Minutes:
Ms Marg Mayne, Mytime Active said that the company had been working with partners on key initiatives, including a scheme supporting older people to become more active and participate in social events. Further investment was being made into its leisure centres, with the refurbishment of swimming pool and changing rooms at The Pavilion, Bromley, and an area of the Spa in Beckenham being brought back into to use for rehabilitation.
Mr Michael Humphries, Handelsbanken informed members that the banking industry continued to be buoyant.
Mr Lee Thomas, Fairlight Group said that the letting of serviced office space continued to be going well, and a new 9,000 sq. ft. space would be opening in October 2018. It was suggested that a Town Centre Forum could be established for some ‘blue-sky thinking’, looking forward ten to fifteen years and consider what would be required in town centres.
Reverend Agnita Oyawale, Bromley Town Centre Chaplain informed members that she offered a service to business in Bromley as a ‘listening ear’. She was happy to be of help, and could be contacted via the Facebook page ‘Bromley Town Centre Chaplaincy’.
Mr Alex Henderson, Henderson Biomedical advised members that the manufacturing operation of the company had recently been sold, but the servicing side continued to perform well. The servicing company had now employed some of the manufacturing staff members, and the manufacturing space had been successfully rented. Mr Henderson notified members of a European Union funded initiative called the Building Legacies Fund, to which his company had recently signed up. It offered access to free workshops and business support, and further information could be obtained from https://buildinglegacies.co.uk/.
Mr Chandra Sharma attended the meeting representing the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB). Mr Sharma informed members that part of his role was to provide networking events and lobby Government on behalf of small businesses, and work would continue to support business hubs.
Ms Helen McIntosh FCIPR, South East London Chamber of Commerce informed members that the Chamber, which now covered the London Boroughs of Bexley, Bromley, Greenwich and Lewisham, would be celebrating its 130th anniversary the following year. Members were invited to attend the next Bromley Breakfast Meeting at the Bromley Court Hotel, at which Henrietta Nowne, U+I Group PLC would be presenting an update on the St Mark’s Square development. The latest Masthead publication had recently been dispatched, and Ms McIntosh highlighted a feature on page 8, regarding The Royal Bell acquisition by N. Hillman & Sons.
Ms Sharon Baldwin, Orpington 1st BID Company advised members of recent events that had taken place in the new Market Square. These included a big screen showing the Wimbledon tennis tournament, and a free screening of the film Mamma Mia! The promotion of the film screening had been carried out via social media and 350 tickets had been sold. Residents had requested more of these types of events, which highlighted that the public space was for the whole community. Work had continued with the Bromley Dementia Support Hub during Dementia Action Week, and a number of events had taken place in the town centre helping to raise dementia awareness and make Orpington an inclusive town.
Ms Frances Forrest, Your Bromley BID Company provided members with the Bromley Official Guide, and advised them to contact her if they required additional copies. The Travelodge hotel had recently opened on Elmfield Road, and other stores due to open shortly were Lidl, on the site that previously housed British Home Stores, and Robert Dyas. Members were informed of a three-day film festival that would take place in the Queen’s Gardens during the 16th-18th August 2018. The film screenings would be free, and any money paid to hire deck chairs would be donated to charity.
Mr Richard Piddock, JDM Estate Agents advised members that they were the agents selling the apartments in the St Mark’s Square development. Mr Piddock offered to distribute copies of the Bromley Official Guide to offices in the local area, which could be passed on to clients.
Mr Lee Holland, The Glades reported that it had been a tough year for the retailers, with footfall down 1.7% on the previous year, however there had been an increase in the number of shoppers using the car park. A number of new retailers would be opening very soon, including Jack Wills, Orangetheory Gym and David Clulow Opticians. It was hoped a further four or five retailers would be in location before Christmas. The Plan G initiative, which provided an additional calendar of events, had launched and was going well.
Further issues raised at the meeting by members included: the need to source venues with large spaces for weekly meetings; and Talking Box Events ‘The Big O Vintage Festival’ had taken place on 7th July 2018 in the Priory Gardens, Orpington.
RESOLVED that the updates be noted.