MEETING NOTES

1.    Welcome

2.    Introductions

3. Marketing

3.2    Xmas lights switch on event (Fri 27^th November) – Sarah/ Julia/ Rachel

Congratulations passed on to Julia for achieving both Xmas lights dinner and moving war memorial in same week.

£5000 raised – with Chamber of Commerce.

6pm, Fri 27^th November 2009 is switch on event

Watermans doing amazing things with a small "Circus coming to town"!

Sarah contacting schools re picture competition

Extended schools offering some funding for crafts/ Christmas decoration activities.  Kath to explore whether Toy Library might deliver.

Andrew suggested potential for a lit Christmas tree in a Ballymore shop window carrying the resulting decorations.

3.3    Branding & signage / New town centre map – Andrew

All signage now ordered

UrbanMapz.co.uk provided quote for S106 funding for maps

3.4  'Brentford Passport' – Peter Hughes

Problems with model/ concept not yet resolved.  Peter still exploring options.

Andrew queried whether there was any scope for become a "friend" of several organisations simultaneously

Acknowledged  WedgeCard needed re launch and more significant marketing behind it - also an issue of it being important that traders do not position it as a discount card

4. A safe town centre

4.1   Brentford Business Watch - Roy

Roy not at meeting - update next month we hope!

4.2 Engaging Young People  / Social enterprise project – Garth/ Andrew

Garth/ Kate working on project to involve schools in project to develop and launch social enterprise on Brentford High Street - would be pilot for other town centres.  Very early days.

5.  Economic development

5.1  Arts/ crafts space on south side of high street – Jon and Matt

Jan to chase Acabu (sp?) on current blocks (if any) - Both Jan and Andrew under impression discussions continuing with Ballymore

5.2    Motion to Isleworth and Brentford Area Committee on high street rents/ retail mix - Andrew

Waiting for report from Leader of Council to Exec on 5 Jan 2010

5.3  Somerfield -> Morrisons transition - Phil Taylor (Manager, Morrisons)

Andrew to get Phil’s email address and add to list

5.4  Follow-up on Business Link Training – 30^th June - Andrew

Andrew still to action

5.5 Art filling windows of empty High Street shops – Andrew

DCMS – art in shop windows (£500 each project?) + Arts Council funding - Kate Tomkinson and Jan Lennox looking into these funding sources

Ballymore and OctInk offering support for art project to cover shop units by new car park.

William Hardman and Cain have produced initial concepts.

Suggestion that this now goes out to community competition open to anyone, professional and amateurs alike.  Kath to promote on BrentfordTW8.com

5.6 Pop up shops on Brentford High Street

Possibly a role for the Brentford Gallery, Johnsons Island?

Ealing & Brentford Consolidated Charity as vehicle for ‘pop-up shop’' contracts and 80% business rates discount - Andrew to discuss with Tim and Maria

DCMS – standard contract?

6.  Regeneration

6.1    Liaison with Ballymore 

Progressing a few action points from meeting with on 17 Sept at Spitalfields including urban design workshop

6.2 War memorial move

About £12k remains with Chamber to be paid back to Council.  Restoration cost less than originally envisaged.  This to be returned, but Julia to suggest to Council that we get quote for additional Christmas lights to add to High Street luminations!  If agreed by LBH these might go up in 2009/10, but would otherwise be 2010/11.

7. 7. AOB  

Agreed to co-opt Syon Ward Cllr Jon Hardy Vice-chair of Steering Group