What is Town Centre Management?
- Ian Budd, Yeovil Town Centre Manager
The role of the Town Centre Manager is to make the town a clean, safe and pleasant place to shop, work and visit. It encompasses areas such as community safety, the environment, promotional activities, marketing and event management, access issues and revenue raising.
Most of my work is carried out in partnership with others and we aim very much to take a pride in our town and set the highest standards.
The extremely successful Business Crime Reduction and Pubwatch schemes along with the town centre "Radiolink" are held up as the best in the west. We now have 160 radios placed with businesses around the town and the radio link system is also used by the police and the Community Support Officers.
The environment covers the street scene which means that we support the very successful Yeovil in Bloom initiative. A good working relationship has been built up with the district*s Streetscene service and we work together in tackling issues that arise.
We also work closely with other parties to organise events and activities in the town and are heavily involved in the festive lighting and the 70 plus Christmas trees on shop fronts.
I also sit on a number of committees both local and regional where I am able to act as a champion for Yeovil Town and ensure that we get proper recognition and representation on a wider scale.
Before taking up my post as Town Centre Manager I was working for the Council in Economic Development and prior to my move in September 2006, I was the Regeneration Officer for Area
Development South and involved in the "Regeneration of Yeovil Town Centre" project.
I am assisted by Penny Middle who has worked in the Town Centre Office for nearly seven years and Penny has built up close working relationships with businesses in the Town.
Who is the Partnership?
Yeovil Town Centre Partnership was set up in 1998 and appointed Yeovil's first Town Centre Manager that year. The Partnership has gone from strength to strength over the years, supporting both the town and Town Centre Management.
Yeovil Town Centre Partnership consists of representatives of the public, private sectors and contribute financial support to provide core funding for Town Centre Management.
Major partners are - South Somerset District Council, Yeovil Town Council, the Quedam Shopping Centre, the Western Gazette, Marks & Spencer, David Lacey Estate Agents,Yeovil Chamber of Commerce and Boots.
We also have members who act in an advisory capacity.South Somerset District Council also provides accommodation and other support including administration services.