:01:19. > :01:21.In the South: How to fill those empty shops on our high streets -
:01:21. > :01:31.the Government's offering money, but one local businessman has his
:01:31. > :01:31.
:01:31. > :31:30.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 1798 seconds
:31:30. > :31:33.own regeneration plan for his town Welcome to Sunday Politics South.
:31:33. > :31:36.My name's Peter Henley. Coming up in the next 20 minutes: The
:31:36. > :31:40.Government's been handing �10 million to help councils revitalise
:31:40. > :31:43.the country's high streets. We meet the local businessman who's got his
:31:43. > :31:46.own plan to reopen the shops in his town.
:31:46. > :31:49.More on that in a moment. First, let's meet the two politicians
:31:49. > :31:52.who'll be with me for today's programme. Antonia Bance is a
:31:52. > :31:55.Labour councillor on Oxford City Council and stood for Oxford West
:31:55. > :32:00.and Abingdon at the last election, and Conor Burns is the Conservative
:32:00. > :32:05.MP for Bournemouth West. And until this Tuesday, he was also the PPS
:32:05. > :32:13.to the Northern Ireland Secretary. You will burn in Belfast. You must
:32:13. > :32:19.have felt very strongly to resign. I did for refer strongly, but I
:32:19. > :32:22.decided I could not support the bill before Parliament on Tuesday.
:32:22. > :32:27.I felt the only right thing for me I felt the only right thing for me
:32:27. > :32:36.I felt the only right thing for me to do was to step down. His and a
:32:36. > :32:44.draw from dead? I think it is in big trouble. Unfortunately, Nick
:32:44. > :32:49.Clegg so pot so low its abolition. Labour voting there against the
:32:49. > :32:55.programme motion. That it must seem like it is playing games with what
:32:55. > :33:00.has happened. It is a very big proposal, and deserves the right
:33:00. > :33:10.amount of time to took it through. Something Mr happen with lured to a
:33:10. > :33:15.
:33:15. > :33:22.phone. It is just a matter of not. Her will we go back to it, then?
:33:22. > :33:25.do not think the Conservatives can let this go through. We are
:33:25. > :33:29.prepared to do keep the coalition are on track, but major
:33:29. > :33:34.constitutional change that would at last to the coalition is not
:33:34. > :33:42.something we are prepared to do. Would you like to see lured to a
:33:42. > :33:47.firm? We know what. Where did you do it against it? Yvette Cooper was
:33:47. > :33:51.there a clear - the timetable did not allow for the right to use and
:33:51. > :33:56.amendments. We will be there when it comes back. We voted for the
:33:56. > :34:01.second reading, and a player on a position. Do you think there will
:34:01. > :34:11.be people peeled away during the summer? No, if anything, the
:34:11. > :34:13.numbers will grow. And 91 people voted against the Government on
:34:13. > :34:18.Second Reading, were the knowledge that the Labour Party was
:34:18. > :34:22.supporting the Government, and we had no chance of stopping the Bill.
:34:22. > :34:28.That does the get the feeling. A lot of people agree with what the
:34:28. > :34:32.Prime Minister said both of the election. A third term as a long
:34:32. > :34:35.way off. People in Southampton are about to
:34:35. > :34:37.see the first fruits of the Localism Bill when they get a
:34:37. > :34:41.referendum on a controversial proposed power station in the city.
:34:41. > :34:44.Only people in two of the city's wards will get a vote, and it won't
:34:44. > :34:50.be binding on anyone, so is the council actually going to get any
:34:50. > :34:54.answers for their money? The plans to bring it would buy a
:34:54. > :34:59.boat to generate power have been controversial. Locals say the plant
:34:59. > :35:03.would be a blot on the landscape, and the process is fair firm
:35:03. > :35:09.sustainable. Conservatives and Labour have composed at the idea,
:35:09. > :35:13.but in November, there could be a referendum. Her we are trying to
:35:13. > :35:20.engage with democracy m people. are trying to make voting a roofer
:35:20. > :35:28.them. We think this is a good chance to prototype that. Some say
:35:28. > :35:31.it is a charter. Only two world's will get a vote. The developers say
:35:31. > :35:35.the Finnish power station could provide power for the whole of
:35:35. > :35:41.Southampton am all. The council admits that the book is not
:35:41. > :35:47.bounding first up we are trying to engage with people. If this works
:35:47. > :35:53.as a trial, we wanted to give further. But you were elected,
:35:53. > :35:58.campaigning against this! It sounds dodgy. Nobody had a chance to have
:35:58. > :36:05.their say on these planning application. It is in near. I am
:36:05. > :36:13.not convinced. It gives the people in Millbrook the opportunity to be
:36:13. > :36:20.convinced otherwise. The public consultation ends in a
:36:20. > :36:26.blister. This would then be decided nationally. It is a bit late but
:36:26. > :36:33.leaders were to November, isn't it? No. This has a long process. We are
:36:33. > :36:43.talking a 12 month process. This could from a very strong argument.
:36:43. > :36:49.Only two were its voting on it. can see that. We are mindful of the
:36:49. > :36:59.cost as well. When it was initially investigated, it would only cost
:36:59. > :37:03.
:37:03. > :37:07.�5,000. We have planned a sensible cost 35,002 codas referendum.
:37:07. > :37:17.is already hitting some issues. Could it muddy the water for your
:37:17. > :37:26.campaign? It could not Grammar but a suggestion we have had is that he
:37:26. > :37:31.council could so cut the residents up to fight this. If it would run
:37:31. > :37:35.across a wider area, but would cost not in itself. There are some who
:37:35. > :37:39.would rather see the whole of Southampton vote on this, because
:37:39. > :37:45.it could supply electricity to the whole of Southampton. Some would
:37:45. > :37:54.like to see the well of the country debate and this. We are talking of
:37:54. > :37:59.a energy future and sustainability. It should be something on a
:37:59. > :38:04.national agenda for what we're doing with energy. We are opposed
:38:04. > :38:14.to this plant and fighting it locally, but there are also saying
:38:14. > :38:14.
:38:14. > :38:18.that biomass is not the way forward. The let us ask our guest so - on
:38:18. > :38:24.the issue of the referendum. Do you think it is a good third year to
:38:24. > :38:27.consult people in this way? Absolutely. I am very pleased that
:38:27. > :38:34.the New Labour administration have taken this step of making sure
:38:34. > :38:38.local people can have their views heard, and that feed sent to the
:38:38. > :38:45.National process of decision-making. But it was just too would since
:38:45. > :38:51.Southampton. We need to remember is we have a new planning system that
:38:51. > :38:55.has not been tested yet. Her knows what considerations the Secretary
:38:55. > :39:00.of State were well to take into account? It is a faux a good word
:39:00. > :39:08.go that we have this mass participation. It is part of the
:39:08. > :39:12.localism bill. But does this not highlight some issues? Perhaps it
:39:12. > :39:18.should be the where do Southampton, on a decides on whether something
:39:18. > :39:23.should be bold? You go two are competing things up - what is
:39:23. > :39:29.Britain's energy policy? We are increasingly dependent on Russia
:39:29. > :39:35.and the Middle East, very dangerous and unstable places. We have a to
:39:35. > :39:39.diversify at a energy supplier. Them, you're seeing Pique conflict
:39:40. > :39:43.between the localism built and central decision-making. I am
:39:43. > :39:53.encountering it in Burma, where local people are struggling to find
:39:53. > :39:54.
:39:54. > :39:59.a way of feeding into that process. I think you're saying does rubbing
:39:59. > :40:07.together come and this thing it is said that it is an example of that
:40:07. > :40:12.first up Southampton I know very well. It is just two wards in the
:40:12. > :40:18.area affected by it. I think it should be a wider debate. There
:40:18. > :40:24.should also be a debate about the merits of 0 Mass itself will step
:40:24. > :40:28.the fact the chippings will come in by boat. There is a question about
:40:29. > :40:34.whether this is sustainable battle. A ball will have to do something or
:40:34. > :40:38.as the lights go out! opportunity missed with this
:40:38. > :40:43.proposal is to think about whether there is a way that local residents
:40:43. > :40:51.could have mean no one voted the scheme, perhaps by having combined
:40:51. > :40:55.heat and power mechanisms. If some of those it has claimed up, or
:40:55. > :41:02.would you deploy a position to which, Stephen? We are not against
:41:02. > :41:09.renewables. However, I know we are saying this is a small part of
:41:09. > :41:15.Southampton. Were talking at 20,000 people. 7,000 voted and the local
:41:15. > :41:20.election. It is a massive amount of people. We are not looking at a
:41:20. > :41:23.street of 200 people. If these people came out and vote, that is a
:41:23. > :41:26.reassuring message. The Government's handing out �10
:41:26. > :41:29.million pounds to councils to help fill empty shops on our high
:41:29. > :41:33.streets. Shopping guru Mary Portas is offering advice and money via
:41:34. > :41:37.the so-called Portas Pilots. Clearly, it's time something got
:41:37. > :41:39.done about all those boarded-up shops that we see every time we go
:41:40. > :41:49.into town. But as Nicola Murray reports, one businessman in Havant
:41:50. > :41:52.
:41:52. > :42:00.is operating an almost one-man In the I have been over here for
:42:00. > :42:07.all that you now. We do the Pet Shop and there. Them we look at
:42:07. > :42:11.this mobility shock. It was empty for 23 years. Mark Smith has it
:42:11. > :42:16.bigger interest them most and has local high Smith. It is in us
:42:16. > :42:26.Haberdashers to a. He owes the hairdressers, cafe cum a funeral
:42:26. > :42:31.parlour and much mirth. In four weeks' time, that a be a hundred.
:42:32. > :42:37.Laminate shops on high streets are standing empty. Here, just outside
:42:37. > :42:42.puts Smith, over a third of closed down. But now, a look a businessman
:42:42. > :42:48.has invested almost or �9 million and the area. He has bought 12
:42:48. > :42:54.shops and food and with the tenants. I saw a potential. I am able to
:42:54. > :43:00.offer very good rents for new tenants. You Park has had a lot of
:43:00. > :43:05.money spent limit, and it was noted -- voted one of the worst
:43:05. > :43:10.performing areas a year ago. If he does at the bottom, Shirley, there
:43:10. > :43:14.has only one way they can go. not the only area struggling
:43:14. > :43:20.northernmost to get shoppers back constraints - some town centres
:43:20. > :43:26.have been falling behind the years. We are hundreds of thousands of
:43:26. > :43:30.people regularly flock to gun the keys, 18 shops are planned this
:43:30. > :43:35.standing empty. The Bar Council has just received a manager �1,000 for
:43:35. > :43:42.the Government's High Street Innovation Fund. But how best to
:43:42. > :43:49.spend a man a? Or light can suggest is that reduce the rent of the
:43:49. > :43:59.shops. Revamp the High Street, make it look better. Shop online. It's
:43:59. > :44:00.
:44:00. > :44:04.easier. Nice shops rather than charity shops and gambling shops.
:44:04. > :44:11.The council has not quite decided had to spend the money jet, but has
:44:11. > :44:16.been having meetings. If we can offer a holiday or business rates
:44:16. > :44:19.for three months, and the land looked allows for a rent free
:44:20. > :44:24.period, it will make a difference to traders coming into the high
:44:24. > :44:28.street. That is one way that the money can helpful step providing
:44:28. > :44:34.temporary relief is one thing, but critics say the Government's
:44:34. > :44:38.decision to increase business rates will cost retailers much more.
:44:38. > :44:48.central government sets business rates. Last April, they put the
:44:48. > :44:48.
:44:48. > :44:54.total both the UK retailing up by a �350 million. Obviously, Powys
:44:54. > :45:01.schemes that may amount to 10 bowl �20 million a welcome, but they are
:45:01. > :45:06.insignificant. Wishful thinking, perhaps, where the Government is
:45:06. > :45:14.not interested in maintaining its encompassed up we have got a game
:45:14. > :45:21.at West was to a. Matt Smith's Investment is ambitious. My aim is
:45:21. > :45:27.to have the other side of the high street. We have but one empty shop.
:45:27. > :45:33.By a Mr Starr phone the other side. Darwin said, it is not the
:45:33. > :45:43.strongest species to survive, but those most adaptable to change. I
:45:43. > :45:46.
:45:46. > :45:49.am changing the High Street associate. What we want to see him
:45:49. > :45:54.as retailers come at local entrepreneurs taking things into
:45:54. > :46:00.their own hands. But high streets are struggling, and it is testament
:46:00. > :46:04.to this Government's failure to get on top of reviving the economy.
:46:04. > :46:07.Some might say it has paid bring over the cracks. If you owe rent,
:46:07. > :46:13.or you have less money going into the economy generally and not
:46:13. > :46:17.making no money. Absolutely, but I think it is the right thing for
:46:17. > :46:23.local councils to do - to use their mechanisms they have to make their
:46:23. > :46:30.local area better. I would like to see it complemented by a national
:46:30. > :46:37.action. It does so set after a plan to cut VAT. That would put money in
:46:38. > :46:46.the pockets of ordinary families. Increasing business rates, as the
:46:46. > :46:54.guy there said, it is for the second year running 6% come at
:46:54. > :46:58.raising �350 million. Let us get a grip. This Government is
:46:58. > :47:04.responsible for the position of high streets on this country. The
:47:04. > :47:11.empty shops problem has been exhilarating of the last 20 years.
:47:11. > :47:16.Rise in online shopping, for example. We have had or are these
:47:16. > :47:19.out-of-town centres created with free parking, and cancers have
:47:19. > :47:26.reacted to dropping a parking revenue by increasing their charges
:47:26. > :47:29.and further driving people away. We, for example, have said to councils
:47:29. > :47:35.that if new businesses have started, they can keep non of the business
:47:35. > :47:38.rates. But you but as business rates up! We have told councils
:47:38. > :47:45.that they can keep locally the business rate and decide what to
:47:45. > :47:50.spend them. We can then investors back into the local communities.
:47:50. > :47:59.that true locals pollution? We are in so good at making sure councils
:47:59. > :48:04.keep non of the business rates, as long as there is done Furley.
:48:04. > :48:08.goes back into the local councils's coffers. You could do the public
:48:09. > :48:14.opinion polls - the number one concern people have is the cost of
:48:14. > :48:18.living. The fact there has been little rise in income, has had few
:48:18. > :48:26.of his grown-up, petrol has come up. There is not a matter of money
:48:26. > :48:29.around. We inherited this from the previous government.
:48:29. > :48:39.Now our regular round-up of the political week in the South in 60
:48:39. > :48:43.
:48:43. > :48:50.It has been a week for manufacturing. This year's Faber
:48:50. > :48:56.ensure maybe smiler, but there has been given a flying start and by
:48:56. > :49:00.the Prime Minister. Reading's new station is starting
:49:00. > :49:08.to take shape, and the Investment were transferred and the centre of
:49:08. > :49:13.the town. From planes and trains to admit girls, in Oxford, and �250
:49:13. > :49:17.million investment in the Mini plant by BMW has provoked --
:49:17. > :49:23.protective jabs. They have a very good at Mughal now.
:49:23. > :49:32.In tough times, many are still struggling - Gurkhas are protesting
:49:32. > :49:36.at a private teacher pensions. There a few surviving.
:49:37. > :49:46.And farmers - every drop off profits squeeze start of a pint of
:49:46. > :49:51.milk. This week prices have to rise. One thing that is her expensive is
:49:51. > :49:57.a Olympic tickets. I tried and tried ended not get any tickets. I
:49:58. > :50:04.will be watching it on television. I do not try to get tickets.
:50:04. > :50:14.Olympic torch has crossed a does it. A lot of people want to go there. I
:50:14. > :50:15.
:50:15. > :50:19.understand some MPs are getting free tickets. Is that right? My own
:50:19. > :50:24.view is that politicians need to be there a careful and what they
:50:24. > :50:28.accept. I would not have accepted free tickets. Tickets should be
:50:28. > :50:33.given to those who have a genuine love and passion for spot, and not
:50:33. > :50:39.because of a position they occupy in society. What you have taken
:50:39. > :50:46.them? I am very enthusiastic about the Olympics, but politicians are
:50:46. > :50:51.ordinary people with an extraordinary job. They are
:50:51. > :50:57.supervising p-t. BT are paying for these tickets. Should there be an
:50:57. > :51:02.inquiry? I personally would not have taken the tickets. I hope you
:51:02. > :51:09.enjoy the Olympics. A lot of politicians could do with this
:51:09. > :51:13.summer break. You'll be watching it at home. We be going away? I will
:51:13. > :51:17.be enjoying Burma. Alastair people go on holiday to Bournemouth, and I
:51:17. > :51:20.get the pleasure of working there. That's the Sunday Politics in the
:51:20. > :51:23.South. Thanks to my guests, Antonia Bance and Conor Burns. Don't forget