Minutes:
Mr Martin Pinnell, LBB Head of Town Centre Management and Business Support, gave an update on Business Improvement Districts and Business Support in Quarter 1, 2017/18.
Copies of the South East London Chamber of Commerce Masthead magazine were distributed to members of the Partnership. The latest edition included a profile of the London Borough of Bromley, and thanks were given to the BIDs for their editorial contributions.
The Council was continuing to support and liaise with the existingBIDs in Orpington and Bromley. The Orpington 1st BID Company would go to ballot on 2nd November 2017, for which preparations were currently being made, including finalising draft legal agreements, setting up the ballot and levy collection arrangements. A Committee Report would be presented to the meeting of the Council’s Executive on 19th July 2017 in order to trigger the ballot. Sharon Baldwin, Orpington 1st BID Company advised the Partnership that they were seeking to consult with as many of the 325 businesses as possible through one to one meetings, social media, mailshots and sector meetings. A draft proposal document had been presented to the businesses and they appeared happy to say yes to the BID operating for a further five years, but it was another issue to get them to actually tick the box and vote in favour of it.
The BIDs in Beckenham and Penge were currently in development. Steering groups for both towns had been successfully formed and had met at least twice. Research would be undertaken during July 2017 by CMS with the aim to receive responses from 45-50% of the business rate payers in both towns. The ballots for each town would take place in early 2018. Beckenham had also been awarded the Purple Flag for its night time economy, for which a flag-raising ceremony had taken place in May 2017. Renewal of the application had been submitted at the end of June 2017, and the result was currently awaited.
As part of the New Homes Bonus, further business support had been delivered in Penge for 22 start-up businesses and 24 existing businesses. The start-up businesses had been supported with producing their business plans, and nine new businesses were operating and trading well out of the pop up shop on Penge High Street. The shop was leased until the middle of February 2018 and if the businesses continued to trade well, they may take over the lease themselves. The existing businesses had been provided with support and training which had included food and hygiene audits, food handling training, IT and digital marketing support, business planning and diversification and visual display. ‘Penge Day’ would take place on 26th August 2017 and was a community day to showcase all things local.
Additional business support work had been taking place in Beckenham. Officers had been liaising with businesses to ensure they were kept informed during the major works that were ongoing to improve the town centre. They had been supporting businesses to ensure that they were getting the message out to customers that it was ‘business as usual’ throughout the period of works, and had produced banners, leaflets and press advertising in partnership with the Beckenham Business Association. Future events taking place in Beckenham included ‘Market on the Green’ on 23rd September 2017 and the Beckenham Business Association Business Day on 6th September 2017.
Other events supported by the team had included a ‘Grow Bromley’ event in the Council Chamber in May 2017, and in June 2017 a ‘Table Talk’ event at Metro Bank and a ProActions seminar at The Warren. Future planned events were a ‘Bromley Means Business’ expo on 18th July in the Great Hall, Civic Centre and Successful Mums taster sessions for women returning to work and business starters in September 2017. Mr Colin Hitchins, London Biggin Hill Airport informed members of the Partnership that they would be hosting a ‘Big on Business’ event on 18th August 2017, which was an annual networking event that had over 300 owners, directors and managers due to attend.
RESOLVED that the recent work around Business Improvement Districts and Business Support in the 1st Quarter of 2017/18 be noted.