Minutes: ‘Empty Shops and Artists’, 16th June 2009, 6.30pm
Present: Luisa Golob, Charlotte Morgan, Rosalie Wyatt, Catherine Crompton
Apologies: Julia Udall, Mel Pearson
The minutes of this meeting have now been removed. Please contact the action group at sharrow_action@hotmail.com if you would like a copy of these minutes
Tuesday, 30 June 2009
welcome to sharrow signpost
Introduction
Phase 2 of the Welcome To Sharrow –
Signpost Commission is about to ensue.
After the success of Phase 1 during the Lantern Festival we are taking the idea forward
of using The Letters that spell out WELCOME TO SHARROW. So rather than going for
your average Welcome sign we decided to make this a central feature within the Sharrow
Community. The broader idea is to create a sculptural network throughout the Sharrow
Boundary Area which can be used as a map to discover hidden stories, places and features
within distinctive Sharrow.
Stage 1 Review
Taking the 16 Letters that spell out WELCOME TO SHARROW we made anagrams and
different words out of them and placed them in different locations in and around
Sharrow, that we felt were relevant to these areas. These have been recorded and will
become used in the culmination of the project.
The Idea
Continuing the theme of letterforms from Phase 1, I would
like to propose the idea of placing 7 cast-concrete letterform
sculptures in 7 locations within the Sharrow Boundary.
The 7 letter installations that make up the word SHARROW
will be called.....
Locations
So far locations have been determined by creating an even
spread within Sharrow, by looking at the cycle routes and
walks and by the viability of the intended sites.
I am currently in contact with the planning office at Sheffield
County Council and will work with them closely to secure the
intended sites.
I would prefer the sites to be slightly more
away from the
roadside and pavements. One for safety reasons and visibility
and two because the letterforms look beautiful when they are
in more natural surroundings. This is why the preferred sites
are on grass banks or nearby trees. There is also opportunity
for planting flowers, shrubs or creepers at the base of each
installation.
Phase 2 of the Welcome To Sharrow –
Signpost Commission is about to ensue.
After the success of Phase 1 during the Lantern Festival we are taking the idea forward
of using The Letters that spell out WELCOME TO SHARROW. So rather than going for
your average Welcome sign we decided to make this a central feature within the Sharrow
Community. The broader idea is to create a sculptural network throughout the Sharrow
Boundary Area which can be used as a map to discover hidden stories, places and features
within distinctive Sharrow.
Stage 1 Review
Taking the 16 Letters that spell out WELCOME TO SHARROW we made anagrams and
different words out of them and placed them in different locations in and around
Sharrow, that we felt were relevant to these areas. These have been recorded and will
become used in the culmination of the project.
The Idea
Continuing the theme of letterforms from Phase 1, I would
like to propose the idea of placing 7 cast-concrete letterform
sculptures in 7 locations within the Sharrow Boundary.
The 7 letter installations that make up the word SHARROW
will be called.....
Locations
So far locations have been determined by creating an even
spread within Sharrow, by looking at the cycle routes and
walks and by the viability of the intended sites.
I am currently in contact with the planning office at Sheffield
County Council and will work with them closely to secure the
intended sites.
I would prefer the sites to be slightly more
away from theroadside and pavements. One for safety reasons and visibility
and two because the letterforms look beautiful when they are
in more natural surroundings. This is why the preferred sites
are on grass banks or nearby trees. There is also opportunity
for planting flowers, shrubs or creepers at the base of each
installation.
Tuesday, 9 June 2009
Next Meeting
Sharrow Action Group on
Tuesday 16th june at 6.30pm.
please come along!
to the 'old sharrow junior school'
(empty shop fronts and artists)
Draft Agenda
1. What do we want to achieve?
2. Next steps: Liaising with landlords and agents
3. Available resources
4. Definition of roles
5. Any other business
6. Next meeting
Please email any additions or queries to Luisa Golob http://www.blogger.com/ or Charlotte Morgan charlotte.anne.morgan@googlemail.com;
Tuesday, 2 June 2009
Action Group Minutes
Tuesday 19th May 2009, the Old Junior School, 6:30pm
Attendance: Rosalie Wyatt, Luisa Golob, Jean Cromar, Laurence Pattacini, Ross Gilbertson, Julia Udall, Colin Havard,
1. Apologies: Mel Pearson, Catherine Crompton, Charlotte Morgan, Paula Ridsdale
The minutes of this meeting have now been removed. Please contact the action group at sharrow_action@hotmail.com if you would like a copy of these minutes
Attendance: Rosalie Wyatt, Luisa Golob, Jean Cromar, Laurence Pattacini, Ross Gilbertson, Julia Udall, Colin Havard,
1. Apologies: Mel Pearson, Catherine Crompton, Charlotte Morgan, Paula Ridsdale
The minutes of this meeting have now been removed. Please contact the action group at sharrow_action@hotmail.com if you would like a copy of these minutes
Vacant Shops and Artists: Advice from Meanwhile Space
I am from Meanwhile Space, a Community Interest Company working with the Development Trusts Association on (the Government's) Meanwhile project to boost community uses of empty properties in our town centres. We're currently at an early stage where we’re gathering intelligence about what’s already happening and exploring/developing/testing the approach in some particular places.
It is a sticky process and can be really quite cumbersome with business rates, and getting the landlords, agents and council onside, which is why we are trying to gather as much intelligence of what people are actually doing to try and make it easier.
You mention the possibility of council tax exemption if you occupy the spaces. It's quite a complicated and cloudy situation - if you are a registered charity, you automatically get 80% relief from business rates and the remaining 20% is up to the council to grant you exemption. If you are a not-for-profit organisation, it is up to the council to decide if they wish to grant you exemption for any of the business rates so it's obviously important to have the council backing you to get relief from rates if you aren't a charity. Properties over £15,00 Rateable Value (you can check your property here if you know the address: http://www.voa.gov.uk ) are liable to pay business rates after 3 months of being empty (a new law since 2008) so landlords paying business rates would have a further incentive if you could relieve this financial pressure for them.
We are hoping to get a meanwhile website up and running as soon as possible to enable people to talk about problems and issues as well as positive avenues so we will let you know when that goes live and hopefully it will help to talk with others who have done it already/ are experiencing it now about any problems you have along the way. Meanwhile, please do keep us updated with your progress, and do get in touch with any queries you may have.
It is a sticky process and can be really quite cumbersome with business rates, and getting the landlords, agents and council onside, which is why we are trying to gather as much intelligence of what people are actually doing to try and make it easier.
You mention the possibility of council tax exemption if you occupy the spaces. It's quite a complicated and cloudy situation - if you are a registered charity, you automatically get 80% relief from business rates and the remaining 20% is up to the council to grant you exemption. If you are a not-for-profit organisation, it is up to the council to decide if they wish to grant you exemption for any of the business rates so it's obviously important to have the council backing you to get relief from rates if you aren't a charity. Properties over £15,00 Rateable Value (you can check your property here if you know the address: http://www.voa.gov.uk ) are liable to pay business rates after 3 months of being empty (a new law since 2008) so landlords paying business rates would have a further incentive if you could relieve this financial pressure for them.
We are hoping to get a meanwhile website up and running as soon as possible to enable people to talk about problems and issues as well as positive avenues so we will let you know when that goes live and hopefully it will help to talk with others who have done it already/ are experiencing it now about any problems you have along the way. Meanwhile, please do keep us updated with your progress, and do get in touch with any queries you may have.
Tuesday, 26 May 2009
Tuesday, 19 May 2009
Masterplan for Lloyds Corner
This is a plan of action for Sheffield City Council produced by Distinctive Sharrow Action Group to help them make decision on how to improve Lloyd’s Corner for the benefit of local people, ensuring it is placed in context with other local community buildings.(please click on images to enlarge)
Tuesday, 12 May 2009
Empty Shop Fronts: minutes May 2009
The minutes of this meeting have now been removed. Please contact the action group at sharrow_action@hotmail.com if you would like a copy of these minutes
Thriving Centres
This summer Sheffield City Council are starting research for the ‘Thriving Centres’ initiative where they will look at district and local centres throughout the city. The project will consider how social, economic and physical factors contribute to the creation of vibrant and distinctive places for people to live work and play in.
In Sharrow's case, this will include London Road and an area 400m surrounding this.
Community consultation events will be run during the summer, so if you would like to be involved or know more, please contact Julia Udall at julia@sharrowcf.org.uk
Maps show area to be considered by Thriving Centres in the Sharrow neighbourhood. Please click to enlarge.
In Sharrow's case, this will include London Road and an area 400m surrounding this.
Community consultation events will be run during the summer, so if you would like to be involved or know more, please contact Julia Udall at julia@sharrowcf.org.uk
Maps show area to be considered by Thriving Centres in the Sharrow neighbourhood. Please click to enlarge.
Lloyds Corner Brief
‘Lloyds Corner’ is a highly visible small urban space, which currently doesn’t have a strong identity or design. However, local people have identified that it has potential to contribute to the quality of the public realm and the community life.
The Action Group has currently commissioned two projects, the first being Community design flags for sites along London Road, the district centre. The second project is a ‘Welcome to Sharrow’ signpost, the project launch for which was celebrated with giant lanterns as part of the annual lantern festival.
The Action Group has currently commissioned two projects, the first being Community design flags for sites along London Road, the district centre. The second project is a ‘Welcome to Sharrow’ signpost, the project launch for which was celebrated with giant lanterns as part of the annual lantern festival.
Project aims and objectives:
• Regenerate this key public open space in London Road
• Contribute to making visible the identity of Sharrow
• Engage local people with their urban environment.
• Regenerate this key public open space in London Road
• Contribute to making visible the identity of Sharrow
• Engage local people with their urban environment.
For a full copy of brief, plese contact Julia Udall on julia@sharrowcf.org.uk .
Thursday, 7 May 2009
Empty Shops Information: Arts Council
The Town Centre’s Initiative was announced by Hazel Blears, Secretary of State for Communities & Local Government and Andy Burnham, Secretary of State for Culture, on 14 April. It is a government initiative to help reinvigorate ailing town centre’s by enabling vacant retail space to be put to alternative uses.
Hundreds of arts organisations across the country are already doing a lot of this, for example the Turner Contemporary in Margate, Shops Upfront in Liverpool and Bedford Creative Arts, and we hope this new fund will enable many more such schemes to happen. It’s good for the artists and it’s good for the towns.
The Arts Council has set aside £500,000 of our lottery income as a fund to which artists will be able to apply for grants of £1,000 to £10,000 to help them carry out artistic activities in empty shops made available to them through the scheme.
To qualify for an Arts Council town centre’s grant, the activity must be art based. The precise criteria are still being finalised but it is likely they will be very similar to those for Grants for the arts. It’s important that the Arts Council can ensure that the art funded is of the highest standard. Any artist or arts organisation can apply. It is more likely to be individual artists due to the smaller size of the grants available through the scheme.We are now talking to the various government departments involved to determine the best way for the scheme to be administered, and so that we ensure the quality of the art that is funded.
We will post more information on our web site as soon as details are available. Go to www.artscouncil.org.uk/actiononrecession to check for updates on the application process.I Hope you will find this information helpful
Hundreds of arts organisations across the country are already doing a lot of this, for example the Turner Contemporary in Margate, Shops Upfront in Liverpool and Bedford Creative Arts, and we hope this new fund will enable many more such schemes to happen. It’s good for the artists and it’s good for the towns.
The Arts Council has set aside £500,000 of our lottery income as a fund to which artists will be able to apply for grants of £1,000 to £10,000 to help them carry out artistic activities in empty shops made available to them through the scheme.
To qualify for an Arts Council town centre’s grant, the activity must be art based. The precise criteria are still being finalised but it is likely they will be very similar to those for Grants for the arts. It’s important that the Arts Council can ensure that the art funded is of the highest standard. Any artist or arts organisation can apply. It is more likely to be individual artists due to the smaller size of the grants available through the scheme.We are now talking to the various government departments involved to determine the best way for the scheme to be administered, and so that we ensure the quality of the art that is funded.
We will post more information on our web site as soon as details are available. Go to www.artscouncil.org.uk/actiononrecession to check for updates on the application process.I Hope you will find this information helpful
Tuesday, 5 May 2009
Vacant Shops: governement support
1. Standard 'interim-use' leases - landlords need to be assured that there is a proper legal basis for any temporary uses and that they will be able to take the empty premises back as soon commercially viable. To help minimise the cost of setting up such arrangements, Government will create specimen legal documents that landlords can use for temporary occupiers.
2. Temporary leasing of shops to councils - Not all landlords will want to lease to temporary occupiers. In these cases local Councils can step in as an intermediary and agree new temporary, or "meanwhile", leases that enables the Council use the property by granting an interim licence to a local group for community uses.
There has also been some funding secured for this initaive- around £500,000 from the arts council
http://www.communities.gov.uk/news/corporate/1201277
2. Temporary leasing of shops to councils - Not all landlords will want to lease to temporary occupiers. In these cases local Councils can step in as an intermediary and agree new temporary, or "meanwhile", leases that enables the Council use the property by granting an interim licence to a local group for community uses.
There has also been some funding secured for this initaive- around £500,000 from the arts council
http://www.communities.gov.uk/news/corporate/1201277
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