15/07/2012 Sunday Politics South

In the South: How to fill those empty shops on our high streets -

the Government's offering money, but one local businessman has his

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 1798 seconds

own regeneration plan for his town Welcome to Sunday Politics South.

My name's Peter Henley. Coming up in the next 20 minutes: The

Government's been handing �10 million to help councils revitalise

the country's high streets. We meet the local businessman who's got his

own plan to reopen the shops in his town.

More on that in a moment. First, let's meet the two politicians

who'll be with me for today's programme. Antonia Bance is a

Labour councillor on Oxford City Council and stood for Oxford West

and Abingdon at the last election, and Conor Burns is the Conservative

MP for Bournemouth West. And until this Tuesday, he was also the PPS

to the Northern Ireland Secretary. You will burn in Belfast. You must

have felt very strongly to resign. I did for refer strongly, but I

decided I could not support the bill before Parliament on Tuesday.

I felt the only right thing for me I felt the only right thing for me

I felt the only right thing for me to do was to step down. His and a

draw from dead? I think it is in big trouble. Unfortunately, Nick

Clegg so pot so low its abolition. Labour voting there against the

programme motion. That it must seem like it is playing games with what

has happened. It is a very big proposal, and deserves the right

amount of time to took it through. Something Mr happen with lured to a

phone. It is just a matter of not. Her will we go back to it, then?

do not think the Conservatives can let this go through. We are

prepared to do keep the coalition are on track, but major

constitutional change that would at last to the coalition is not

something we are prepared to do. Would you like to see lured to a

firm? We know what. Where did you do it against it? Yvette Cooper was

there a clear - the timetable did not allow for the right to use and

amendments. We will be there when it comes back. We voted for the

second reading, and a player on a position. Do you think there will

be people peeled away during the summer? No, if anything, the

numbers will grow. And 91 people voted against the Government on

Second Reading, were the knowledge that the Labour Party was

supporting the Government, and we had no chance of stopping the Bill.

That does the get the feeling. A lot of people agree with what the

Prime Minister said both of the election. A third term as a long

way off. People in Southampton are about to

see the first fruits of the Localism Bill when they get a

referendum on a controversial proposed power station in the city.

Only people in two of the city's wards will get a vote, and it won't

be binding on anyone, so is the council actually going to get any

answers for their money? The plans to bring it would buy a

boat to generate power have been controversial. Locals say the plant

would be a blot on the landscape, and the process is fair firm

sustainable. Conservatives and Labour have composed at the idea,

but in November, there could be a referendum. Her we are trying to

engage with democracy m people. are trying to make voting a roofer

them. We think this is a good chance to prototype that. Some say

it is a charter. Only two world's will get a vote. The developers say

the Finnish power station could provide power for the whole of

Southampton am all. The council admits that the book is not

bounding first up we are trying to engage with people. If this works

as a trial, we wanted to give further. But you were elected,

campaigning against this! It sounds dodgy. Nobody had a chance to have

their say on these planning application. It is in near. I am

not convinced. It gives the people in Millbrook the opportunity to be

convinced otherwise. The public consultation ends in a

blister. This would then be decided nationally. It is a bit late but

leaders were to November, isn't it? No. This has a long process. We are

talking a 12 month process. This could from a very strong argument.

Only two were its voting on it. can see that. We are mindful of the

cost as well. When it was initially investigated, it would only cost

�5,000. We have planned a sensible cost 35,002 codas referendum.

is already hitting some issues. Could it muddy the water for your

campaign? It could not Grammar but a suggestion we have had is that he

council could so cut the residents up to fight this. If it would run

across a wider area, but would cost not in itself. There are some who

would rather see the whole of Southampton vote on this, because

it could supply electricity to the whole of Southampton. Some would

like to see the well of the country debate and this. We are talking of

a energy future and sustainability. It should be something on a

national agenda for what we're doing with energy. We are opposed

to this plant and fighting it locally, but there are also saying

that biomass is not the way forward. The let us ask our guest so - on

the issue of the referendum. Do you think it is a good third year to

consult people in this way? Absolutely. I am very pleased that

the New Labour administration have taken this step of making sure

local people can have their views heard, and that feed sent to the

National process of decision-making. But it was just too would since

Southampton. We need to remember is we have a new planning system that

has not been tested yet. Her knows what considerations the Secretary

of State were well to take into account? It is a faux a good word

go that we have this mass participation. It is part of the

localism bill. But does this not highlight some issues? Perhaps it

should be the where do Southampton, on a decides on whether something

should be bold? You go two are competing things up - what is

Britain's energy policy? We are increasingly dependent on Russia

and the Middle East, very dangerous and unstable places. We have a to

diversify at a energy supplier. Them, you're seeing Pique conflict

between the localism built and central decision-making. I am

encountering it in Burma, where local people are struggling to find

a way of feeding into that process. I think you're saying does rubbing

together come and this thing it is said that it is an example of that

first up Southampton I know very well. It is just two wards in the

area affected by it. I think it should be a wider debate. There

should also be a debate about the merits of 0 Mass itself will step

the fact the chippings will come in by boat. There is a question about

whether this is sustainable battle. A ball will have to do something or

as the lights go out! opportunity missed with this

proposal is to think about whether there is a way that local residents

could have mean no one voted the scheme, perhaps by having combined

heat and power mechanisms. If some of those it has claimed up, or

would you deploy a position to which, Stephen? We are not against

renewables. However, I know we are saying this is a small part of

Southampton. Were talking at 20,000 people. 7,000 voted and the local

election. It is a massive amount of people. We are not looking at a

street of 200 people. If these people came out and vote, that is a

reassuring message. The Government's handing out �10

million pounds to councils to help fill empty shops on our high

streets. Shopping guru Mary Portas is offering advice and money via

the so-called Portas Pilots. Clearly, it's time something got

done about all those boarded-up shops that we see every time we go

into town. But as Nicola Murray reports, one businessman in Havant

is operating an almost one-man In the I have been over here for

all that you now. We do the Pet Shop and there. Them we look at

this mobility shock. It was empty for 23 years. Mark Smith has it

bigger interest them most and has local high Smith. It is in us

Haberdashers to a. He owes the hairdressers, cafe cum a funeral

parlour and much mirth. In four weeks' time, that a be a hundred.

Laminate shops on high streets are standing empty. Here, just outside

puts Smith, over a third of closed down. But now, a look a businessman

has invested almost or �9 million and the area. He has bought 12

shops and food and with the tenants. I saw a potential. I am able to

offer very good rents for new tenants. You Park has had a lot of

money spent limit, and it was noted -- voted one of the worst

performing areas a year ago. If he does at the bottom, Shirley, there

has only one way they can go. not the only area struggling

northernmost to get shoppers back constraints - some town centres

have been falling behind the years. We are hundreds of thousands of

people regularly flock to gun the keys, 18 shops are planned this

standing empty. The Bar Council has just received a manager �1,000 for

the Government's High Street Innovation Fund. But how best to

spend a man a? Or light can suggest is that reduce the rent of the

shops. Revamp the High Street, make it look better. Shop online. It's

easier. Nice shops rather than charity shops and gambling shops.

The council has not quite decided had to spend the money jet, but has

been having meetings. If we can offer a holiday or business rates

for three months, and the land looked allows for a rent free

period, it will make a difference to traders coming into the high

street. That is one way that the money can helpful step providing

temporary relief is one thing, but critics say the Government's

decision to increase business rates will cost retailers much more.

central government sets business rates. Last April, they put the

total both the UK retailing up by a �350 million. Obviously, Powys

schemes that may amount to 10 bowl �20 million a welcome, but they are

insignificant. Wishful thinking, perhaps, where the Government is

not interested in maintaining its encompassed up we have got a game

at West was to a. Matt Smith's Investment is ambitious. My aim is

to have the other side of the high street. We have but one empty shop.

By a Mr Starr phone the other side. Darwin said, it is not the

strongest species to survive, but those most adaptable to change. I

am changing the High Street associate. What we want to see him

as retailers come at local entrepreneurs taking things into

their own hands. But high streets are struggling, and it is testament

to this Government's failure to get on top of reviving the economy.

Some might say it has paid bring over the cracks. If you owe rent,

or you have less money going into the economy generally and not

making no money. Absolutely, but I think it is the right thing for

local councils to do - to use their mechanisms they have to make their

local area better. I would like to see it complemented by a national

action. It does so set after a plan to cut VAT. That would put money in

the pockets of ordinary families. Increasing business rates, as the

guy there said, it is for the second year running 6% come at

raising �350 million. Let us get a grip. This Government is

responsible for the position of high streets on this country. The

empty shops problem has been exhilarating of the last 20 years.

Rise in online shopping, for example. We have had or are these

out-of-town centres created with free parking, and cancers have

reacted to dropping a parking revenue by increasing their charges

and further driving people away. We, for example, have said to councils

that if new businesses have started, they can keep non of the business

rates. But you but as business rates up! We have told councils

that they can keep locally the business rate and decide what to

spend them. We can then investors back into the local communities.

that true locals pollution? We are in so good at making sure councils

keep non of the business rates, as long as there is done Furley.

goes back into the local councils's coffers. You could do the public

opinion polls - the number one concern people have is the cost of

living. The fact there has been little rise in income, has had few

of his grown-up, petrol has come up. There is not a matter of money

around. We inherited this from the previous government.

Now our regular round-up of the political week in the South in 60

It has been a week for manufacturing. This year's Faber

ensure maybe smiler, but there has been given a flying start and by

the Prime Minister. Reading's new station is starting

to take shape, and the Investment were transferred and the centre of

the town. From planes and trains to admit girls, in Oxford, and �250

million investment in the Mini plant by BMW has provoked --

protective jabs. They have a very good at Mughal now.

In tough times, many are still struggling - Gurkhas are protesting

at a private teacher pensions. There a few surviving.

And farmers - every drop off profits squeeze start of a pint of

milk. This week prices have to rise. One thing that is her expensive is

a Olympic tickets. I tried and tried ended not get any tickets. I

will be watching it on television. I do not try to get tickets.

Olympic torch has crossed a does it. A lot of people want to go there. I

understand some MPs are getting free tickets. Is that right? My own

view is that politicians need to be there a careful and what they

accept. I would not have accepted free tickets. Tickets should be

given to those who have a genuine love and passion for spot, and not

because of a position they occupy in society. What you have taken

them? I am very enthusiastic about the Olympics, but politicians are

ordinary people with an extraordinary job. They are

supervising p-t. BT are paying for these tickets. Should there be an

inquiry? I personally would not have taken the tickets. I hope you

enjoy the Olympics. A lot of politicians could do with this

summer break. You'll be watching it at home. We be going away? I will

be enjoying Burma. Alastair people go on holiday to Bournemouth, and I

get the pleasure of working there. That's the Sunday Politics in the

South. Thanks to my guests, Antonia Bance and Conor Burns. Don't forget