Forum Annual Review

The Forum submitted the following to the Falmouth Town Council's Parish Meeting on Monday 11 March.

Background
The Town Forum exists to assist the successful regeneration and revitalisation of Falmouth. It brings together representatives of a variety of groups and organisations in the town – from the commercial, charitable and statutory sectors – to debate current issues, share knowledge and explore options. Being non-aligned, it has the freedom to explore ideas in ways which other organisations cannot.

Organisations involved include Cornwall and Falmouth Town Councils, the Falmouth Town Clerk, the Town Manager, the Falmouth BIDS Manager, Cornwall Council officers, the Chamber of Commerce, Falmouth Harbour Commissioners, the Cornwall Marine Network, the Marine School, University College Falmouth, the National Maritime Museum Cornwall, the Civic Society, The Poly, Age Concern, Rotary, Falmouth and District Hoteliers Association, A & P, Fal River Links, Falmouth Ambassadors, the Watersports Centre, Churches Together, the RIBA, Transition Falmouth, a representative for local schools, co-opted members for specialist input.

Organisation
The Forum meets bi-monthly, or more frequently when required, and its meetings are open to members of the public. It receives and researches information concerning up and coming policies which may affect Falmouth

Matters covered in the the last 12 months
Over the last year, the Forum has received presentations from various invited guests and made contributions on the following subjects:

Strategies

• Connecting Cornwall 2011-2015 (for which it wrote a response on behalf of, and at the request of, the Town Council) 
• The Falmouth and Penryn Community Plan (the production of which was led by the Forum)
• The Docks Masterplan (The Forum is monitoring the Trial Dredge with interest)
• The Penryn River Study (The Forum is represented on the Project Team and members took an active role in an away day workshop)
• The Local Enterprise Partnership (The Forum received a presentation from Board member Simon Tregonning)
• The Cornwall Development Company. (Suzanne Bond, Chief Exec, gave a presentation to the Forum on the work of the CDC)
• Cycling – the Forum collaborated with FTC on a response to the CC LPT3 proposals, setting up a sub group to contribute ideas and report on the matter
• Cornwall Marine Strategy. (Forum received regular updates on this subject)
• Finding Sanctuary (The Forum noted with concern the potential adverse impact on Falmouth which might arise from a MRZ located opposite the harbour entrance)
• The Local Development Framework (The Forum is following developments closely and is a consultee to the Draft Cornwall Local Plan which incorporates the work of the Falmouth Framework Committee)
• Localism, Local Development Orders and the possibility of a Neighbourhood Plan
• CC Asset devolution. (Forum followed with interest proposals by CC to shed assets)
• Traffic issues such as the future of Church Street car park, pedestrian priority in town, parking and the waterside walkway
• The Forum noted with interest FTC proposals for Church Street Car park and received updates from CC on the results of contamination studies and other controlling factors there)

Town and BID Manager issues

• Falmouth First CIC (The Forum noted the formation of a Community Interest Company which won a tender to stage events on Prince of Wales Pier)
• The new Sainsburys superstore. (The Forum received updates as to progress and the situation with regard to Sec 106 contributions from that source)
• The Falmouth Business Improvement District (The BIDS manager gives regular updates to the Forum on the work of his organisation)
• The Mary Portas Review. (The Forum noted with pleasure the incorporation of the FTM and the BIDS Manager’s input into this document and also the success of Falmouth in becoming runner up in the Urbanism Awards for a “Great Town” in UK and Ireland. Losing out to Ireland, this made Falmouth the “Greatest Town” in Great Britain. The submission was assisted by Forum members)
• Events (The Forum receives regular updates from the Town Centre Manager and noted with approval this year’s programme which included the Finn Cup, the J Class Races, the Pendennis Cup, the arrival of the Olympic Torch, The shanty Festival, the Oyster Festival, SPLASH and Falmouth Week)

Reports
The Forum received (regular) reports from/on:

• The development of the Visitor Information Centre
• The work of Fal Energy Vision 
• The work of the Fal Energy Partnership 
• The roll-out of Superfast Broadband (The Forum received a presentation from BT on the subject)
• The visitor economy 
• Tremough Innovation Centre
• Citizenship for Life CC Mentoring scheme (The Forum received a presentation on this successful social project and noted involvement by some of its own members)
• Crime issues
• Litter and rubbish collection
• Maritime Line 150th Birthday celebrations (The Forum noted plans with delight)
• Falmouth University (The Forum received updates on name change and future plans) 

Communication
The Forum maintains its own website which reports the notes of its meetings and lists its membership. A link to this is sent to the Falmouth Town Council to ensure an open flow of information.

During the year, the Forum did a presentation to the Falmouth Town Council, inviting an open dialogue on the future of the town.