day Out’ and
wrote a very glowing letter recommending us for a Great British High Street
Award.
Sadly Howard Gibbons will be leaving the shopping centre
soon.AT is going to approach someone at
the shopping centre to take over Howards role on the town team.
Plans are being made for our next community event. AT thinks
it will be a good idea if we could host the event in the pop-up shop.
SO raised the issue about whether it was possible for us to
gain additional funding as the money we have will not last forever.
AB says funding could be granted as long as it is linked to
a project.
AT says we need to engage with other bodies that could maybe
provide us with funding.
Time and Date of Next
Meeting.
Tuesday 4th November
5.45pm
RBS
MIDDLETON TOWN TEAM MEETING
Tuesday 19th August 2014, 5.45pm – 7.00pm
Curiosi Tea, M24 Arts and Crafts, Lodge Street
Minutes of Meeting
Attendees:
Adam Torevell-MTCM (Chair), Steve O’Toole-Boots (Vice-Chair), Alison
Johnson-Lord’s Butchers (Minutes), Tony Nugent-Anthony K Associates, Tina
Wright-M24 Arts, Gareth Bacon-RBS, Bev Harmstone-Hopwood Hall College, Rob
Chambers-McDonalds, Jim Dobbin MP.
Apologies:
Cllr June West, , Ashleigh Webb-MTCM, Claire Costigan-Middleton Arena,
Graham Duckworth-Middleton Arena, Elaine Simons, Howard Gibbons-Middleton
Shopping Centre.
Absent:
Peter Carey-Sedgwick Legal, Lee Todman-O2, Peter Dawson-Community Rep,
Leanne Dempsey-Tesco.
In
Attendance: Frances Fielding-RMBC, Andrew Bradwell-RMBC.
1) Minutes of previous meeting and matters
arising.
Adam
Torevell chaired the meeting. The minutes of the previous meeting were agreed
as an accurate account.
AT and
the rest of the Town Team thanked Tina for hosting the event.
SO asked
if it would be possible for it to be noted in the minutes who was absent from
the meetings.
2) Social Enterprise Constitution
It has been decided that Middleton town Team will set up as
a CIC Ltd by guarantee.
AB will draw up the formal articles and submit them to
companies house. There will be a small cost for doing this (£40-50).
AB says the co-op would be willing to look over the
application.
AT is going to talk to Peter Carey at Sedgwick Legal about
him having a look over them.
The board of directors, as agreed by those present at the
meeting will be:
·
Adam Torevell – Chair
·
Steve O’Toole - Vice Chair
·
Tony Nugent – Treasurer
·
Alison Johnson – Secretary
3) Middleton’s Grand Day Out
The Middleton THI is providing £5000 towards Golden Cluster
Month as a whole and over 350 volunteer hours will be made over September. The
THI have also paid for an actor to be on the land train dressed up as Edgar
Wood.
FF reviewed the Grand Day Out plan which will take place in
conjunction with Golden Cluster Month.
2 banners have been made and 2000 leaflets have been
printed, 100 leaflets will be going to each of the 15 primary schools in
Middleton.
TW wonders if this will be enough.
TN is going to try and
produce some A3 posters using his photocopier.
On revolution radio in the week leading up to the event
there will be 60 30 second radio adverts.
Rochdale Council will issue a press release and promote the
event on their website, twitter and Facebook.
The event is promoted in the THI’s Heritage leaflet.
Jim Dobbin MP is going
to include the event in the article he writes for the Middleton Guardian.
AT is going to talk
with Rochdale Online about promoting it on there, as we have paid for a year’s
worth of advertising.
Various activities will be taking place on the day
including: face painting, a magician, children’s rides, the teenage market, a
vintage fire engine and the land train.
Some debate is arising as whether we should charge for the
face painting.
JW has said she thinks that the Town Team should pay for it
therefore enabling it to be free to the public.
AT thinks a small cost should be made to the public and the
money donated to charity.
JD is going to speak
to the council leader about maybe getting additional funding for this, FF to
forward him the details.
The cost of the vintage fire engine has increased from £100
to £250.
SO said we may have gone over budget but we have to do it.
TN has said he would be willing to contribute financially if
necessary.
TW and GB will be having stalls at the event and will be
covering their own costs.
RC is going to talk to
his boss about seeing if there is anyway they can contribute to the event.
A company called Red Cape has been in touch with a proposal
for the day which consists of them providing a giant inflatable marquee and 4
members of staff who will be dressed in period clothing, doing various
activities and workshops, they would also provide a photographer. The cost of
this would be £1650.
FF says the same company did an event in Rochdale for the
Tour de France and over 1000 came.
FF is going to do a
costing for just a marque, as the Town Team is very keen on the idea especially
with the weather, but is uncertain about the cost.
TW likes the idea but is there any way we could get funding
to cover to cover half if not all of it.
SO wonders if we could approach the THI for funding.
JD says he will
discuss with the council leader about whether any funding could be got for this
as well, FF to forward him the details.
FF is going to have a
meeting with Middleton Arena to see if there is any way they could help with
the event.
The Town Team will be having a stall selling I Love
Middleton merchandise, and any member of the town team can come on the stall to
promote their business.
BH will be bringing along a banner from the college.
GB will be doing activities on the stall.
4) Empty Shops Strategy.
A company called Shutter Media has conducted an audit on the
empty shops in Middleton.
FF will circulate the
findings when they arrive.
5) Great British High Street Award.
We will be entering in the category for a Market Town; the
application will be based on the principles and activities of the Middleton
Town Team.
FF will fill in the
forms and before submission will circulate it for us to read.
JD is going to write a
letter of endorsement.
6) Any Other Business
a)
Christmas Activities
The Christmas light switch on will be
Saturday 15th November, on Sunday 16thNovember the shopping centre
will be having their own event. MTCM may need funding for this.
AT
will get further details for a future meeting.
MTCM may also need funding for Oktoberfest
which this year will be on a Sunday (5th October) after one shop
keeper complained about the event last year.
AT
will get further details for a future meeting.
FF talked briefly about Small Business
Saturday (6th December), TW has agreed to be a member of a subgroup
which will discuss ideas for the day.
b)
Budget Update
AT is
going to sort out the invoices which the town team owe MTCM.
7) Time and Date of Next Meeting
Tuesday 23rd September
5.45pm-7.00pm
RBS
MIDDLETON TOWN TEAM MEETING
Tuesday 22 July 2014, 5.45pm – 7.00pm
Middleton Town Centre Management Company Offices
Minutes of Meeting
Attendees:
Adam Torevell-MTCM (Chair), Steve O’Toole-Boots (Vice-Chair), Alison
Johnson-Lord’s Butchers (Minutes), Tony Nugent-Anthony K Associates, Elaine
Simons, Graham Duckworth-Middleton Arena, Howard Gibbons-Middleton Shopping
Centre, Tina Wright-M24 Arts, Gareth Bacon-RBS, Bev Harmstone-Hopwood Hall
College, Leanne Dempsey-Tesco, Rachel- Tesco.
Apologies:
Lauren Mason- Middleton Township, Cllr June West, Jim Dobbin MP,
Ashleigh Webb-MTCM, Claire Costigan-Middleton Arena.
In
Attendance: Frances Fielding-RMBC, Anthony Jackson-RMBC.
1) Minutes of previous meeting and matters
arising.
Adam
Torevell chaired the meeting. The minutes of the previous meeting were agreed
as an accurate account.
In the
previous meeting it was discussed about producing an annual report, with help
from college students in the design and production; it has been decided that we
will defer producing this until September when the college reopens.
It has
been revealed by Lisa Durkin at ATCM that Middleton Town Team is considered a
best practice when setting up and running a Town Team.
Tesco’s
new community champion Leanne Dempsey attended her first meeting.
2) Forming a social enterprise
Andrew
Bradwell who has done the vast majority of research was not present at this
meeting. It has been decided by AB and a subgroup that a CIC Ltd by guarantee
is the best form of social enterprise for the Town Team.
Both TW
and TN raised the issue of the town team getting extra funding.
A CIC enables the town team to apply for
grants and further funding.
TN asks
whether RMBC approves of a CIC Ltd by guarantee. FF says they do.
It has
been decided by a vote that the Town Team will set up as a CIC Ltd by
guarantee.
Action: Formal plans will be drawn up and brought to
next meeting.
3) Middleton Arena Cinema
GD reviewed his video mixer funding proposal.
The town team has voted in favour of funding the
purchase of a £1600 video mixer for the Middleton Arena, but with certain
conditions.
AT and SO think any money that the video mixer
helps the arena to make should be reinvested into Middleton Arena.
GD is going
to talk to Link for Life (who run the arena) to see if this is possible.
TN wonders if anything like this has been done
before by other town teams.
FF to ask
Lisa Durkin at ATCM
TW wonders if something could be written into the
terms of reference for future funding proposals.
AT is going
to try and get a deal together with link for life.
4) Town centre fun day – Middleton’s golden
cluster/heritage open days
FF reviewed the plan for Middleton’s Grand Day Out on the 13th
September when a land train will ferry people around Middleton, and various
attractions will be taking place in Middleton Gardens.
Funding for this event has been provided by Middleton Town Team
(£2000), Middleton Township (£600), and Middleton Shopping Centre Sponsorship
(£500).
BH had the idea of a vintage fire engine outside the arena.
GD says it is not practical for it to be on the pavement
outside the arena due to the weight of it; however it may be possible for it to
be on one of the access roads.
FF is going to speak
to Highways about this.
AJ had the idea that the Arena/Link for Life could put on
some sort of display/stall outside the arena
GD going to look into
this
TW is interested in having a stall outside the arena and
maybe producing a tapestry of the town team logo.
FF says leaflets promoting the event will be ready the first
week in September, ready to be distributed to local schools.
AT wonders if some posters could be made available earlier.
HG says banners can go up at the shopping centre.
Banners could also go up on the railings going into Tesco
car park.
ES/HG had the idea of having a pop up shop just before the
event to help promote it
After a discussion it was decided that we will not charge
people to use the land train.
AT said people may be put off if we charge, in the end the
whole purpose of the event is to bring people to the town.
HG said have it free this time and if we do it again charge
then.
Tesco asked if it would be possible for them to promote
their charity at the event.
They will get back to
us with further details.
AT says at the next meeting everything should be planned
out.
·
What’s happening?
·
Where?
·
Any Volunteers.
If anyone has any ideas please email.
5) Empty shops strategy
The shopping centre has their own strategy in place to deal
with empty shops, so we will be concentrating on any empty shops in the
surrounding area.
SO wonders if anything can be done about all the fast food
shops on Market Place during the day when they are closed, could the shutters
be decorated in some way.
FF is going to look
into getting a quote for this.
AJ says we could approach shop owners, and if they did not
want to pay for it, the town team could sponsor/fund it and use it to
publicise/promote us.
AJ is going to find a
quote for just painting the shutters, as it may be cheaper.
6) Any other business
Middleton Townscape Heritage Initiative (THI) Board.
Kerrie Smith was unable to attend this meeting but asked FF
to ask town team members if anyone would be interested in taking up a place on
the THI board.
Alison Johnson was nominated for a place on the board.
FF to inform Kerrie
Smith of this.
On 15th September there will be a town team
showcase at the Hilton Hotel in Manchester – More details to follow.
AT gave a brief update on the Teenage Market; it’s been
decide that the market works better if something else is going on as well.
AT is looking at maybe doing a teenage market/skateboarding
event.
The teenage market may be taking place on ‘A Grand Day Out’
AJ says it may be an idea to plan/schedule the teenage
markets for the whole year.
ES says we should all help to promote each other’s businesses/events.
GD says the RBS has a community wall which could be used
FF is going to try to
get the Middleton Guardian to come to meetings.
Tesco said what about
Middleton Life.
7)
Time
and date of next meeting.
Tuesday 19th August 2014, 5.45pm-7.00pm
M24 Arts and Crafts, Lodge Street.
MIDDLETON TOWN TEAM MEETING
Thursday 12th June 2014, 5.45pm, - 7.00pm
Middleton Town Centre Management Company Offices
MINUTES OF MEETING
Attendees: Adam Torevell
– MTCM (Chair), Steve O’Toole – Boots (Vice-Chair), Alison Johnson – Lord’s Butchers (Minutes), Tony
Nugent – Anthony K Associates, Elaine Simons, Graham Duckworth – Middleton
Arena.
Apologies: Howard Gibbons
– Middleton Shopping Centre, Lauren Mason – Middleton Township, Cllr June West,
Bev Harmstone – Hopwood Hall College, Cathy Partington – McDonalds, Tina Wright
– M24 Arts & Crafts, Claire Costigan – Middleton Arena, Ashleigh Webb –
MTCM, Gareth Bacon – RBS.
In attendance: Frances Fielding – RMBC, Andrew Bradwell – RMBC,
Anthony Jackson – RMBC.
1) Minutes of Previous Meeting
and Matters Arising.
Adam Torevell chaired the meeting. The minutes of the previous meeting
were agreed as an accurate account.
No quorum at this meeting, so all voting was deferred to the next
meeting.
Golden Cluster Month – a subcommittee has met to discuss ideas (see
later).
It has been agreed by RMBC that money will be paid into the Town Teams
bank account £5000 at a time.
Frances Fielding has been chasing up Town Team members from Tesco and
O2 as they have been missing from quite a lot of meetings. Tesco currently
employ a Community Champion who may be interested in joining the Town Team.
FF to write a formal letter of invitation.
2) Forming as a Social
Enterprise
Three concerns were raised at the previous meeting.
·
Are you a director as an individual or as a
company?
o
Individual.
·
How hard is it to dissolve the company?
o
No real problems to be found.
·
Is there other Town Teams who have set up Social
Enterprises?
Andrew Bradwell has drawn up the
articles and all is needed for the Town Team to agree to them.
Voting deferred to next meeting.
3)
Middleton Arena Cinema Update
Graham Duckworth presented a report
about the Arena new cinema screen and a proposal for funding.
The most successful day was Bank Holiday
Monday when 110 people saw The Lego Movie.
There are various advertisements in
leaflets and in the Middleton Shopping Centre.
SO pointed out that the advertisement in
the shopping centre is not up to date.
GD has had the idea for movie theme nights (horror, comedy).
Also there is scope to link films to existing events i.e.) The Rochdale
Literature Festival and Remembrance Sunday.
Regular surveys will be conducted to find out people’s opinions and
views and get an idea of what films people want to see.
Through a contact GD has the opportunity to make a promotional video;
he says the Town Team can have the promotional video to make a film promoting
Middleton.
With regards to the funding request of £1600 for a video mixer, the
proposal was met with enthusiasm by those in attendance.
AB had the idea that it could be used as an informal loan, and the
arena pays the Town Team back, it’s a good way for the Town Team to generate
income.
As there are not enough members to vote, voting is deferred to the next
meeting.
4) Town Centre Fun Day – Middleton
Golden Cluster/ Heritage Open Days.
A subgroup has met to discuss ideas. (Frances Fielding, Anthony
Jackson, Kerrie Smith, Lauren Mason, Ashleigh Webb)
September as a whole will be known as Discover Middleton in September;
and Saturday 13th September will be promoted as Middleton’s Grand
Day Out.
FF is going to produce a formal proposal about the day and how much
funding would be needed.
BH has a contact who can provide a vintage fire engine, which could be
put outside the arena/
GD is going to check whether this clashes with anything they already
have on.
ES had the idea of KS or other members of the Town Team going into
schools to promote the event.
AW is looking as to whether it would be an idea to put the Teenage
Market on, on that day/
GD says he will promote the event on the Arenas quarterly what’s on
leaflet.
5) Signing Up to Be A Dementia
Friendly Town.
As Middleton as an ageing population SO had the idea for Middleton to
become a dementia friendly town (Eccles is already one).
All you have to do is go to www.dementiafriends.org.uk
and watch a short video and then sign up to be a dementia friend.
It would be great PR for the Town Team and Middleton if the majority of
town centre businesses can sign up.
ES asked whether the film could be shown at the arena before films. GD
said it could.
6) Annual Report & Forward
Plan.
As the Middleton Town Team has been established for a year, it was
thought that we could produce an annual report about what we have achieved and
our plans for the future. Market Rasen town Team has done something similar.
AT suggested maybe using Hopwood Hall College to help design it.
AT and FF to look into this.
AB raised the issue of annual accounts.
AT to look into this.
7) Teenage Market Update.
The next Teenage Market will be on Sunday 15th June. 14
stalls have been booked, with 4 music acts playing at different time throughout
the day.
AT/AW are currently experimenting as to whether it is more viable on a
Saturday or a Sunday.
8) Any Other Business
There is a Town Team Training Course – Marketing & Communications
on Tuesday 15th July at Middleton arena, anyone interested please
contact Anthony or Frances.
The Middleton Town Centre Visitor guide is soon to be off to the
printers and hopefully will be ready for when Le Tour De France comes to the
Borough. It will then be distributed to all shops and the bus station.
AJ is going to look into getting vinyl window/car stickers made with
the Town Teams twitter account on.
9) Time And Date Of Next Meeting
Tuesday 22nd July, 5.45pm – 7.00pm.
Venue to be confirmed.
Middleton in the market for new traders during love your market fortnight
 |
| Rent a stall for just £5 during LYLM fortnight |
Future
businessmen and women can take a stall on Middleton market for just £5 as part
of national Love your Local Market fortnight.
The event,
which celebrates the market tradition up and down the country, runs from 14 to
28 May and encourages shoppers to go and find out what’s on offer at their
local market.
And budding
entrepreneurs who fancy trying their hand at selling goods can rent a stall for
just £5 a day throughout the fortnight.
Anyone
selling goods which are not currently represented on the market can take
advantage of the offer to test trade in a traditional market setting.
Anyone who
would like to have a go at selling is advised to get in there quickly, as
stalls are selling fast.
Middleton Town
Centre Manager, Adam Torevell, said: “Middleton has a great market but our
recent successful teenage event showed that there’s a definite appetite among
shoppers for something new. That’s we’d love anyone who’s got an idea and a
product to come along and have a go this Love your Local market fortnight.”
A memories
tent will also be set up on Tuesday 20 May for people to visit and reminisce
about Middleton market. Volunteers from the Middleton Townscape Heritage
Initiative (THI) will be on hand to film people’s recollections, which will be
kept as a permanent record of the market through the ages.
Anyone who
would like to take a stall on one or more of the days during Love Your Markets
fortnight can contact the Middleton Town Centre Manager, Ashleigh Franklin
on 07794 374 554 or email middletontcm@hotmail.co.uk
 |
| Memories from Middleton Market |
MIDDLETON TOWN TEAM MEETING
Tuesday 08 April, 5.45pm – 7.00pm
Middleton Arena
MINUTES OF M E E T I N G
|
Attendees:
|
Adam Torevell – Middleton TCM (Chair), Steve
O’Toole –Boots (Vice Chair), Bev Harmstone – Hopwood Hall College, Alison
Johnson – Lords Butchers, Tony Nugent – Anthony K Associates, Gareth Bacon –
RBS, Graeme Duckworth – Middleton Arena, Claire Costigan – Middleton
Arena, Andrew Bradwell – RMBC, Julian
Jefferson – Link4Life, Elaine Simons
|
|
Apologies:
|
Cllr June West, Cllr Jonathan Burns – RMBC, Peter
Carey – Sedgwick Legal, Tina Wright – M24 Arts, Jim Dobbin – MP, Lauren Mason
– Middleton Township, Allan Robinson –
Tesco, Lauren Mason – Middleton Township, Rachel Armitt – O2, Ashleigh Webb –
Middleton TCM, Howard Gibbons – Middleton Shopping Centre, Cathy Partington & Rob Chambers –
McDonalds
|
|
In Attendance:
|
Frances Fielding – RMBC, Anthony Jackson – RMBC,
Nick Barton – RMBC , Pauline Journeaux – Rochdale Online
|
|
No.
|
ITEM
|
ACTIONS
|
|
1.
|
Minutes of the previous meeting & review of actions
Adam Torevell chaired the meeting. The minutes of
the previous meeting were agreed as an accurate account. The outstanding
actions were discussed:
Twitter Training:
·
Blue Orchid are running a
free Twitter Training Course on Monday 14 April, 10am – 2pm. All members of
the Town Team are invited to attend.
Middleton Shopping Centre:
·
Steve provided an update
on a recent Tenants Meeting held by the Middleton Shopping Centre.
·
The new owners are very
optimistic and predict that within 2 years the centre will be full and are
keen to engage with the Town Team.
·
The owners took over a
shopping centre recently in Stockton-on-Tees which was at 60% capacity when
they bought it 2 years ago and now is 99% full.
·
Interest has already been
expressed from several high street brands and food outlets about coming into
the Middleton Shopping Centre.
·
Adam also confirmed that
the Shopping Centre have offered space on the malls for the Teenage Market
events if ever the weather is poor.
Middleton Town Team Social Enterprise:
·
Andrew has been
progressing work to set up the Town Team Social Enterprise.
·
There needs to be a heavy
discussion to agree and go through the Terms of Reference which Andrew still
needs to work on so he suggested bringing this back to the next meeting but
that he would need at least 20 minutes on the Agenda.
|
·
Invite new Shopping Centre owners to a future Town Team meeting.
·
Include Social Enterprise Item on next Agenda.
|
|
2.
|
Rochdale Online
Pauline Journeaux from Rochdale Online
delivered a presentation on ways Rochdale Online can help support the
Middleton Town Team:
·
In terms of background information, Rochdale
Online started as a community website in 1998 and grew to become a commercial
company in 2001 building websites and offering advertising space on their
website.
·
The site today receives around 2million page
views per month and offers a free business directory – currently listing
6,800 businesses, free event listings – with over 200 events listed for
April, and has over 300 regular advertisers.
|
|
|
3.
|
Feedback from Community Event – 25 March
·
Over 20 x people attended
the Community Event including some new attendees including Peter Fearnley
from Business in the Community, Graham Sellers from Phillip & Graham
Hairdressers and Paul Clark from CJ Architects and Chair of the Rochdale
Borough High St Foundation.
·
The majority of the ideas
put forward are things the Town Team have already included in our Action Plan
such as pop-up shops, events, treating empty shops, speciality markets,
cinema screen etc.
·
Some new ideas included
linking more in with the heritage offer, considering more safety initiatives
such as improved street lighting and more marketing of the town.
·
The event overall went
well and is useful to inform the wider community on the Town Team progress
and give them the opportunity to get involved.
|
|
|
4.
|
Teenage Market
Adam provided an update on the Teenage Market
being held on 19 April and circulated a promotional leaflet:
·
Currently 6 x traders
signed up with a further 2 in the pipeline.
·
It was agreed to take a
stall to promote the Town Team and anyone who could volunteer time to help
out on the day to email Frances.
·
A range of young
performing artists have also been booked including dancers, singers and
musicians.
·
There needs to be a big
push now on promoting the event to shoppers / visitors.
·
Tony said he would be
happy to print off additional copies of the leaflet and post these through
doors.
·
It was also agreed to pay
for an advert in the Middleton Guardian and Rochdale Online.
·
Adam also asked anybody
using social media to share a link from the Middleton Town Centre Facebook
page.
|
·
FF to organise Town Team market stall rota.
·
All to help publicise the event as much as possible.
|
|
5.
|
Middleton Arena Cinema Proposal
·
Due to Graham being unwell
this item was deferred until the next meeting.
|
·
Include as Agenda Item for next meeting.
|
|
6.
|
Middleton Townscape Heritage Initiative
Nick
Barton from Rochdale Council gave a presentation on the Middleton THI which
is a partnership between Rochdale Council and Heritage Lottery.
·
Rochdale Council have agreed to fund an extension of
Middleton Public Realm works to the tune of £1.6m giving a total budget of
over £3m to invest in preserving and promoting the heritage of Middleton.
·
Several critical projects have been identified:
Old Burial Ground
Jubilee Park
Middleton Gardens
The Edgar Wood Centre (Long Street Methodist Church)
·
The Priority Projects include restoring / repairing
30 x Edgar Wood Properties.
·
Grants are available to priority projects offering up
to 60% towards eligible repair costs and up to 90% restoration costs.
·
Public consultation is currently under way regarding
wider public realm improvements and Nick would like to bring these proposals
back to a future Town Team meeting from June onwards.
·
The Town Team thanked Nick for his presentation and
asked to be kept informed of the public realm proposals.
Middleton Gold
Cluster
·
Julian raised Golden Cluster Month in September and
suggested holding a fun day in the
town centre during the month to attract visitors from the Golden Cluster into
the town centre.
·
It was agreed this would be a good idea and to
include as an Agenda Item for the next meeting to discuss further.
|
·
Nick to keep the Town Team informed of the public realm improvements.
·
Include Golden Cluster Town Centre Fun Day as Agenda Item for next
meeting.
|
|
7.
|
Middleton Town Centre Visitor Guides
·
Julian showed the Town
Team a sample of what the Middleton Town Centre Visitor Guide will look like.
·
The guide will fold down
to a pocket size which will have details of the borough’s visitor offer on
one side and a map of Middleton Town Centre on the other with details of
things to see, do, shop & visit.
·
The first draft of the
Middleton Guide has not yet been received but will be circulated to the Town
Team for comments when ready.
·
Rochdale Council have
funded for the graphic design costs and the production of 1,000 copies.
|
·
Julian to circulate draft Visitor Guide for comments.
|
|
8.
|
Empty Shops Strategy
·
Frances has been trying to
catalogue the empty shops in Middleton town centre which the Town Team might
want to consider installing graphics on by City Dressing to temporarily treat
them.
·
The majority of the empty
shops are in the Shopping Centre and it was agreed that the next steps are to
discuss with Howard Gibbons his plans for the empty shops before the Town
Team make any decisions.
|
·
FF to organise meeting with Howard Gibbons r.e Empty Shops.
|
|
9.
|
Any Other Business
Thank you to Elaine:
·
Adam announced Elaine’s
contract with Rochdale Council has now expired and she is no longer employed
to support the Middleton Town.
·
Everybody thanked Elaine
for all her hard work and invited her to become a voluntary member of the Town
Team.
·
Elaine thanked everybody
and reflected on how much she has enjoyed supporting the Middleton Town Team
and confirmed she would be delighted to accept a voluntary seat on the Town
Team.
Digital High Street Training Courses:
·
Frances circulated details
of a new programme of digital high street training courses being delivered by
the ATCM.
·
There are 3 x modules and
the courses cost £85 per person, but if anybody is interested in attending,
Rochdale Council are considering contributing 50% towards the cost if there
is enough demand.
·
If anybody is interested
in attending please contact Frances.
·
More details can be found
online: http://www.digitalhighstreetskills.co.uk/
|
|
|
10.
|
Time & Date of Next Meeting
Thursday 08 May, 5.45pm – 7.00pm, venue to be
confirmed.
|
|
Future
Alan Sugar’s line up for Middleton’s first teenage market
Young entrepreneurs with cracking business ideas took
part in Middleton’s first teenage market on Easter Saturday.
Around 12 stallholders from Middleton and across Greater
Manchester set up shop in Middleton Gardens selling unique pieces designed by
themselves including greetings cards, handmade gifts, accessories and garden
equipment.
Live street entertainment was also provided by young
performing artists including singers, dancers and musicians who took to the
stage to showcase their local talents. There were also fairground rides for the
younger tots which all helped create a vibrant town centre offer.
Over 200 people attended the event, which was organised
by The Middleton Town Centre Management Company and the Middleton Town Team.
The one-off items on offer also included home furnishings
and specially designed balloons, while shoppers could also snap up ‘I love
Middleton’ merchandise.
The teenage market is expected to return to Middleton
Gardens every two months, with the young people selling between 9.30am and
2.30pm alongside the regular traders.
Chair of the Middleton Town Team, Adam Torevell, said: “Having
seen how successful the teenage markets have been in Stockport, we wanted to
try something similar in Middleton so we could bring more young people into the
town centre.
“Events like this really demonstrate the great creativity
and business acumen that our young people have and they really added something
to the market by selling crafts and other goods which are not currently on sale.”
Anyone who would like to enquire about holding a stall at
a future teenage market can contact Ashleigh in the Middleton town centre
management company at middletontcm@hotmail.co.uk
 |
| Jim Dobbin MP for Middleton visiting the Teenage Market |
 |
| Young traders setting out their stall |
 |
| Live street entertainment |
 |
| Members of the Middleton Town Team in action with their youngest recruit! |
Middleton Town Team
C/O Middleton Town Centre Management Company
Colmar House
Middleton Gardens
M24 4DB
C/O Middleton Town Centre Management Company
Colmar House
Middleton Gardens
M24 4DB
09 April 2014
Dear Trader
Middleton Teenage Market
Saturday 19th April, 9am – 2.30pm, Middleton Gardens
Saturday 19th April, 9am – 2.30pm, Middleton Gardens
The Middleton Town
Team would like to give you the opportunity to trade at the first ever Teenage
Market being held in Middleton Town Centre on Saturday 19th April from 9am – 2.30pm.
The cost to trade
at this first event will be FREE OF CHARGE. We are providing 20 x market stalls
(3m x 3m gazebo) for traders who can appeal to a teenage market. (Please note
you do not have to be a Teenager to trade, but your products should appeal to a
teenage market and we are looking for traders aged under 25).
The Teenage Market
will compliment the existing outdoor market and combine live music, and
performing artists including dancers, singers, musicians and more to create a
lively and vibrant atmosphere.
If you would like
to take part in the Teenage Market please return your completed application
form along with a copy of your Public Liability Insurance Certificate to:
Ashleigh Franklin (Webb)
Middleton Town Centre
Management Company Ltd
1st Floor, Colmar House,
Middleton Gardens,
Middleton, Manchester,
M24 4DB
Telephone: 0161 653 4990
Mobile: 07794 374 554
Yours sincerely
Adam Torevell
Middleton Town Team Chair
Middleton Town Team Chair
Thursday 20 February, 5.45pm – 7.00pm
Middleton Arena
Attendees:
|
Adam Torevell – Middleton TCM (Chair), Steve
O’Toole –Boots (Vice Chair), Bev Harmstone – Hopwood Hall College, Farah
Rehmen – Hopwood Hall College, Peter Dawson – Community Rep, Alison Johnson –
Lords Butchers, Tony Nugent – Anthony K Associates, Ashleigh Webb – Middleton
TCM, Howard Gibbons – Middleton Shopping Centre, Cathy Partington & Rob Chambers –
McDonalds, Graeme Duckworth – Middleton Arena
|
Apologies:
|
Cllr June West, Cllr Jonathan Burns – RMBC, Peter
Carey – Sedgwick Legal, Tina Wright – M24 Arts, Jim Dobbin – MP, Claire
Costigan– Middleton Arena, Lauren
Mason – Middleton Township, Allan
Robinson – Tesco, Julian Jefferson – Link4Life, Paula Jones – RBS, Lauren Mason – Middleton
Township, Rachel Armitt – O2, Andrew Bradwell - RMBC
|
In Attendance:
|
Frances Fielding – RMBC, Anthony Jackson – RMBC, Elaine
Simons, Jeremy Rucker – City Dressing
|
No.
|
ITEM
|
ACTIONS
|
1.
|
Minutes of the previous meeting & review of actions
·
Adam Torevell chaired the
meeting.
·
The minutes of the
previous meeting were agreed as an accurate account.
·
There were no outstanding
actions.
| |
2.
|
Pop Up Cinema
·
GD demonstrated the fantastic HD Professional Screen
which the Arena has recently purchased to show films / sporting events.
·
The screen itself is 10m x 7.5m and has commercial
Blu Ray, Sky Features and digital HD receiver.
·
The Arena are planning a calendar of family films to
launch from April.
·
Suggestions for films to showcase have included
Dispicable Me, Gravity, Captain Phillips and Rush.
·
PD suggested showing some films which have been made
in Middleton.
·
The auditorium has a capacity for 462 seats.
·
The screening licence costs £85 per screening.
·
The Arena have yet to decide the charges.
·
AT suggested that GD prepares a proposal to bring to
the next meeting to look at ways the Town Team can help support the Pop Up
Cinema in terms of marketing / sponsorship etc.
·
The Middleton Town Centre Management Company &
The Arndale will also be able to help promote the films.
·
GD said there will be opportunities for local
businesses / events etc to promote their adverts before the film is shown.
·
The Town Team were fully in support of the cinema and
thanked Graham for providing the demonstration.
|
·
GD to bring Cinema / Town Team Proposal back to next meeting.
|
3.
|
City Dressing
·
Jeremy Rucker from City Dressing attended the meeting
and presented ideas to bring empty retail units back to life.
·
His company produce virtual graphics and creative
solutions for empty shops.
·
Smart Windows use a vinyl graphic to create a 3D shop
giving the illusion there is a real shop / business inside the unit.
·
This can be used on the glass, shutters or on a
hoarding in front of the property.
·
The graphics can also display details of the property
agent and give prospective tenants a vision of what the unit could look like.
·
Another innovative concept is Sound Boards – using
the front of an empty shop this is dressed as a studio and promotes local
artists and bands. Using a QR code, passers-by can download tracks at the
touch of a button onto their smart phone and vote for their favourite band.
The winner could be invited to play at Oktoberfest.
·
Jeremy also gave an example of placing a sensor in a
shop window and a speaker which plays music each time somebody walks past.
·
History Walls – again this is the same concept taking
the front of the empty shop and promoting the history of the area and
generate an interest in the town’s heritage.
·
White Box - this is when City Dressing take on an
empty shop unit for a period of 3 or 4 weeks. They will refurbish the shop to
a high standard and invite big name retailers to “test trade” in the shop for
a short period of time.
·
This gives the retailer a feel for the town and an
idea of the town viability of opening a shop there.
·
Other proposals included
an Easter Egg Hunt, Advent Calendar, hoardings for derelict buildings, floor
graphics and 3m high information towers.
Questions / Comments from the Town Team:
Q. Peter Dawson asked how these designs fit in with Planning Regulations?
A. Jeremy explained that virtual windows placed inside the shop don’t
require planning permission, but if we needed to erect hoardings outside the
unit then this possibly would.
A. FF confirmed that the Planning Dept would be consulted on any designs
pursued.
·
Peter Dawson suggested
erecting some hoardings around Providence United Reform Church on Market
Place which is in a derelict state.
·
Jeremy agreed to look at
this and come up with a proposal.
·
The derelict building next
to the Old Boar’s Head was also suggested.
·
Takeaways were also
discussed which have shutters down during the day, and Jeremy said these
could either be painted, or the businesses encouraged to keep the shutters up
and use blinds instead.
·
HG confirmed that the
shopping centre would be interested in considering some of the proposals.
·
FF liked the white box
concept and suggested this could be looked at for when the pop up shop closes
at the end of March.
·
It was agreed for all the
Town Team to try and catalogue the empty shops and send photographs to FF to
send to Jeremy to review and produce a proposal.
|
·
All to help catalogue the Empty Shops and FF to submit to Jeremy.
|
4.
|
Teenage Market
·
AT presented the proposal
for the launch of the Teenage Market and the Town Centre Management Company
would like to deliver these events every 2 months.
·
The Town Team approved
£1,500 for the launch event and Adam will be using some of this funding to
purchase a PA system and generator and advertising banners to locate on the
roundabout and railings outside the post office.
·
AT is also considering
advertising on the Revolution Radio, for daily slots running for 6 weeks
prior to the event, the cost is approximately £500.
·
In terms of insurance, the
event is covered by TCM, but individual stall holders will be required to
purchase their own insurance.
·
FF agreed to look into
stall holders insurance with the National Markets Federation.
·
AT confirmed the event
will host 20 x stalls and the location will be moved onto the Gardens.
·
PD was concerned that the
location had moved from outside Jon Miguels, but the Town Team agreed it
would be better on the Gardens to risk the first event being too sparse.
·
BH agreed to promote the
market to college students and also see if she can get a press release
produced.
|
·
FF to check stall holder insurance with the National Markets
Federation.
·
BH to promote event to students and help prepare a press release.
|
5.
|
Middleton Town Centre Visitor Guide
·
In Julian’s absence, FF
updated on the Middleton Town Centre Visitor Guide.
·
The list of shops /
businesses had been circulated and comments were being emailed to FF.
·
TN requested for Anthony K
Associates on Long St to be included.
·
Rochdale Council have
agreed to pay for the graphic design and production of 1,000 leaflets.
·
The leaflet delivery date
is 25th April and these will be distributed to town centre shops,
accommodation providers, the Arena and visitor attractions.
·
The text to promote the
local history / places to visit and interesting facts is currently being
produced and will be circulated via email for comments.
| |
6.
|
Town Team Community Event
·
AJ circulated an invitation to the Community Event
which will be held on Tuesday 25 March, 5.45pm – 7.45pm at the Middleton
Arena.
·
All Town Team members are asked to attend and invite
any businesses / community groups / individuals who may be interested in
attending.
·
The purpose of the event is to inform the wider
community on progress of the Middleton Town Team and give this wider group
the opportunity to put forward their ideas.
| |
7.
|
Any Other Business
Twitter Training:
·
AJ will organise a
separate Twitter Training Session outside of the Town Team meetings.
·
Anybody interested in
attending the course to contact Anthony / Frances.
| |
8.
|
Time & Date of Next Meeting
Community Event: Tuesday 25
March, 5.45pm – 7.00pm, Middleton Arena.
Town Team Meeting: Tuesday 08
April, 5.45pm – 7.00pm, venue TBC
|
MIDDLETON TOWN TEAM
MEETING
Thursday 20 February
2014, 5.45pm – 7.00pm
Middleton Arena, Upper
Auditorium
A G E N D A
ITEM
|
|||
5.45pm
|
Minutes
of previous meeting & review of actions
|
Adam Torevell (Chair)
|
10mins
|
5:55pm
|
Pop
Up Cinema
|
Claire Costigan & Graham Duckworth
|
10mins
|
6:05pm
|
City
Dressing
|
Jeremy Rucker
|
20mins
|
6.25pm
|
Teenage
Market
|
Adam Torevell
|
15mins
|
6.40pm
|
Middleton
Town Centre Visitor Guide
|
Julian Jefferson
|
10mins
|
6.50pm
|
Town
Team Community Event – 25 March
|
All
|
5mins
|
6.55pm
|
Any
Other Business
|
5mins
|
|
7.00pm
|
Time
& Date of Next Meeting (Community Event)
Thursday 25 March, 5.30pm – 7.00pm, Middleton
Arena
|
||
Hopwood
Hall College student gives Middleton Town Team its identity
 |
| Winning Logo designed by Hopwood Hall student Adham Mugal |
Keen to develop their identity, the Middleton Town Team recently challenged graphic design students at Hopwood Hall College to design a new logo. And it was 18 year old Adham Mugal from Rochdale whose design was chosen as the winner. As his prize he recieved a Tesco Huddle, donated by the Middleton store, but more importantly he got to see his design used on the shop front of the Town Team's pop up shop in the Middleton Shopping Centre.
The shop was officially opened by MP Jim Dobbin and Lisa Durkin - North West Town Teams Advisor and was open during December. The shop provided information to local residents and visitors on events and local business services, ran daily competitions and provided information about the history of Middleton town centre.
 |
| Pop Up Shop officially opened by MP Jim Dobbin and Lisa Durkin - NW Town Teams Advisor |
'I Love Middleton' merchandise was available to purchase including mugs, shopping bags and pens.
Hopwood Hall College are members of the Town Team and used this competition as a great opportunity for the graphic design students to gain real life work experience by working on a live brief to design and produce the logo.
At the start of the project, the group of students met with Frances Fielding - Economic Development Officer from Rochdale Council and gained an understanding ofthe aims of the project. They were then guided by their tutor, Sharon Drysdale and worked individually to research Middleton town's history to gain inspiration in assisting with their designs.
The competition was fierce and after much deliberation, Adham's design was chosen as the winning entry. He commented: "It was a great opportunity to be able to work on this live project and I was very pleased with the outcome and to know that I had produced the winning design. I will be able to add this to my portfolio."
Frances Fielding from Rochdale Council said: "The quality and professionalism of all of the logo's was outstanding and it was very difficult to choose the winning design, but we are very pleased with our chosen logo and will now be using this to build a corporate identity for the Middleton Town Team. We recognise the importance of providing work experience opportunities for learners at the College and the benefits obtained are valuable for both parties."
Bev Harmstone, work placement coordinator at Training @ Hopwood explained how difficult it is for young people to gain an insight to the industry and commented on what a great opportunity this was for learners: "Working on this live brief has allowed learners to experience what the graphic design industry is really like. Quite often graphic designers can work in isolation and this opportunity has proved to be realistic. Increasingly young people are required to demonstrate that they have gained work experience when applying for jobs, apprenticeships and university courses. This project will contribute to their personal statement on their CV and enhance their progression routes."
For more information about work experience opportunities and how Hopwood Hall College learners may be able to assist with your business, or if you have any organisational training needs please contact Training @ Hopwood on 0161 654 4373.
 |
| Adham Mughal recieving his prize from Frances Fielding - Rochdale Council |
Thursday 16 January, 5.45pm – 7.00pm
Middleton Arena
MINUTES OF M E E T I N G
Attendees:
|
Adam Torevell – Middleton TCM (Chair), Steve
O’Toole –Boots (Vice Chair), Bev Harmstone – Hopwood Hall College, Peter
Dawson – Community Rep, Alison Johnson – Lords Butchers, Tony Nugent –
Anthony K Associates, Tina Wright – M24 Arts, Cllr June West, Peter Carey –
Sedgwick Legal, , Cllr Jonathan Burns – RMBC, Howard Gibbons – Middleton
Shopping Centre, Cathy Partington
& Rob Chambers – McDonalds, Dean Lane – O2, Graeme Duckworth – Middleton
Arena
|
Apologies:
|
Jim Dobbin – MP, Ashleigh Webb – Middleton TCM, Claire
Costigan– Middleton Arena, Lauren
Mason – Middleton Township, Allan
Robinson – Tesco, Julian Jefferson – Link4Life, Paula Jones – RBS, Lauren Mason – Middleton
Township, Cllr June West
|
In Attendance:
|
Frances Fielding – RMBC (minutes), Andrew
Bradwell – RMBC, Anthony Jackson – RMBC, Elaine Simons, Joe Barrett – Teenage
Market
|
No.
|
ITEM
|
ACTIONS
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
1.
|
Minutes of the previous meeting & review of actions
Adam Torevell (AT) welcomed all in attendance.
The minutes of the previous meeting were agreed
as an accurate account.
There were several outstanding actions which were
followed up:
Middleton Visitor Guide:
·
FF is currently working on
the draft Visitor Guide with Julian Jefferson and agreed to bring this back
to the next meeting.
Town Team Co-operative:
·
AB requested for 3-4
volunteers to form a small sub group to look at formally constituting the
Town Team as a co-operative or social enterprise.
·
Anyone interested was
asked to get in touch with Andrew directly: andrew.bradwell@rochdale.gov.uk
/ Tel: 01706 925605.
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2.
|
Review of Pop Up
Shop
·
FF gave a review of the Pop Up Shop which was
open for 3 weeks during December and thanked everybody for their support.
·
Overall the initiative was very successful and
an enjoyable experience.
·
The outcomes achieved were to help raise the
profile of the Middleton Town Team, engage with residents on how they want to
see the Town Centre improved, promote Middleton in a positive light and to
bring an empty shop back into use.
·
The shop has now been converted into an
Apprentice Shop which will remain open for another 3 months.
What
worked well:
·
Offering pop up space for new start
businesses.
·
Partnership working (bringing in various
partners to showcase from the shop including Blue Orchid, Link4Life, Hopwood
Hall College, 5Ways2Wellbeing, Middleton Arena and Positive Steps).
·
Consulting with local residents on how they
would like to see Middleton town centre improved.
·
Running daily competitions and prizes - TN
donated 10 x sets of car matts and Lords Butchers provided Calendars which we
were given away each day as prizes.
·
Using the space to hold the Town Team meeting
& launch event.
·
Acting as a mini Visitor Information Centre.
What didn’t work
so well:
·
The arts & crafts sessions which people had to
book on had to be cancelled due to lack of interest.
·
Unable to sell any of the Lords Butchers pop-up
hampers.
Improvements:
·
Inviting more new start businesses to test trade from
the shop.
·
Piloting some shop mobility scooters.
·
FF thanked everybody involved in making the pop up
shop such a success and circulated the feedback received from the customers.
·
It was agreed to post the feedback on the Town Team
Blog once this has been set up.
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
3.
|
Teenage Market
Joe Barrett from Stockport delivered a
presentation & video on the Stockport Teenage Market.
·
The Teenage Market gives
young entrepreneurs the opportunity to trade from a free market stall in a
safe and creative retail environment within Stockport town centre.
·
The Teenage Market is
complimented by offering space for performing artists creating vibrant festival
environment.
·
Over 70 x young people
applied to take part in the first Stockport Teenage Market which captured
people’s imaginations and generated local, regional and national media
interest.
·
The event, which is now backed
by Stockport Council, runs once a month, along with themed markets including
Halloween, Christmas and Easter events.
·
Joe has developed a
Toolkit and Licence which can be shared with other towns and provides advice
and tips for running a successful Teenage Market, access to the Teenage
Market branding, a database of over 200 market traders and an Online Portal
and Town Page on the Teenage Market website and social media accounts.
·
The cost to purchase a 1
year licence is £750 or £1,000 for a 2 year licence.
·
There is also an optional
insurance fee, but AT confirmed the Middleton Markets will already have an
insurance policy which would cover a Teenage Market.
Comments from the Town Team:
There was a discussion around the possibilities
of running a Teenage Market in Middleton.
·
AT said the Teenage Market
could run on an existing market day – preferably a Saturday, but could be
separated from the existing market and the Middleton Town Centre Management
Company would be able to provide between 15 – 20 stalls.
·
It was suggested an ideal
location would be outside Jon Miguel.
·
SO’T felt that Middleton
presents the right location as it is not too far from Stockport and next door
to Manchester, so would be able to attract some of the Stockport Traders,
aswell as local teenagers.
·
It was also felt that the
Teenage Market concept is still quite fresh and new and that it would be good
to deliver this now, before everywhere else starts adopting it.
·
TW agreed and said she
thought it was a brilliant idea and an excellent PR opportunity for the town.
·
TW has a lot of students
coming in her shop for arts & crafts products and would be happy to
promote the market to her customer.
Vote:
·
TN formally proposed the
Town Team purchase a 2 year licence for the Teenage Market.
·
All Town Team members
voted in agreement.
·
It was agreed to aim to
run the first Teenage Market at Easter.
|
·
AT to lead on organising the Teenage Market.
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
4.
|
Town Team Communications
·
AJ demonstrated the
Twitter Account he has set up for the Middleton Town Team.
·
The account name is: @MiddTT
·
At the next meeting
Anthony offered to provide a 10minute training session on Twitter once he has
had time build up traffic on the site and increased the number of followers.
·
AJ / FF will also aim to
produce a Middleton Town Team Blog for the next meeting.
|
·
AJ to provide Twitter Training session at next meeting.
·
AJ / FF to produce Town Team Blog.
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
5.
|
Town Team Community Event – 25th March
·
A Town Team Community
Event is being organised on 25 March to update the wider community on the
achievements of the Town Team, present the 12-month Action Plan and give members
of the wider community the opportunity to have their voices / ideas heard.
·
EJS pointed out when the
Town Team was formed, there was interest from over 100 businesses and
community groups to get involved.
·
All Town Team members are
requested to attend this event.
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
6.
|
Town Team Finances
FF
presented the Town Team Budget:
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
7.
|
Any Other Business
Easter Event
·
AT requested the Town Team
consider providing £2-3K towards an Easter Event in the town centre which
could coincide with the Teenage Market.
·
The funds would be used to
purchase a stage and PA system and pay towards marketing of the event.
·
Due to the lack of time
organising an Easter event and the requirement to apply for a Temporary Event
Notice, Adam explained a quick decision was required, as it would be too late
to wait until the next meeting to await a decision.
·
There was a feeling around
the group that the decision was being rushed and that the Town Team were not
being presented with enough information.
·
Adam agreed to circulate a
proposal and for members to vote via email.
·
TW said she liked the
impromptu dancing on the street and the bustle it created rather than being
staged.
·
PD suggested contacting
the Middleton Township to make a contribution.
High Street Foundation 2nd Anniversary Event
·
FF invited all members to
attend the above event being held on Thursday 13 February, 5.30pm – 8.30pm at
Hopwood Hall College, Rochdale.
·
AT & SO’T will be
providing a review of the Middleton Town Team at this event and there will
also be presentations from Lisa Durkin – the NW Town Teams Advisor and the
Chairs of the Rochdale & Heywood Town Teams.
02 Business Event
·
Dean Lane promoted an O2
Business event being held in the Middleton store on Thursday 23 January, 6pm
onwards to showcase the latest technology and priority moment deals.
·
All Town Team members are
invited to attend.
Edgar Woods
·
FF circulated posters for
a fund raising event being held at the Edgar Wood Centre to raise money for
the restoration of the building and asked for businesses to display these in
their shops.
·
All members are invited to
the event on Saturday 8th Feb, 3.00pm at the Edgar Wood Centre.
Agenda Items for Next Meeting:
Middleton Festival
·
Peter Dawson asked if the
Middleton Festival can be discussed at a future meeting. It is held the last
weekend in July before the school holidays and if the weather is good can
attract thousands.
·
Peter thought it would be
a good idea to have a Town Team stall at the Festival.
·
AT offered to donate a
gazebo for the Town Team stall.
Middleton Arena Cinema Nights
·
GD said the Arena have
just purchased a HD projector and screen to show films / sporting events.
·
GD offered to host the
next meeting of the Town Team and give a demonstration of the cinema screen.
|
·
AT to circulate Easter Event proposal and invite Town Team members to
vote via email.
·
Include Middleton Festival as future Agenda Item.
·
Include Arena Cinema for future Agenda Item.
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
8.
|
Time & Date of Next Meeting
Tuesday 20th February, 5.45pm –
7.00pm, Middleton Arena.
|
MIDDLETON TOWN TEAM
MEETING
Thursday 16 January
2014, 5.45pm – 7.00pm
Middleton Arena
A G E N D A
|
ITEM
|
|||
5.45pm
|
Minutes
of previous meeting & review of actions
|
Adam Torevell (Chair)
|
10mins
|
5:55pm
|
Review
of Pop Up Shop
|
Frances Fielding
|
10mins
|
6.05pm
|
Teenage
Market
|
Ashleigh Webb
|
5mins
|
6.10pm
|
Town
Team Communications
|
Anthony Jackson
|
10mins
|
6.20pm
|
Town
Team Community Event
|
Elaine Simons
|
5mins
|
6.25pm
|
Town
Team Finances
|
All
|
30mins
|
6.55pm
|
Any
Other Business
|
5mins
|
|
7.00pm
|
Time
& Date of Next Meeting
Thursday 20 February, 5.45pm – 7.00pm,
venue TBC
|
||
----------------------------------------------------------------
MIDDLETON TOWN TEAM MEETING
Thursday 05 December 5.30pm – 7.00pm
Middleton Town Team Pop Up Shop
MINUTES OF M E E T I N G
Attendees:
|
Adam Torevell – Middleton TCM (Chair), Steve
O’Toole –Boots (Vice Chair), Bev Harmstone – Hopwood Hall College, Peter
Dawson – Community Rep, Alison Johnson – Lords Butchers, Tony Nugent –
Anthony K Associates, Tina Wright – M24 Arts, Cllr June West, Peter Carey –
Sedgwick Legal, Paula Jones – RBS,
|
Apologies:
|
Jim Dobbin – MP, Ashleigh Webb – Middleton TCM,
Cllr Jonathan Burns – RMBC, Claire Costigan– Middleton Arena, Lee Todman – O2, Lauren Mason – Middleton
Township, Cath Partington – McDonalds, Howard Gibbons – Middleton Shopping
Centre, Allan Robinson – Tesco, Julian
Jefferson – Link4Life
|
In Attendance:
|
Frances Fielding – RMBC (minutes), Andrew
Bradwell – RMBC, Anthony Jackson – RMBC, Lauren Mason – Middleton Township, Elaine
Simons
|
No.
|
ITEM
|
ACTIONS
|
1.
|
Minutes of the previous meeting & review of actions
Adam Torevell (AT) welcomed all in attendance.
The minutes of the previous meeting were agreed
as an accurate account.
There were several outstanding actions which were
followed up:
Town Team Bank Account
·
All information has now
been sent to RBS –just waiting to receive bank account documents.
Ambassador Training
·
16 people have undertaken
the Middleton Ambassador Training.
·
The total cost was £559
(Training Course Cost £450, Venue Hire Charges £109).
·
Link4Life have agreed to
pay for half and the Town Team will pay for the other half.
Middleton Town Centre Visitor Guide
·
FF has met with Julian Jefferson – Link4Life and RMBC
Comms regarding the production of a Middleton Visitor Guide.
·
RMBC Comms have agreed to fund the graphic design
& print costs.
·
The draft document will be brought back to the
Middleton Town Team at a later meeting for comment.
Middleton Town
Team Logo Competition
·
The students who took part in the logo competition
were invited to the launch event of the pop up shop and the winning logo was
used on the shop sign and all future Town Team marketing materials.
·
Tesco provided a Tesco Huddle at cost price (£100) as
the prize.
·
A press release has been issued to the local media.
·
The Town Team commented that it was nice to see and
meet the students at the launch event.
|
·
FF to work with RMBC Comms / Link4Life on Visitor Guide.
|
2.
|
Pop Up Shop
Activities
·
The Pop Up Shop opened on Monday 02 December
and over 50 people attended the launch event which was a great success.
·
The shop will remain open until 20 December in
order to raise the profile of the Town Team, consult with local residents on
how they would like to see the town centre improved, and to positively
promote Middleton.
·
The shop is being well used by partners
including 5 Ways to Well Being, Link4Life, Blue Orchid, Middleton Arena, Positive
Steps Careers Service, new start-up businesses, M24 Arts & Crafts and
Hopwood Hall College.
·
I Love Middleton merchandise (bags, mugs &
pens) are also being sold from the shop with any profits made being
re-invested back into the Town Team.
·
Steve stressed that the biggest thing will be
getting people’s thoughts on Middleton and listening to what people have to
say.
·
Lisa Durkin the North West Town Teams Advisor
has been very impressed with the work being undertaken by the Middleton Town
Team and wants to use us as a case study to put forward to Brandan Lewis MP
& High Streets Minister.
|
|
3.
|
Christmas Events and Small Business Saturday 7th December
·
The Christmas Lights Switch On event & reindeer
parade was held on 15th & 16th November and was a
success despite both Rochdale and Heywood holding their switch on events on
the same date.
·
The Council have appointed an Events Manager (Sue
Milne) and she will be co-ordinating an events calendar in future to
hopefully avoid this happening in future.
·
Small Business Saturday which is a national campaign
to support small businesses is being held on Saturday 7th
December.
·
A Cash Mob will be held at 12noon outside the
shopping centre – anybody can attend, just turn up with a fiver and an
independent shop is drawn from a hat and everybody taking part visits that
shop and agrees to spend their £5.
·
Jim Dobbin MP will be judging a best dressed
Christmas Window Competition on the Day.
·
In addition, Shopping Crawls have been distributed to
all the shops taking part in the scheme and this has been promoted in the
Middleton Guardian and online.
|
|
4.
|
Town Team Co-operative
·
Andrew Bradwell presented
options to the Town Team on setting up as a social enterprise to become more
business-like.
·
Andrew and Frances have
been approached by the Co-op who want to help more people and groups set up
co-operatives.
·
The Town Team doesn’t have
to become a co-op / social enterprise, but is just an idea worth exploring.
·
The advantages would
possibly help attract future funding and would help the Town Team become more
sustainable once the Council reduces its level of support.
·
The Council will be
reviewing its level of support in March 2013.
·
The Town Team felt that
they would require same level of assistance for another 12 months.
·
Peter Carey felt that
moving into a more formal status would be a very good idea and it was agreed
it would show there was an exit strategy for when the Council does withdraw
support.
·
The Town Team also felt it
is important to have a Council presence on the group because without this it
would weaken the partnership.
·
It was agreed to pursue
the idea further to formalise the Town Team structure.
·
Andrew Bradwell agreed to
report back to the Co-op and identify the next steps.
|
·
AB to review next steps in forming a social enterprise / co-op.
|
5.
|
Feedback from Future of Town Centres Conference
·
FF recently attended the above conference and fedback
on some of the highlights.
·
All of the presentations can be viewed on the
following website: http://www.slideshare.net/PlaceNorthWest/mike-horner-future-of-town-centres
·
Although retail predictions are stark (by 2016
another 22% of high street shops will be closed), there are opportunities
which must be capitalised on including:
o
Looking beyond retail & creating different uses
for space (health, education, leisure, residential)
o
Landlords offering more flexible leases
o
National review of Business Rates
o
Growing importance of localism
o
Providing temporary facilities (pop up shops, market
stalls, incubator space for new start businesses)
o
New approaches to car parking
o
Click & collect
o
Clean, safe & attractive town centres
o
Embracing technology
o
Creating town centre visionary documents /
masterplans
o
Adapting town centres to consumer needs
o
Creating sustainable environments
o
Providing a service you can’t get over the internet
(e.g. food & beverage)
o
Town centre cinema?
|
|
6.
|
Teenage Market
·
Adam has met with Joe
Barret who set up the Teenage Market in Stockport as part of their successful
Portas Pilot.
·
Teenage markets are run by
teenagers selling products aged at a younger generation.
·
The Stockport Teenage
Market is run once a month on a Sunday in the indoor market hhall.
·
Bev mentioned that the
Rochdale Retail Ready Project was extremely
hard work getting young people to engage in the project and remain on
the programme.
·
Adam said that if you buy
the Teenage Market concept from Stockport then you receive their brand, their
list of stall holders and a template website.
·
The cost is £700 for one
year or £1,000 for 2 years.
·
The Town Team agreed it is
worth pursing and Adam agreed to invite Joe Barrett to the next meeting of
the Town Team.
·
Bev also said she would
try and raise interest with the students at Hopwood.
|
·
AT to invite Joe Barrett to attend next meeting.
·
AT to send Teenage Market info to Bev to circulate to drum up interest
with college students.
|
7.
|
Any Other Business
Town Team Communications
·
There was a discussion
around communicating the work of the Middleton Town Team and it was agreed to
set up a no cost website and Twitter Account for the Town Team.
·
Frances & Anthony
agreed to do this and bring back to the next meeting.
Town Team Membership
·
Frances has been approached
by Rochdale Online and Councillor Peter Winkler (who also runs a marketing
business in Middleton) to ask if they can join the Town Team.
·
The Terms of Reference
state that each year, for any members who wish to stand down, their seats
will be open for re-election. Or if no members stand down, one new seat will
be created.
·
The Town Team felt that it
would not be fair to allow these additional members to join the group at this
stage and to wait until elections are held later in the year.
|
·
FF / AJ to set up Town Team Twitter Account & Website.
|
8.
|
Time & Date of Next Meeting
Thursday 16 January, 5.45pm – 7.00pm, Anthony K
Associates, Long Street, Middleton
|
Thursday 24 October, 5.45pm – 7.00pm
Middleton Arena
MINUTES OF M E E T I N G
Attendees:
|
Adam Torevell – Middleton TCM (Chair), Steve
O’Toole –Boots (Vice Chair), Bev Harmstone – Hopwood Hall College, Peter
Dawson – Community Rep, Alison Johnson – Lords Butchers, Ashleigh Webb –
Middleton TCM, Cllr Jonathan Burns – RMBC, Claire Costigan– Middleton
Arena, Tony Nugent – Anthony K
Associates, Tina Wright – M24 Arts
|
Apologies:
|
Jim Dobbin – MP, Cllr June West, Peter Carey – Sedgwick
Legal, Paula Jones – RBS, Lee Todman – O2, Lauren Mason – Middleton Township,
Cath Partington – McDonalds,
Howard Gibbons – Middleton Shopping Centre, Pat
Byrne & Allan Robinson –
Tesco,Julian Jefferson – Link4Life
|
In Attendance:
|
Frances Fielding – RMBC (minutes), Susan Ayres –
RMBC, Anthony Jackson – RMBC, Elaine Simons
|
No.
|
ITEM
|
ACTIONS
|
1.
|
Minutes of the previous meeting & review of actions
Adam Torevell (AT) welcomed all in attendance.
The minutes of the previous meeting were agreed
as an accurate account.
There were several outstanding actions followed
up:
Town Team Bank Account
·
Frances is working on
opening the bank account and this will be completed by the next meeting.
Ambassador Training
·
Frances agreed to follow
this up with Julian Jefferson who has been on leave.
·
Town Team members
expressed a lot of interest in the training and would like to be invited to
take part.
Middleton Town Centre Visitor Guide
·
Frances also agreed to
follow up the Town Centre Map / Visitor Guide with Julian Jefferson.
·
It was suggested to liaise
with Kerrie Smith who has produced several heritage maps to avoid any
duplication.
| |
2.
|
Town Team Logo Competition
·
Bev Harmstone presented artwork the Graphic Design
students at Hopwood Hall College have produced as part of a competition to
design the Town Team logo.
·
The Town Team chose the winning logo designed by
Adham Mughal which shows the street scene in Middleton Town Centre.
·
Tina Wright offered to donate a £20 voucher from M24
Arts & Crafts to the Runner Up – Shay Doyle.
·
The Town Team agreed to contribute £50 towards the
prize fund for the Winner.
·
FF agreed to organise a photograph with the winning
student and the Town Team.
·
Bev agreed to prepare a press release which can be
issued to the Middleton Guardian.
|
·
BH & FF to organise photo /press release.
|
3.
|
Oktoberfest
·
Adam gave an update on the Oktoberfest which was a
huge success despite there being last minute problems with the event license
which incurred unexpected costs due to the requirement to provide additional
stewards.
·
This meant unfortunately the festival was only able
to break even due to these unexpected costs, and therefore will not be able
to return any of the £2,000 funds to the Town Team.
·
Members of the Town Team requested for the Profit
& Loss account of the Festival to be circulated with the Minutes.
·
Other comments / feedback included; the beer tents
running out of beer! Need more stock for next year, need some banners around
the town centre & leaflets distributed around shops, good coverage in the
MEN, look at alternative locations.
·
The Town Centre Management Company want to run the
event next year and aim to make it a cost neutral event.
·
Footfall in the shopping centre was up by almost 800
movements on the previous Saturday.
|
·
FF to circulate Oktoberfest P&L Account with the Minutes.
|
4.
|
Christmas Events and Small Business Saturday
Ashleigh provided an update on Christmas
activities in Middleton Town Centre.
·
The Christmas Lights Switch On event will take place
on Saturday 16 November.
·
The Lights will be switched on at 6pm by the Mayor
& Mayoress of Rochdale.
·
Blue Inc have donated £100 worth of shopping vouchers
to be given away at the Switch On event.
·
Activities will take place from 12noon onwards and
there will be live music and performance from local artists.
·
The Reindeer Parade is being held on Sunday 17
November.
·
A range of activities are being organised across the
borough to promote Small Business Saturday on 7th December.
·
Activities in Middleton will include a Christmas
Shopping Challenge, Shop Window Dressing Competition being judged by MP Jim
Dobbin, and a Cash Mob.
·
Tesco have donated a £25 shopping voucher for the
Christmas Shopping Challenge prize draw.
|
|
5.
|
Pop Up Town Team Hub
·
Anthony Jackson has been
working with Andy Turner – RMBC Skills Manager who is opening a pop up skills
shop for 3 months in Middleton town centre during Jan – March 2014.
·
Andy has agreed for the
Town Team to occupy the shop the month prior (December) and will pay the rent
and utility bills.
·
Anthony has been liaising
with Howard from the Shopping Centre and the unit that has been agreed is the
former O2 shop on the ground floor of the Shopping Centre.
·
Anthony & Frances will
be based in the shop throughout December and the aim is to raise the profile
of the Town Team, promote everything that Middleton has to offer and be used
to consult with local residents on the town centre.
·
All Town Team members were
asked to support the shop and use this themselves as a way to market their
own businesses including supplying leaflets, wall displays, materials,
products etc.
·
Tina Wright was interested
in running some craft workshops from the shop and Claire Costigan thought
Link4Life would be able to run some health checks etc.
·
Peter Dawson suggested
selling some I LOVE Middleton merchandise within the shop (e.g. pens,
shopping bags, stickers etc) as a fun gimmick, and felt that the local
heritage should also be showcased.
·
It was also suggested to
invite local students to be involved.
·
Funds will be required
from the Town Team to pay for signage on the front of the shop and to
purchase some of the merchandise – this was approved by the Town Team.
·
The Town Team logo will be
used on the shop sign along with the Title and Slogan: “Middleton Town Team
Pop Up Shop – Businesses & Communities working together for Middleton”.
|
|
6.
|
Car Parking Discussion
·
Cllr Jonathan Burns said a
motion was put to Council last week to offer free parking on Bank Holidays
and also the week before Christmas and the week of the January sales.
·
A wider car parking review
is being undertaken and led by Cllr Jacqui Beswick and Jonathan promised to
keep the Town Team informed of progress with this.
·
Peter Dawson felt that
offering free parking for the first 20minutes was a great iniative that was working
well in other towns.
·
Alison also said that
Lords Butchers have lots of problems with disabled people parking in the
loading bays which prevents lorry’s from being able to unload.
·
Susan Ayres said that in
order to support the Car Parking Review, there needs to be evidence gathered
from businesses and shoppers that free parking has had a direct positive
impact for the town.
|
|
7.
|
Any Other Business
Warwick Mill
·
Susan Ayres confirmed a planning application has been
submitted for Warwick Mill by Chinese investors to transform this building
into a mixed use development along with the public realm around site.
·
It was suggested that a member of the Planning Team
attend the January meeting to explain the plans in detail to the Town Team.
Teenage Market
·
Peter Dawson had visited the Stockport Teenage Market
which he felt was exemplary and something which could be replicated in
Middleton.
·
This is part of the Middleton Town Centre Management
Company Business Plan for 2014 and Adam & Ashleigh agreed to present their
proposals for this at the next meeting.
Arts & Craft
Fair – Saturday 02 November
·
M24 Arts are holding a Christmas Arts & Crafts
Fair in the shop on Saturday 02 November.
·
All members were invited to attend.
|
·
Invite RMBC Planning to present Warwick Mill plans at January meeting.
·
Include Teenage Market as Agenda Item for next meeting.
|
6.
|
Time & Date of Next Meeting
Thursday 05 December, 5.45pm – 7.00pm, Pop Up
Shop, Ground Floor, Middleton Shopping Centre.
|
Thursday 12 September, 5.45pm – 7.00pm
Tesco, Middleton
MINUTES OF M E E T I N G
|
Attendees:
|
Adam Torevell – Middleton TCM (Chair), Steve
O’Toole –Boots (Vice Chair), Bev Harmstone – Hopwood Hall College, Peter
Dawson – Community Rep, Kirsty Williams – McDonalds, Alison Johnson – Lords
Butchers, Ashleigh Webb – Middleton TCM, Cllr June West – RMBC, Claire
Costigan– Middleton Arena, Tony Nugent
– Anthony K Associates, Howard Gibbons – Middleton Shopping Centre, Pat Byrne
& Allan Robinson – Tesco.
|
|
Apologies:
|
Jim Dobbin – MP, Cllr Jonathan Burns, Peter Carey
– Sedgwick Legal, Paula Jones – RBS, Tina Wright – M24 Arts, Lee Todman – O2,
Susan Ayres – RMBC, Lauren Mason – Middleton Township.
|
|
In Attendance:
|
Frances Fielding – RMBC, Anthony Jackson – RMBC,
Julian Jefferson – Link4Life, Elaine Simons.
|
|
No.
|
ITEM
|
ACTIONS
|
|
1.
|
Welcome , Introductions & Apologies
·
Adam Torevell (AT)
welcomed all in attendance.
·
The minutes of the
previous meeting were agreed as an accurate account.
·
There were no outstanding
actions to follow up.
Grimsey Report
ES gave an overview of the Grimsey Report - an alternative view
of the High Street, produced by Bill Grimsey - ex Chair of Wickes
and Iceland.
The main report is very similar to the Portas Review -
commissioend by Government but there is great emphasis on
the impacts of Business Rates.
Tony Nugent has a contact for an independent consultant who
deals with business rates and can assist anybody regarding
business rates advice and appeals.
The Town Team noted the findings of the report.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
3.
|
Town Team
Finances – Frances Fielding
·
RMBC have awarded the Town Team an initial budget of
£25K and it was agreed to open a bank account with RBS for these funds.
·
The account will be a basic bank account with cheque
book and will require 4 x signatures.
·
It was agreed for the signatures to be the Chair
& Vice Chair and a member of staff from Rochdale Council.
·
Tony Nugent agreed to take on the role of Treasurer
and be the fourth signature.
·
Bank statements will be provided at every town team
meeting and will be a standing item on the agenda.
|
·
FF to set up Town Team Bank Account.
|
|
4.
|
Action Planning – All
The draft Action Plan was presented and discussed
by the Town Team.
Oktober
Fest – Saturday 05 October
·
Middleton Town Centre Management Company are
organising this event and requested £2K from the Town Team budget.
·
The Town Team approved £2K towards this event, on the
understanding that any profits made from the event were paid back to the Town
Team.
Christmas
Lights Switch On
·
Middleton Town Centre Management Company requested
£2k contribution towards the Christmas Lights Switch On event.
·
The Town Team approved this funding.
·
Tesco agreed to provide refreshments for the event.
·
MTCMCo will approach town centre shops to dress up
their windows in a Christmas theme for the Switch On event.
Town
Team Logo
·
It was agreed that any events / activities the Town
Team fund / deliver should be branded to raise the profile of the Town Team,
·
Bev Harmstone offered to work with the Graphic Design
students at Hopwood Hall College to design a Town Team Logo.
·
Anthony Jackson presented the draft Retail Prospectus
and requested all to provide comments within 2 weeks.
Middleton
Town Guide Mobile App
·
FF presented costings for the Rochdale App and
download stats.
·
It was agreed to defer this until the New Year.
Middleton
Ambassador Scheme
·
Julian Jefferson – Link4Life offered to match fund
the cost of training 30 Middleton Town Centre Ambassadors.
·
The Town Team agreed to award £500 funding towards
this.
Middleton
Town Centre Leaflet and map
·
JJ requested £1k to produce a town centre leaflet to
promote Middleton town centre to visitors.
·
Town Team approved funds and requested heritage offer
to be incorporated into leaflet.
Events
and PR calendar
·
It was agreed that all town centre events need to be
promoted within an overall events calendar and PR strategy for the town.
·
It was agreed for MTCMC, the, Middleton Arena,
Middleton Shopping Centre and Middleton Township to work together on this.
Christmas
card competition
·
The Town Team decided to defer this project until
next year as we are too far on in the year to proceed.
Middleton
gardens clean up
·
At previous meetings, McDonalds have raised concern
about the dirty pavements outside their restaurant in Middleton Gardens.
·
Town Team / council members have informed McDonalds
they are allowed to clean the pavements outside their restaurant as long as
they don’t use cleaning products that would damage the stone.
Pop
up outdoor cinema
·
The Town team felt that this isn’t a pressing issue
for the Town Centre at the moment and would like to defer this until after
Christmas
Community
stage in town centre / busk stops
·
Defer to next meeting.
Incredible
edible
·
A small number of community reps are currently
engaging with various groups & individuals to launch an Incredible Edible
food growing project in Middleton town centre next year.
·
They have requested an Agenda Item for the next
meeting of the Middleton Environment Forum.
·
Cllr June West raised concern that next year to mark
the 100th anniversary of the 1st World War, hundreds of
poppy’s will be scattered around the town centre, and was a higher priority
than Incredible Edibles.
Car Parking
·
It was agreed to have a
car parking as an Agenda Item for discussion at the next meeting.
|
·
£2K funds approved for OktoberFest.
·
£2K funds approved for Christmas Lights Switch On event.
·
BH to work with students to design Town Team Logo.
·
All to provide comments on the Retail Prospectus.
·
£500 funds approved - JJ to bring details of Ambassador Training to
next meeting.
·
£1K funds approved for Town Centre Leaflet.
·
Include Car Parking as agenda item for next meeting.
|
|
5.
|
Any Other Business
2013 Rochdale Business Awards
·
Rochdale Business Awards take place on Friday 8th
November 2013. This year, there is a new category – Best High Street Retailer
- sponsored by the boroughs three shopping centres. Closing date for entries
is Friday 4th October.
Small Business Saturday – 7th December
·
Government are pushing 7th
December as Small Business Saturday and will be promoting a national
campaign. Town centres are being urged to think about promotions / activities
for this day that can be marketed under the brand of Small Business Saturday.
·
FF will co-ordinate a
boroughwide town centres group to lead on ideas for this day.
|
·
FF to co-ordinate boroughwide Small Business Saturday offer.
|
|
6.
|
Time & Date of Next Meeting
Thursday 24 October, 5.45pm – 7.00pm, Middleton
Arena.
|
|
Thursday 12
September, 5.45pm – 7.00pm
Tesco Middleton
A G E N D A
|
|
ITEM
|
|
|
|
5.45pm
|
Minutes
of previous meeting & review of actions
|
Adam
Torevell (Chair)
|
5mins
|
|
5.50pm
|
Grimsey
Report
|
|
10mins
|
|
6.00pm
|
Town
Team Finances
|
|
10mins
|
|
6.10pm
|
Action
Plan Review
|
|
40mins
|
|
6.50pm
|
Any
Other Business
a).
Rochdale Business Awards 2013
b).
Small Business Saturday 7th Dec
|
|
10mins
|
|
7.00pm
|
Time
& Date of Next Meeting
Thursday 24 October, 5.45pm – 7.00pm, venue
to be confirmed.
|
||
MIDDLETON TOWN TEAM MEETING
Middleton Library, Long Street, Middleton
MINUTES OF M E E T I N G
Attendees:
|
Elaine Simons (Chair), Cllr Jonathan Burns, Adam
Torevell – Middleton TCM, Steve O’Toole –Boots, Peter Carey – Sedgwick Legal,
Bev Harmstone – Hopwood Hall College, Peter Dawson – Community Rep, Tina
Wright – M24 Arts, Kirsty Williams & Catherine Partington – McDonalds,
Alison Johnson – Lords ButchersAshleigh Webb – Middleton TCM, Lee Todman – O2
|
Apologies:
|
Jim Dobbin – MP, Cllr June West – RMBC, Claire
Costigan / Graham Duckworth – Middleton Arena, Howard Gibbons – Middleton Shopping Centre,
Tony Nugent – Anthony K Associates, Paula Jones – RBS, Allan Robinson – Tesco,
Susan Ayres - RMBC
|
In Attendance:
|
Frances Fielding – RMBC, Anthony Jackson – RMBC,
Lauren Mason – Middleton Township, Julian Jefferson – Link4Life
|
Welcome, Introduction & Apologies
- Elaine Simons welcomed all in attendance.
Terms of Reference
- Frances Fielding presented the amended Terms of Reference.
- At the previous meeting, members of the Town Team questioned the section on Conflicts of Interest and also Voting of Members.
- Peter Carey helped re-draft the Conflicts of Interest section and the Voting of Members has been amended to allow existing members to remain on teh Town Team until they wish to stand down, rather than having to be re-elected every year.
- The revised Terms of Reference were agreed by the Town Team.
Ideas & Action Planning
Elaine Simons presented a list of ideas that had been compiled from previous sessions to form part of the Middleton Town Centre Action Plan. The Town Team discussed these ideas:
Incredible Edibles Middleton
A meeting was held in Rochdale to launch an Incredible Edible scheme and a group of residents from Middleton have approached FF about delivering this in Middleton.
LM also confirmed the same group have approached Middleton Township for support.
BH updated that from September, Hopwood Hall College will be offering courses in horticulture and would be keen to get invovled and support this project.
In addition, Peter Dawson offered to promote this at Bowlee Park Primary School.
The Town Team agreed to include Incredible Edibles on the Action Plan and requested a project report for the next meeting to review.
Action: FF to contact Gardening Group for Project Report.
Pop Up Outdoor Cinema
- Middleton TCM have been looking into the cost of a pop up outdoor cineman in Middleton Gardens, the cost would be around £4,000.
- Other additional costs will include licenses, seating etc.
- Initial thoughts around the table were that this idea would be too expensive, but AW & AT agreed agreed to research further and update at the next meeting.
Action: AW & AT to reserach further the costs of a pop-up outdoor cinema.
Pop up Town Team Hub
- AJ presented the idea of a pop up Town Team Hub using an empty retail unit in the town centre to give the Town Team a profile within the town centre and also the opportunity to consult with shoppers on the Action Plan.
- AJ to look into possible locations and bring costs back to next meeting.
Action: AJ to reserach costings and locations of Pop Up Town Team Hub.
Family Themed Events
- Middleton Town Centre Management Company have organised a series of family fun events throughout August including; Merlin's Magic, Model Railway, Wildlife Week, Clowns & Magic Tricks, Fun Fair and much more.
- There was a discussion around marketing and joining up town centre events.
- It was agreed to invite Chris Jones from the Middleton Guardian to attend the meetings of the Middleton Town Team and help promote initiatives in the local press.
Action: AW to produce Tonw Centre Events Calendar.
Action: FF to invite Chris Jones - Middleton Guardian to attend future Town Team meetings.
Busk Stops
- The Town Team were in support of creating designated areas in the town centre for musicians & artists to perform - it was agreed to include this within the Action Plan.
Empty Shops Campaign
- RMBC are working with the RDA to produce a Retail Prospectus for Middleton Town Centre - hopefully this should be available for the next Town Team meeting.
- There was also a discussion about offering business rate incentives to attract new occupants into the empty shops.
- TCM and Tina Wright are exploring the idea of running a Christmas Card competition within local schools and selling the winning cards from an empty shop.
- It was felt that the timescales to run the competition may be too short, as a lot of people purchase Christmas Cards early (Oct / Nov) and rather than selling from an empty shop, a market stall may be a better alternative.
Action: AW & TW to explor Christmas Card Competition further.
Middleton Town Guide App
- The Town Team were keen to condiser developing a Town Guide App for Middleton Town Centre and requested costings & download stats from Rochdale.
Action: FF to obtain Town Guide App costings & download stats.
Chewing Gum Removal
- McDonalds raised the issue of chewing gum outside their shop and the paving in the Gardens but have been told by RMBC they are not allowed to clean this themselves.
- LM agreed to follow this up with Environmental Management.
Action: LM to follow up chewing gum removal with Environmental Management.
Appointment of Chair / Vice Chair
A secret ballot was help to appoint the Chair & Vice Chair.
- Adam Torevell - Middleton Town Centre Management Company was appointed Chair.
- Steve O'Toole - Boots, was appointed Vice Chair.
Time & Date of Next Meeting
Thursday 12 September, 5.45pm - 7.00pm, Tesco, Middleton.
INAUGURAL MIDDLETON TOWN TEAM MEETING
Tuesday
02 July, 5.45pm – 7.00pm
Middleton
Library, Long Street, Middleton
MINUTES OF M E E T
I N G
Attendees:
|
Elaine
Simons (Chair), Cllr June West, Adam Torevell – Middleton TCM, Steve O’Toole
–Boots, Tony Nugent – Anthony K Associates, Peter Carey – Sedgwick Legal, Bev
Harmstone – Hopwood Hall College, Peter Dawson – Community Rep, Tina Wright –
M24 Arts, Kirsty Williams & Catherine Partington – McDonalds, Alison
Johnson – Lords Butchers
|
Apologies:
|
Jim
Dobbin – MP, Claire Costigan / Graham Duckworth – Middleton Arena, Lauren
Mason – Middleton Township, Howard Gibbons – Middleton Shopping Centre, Susan
Ayres – RMBC, Julian Jefferson – Link4Life, Ashleigh Webb – Middleton TCM.
|
Absent:
|
Lee
Todman – O2, Peter Rowlinson – Middleton Heritage Group
|
No.
|
ITEM
|
ACTIONS
|
1.
|
Welcome &
Introductions
· Elaine Simons (ES)
acted as an independent Chair for the inaugural meeting of the Middleton Town
Team until the Chair & Vice Chair are elected.
· Members of the Town
Team formally introduced themselves.
· Tina Wright – M24
Arts, Peter Dawson – Community Rep both agreed to be put forward for Chair /
Vice Chair & Steve O’Toole – Boot said he also may consider either of
these roles.
|
|
2.
|
Terms of Reference
Frances
Fielding (FF) presented the draft Terms of Reference.
·
The
Town Team agreed on the following vision statement: “…to help revitalise Middleton Town Centre by creating a bright image,
a safe and attracting environment, supporting the development of a broad mix
of retail, community & leisure uses that create a distinct town centre
offer, appealing to residents and visitors alike. Using the Town’s public
space, heritage, markets and specialist retail offer, our aim is to build on
existing strengths and reignite pride in our Town.”
The purpose
of the Town Team is to:
·
Encourage
collaboration amongst individuals and groups with an interest in Middleton
Town Centre.
·
Lead
on the development & implementation of a 12-month Action Plan to help
revitalise and sustain Middleton Town Centre.
·
Represent
the interest of stakeholders when reviewing project proposals submitted for
approval / funding.
·
Monitor
& review such projects.
·
Make
sure the work of the Town Team is effectively communicated within the town.
·
Identify
individual’s strengths within the Town Team who can take the lead on
delivering activities.
Membership:
·
The
membership of the Town Team was agreed.
·
Apologies
& absences were noted by the Town Team.
·
It
was agreed to follow up absences and approach Tesco’s, the Banks &
manufacturers to offer a seat on the Town Team.
Election
of Voting Representation:
·
It
was agreed that any new members who wish to join the Town Team / stand down
will be done at a annual meeting to be held each year in July.
·
All
members must attend a minimum of 3 meetings in a rolling 6 month period.
·
Failure
to attend may result in removal from the Town Team or voting rights.
Frequency
of Meetings:
·
It
was agreed for meetings to be held every 6 weeks on Thursday evenings.
Quorum:
·
Where
decisions need to be made by voting representatives then at least two thirds
of the Town Team must be present for a valid decision to be taken.
Conflict
of Interest:
·
There
was concern that the wording around conflicts of interest needs to be amended
as it could be construed that every body could have some conflicting interest
be it business, personal or financial.
·
It
was agreed that Peter Carey (PC) would help re-draft the wording for this
section.
The draft
Terms of Reference were agreed subject to the above amendments.
|
FF / ES to follow
up membership with Tesco’s, the Banks & manufacturers.
PC to provide
support to re-draft the wording of the Conflicts of Interest.
|
3.
|
Action Plan &
Resources
Anthony
Jackson (AJ) provided a snapshot of previous ideas submitted by young people
/ businesses on improving Middleton Town Centre which included:
·
More shops / eating places / places to socialise
·
Pop Up shops
·
Cinema
·
Bowling Alley
·
Improvements to the markets, Christmas markets
·
A safer town centre
·
More accessible town centre
·
Activities for children
·
Live music
·
More events
·
Student offer
There
was a discussion around ideas the Town Team would like to progress including:
·
Pop Up Open Air Cinema with outdoor seating (e.g.
Deckchairs like in Spinningfields)
·
An annual event – e.g. MidFest
·
Improvements to Townley Street
·
Shop front improvements / window dressing
·
Developing a mobile town guide App
·
Improving social media presence
·
Promoting the Arts – joint marketing campaigns
·
Bringing empty shops back to use
·
Better signage around the town centre
·
Support packages to retain existing businesses but
attract new businesses & shops to Middleton town centre
Due
to lack of time, it was agreed for Town Team Members to think about their own
ideas and circulate to Frances Fielding to be reviewed at the next meeting.
|
FF to circulate
Focus Group Structure.
All Town Team
Members to email ideas for Action to FF.
|
4.
|
Appointment of
Chair / Vice Chair
Due to lack of time and possible additions to the
membership of the Town Team (e.g. Tesco’s, Bank, Manufacturer) it was
agreed to defer the election of Chair
/ Vice Chair until the next meeting once any new members approached are also
given the opportunity to stand for election.
|
Tuesday 04 June, 5.45pm – 7.00pm
Hopwood Hall College, Middleton Campus
NOTES OF M E E T I N G
Welcome & Introductions
Peter Rowlinson - Planning & Regulation Service Director, RMBC welcomed all in attendance.
The purpose of the meeting is to progress with forming a Town Team for Middleton.
FF gave an update on progress since the last meeting:
· Meetings held with town centre businesses and key stakeholders to generate interest in forming a Middleton Town Team.
· The directive to form Town Teams has come from Central Government following their response to the Portas Review and support has been made available nationally to support Town Teams through the Association for Towns & City Centre Management (ATCM).
· Over the past 12 months a lot of work has taken place to form a Town Team in Rochdale and develop and implement a short-medium term Action Plan to improve the vitality and viability of Rochdale town Centre.
· Now rolling out this process in Heywood & Middleton. An initial budget of £25K will be allocated to the Middleton Town Team and support will be available through Rochdale Council, the Middleton Town Centre Management Company and Link4Life.
· Rochdale Council will act as the Accountable Body for the Town Team funding.
· The Town Team will be responsible to form and implement a short-medium term Action Plan for Middleton Town Centre.
· Once membership is agreed, the Town Team will meet on a 6-weekly basis.
Quarterly meetings of the High Street Foundation will be held in Middleton to engage with wider groups, individuals & businesses to update on progress and give people the opportunity to put forward their ideas / issues.
PR gave an overview of the Middleton Town Team Structure:
· The Town Team Structure will make sure that every stakeholder has a role in improving Middleton Town Centre and be able to influence the decision making process.
· The Middleton Town Team itself will be a group of between 8 – 12 individuals, predominantly town centre businesses, who will drive forward ideas and actions to improve the vitality and viability of Middleton Town Centre, with the support of key partners: Rochdale Council, Middleton Town Centre Management Company and Link4Life.
· The Town Team will feed into the Rochdale Borough High Street Foundation, which will act as a wider group that discusses and lobby’s the various town centre issues.
· The RMBC Town Centres Steering Group is a new strategic board set up within the Council to support the borough’s Town Centres and will be chaired by Mark Widdup, Executive Director for Economy & Environment, Rochdale Council.
Town Centre Boundary
· PR outlined a proposed boundary for Middleton Town Centre.
· The boundary sets out the parameters in relation to the work of the Town Team.
· It was agreed to use the river as the boundary and extend to Townley Street to incorporate M24 Arts & Middleton Popstars, the Arena, Library and the Lighthouse Project.
· PR agreed to draw up a revised boundary
Proposed Membership / Structure:
Make up 70% Business - 30% Community
· Middleton Town Centre Management Company
· Lords Butchers
· M24 Arts
· Middleton Shopping Centre
· Boots
· O2
· Anthony K Associates
· Sedgwick Legal
· Hopwood Hall College
· Community rep (Peter Dawson)
· McDonalds
· Middleton Arena
· Rochdale Council
The above membership structure was agreed and will form the Middleton Town Team.
Middleton Town Centre Management Company Update
Adam Torevell (Company Director) gave an overview of the Middleton Town Centre Management Company. Middleton Town Centre Management also own the Middleton Markets Company.
· There have been a lot of staff changes and a new management team recently appointed.
· A lot of focus has been reflecting on where the company currently is and priorities for the next 12 months. Four priorities have been identified:
1. Zoning the Market
· Identified 2 x types of market consumers that want to grow: Children and the Grey Pound.
· Therefore the market will be zones into a children’s zone, general merchandise zone and hot food zone.
2. Grow the Number of Independent Market Traders
· Peppercorn rents to be offered for one month to encourage more independent traders onto the market.
3. Business Engagement
· Improve engagement with town centre businesses.
4. Events
· Deliver a Summer Events Programme
· Christmas Light Switch On Event – Nov 2013
· Easter Event 2014
Questions / Comments:
C. There was general consensus that Tuesday’s are one of the busiest days and this is probably due to the fact it is Flea Market Day. There were concerns that zoning the market may have a negative impact on the Flea Market.
A: AT confirmed that Tuesday’s will not be changed and remain as Flea Market days due to their success.
C. Tina Wright will be holding a craft fair at M24 Arts on 23 June for local crafters to sell their hand made products. She is hoping this will become a permanent event and would like to link in with the Middleton Markets Company.
Open Forum
· The membership of the Town Team was agreed at the meeting and the inaugural meeting will be organised for the beginning of July.
To be confirmed.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
MIDDLETON TOWN TEAM MEETING
Wednesday 24 April 2013, 5.45pm – 7.00pm
Middleton Arena
NOTES OF M E E T I N G
No.
|
ITEM
|
ACTIONS
|
1.
|
Welcome
· Peter Rowlinson - Planning & Regulation Service Director, RMBC
welcomed all in attendance.
· The purpose of the meeting is to provide an overview of Town Teams –
what they are, how they work and how to explore the process of setting up a
Town Team for Middleton.
|
|
2.
|
Vision, Aims &
Objectives for Middleton Town Team
Debbie O’Brien – Rochdale Town Centre Manager & Chair
of the NW Association for Towns & City Centre Management (ATCM) delivered
a presentation on the Town Teams process Rochdale has been through over the
last 12 months:
·
Government recommendation, following the Portas
Review to establish Town Teams in order to provide a visionary, strategic and
operational management for town centres.
·
Rochdale Town Centre Management Company is a
not for profit organisation that has been operating for 20 years and rather
than re-invent the wheel –the Board has temporarily taken on the role as
“Town Team” for Rochdale.
·
The Board is made up of a partnership of key
stake holders who share the same aspiration – to improve the vitality and
viability of Rochdale town centre – and work effectively together to
achieve this vision.
·
Membership is a mixture of public / private
sector partners including; Marks & Spencer, Boots, River Island, the
Rochdale Observer, RMBC, Transport for Greater Manchester, evening venues, independent retailers, and the Wheatsheaf and Exchange shopping
centres.
·
Through consultation with over 200 members of
the Rochdale Borough High Street Foundation, an Action Plan has been
developed to deliver a range of short – medium term priorities to improve
Rochdale town centre.
·
The Middleton Town Team may be developed
through an existing structure like in Rochdale via the Middleton Town Centre
Management Company.
·
The key to a successful Town Team is having
the right people around the table without conflicting interests, people with
a shared vision – to improve the vitality of Middleton Town Centre, being
realistic in terms of delivery and effective communications.
Questions:
What types of things have been
delivered in Rochdale that have been successful?
Things that haven’t cost a great deal of money which have been very
successful have been simple things like Independent Shopping Crawls done at
Christmas & Easter, whereby a map / crawl guide of the independent shops
has been produced and shoppers have to visit each shop to obtain a stamp. The
Crawls have been targeted at Children, awarding a free gift e.g. chocolate
egg to children handing in a completed Crawl.
There is support and ideas available from the ATCM via their 100ways to
improve the high street website: www.100ways.org.uk
and also the Independent Retail Champion – Claire Raynor who supports
independents and provides virtual support online: www.retailchampion.co.uk
Other initiatives have included developing a Retail Prospectus for
Rochdale Town Centre to attract new retailers into the town, delivering
events such as the Feel Good Festival, and utilising social media for
marketing and communication purposes.
It was acknowledged that big events do have a positive reputational
impact - MidFest has been particularly successful event for Middleton in
recent years. There was a comment that the MidFest has previously been held
on a Sunday and the shops have been closed.
In the past we have formed
these groups, but nothing has come out of it. Why will it be any different
this time?
The key is that even though the Board members are not being paid – they
are volunteers - you need to appoint positions and identify people that are
good at their strengths e.g. marketing, finance, communicating etc. You
almost need Job Descriptions for the Board members to make sure you have the
right make-up, eliminate conflict, and ensure that the meetings are about
action and don’t just become a “talking shop”.
Cllr Terry Lindon felt that Middleton should be leading Middleton and
that things such as the Rochdale Borough High Street Foundation are too
Rochdale focused.
·
The Rochdale Borough High Street Foundation
has over 200 active members, represented from businesses across the borough.
·
A separate database of businesses is currently
being developed for Middleton town centre, which has contact details now for
over 120 town centre businesses.
·
The Middleton Town Centre Management Company
has been through a huge re-structure, with the previous Town Centre Manager
leaving and the new post holder currently on maternity leave so Rochdale are
only offering their support and assistance.
·
The purpose of forming a Middleton Town Team
is to ensure it is representative of the stakeholders of Middleton.
·
The Town Team will have greater powers to
influence the Council and others to get things done in Middleton Town Centre.
·
The Middleton Town Centre Management Company
will be taking a key role in the Town Team and it was acknowledged that there
was a very active business forum in Middleton a few years ago but that this
has since dissolved, and that the High Street Foundation will be able to help
resurrect this and feed back into the Town Team / Middleton TCMCo.
|
|
3.
|
Renaissance Middleton
Kerrie Smith – RMBC Planning gave an update on
Renaissance Middleton:
·
In 2011,the Heritage
Lottery Fund awarded £2m to regenerate parts of Middleton town centre
including repairing and restoring Middleton’s heritage assets.
·
A promotional film on
Middleton’s heritage assets has been produced by local photographer – Andy
Marshall which is helping change perceptions of the town and has been
shortlisted for a Sony Award. The video is being promoted via social media:
which is being promoted via social media: http://productionawards.sony.eu/the-arena/view/c40d712a48e8f9c2b0d49911d654b90c
·
A 2013 Heritage Events Calendar
has been developed and leaflets were circulated:
·
Golden Cluster Month and
Heritage Open Days will be returning in September and the Golden Cluster
buildings will be open for members of the public to visit throughout the
month – last year 500 people visited.
·
The Edgar Woods heritage
trails have been very popular, with a group of 40 visitors in Middleton today
who thoroughly enjoyed taking part in the trail and left with an extremely
positive view of Middleton.
·
The key is getting these
visitors into the town centre to spend some money.
·
Anybody who would like
more information on Renaissance Middleton can contact Kerrie on tel: 01706
924352 or email: Kerrie.smith@rochdale.gov.uk
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4.
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Town Team
Structure
Elaine
Simons – Town Teams Advisor, gave an overview of forming a Town Team:
·
Looking for between 8 – 10 people who would be
interested in become a members of the Middleton Town Team.
·
The meetings will be structured and will be about
delivering action and not just a talking shop.
·
The High Street Foundation will keep Middleton
businesses updated on progress of the Middleton Town Team and the Middleton
Guardian have also agreed to regularly communicate progress.
·
Elaine asked people interested to complete and return
an Expression of Interest to join the Town Team.
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5.
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Progress Update
Frances Fielding – Economic Affairs, RMBC gave an
update on Middleton Town Centre Progress:
·
A workshop was held in February with 30+ delegates to discuss
ideas / issues for Middleton Town Centre.
·
Focus groups have been
held with young people from Cardinal Langley and Hopwood Hall College to
understand a young person’s perception of the town centre.
·
A database of town centres
businesses has been developed and will be used for all future communications.
·
A draft Action Plan has
been devised to pull together ideas gathered above.
·
The Middleton Town Team
will be allocated a budget of £25K to deliver their action plan to improve
Middleton Town Centre.
·
RMBC will be the Accountable
Body for the funds, but decisions on how the money is spent will be made by
the Middleton Town Team.
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·
FF to share database with Middleton TCMCo.
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6.
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Summary
·
It was
agreed to distribute Expressions of Interest for anybody wishing to join the Middleton
Town Team.
·
The next
meeting has been arranged for 2 weeks time but it was felt this was too soon,
and will be re-arranged for in 4 weeks time.
·
FF to
circulate the Action Plan and for people to send in their comments / ideas.
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·
FF to circulate Expressions of Interest.
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7.
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Time & Date of Next Meeting
Tuesday 04 June, 5.30pm – 7.00pm, Middleton
Arena.
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