Report of the Working Group On Business and Economy

3. Key Findings and Issues

The services sector comprises a wide range of business activity – e.g. builders, craft trades, hair-dressers, estate agents, consultancies etc with a mix of enterprise sizes and employee numbers – although less than 5 predominate. There are no significant issues relating to staff recruitment, skills availability, training or accommodation.

Whilst lots of the small enterprises operate from homes, there are many that require small-scale office accommodation. The supply of such accommodation is limited and in relative terms quite expensive. However supply and demand and hence rental price inflation are not seen to be out of balance to any great extent.

There are approx 36 retail shops (i.e. resellers) in the Cookhams split mainly between the village and the Rise, serving a wide range of local needs with some attracting significant business from outside. They are listed in the appendix and exclude shops used for services provision. (e.g.hair-dressers).

Although rentals are in relative terms expensive the supply and demand are reasonably well balanced with no runaway rates of price inflation.

The variety and numbers of retail shops are considered well balanced with no significant duplication of types within the same target markets. The essential role of the pharmacy and the 2 Post Offices are fully recognised within the overall mix.

Part of the tourist attraction of Cookham is its rich diversity of these establishments.

The Cookhams are well served by its pubs and restaurants with their variety and quality.

The shortage of car parking capacity is a problem during peak periods.

There are seen to be too many Indian restaurants but no doubt over time competitive market forces will determine the sustainable number.

There is only 1 hotel in Cookham (Inn on the Green) augmented by some B & B establishments. However there are adequate large hotels in neighbouring towns to serve this market. Whilst they are not public hotels, both the CIM and JLP each have 80 or so bedrooms for their guests. CIM sell spare bedroom capacity to the open market

The café style Delizio and Cookham Dean Post office are providing a popular continental style casual meeting facility

It is difficult for pure farming businesses to be viable in today’s environment. To survive and prosper farm businesses need to diversify. Farms in the Cookhams have risen to this challenge with imaginative business models. A key flexibility is, and has been, the change in use of redundant farm buildings to unique modern office accommodation or trading units that are now home to many small-scale craft manufacturing and service enterprises. Sensitive redevelopment of this nature in order to meet changing market needs should be continue to be acceptable so that farming businesses can continue to play a key role in allowing the countryside to evolve. Such flexibility is needed not only for farming but also for other green belt enterprises like the golf club as it will ensure their continued prosperity and allow the open countryside around Cookham to be maintained for future generations.

There are a dozen or so small manufacturing operations in the Cookhams ranging from light engineering to sign writing. Some service just local needs but others also cater for demand from further afield

The redevelopment of redundant agricultural buildings to industrial or commercial units on our Cookham farms has provided an unobtrusive range of small scale manufacturing facilities to the benefit of the Cookhams.

Future development of further facilities to service evolving local needs requires careful vigilance to ensure that both the community and the owners mutually benefit.

The CIM and JLP are our 2 largest employers with c.200 and 115 staff respectively

They are model employers and Cookham is fortunate to have them.

They make a positive contribution to the Cookhams and are committed to providing assistance to the local community’s needs. They take their responsibilities to the community seriously. They bring lots of visitors to Cookham who in turn contribute significantly to the local economy. They have both invested heavily over recent years are committed to stay in Cookham in the long term.

The CIM provide conference facilities to the community on a commercial basis

There are little hard data on numbers or growth. However in response to the village plan questionnaire it was revealed that 23% of economically active persons in Cookham worked either part time or full time from home. This ratio is more than twice the national average and grossed up amounts to a surprising 800 persons

Whilst acknowledging that it would be impractical to conduct a sample that would have statistical significance the B and E undertook some random qualitative consultations.

The single question asked was "If there were no limitations on resources, what in your view could be done to assist home workers?" The results are summarised below:-

• "Networking facilities needed: Breakfast club monthly / weekly at the CIM or JLP.; a Cookham website on the lines of BNI or ECAEMA websites." (Accountant)

• "I value broadband but service from BT in the Cookham area is erratic. I would value a meeting space with other local workers. (We work 1 day a week in London and 2 in Cookham)" (Video production company)

• I would like to see a reduction in local Council Tax for those working at home" (Accountant).

• "The principal problem is loneliness and opportunities for networking would be welcome. Kiosk or booth facilities (fee paying) are needed in Cookham for services such as video conferencing, Wi-Fi or simply accessing the office" (Business worker)

• Some home workers are full time but most are believed to be part time.

• They contribute to the local economy, reduce traffic congestion, (environmentally positive) and should be encouraged. Local facilities need to be adapted to meet their needs.

Due to its changing demographics, Cookhams’ population will increasingly have a significant proportion of retired elderly residents, many of whom will require some form of care accommodation including sheltered housing in the years to come. There is insufficient capacity within existing Cookham facilities even with the proposed redevelopment of the Cookham Riverside in Berries Road.

To meet this increasing demand from Cookham residents there is a potential business opportunity to fund the development of a large landsite for the building of 1/2/3 bedroom cottages/houses/apartments sufficient in number to support and operate a range of central services. Could an appropriate parcel of land (a "settlement area") be earmarked for such a bold scheme in Cookham?

It is recognised that a business model for such a proposal is not the only option. Indeed, a scheme sponsored and managed by a charity may be a preferred viable alternative.

Around 500 people in the Cookhams are employed directly or indirectly in visitor/tourist related activity, notably JLP, CIM, Stanley Spencer gallery (SSG), and the catering trade. Visitor numbers per annum are in the region of 35,000 at both JLP and CIM and 14,000+ at SSG

There is no single body or organisation to plan and co-ordinate tourist information and activities and look at the Cookhams from the tourist’s viewpoint.

Tourist attractions in the Cookhams are wide and varied, reflecting Cookham’s culture and heritage, ranging from the SSG, the river, walks, cycle paths, historic churches, pubs, restaurants, golf course etc.

Should the relevant Cookham stakeholders led by one of the stakeholders sponsor a range of information, signs, maps, brochures etc and provide a focal tourist information point in say the Parade/rail station with satellites elsewhere?

This would arguably increase tourism and thus augment the vibrancy of the local economy.

The parade is one of the focal points of Cookham (indeed the first point of entry for many visitors) but its overall quality and appearance detracts from the image of the village. It is definitely not a good advertisement for what Cookham stands for and offers. There appears to be unanimity on this viewpoint from residents, businesses and the retailers themselves. Its current weaknesses include tired 60’s/70’s building stock, lack of visual co-ordination of the different shops, inadequate car parking surface and layout, a first come first served mix of commuter, shopper and staff car parking, vehicle entry/exit difficulties, pedestrian dangers crossing the main road, lack of co-ordination between rail and bus services and generally poor use of the overall space with less than attractive landscaping and signage.

Ownership of the shops and car park are split between many different landlords, which creates potential complexity in gaining commitment to any new vision for improvement. However it is perceived that there is a genuine desire to upgrade the parade by the stakeholders. An essential pre-requisite in any upgrade is the continued convenience for shoppers to park quickly and easily. Otherwise many customers would be driven away to alternative stores and render many existing shops unviable.

Because of lack of funds, short length of leaseholds and fragility of small businesses, and multiplicity of ownerships and interests, it is considered unlikely that any move will be made collectively by the owners of the Parade to make improvements. We maintain our priority to retain and promote the local businesses there. Accordingly, for the buildings we recommend to the freeholders and tenants of the shops and flats that when they are refurbished over the life of the Plan, thought is given to the overall effect of the Parade. An illustration of what could be done is included in the Plan’s appendices. The car park. It is vital for the health of the businesses that no parking is lost to improvements, and that parking for train users is formally discouraged on the Parade Car Park. This problem can only grow if Crossrail is constructed and a charge for parking is introduced on the Station Car Park. Accordingly, we propose a public/private partnership involving the owners of the Parade and the Station to improve the parking, create one joint entry/exit, with spaces on the Parade clearly marked with a time limit for parking. Modern technology should be able to assist with the policing of this. It may be necessary to provide additional parking for rail commuters elsewhere.

PREVIOUS PAGE

NEXT PAGE