Civic Voice announces High Streets Minister, Jake Berry MP will speak to Parliamentary meeting
With 50 days to go until the Future High Street Fund closes, Civic Voice announces High Streets Minister, Jake Berry MP will speak to Parliamentary meeting
The All-Party Parliamentary Group for Civic Societies today (31st January) announced that Jake Berry MP, Minister for High Streets with the Minister for Housing, Communities and Local Government would address the next APPG for Civic Societies meeting to share the Government’s plan for the future of the nation’s high streets.
Craig Mackinlay MP said; ‘The recent High Street Report, led by Sir John Timpson, is a welcome addition to thinking on the future of the high street, but more consideration is also needed about how communities can play a role in placemaking. I look forward to attending this discussion and working with Civic Voice and the APPG for Civic Societies going forward as we look to put communities at the heart of our high streets.’
The Government has acknowledged that town centres lie at the heart of our communities, but the way we shop and use high streets is changing. The £675 High Street million fund aims to help high streets adapt to meet future changes and to support local partners to come together to set out ambitions for improving the nation’s high streets.The APPG for Civic Societies meeting will aim to provide a discussion for community groups and policy makers to consider ‘How we can put communities at the heart of our high streets’. Civic Voice will use the discussion to inform National Civic Day on June 22nd.
Mackinlay added; “We decided to invite the Minister, Jake Berry MP, to give him an opportunity to share further information on the Government’s Future High Street Fund, and to give him the opportunity to hear how communities in different parts of England are making our high streets great places again. Furthermore, we want to hear from the Minister about the Government’s plans for National Perfect High Street day, as we believe the civic movement could play a key role in making this happen’.
Ian Harvey, Executive Director for Civic Voice said; ‘According to The High Street Report published in December, the government wants to empower local leaders and communities to reinvent town centres through an “Upside Down Government” approach. Some of these recommendations are immediate measures, such as a “National High Street Perfect Day”, whereby local communities come together for a day each year to tackle litter and graffiti so they can take ownership of ensuring their town centre looked as good as possible. We think our National Civic Day on June 22nd can play a part in making this happen and will be sharing our thoughts with the Minister’.
The Parliamentary meeting, taking place on February 25th is an opportunity for civic societies, community groups and policy makers to discuss the future of the high streets and to consider what we need to do to put communities at the heart of high streets.
Registration to attend is available via https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/parliamentary-meeting-high-streets-at-the-heart-of-our-communities-tickets-53736752072.
NOTES FOR EDITORS
1 Civic Voice is the national charity for the civic movement. We work to make the places where everyone lives more attractive, enjoyable and distinctive and to promote civic pride. We speak up for civic societies and local communities across England. We believe everyone should live somewhere they can be proud of and we know how people feel about places because we feel the same way. Civic societies are the most numerous participants in the planning system. Since its launch in April 2010 Civic Voice has been joined by over 290 civic societies with 75,000 members. Further information is available at http://www.civicvoice.org.uk including how to join Civic Voice (£10 individuals) and contact details for local civic societies.
Further information
Ian Harvey
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T 0151 707 4319 / 07877096968
T @civic_voice