New high street task force ‘will be judged on results’

Northern Ireland’s high street task force will be “judged on what it delivers”, the head of Retail NI has said after its first meeting.

Glyn Roberts, chief executive of Retail NI, said the first meeting had been “very good” and a “step in the right direction”.

But he acknowledged the body, which was first announced in August, faces a “long journey” as it aims to explore ways to revitalise town and city centres.

“We have got to ask the very serious question of what does success look like for a post-pandemic high street?” he said.

“I think there was unanimous purpose at the meeting about the challenges and the new thinking and new vision that will be needed, but ultimately I think this group will be judged upon its ability to deliver.

“I think that is where Retail NI will be very focused along with colleagues playing a full part in this group and hopefully co-designing solutions for the very big challenges our high streets, retail, hospitality and so on face over the next few months and indeed few years.”

The membership of the task force includes five Stormont departments, Retail NI, Hospitality Ulster, Northern Ireland Retail Consortium, trade unions, the Federation of Small Businesses, Ulster University and Queen’s University and business owner Chris Suitor.

Mr Roberts said Retail NI had been lobbying for the task force for nearly 10 years.

“It is good to finally get it over the line,” he added.

“It has only had its first meeting and it will be probably more focused on the medium to long term future of our high streets as well as working with other partners in the Executive in relation to Covid recovery.

“The challenge of this is that it’s not an end in itself. It is a means to an end, it’s a better way of working and it’s about co-designing solutions and an effective partnership between business and the Executive, civic society and trade unions about charting a way forward.

“It must be seen in the wider economic regeneration activities within the Executive that we all need to focus on. It will be judged on what it delivers.”

The task force will be chaired by Junior Ministers Gary Middleton MLA and Declan Kearney MLA.