Agenda item

To consider the report of the Growth and Commercialisation Manager.

The BID Manager presented a report which set out the process and proposals for a second term of the InExeter Business Improvement District (BID), and as the Council will be eligible as a rate payer on its own property, recommended that the City Council should cast a yes vote in October 2019 to show support for the setting up the BID for the next five years.  A copy of the INExeter BID Business Plan was circulated with the report.

The Portfolio Holder Environment & City Management set out the proposals for a second term as well as a five year Business Plan. During the summer the City Council would work on a contingency plan should the BID vote not be successful in October 2019.  He welcomed the focus to support business with the city centre to ensure a strong and vibrant economy and further develop making InExeter as the first point of contact and as a conduit for the operations of the city.  He referred to the BID levy rules which had been amended from the next BID term as well as an extension of the BID area to include parts of Sidwell Street, Longbrook Street, New North Road, Fore Street, Bartholomew and West Street, Queen Street, Fairpark Road and Magdalen Road at the request of the businesses located there, which were detailed in an appendix to the report.  He referred to the success of the BID which now had 700 businesses, which generated over £500,000 annually to deliver the Business Plan. It was also proposed that the BID levy would change from 1% to 1.25% with businesses being levied from the current rateable value list. He had been nominated to represent the City Council on the BID Board with the support from the Growth and Development Manager as a non-voting attendee. 

The BID Manager made a short presentation and thanked the Portfolio Holder and the Council for their commitment to the BID Board over the last five years. She referred to the work of the volunteer Board of Directors and referred to her position as a Council member of the BID Foundation and was pleased that Exeter’s BID had the opportunity to connect with other towns and cities to share best practice.

A full description of the projects completed by the current Business Plan was attached as an appendix to the report, but some of the key improvements and projects over the last five years included:-

·         the provision of city centre management.

·         better connected business community with regular meetings, communication and networking.

·         an enhanced and reactive cleansing service,

·         the Christmas campaign, lights and events  and other seasonal city dressing as well as additional artwork in Queen Street, all to add colour and interest to the city.

·         upgrade of the directional fingerposts. 

·         the launch of the Independent Gift Card with 73 businesses represented and

·         the reinstatement of a large retailer group to link to the city’s key campaigns.

The Bid Manager had coordinated an engagement process for the BID with all of the businesses through a variety of engagement mediums which had included group and individual meetings, newsletter and surveys to draw out the key priorities for the next five years to ensure a drive to continue the investment in the city centre.  The key themes to be delivered over the next five years included:-

·         experiences

·         welcoming and attractive streets

·         supporting and informing

Members were supportive of the work of the BID and hoped that it would be able to continue over the next five years. They made the following comments:-

·         the BID levy was not an onerous commitment for the traders as they did receive a tangible extras and support from the BID.

·         welcome the proposed staff discounts for public transport and she hoped there would be an opportunity for this to be progressed further, but some disappointment over the contradiction in the aims to meet carbon neutrality with the offer of staff parking discounts and customer parking redemptions.  She hoped there would be greater emphasis placed on using public transport.

The Chair welcomed the opportunity to thank the BID Manager and team and he looked forward to an update on the progress of the BID vote.

Place Scrutiny Committee supported the proposals of the City Centre Business Improvement District Board and recommended to Executive and Council the following:-

(1)        that the City Council vote in favour of continuing the InExeter Improvement District (BID) for a second term, covering the period 2020-2025;

(2)        City Council cast its votes in favour of continuing the BID in the forthcoming ballot in October 2019;

(3)        Council approve a budget of £5,000 to undertake the ballot to be funded from General Fund reserves;

(4)        that the Portfolio Holder for Environment & City Management is appointed to sit on the InExeter Board, with the support of the Growth & Commercialisation Manager, to oversee the interests of the City Council and wider city centre through activity undertaken by InExeter;

(5)        the BID boundary is extended to include businesses located on Magdalen Road, at the request of the businesses association and businesses located on Magdalen Road;

(6)        that Exeter City Council charge a true cost of supporting InExeter in collecting the BID levy, calculated at £12,000 + VAT per annum, from £1,500 + VAT per year; and

(7)        the Growth & Commercialisation Manager draws up contingency plans, to be implemented as a result of a no vote in October 2019.