Agenda item

To consider a report of the Strategy Specialist regarding the Taunton Garden Town Vision.

RECOMMENDED to Council to:-

       i.          Formally adopt the Taunton Garden Town Vision document as Council policy, from which a detailed Delivery Plan can be subsequently developed.

      ii.          Authorisethe Head of Strategy to make any necessary editorial corrections and minor amendments to the document, and to agree the final publication style.

The Portfolio Holder for Planning and Transportation introduced this item which concerned the vision for Taunton as a Garden Town and what was to be achieved. The document “Taunton – the Vision for our Garden Town” was the culmination of many months of work, public and stakeholder engagement, and concluded the important first stage – the agreement of a shared vision for the Garden Town that would guide the actions of the council and many other stakeholders, and can be championed and owned by the whole town.

Taunton was designated as a ‘Garden Town’ in early 2017 following a submission to Government. This submission reflected the Council’s commitment to transformational housing growth centred on a number of new garden communities and a regenerated town centre supported by essential infrastructure and an enhanced network of green infrastructure.

·       The document included:

·       The Vision statement

·       Context – understanding Taunton’s roots and character (townscape, neighbourhoods and landscape)

·       Four themes:

1.     ‘Growing our town greener’ – transforming our open spaces and streets.

2.     ‘Branching out’ – moving cleaning, moving smarter.

3.     ‘Growing quality places to live’ – town centre, new and existing neighbourhoods.

4.     ‘New shoots and blossom’ – a dynamic and prosperous community founded on knowledge, culture and business.

·       Next steps

This vision framework was just the start of work on Taunton Garden Town (TGT), but would influence all plan-making (e.g. the emerging Local Plan) and development management decisions (such as more detailed design guidance emerging through a new Urban Development Framework and Design Guide).

There were no prescriptive guidelines set out by central Government, and each place was expected to be different and determine what the Garden Town status might mean based on local circumstances and characteristics. This document therefore began to explore and articulate the types of physical change and improvements Taunton might look forward to. The particular themes extended from the vision identified tangible opportunities and challenges that needed to be grasped or overcome. Formal adoption of this vision would enable the next stage to progress – the development of a Delivery Plan that will provide detail to the individual strategies, projects and activities which will deliver the vision.

The Portfolio Holder formally proposed the recommendations which were seconded by Councillor Allen.

During the discussion of this item, Members made comments and asked questions which included:-

·       The Leader fully endorsed this document and felt this would set the pace with what the Council wanted to achieve and be a learning tool that could be applied across the towns in the District.

·       It was raised as to how this was going to be promoted in the community?

·       It was recognised as important that this was document was promoted and the Head of Communications would be engaged. There was also a new post being recruited to for a Garden Town Project Manager who would have a big focus on Communication Strategy and Stakeholder Engagement. A new website would be created for the Garden Town.

·       Concerns had been raised at resident’s meetings/surgeries around the communications of this status and how we would engage those residents who would not be able to access the electronic portal and view the documentation?

·       Communication would play a key part and could not just be digital exclusively, residents meetings were one important part of this and the suggestion of a presentation for Councillors to be able to deliver to their localities was a good idea.

·       The focus on sustainability and green elements within the document were praised as important.

RECOMMENDED to Council to:-

       i.          Formally adopt the Taunton Garden Town Vision document as Council policy, from which a detailed Delivery Plan can be subsequently developed.

      ii.          Authorisethe Head of Strategy to make any necessary editorial corrections and minor amendments to the document, and to agree the final publication style.