Yes, we missed the boat, and I’m saying we need to try to avoid a repeat of this situation. But it doesn’t scupper the Town Square idea entirely.
I think being proactive about engagement with landowners at the earliest opportunity to get them on board with the broad NDP priorities and objectives is better than simply being reactive to proposals or events out of our control (for example if Co-op decided to sell up).
We can work with them to identify opportunities and get wide consultation and support as long as it fits with NDP priorities and objectives.
Steve needs to be engaged about Carr Lane for example.
I think this is a key topic for the next Management Group meeting. I do thing the forum have a ‘mandate’ via the referendum to act in this way, as long as it is in line with the NDP, but I suspect others may disagree with this so I would value a conversation about it so we have some consensus on it.
