Agenda item

The Head of Town Centre Management and Business Support gave an update around progress across the main Partnership themes of Town Centre Development and Business Support in Quarter 4. 

During January and February 2011, the Town Centre Managers had consulted with around 2000 businesses across the 4 main town centres regarding a move to increased business contributions to the cost of Christmas light displays.  Howard Oldstein noted the importance of having a rolling programme to ensure there were sufficient funds in place to order light displays in good time for the Christmas period.  It was also important to promote the benefits of contributing to a Christmas light display to businesses, including increased sales and opportunities for sponsorship.  Rob Cundy requested that figures showing the current level of contributions by businesses to Christmas light displays in Bromley be provided to the Partnership.

A telephone survey of businesses in Orpington had taken place with 122 out of 315 businesses being interviewed.  87% of businesses considered they had been affected by the economic downturn (mostly negatively), but 75% still rated Orpington as a good place to do business.  Representatives of the Business Support Service had attended a meeting of the Orpington Business Forum on 12^th April 2011 around introducing a potential Business Improvement District in Orpington.  A range of issues had been identified, including the size of the BID, and a special meeting of the Orpington Business Forum would be held to consider the proposals in more detail.

The Council’s Business Support service had delivered a wide range of activities including the successful delivery of the fourth annual Borough-wide Boost Your Business event on 30^th March 2011, which had attracted over 160 people.  Initial feedback had been positive, and a follow up telephone survey would be undertaken to determine the medium to long term impacts for the businesses taking part.  The Business Support service had also promoted and supported two joint ‘South East Business Growth Expo’ events in partnership with Business Link and the London Boroughs of Bexley, Greenwich and Lewisham, and had worked with the Society of London Manufacturers (Soloman) to engage with manufacturing and industrial businesses based on the St Mary Cray industrial estate.  Liz McNaughton confirmed that these businesses had now formed a committee, and would meet on 27^th April 2011 to identify issues impacting businesses in the area including those relating to the environment, crime, traffic and parking.

Future activities of the Business Support service included the promotion and distribution of the new Bromley Business Guide and Directory and the publication of an e-guide to local services and businesses which would be hosted on the News Shopper website.  The new Bromley Council website had been launched on 13^th April 2011 and the business pages would be reviewed to improve content and navigation.

RESOLVED that:

1)  Recent work around Town Centre Management and Business Support in the 4^th Quarter of 2010/11 be noted;

2)  The plans for Town Centre Management and Business Support activity for the 1^st Quarter of 2011/12 be noted.