Agenda and minutes

Councillor Jim Armstrong – leave

Councillor Brian Grocock – other Council business

Councillor Nick McDonald – other Council business

Councillor Jane Urquhart

Jeff Allen - Nottingham BID

Jennifer Spencer – Experience Nottinghamshire

None

Last meeting held on 28 September 2015 (for confirmation)

The Forum confirmed the minutes of the meeting held on 28 September 205 as a correct record and they were signed by the Chair.

Presentation by John Connelly, Digital Infrastructure Manager, Nottingham City Council

John Connelly, Digital Infrastructure Manager, gave a presentation on wifi provision in the City Centre and highlighted the following points:

(a)  wifi has been introduced in the City Centre because:

·  most customers expect it will be available;

·  75% of adults in the UK own a smartphone;

·  there are 37 million users of smartphones in 2015, and this is expected to grow to 43 million users by 2017;

·  61% of the population use mobile handsets to access the internet;

(b)  the technology to enable wifi to be available is installed in street lighting columns and BT phone kiosks that have JCDecaux advertising boards attached to them;

(c)  there will be 41 access points throughout the City Centre – 21 through street lighting, and 20 through the phone kiosks. Phase one included the phone kiosks and was completed in August 2015. The street lighting installations are phase two and will be completed by December 2015, although the access point is available as soon as the installation on an individual lighting column is complete;

(d)  the City Council has a concession arrangement which is operated by BT for a 10 year term, at no cost to the Council. BT have experience of providing the service in other cities and the Olympic Park;

(e)  the wifi features:

·  a Nottingham branded landing page;

·  #NottinghamCityFREE sign in title;

·  a simple one-off registration process for users, with no cost;

·  one single service domain so there is seamless service from one wifi access point to another;

·  an average demand per access point of 7 megabits per second;

(f)  the access points are primarily in areas of high foot fall and areas that the Council wants to attract people to use. The routes through the City are well covered, including up to the Castle and up Derby Road;

(g)  there is strong signal between the access points but it will be strongest when close to an access point. Signage on street lighting and on phone kiosks will indicate where access points are;

(h)  future potential opportunities include:

·  proactive working between the operator, the Council and stakeholders;

·  ‘Big Data’ providing behavioural insight for marketing and planning;

·  Location based retail and tourism apps;

·  Smart City communications.

The following comments were made during the discussion:

(i)  41 access points appears to be a relatively small number, but is comparable with other cities across the UK;

(j)  wifi is available in both Intu shopping centres;

(k)  once users are registered, they will automatically be connected when they are in range of an access point;

(l)  there was promotion in August when the first access points were installed, and there will be further promotion once the remaining access points are installed in December;

(m)  although the bins that were installed in the City Centre have the capability to be access points, the signal isn’t very strong;

(n)  as IT changes frequently, there is scope within the 10 year agreement for changes to be made and the devices have the capacity to increase in  ...  view the full minutes text for item 16.

Presentation by Eddie Curry, Head of Parks and Open Spaces, Nottingham City Council, and Sharon Scaniglia, Principal Arts Officer, Nottingham City Council

Eddie Curry, Head of Parks and Open Spaces, and Sharon Scaniglia, Principal Arts Officer, gave a presentation on projects happening within the City Centre and highlighted the following points:

(a)  there are four key areas of development:

·  entrance enhancements;

·  landscape enhancements;

·  interpretation trail;

·  creative lighting;

(b)  the entrance enhancements include:

·  Hurts Yard and the West End Arcade:

o  a feasibility study will be confirmed before Christmas and works will be carried out before the end of April 2016;

o  a local artist from the Creative Quarter will be commissioned to make improvements to the visual appearance;

o  the work will address the concerns of the retailers regarding low level anti-social behaviour and low footfall;

·  Carrington Street Heritage Townscape improvements to:

o  restore and enhance the visual appearance;

o  profile historic buildings and frontages;

o  improve the streetscape quality;

o  improve the connective quality of the public realm to the City Centre;

o  create a distinctive and memorable entrance to the City;

·  Trinity Walk:

o  an archway has been made by a local artist, in consultation with the street traders;

o  the visibility of the walkway has been improved;

o  it creates a sense of identity;

o  it will improve footfall;

(c)  the landscape improvements include:

·  replanting sections of the Old Market Square;

·  removing tree stumps and replanting City Centre gateway approaches such as Castle Boulevard, London Road, and Mansfield Road;

·  horticultural features at Canning Circus;

·  the City Centre sculpture trial;

·  other planting features;

(d)  the City Centre interpretation trail:

·  it will:

o  build on existing apps to direct people to events in the City Centre, but needs to avoid duplication of existing apps, tours or websites;

o  actively encourage tourism;

o  allow visitors to access live information/offers;

o  provide guidance and quality visitor time;

o  profile the cultural offer and City’s rich heritage;

·  the aim of the tour is to:

o  show the City off to visitors;

o  profile heritage and architectural features;

o  drive footfall to businesses that will benefit economically from the increased spend;

o  encourage return visits;

·  the timescales:

o  the tender documents are due to completed before Christmas;

o  the tender process will take place in January 2016;

o  the first phase of the project will be completed by 31 March 2016;

(e)  creative lighting:

·  will:

o  create welcoming environments at night;

o  enhance footfall to a specific location;

o  generate a sense of place;

o  create an environment that feels safe;

o  add to the attractiveness of the City as a place to spend time in;

o  create excitement about the location/site/place;

·  a brief was sent out with a deadline of 18 November. Seven tenders have been returned and three have been shortlisted;

·  the proposals include:

o  structural lighting;

o  interactive lighting;

o  architectural lighting;

·  the process will include:

o  feedback and comments on the proposed projects;

o  consultation with the Highways and Commercial Governance Manager;

o  interviews taking place on 3 December.

The following comments were made during the discussion:

(f)  the Flying Horse  ...  view the full minutes text for item 17.