John Harvey, the City Centre Manager, presented the key aims and issues in developing a strategy for Exeter's city centre. The strategy seeks to create a sustainable, vibrant and safe city centre that offers attractions for residents and visitors. It also aims to improve the first impression of the city centre and ensure a clean, well-maintained environment. Some issues that need to be addressed include enhancing the evening and night-time economy, improving safety perceptions, and addressing challenges from e-commerce and mobile technology. The presentation highlighted some successes to date in reducing alcohol-related problems and violence through collaborative initiatives.

1. John Harvey
City Centre Manager
#b2b Business Breakfast
City Centre Strategy

2. Context
 Last decade – period of major change, renewal &
investment
 Excellent record of investment/low vacancy rates
– no basis for complacency going forward
 The most significant squeeze on public finances
in decades
 Capital expenditure
 Re-gearing of the relationship between business
and public authorities

3. Key Aims
 A sustainable, resilient & competitive City Centre
 A vibrant City Centre which offers attractions for
all
 A welcoming and safe evening and night-time
environment
 A better first impression
 A clean, well maintained and safe environment

4. Key Issues…
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Extensive listening exercise…
Building on a decade of change…
What sort of City Centre do we want?
Action Plan – organic & progress review…
A developing picture…
A challenging landscape… Positioning to meet
the challenges of e-commerce & mobile
technology…Economic pressures…

5. Key Issues…
 First impressions…
 The independent sector…Uniqueness… Dwell
time…
 Making the most of unique quarters – and links to
with the Quayside…
 Role for business…
 Fresh look at areas – opportunity to build new
partnerships… Evening and night-time
economy…

6. Focus on the evening &
Night-time economy…
 Further cementing Café Society
 A vibrant evening and late-night economy –
attracting the broadest cross-section of the
population
 Safe Zone
 Using and strengthening existing partnerships –
such as EBAC
 Taxis & transport

7. Observations…
 Recorded crime… Actual crime…
 Overall crime = moving in the right direction
ENTE crime = unacceptably static
 Exeter’s statistically a ‘safe city’ – but there are real
night-time challenges and challenges around
perceptions of safety
 City Centre as a ‘shop window’
 Alcohol related problems a challenge nationally…
 …but opportunities for Exeter to be an exemplar of
best practice

8. Successes to date…
 Exeter Alcohol, Violence & Night Time Economy
Group (EAVNTE)
 H2O Project
 Community Alcohol Partnership
 Taxi Marshall Scheme
 CCTV – link in to Police Control at Middlemoor

13. John Harvey Contacts:
Twitter – www.twitter.com/exeterccm
Mobile – 07885 760 496
e-mail –
john.harvey@exeter.gov.uk