Member Article

Liverpool BID Company sets out Business Plan for Retail & Leisure BID ahead of Ballot

Liverpool BID Company today launches its Business Plan ahead of the campaign for a further term of the Retail & Leisure BID in the city centre. If backed by businesses in the June postal ballot, a further £5m will be invested into the area to improve safety and cleansing and boost footfall through events and animation.

Following extensive consultation with its levy payers, the BID has drawn up a Business Plan for the area, which incorporates well-known areas such as Bold Street, Cavern Quarter, Church Street, Williamson Square, Clayton Square, Queen Square, St Johns and Metquarter. If successful in its proposal for a fourth term, the BID will deliver the following for the over 600 BID levy payers in the Retail & Leisure BID area:

Safety

· Continuing to work alongside Merseyside Police, Liverpool City Council and levy payers to tackle anti-social behaviour, shoplifting and street dwelling to ensure the BID is a safe place to visit and work in. This will include the ongoing funding of the BID Safety Partnership which involves a dedicated police presence to deliver a responsive policing service, enhancements to the BID Radio Link service, and further provision supporting the Evening and Night Time Economy (ENTE) levy payers and City Watch’s responsiveness.

Cleansing

· Actively work alongside Liverpool City Council in creating a cleaner district, whose environment actively encourages businesses to thrive and visitors to return. This will be through added investment for a dedicated on-street team to clean public and private areas in addition to the city’s baseline in a coordinated manner; improved public realm schemes and enhancements to street lighting and green spaces.

Animation and marketing

· Facilitate a programme of events that animate and populate the streets throughout the year - attracting local, national and international visitors, and raising the profile of the area to encourage repeat visits. These will include, among others, Celebrating Bold Street and continued partnerships with city-region partners on seasonal and Christmas campaigns.

Business Support and connectivity

· Continue to champion the voice of its members. Proactively work with its levy paying businesses to develop employee skills and encourage high standards in customer service through its Mystery Shopping programme. Continue to support the full exemption from the Late-Night Levy for its Evening and Night Time Economy (ENTE) levy payers. And improve accessibility, wayfinding and free Wi-Fi.

Joe Anderson, Mayor of Liverpool, said:

“We really value our long-term partnership with the Liverpool BID Company and the role it plays in supporting and promoting the city centre economy. I urge all businesses to back the BID.”

Ian Silverberg, managing director, Silverberg Opticians on Whitechapel, located in the heart of the Retail & Leisure BID, said:

“I back the BID. They provide a full range of added services to help my business and others thrive, for instance, improving how safe and clean the city is.

“The BID is going to introduce three extra cleaning machines that ensures the city centre stays clean. The BID employs two police officers to provide extra security in the city centre. If you own a bar or restaurant there is a late-night levy, but members of the BID don’t have to pay for it. All the entertainment and Christmas lights that the BID brings to the city enhance the visitor experience.

“It is good to see how no matter the size or sector of your business you can have a say and be involved in making a better city. I really can’t imagine the city centre without the BID.”

Bill Addy, chief executive, Liverpool BID Company, commented:

“Liverpool’s retail and leisure sector has transformed over the last 10 years - what with the arrival of Grosvenor’s Liverpool ONE, and the tourism boom following Capital of Culture. Now more than ever is it imperative that we do not lose momentum.

“As set out in the BID Business Plan, the Liverpool BID Company has a key role to play in supporting our levy payers in the rapidly changing landscape of the high street, providing additional services to support cleaner and safer streets, along with a well promoted and animated city centre that encourage repeat visitors. This is now more important than ever when in this current climate difficult austerity measures have been placed upon our local authority and police service. We must all work together to improve our city.

“We hope the BID levy payers back a further term for Retail & Leisure BID which will represent £5m invested in supporting their trading environment.”

The Retail & Leisure BID was established in 2005 and has successfully been through three ballots. Levy payers can send their postal ballot for a new BID term (November 1 2018 - May 31 2023), from May 29 – June 28, 2018.

For more information about Liverpool BID Company’s Retail & Leisure BID ballot, please visit http://www.liverpoolbidcompany.com/ballot

And join us on Twitter: @LpoolBIDcompany

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Paul Richards .