Agenda item

The Head of Town Centre Management and Business Support gave an update on progress across the main Partnership themes of Town Centre Management and Business Support in Quarter 4 2012/13.

In Quarter 4 2012/13, the Town Centre Management and Business Support Service had worked to deliver a number of events in town centres including the Bromley Arts Festival, funded by the Outer London Fund, the Hayes Clock unveiling and a special event in the Walnuts commissioned by the Business Improvement District (BID) Working Group in partnership with the Town Centre Management team to raise awareness about the proposed Orpington BID amongst both business owners and shoppers. 

The BID Ballot had taken place on 21^st February 2013.  There had been a 48% turnout of those eligible to vote, of which 54% were in favour, representing 60% of the rateable value.  The recruitment process for a manager of the BID was now underway and it was planned for the Orpington 1^st BID Company to ‘go live’ in April 2013.  In response to a query from a member of the Partnership, the Head of Town Centre Management and Business Support confirmed that a BID could be developed for an industrial area and that BID status allowed businesses to access additional investment through a range of funding streams and potential sponsorship.  The Head of Town Centre Management and Business Support also confirmed that there would be a renewal ballot for the Orpington 1^st BID Company in 2018 and that any expansion of the BID area could be considered at that point.

Work was ongoing to action improvements under the Local Parades Initiative.  A business support programme for Bromley Town Centre had also been launched in February 2013 in partnership with ActionCoach and would run to the end of the year.  The Chairman asked members of the Partnership to signpost business owners who might benefit through either initiative as appropriate

Future activities for the Town Centre Management and Business Support Service included initial consultation and feasibility work for possible BID proposals in both Bromley and Beckenham Town Centres, and the development of a strategy to implement further BIDs across the Borough.  The Local Parades Initiative would also continue, and the Head of Town Centre Management and Business Support would liaise with Suzanne Sharp, NewsQuest to promote the initiative to local businesses.  A number of events were planned across the Borough during the quarter, including a major Fashion Week event in May 2013 and an HG Wells themed heritage event in September 2013 in Bromley Town Centre. 

The Head of Town Centre Management and Business Support advised members of the Partnership that shop front vinyls continued to be used for vacant units.  7.4% of units were currently vacant in Bromley Town Centre (excluding The Glades Shopping Centre and The Mall), which was lower than the national average.  Beckenham and Orpington Town Centres currently had vacancy rates of 4.9% and 5.0% respectively, and West Wickham Town Centre had a vacancy rate of just 2.7%.

RESOLVED that:

1)  Recent work around Town Centre Management and Business Support in the 4^th Quarter of 2012/13 be noted; and

2)  The plans for Town Centre Management and Business Support activity for the 1^st Quarter of 2013/14 be noted.