Questions and answers on town manager scheme (From Gazette & Herald)

Questions and answers on town manager scheme

Our first question is: have you made a good start?

Jason Fitzgerald-Smith: "Town centre management has made a very good start. The town centre manager has been established as a focal point of the town centre. Business links have been set up and the town centre manager has been there to direct and assist the business community. There has been a person who's been able to establish links to keep the town clean and tidy. We have the Business Award scheme. We produced a major Christmas extravaganza and we started the mechanism for generating a business alliance."

Where are we going from here and how are we going to get there?

Jason Fitzgerald-Smith: "Most of the objectives are in the Market Towns Initiative, in their action plan. We have established the way ahead for the next ten years. The key thing is to be a visible link between action in the town and events generation."

Is there a marketing or business plan?

Jason Fitzgerald-Smith: "There is an action plan and marketing objectives have been created."

What are its goals? How and when are they to be accomplished?

Jason Fitzgerald-Smith: "The plan is an evolving thing, we will always continue to re-examine. The business link alliance is a key part."

What is the Town Centre Management Company? Who decides who sits on it?

Jason Fitzgerald-Smith: "We rely on voluntary support. Who should be on it is decided by the company itself. We would approach people. The key stakeholders are represented in the Town Centre Management Company Ltd - The Fitzwilliam Estate manager, representatives of Malton and Norton town councils, key representatives from the retail community. There are also the members from the Countryside Agency and Ryedale District Council.

What is their role?

Jason Fitzgerald-Smith: "We are pro-active, rather than weighting ourselves down with form-filling and plans that go nowhere. The key is the people who are prepared to put in time and effort. We are committed to the creation of a safe and secure town centre environment for local people and visitors alike. A friendly, vibrant environment created through vibrant public and private sector partnership working. Our driving force is this mission statement."

Does the town centre management company have funds?

Denys Townsend: "The Town Centre Management Company doesn't have its own funds. It is a non-profit making company. All money handled is received on project funding and is spent on projects. The total amount spent will be disclosed at the year-end accounts. At this stage, I don't know the full figure. This is accounted for on a project-to-project basis."

Where does the money come from?

Denys Townsend: "Funds are received from the Malton and Norton Area Partnership, Ryedale District Council and the Fitzwilliam Estate. The balance is found by the company through grants and voluntary donations and in-kind contributions."

How has it been spent?

Denys Townsend: "The money has been spent on individual projects such as the Christmas lights."

Who picks the town centre manager?

Jason Fitzgerald-Smith: "It used to be the representatives of the board of directors, with those that have a vested interest. The next manager will be appointed by representatives from Ryedale District Council, the Fitzwilliam Estate, the Malton and Norton Area Partnership and the Town Centre Management Company."

Who pays the manager?

Jason Fitzgerald-Smith: "The manager is paid for by Ryedale District Council, the Malton and Norton Area Partnership and the Fitzwilliam estate."

To whom is he accountable?

Jason Fitzgerald-Smith: "The difficulty I have is running an employee where so many fund holders and Government agencies have an interest. It is impossible to run a normal company organisation. There are obligations to respond to wider objectives. That doesn't give absolute control.

"This is all done on a voluntary network. There is not a day when I am not directly involved. We have regular breakfast meetings once a week and every three to four weeks we have meetings to deal with current issues. We have a very bonded team and committed caring people. We want the flexibility to do this without our hands being tied."

Updated: 09:47 Thursday, June 13, 2002