Lorraine McQuillan, LBB Town Centre Manager gave an update on Business Improvement Districts and Business Support in Quarter 3, 2018/19.

The London Borough of Bromley now had four BID areas, and a feasibility study was currently being undertaken with regards to the possibility of establishing a BID in West Wickham. The report was due to be completed by the first week of February 2019, and an update would be provided to the next meeting of the Bromley Economic Partnership.

Business support events that were planned included Successful Mums taster sessions on the 12^th and 26^th February 2019, to support mums, dads and carers in returning to work after a break, or considering setting up their own business. Further dates for business support events would be confirmed shortly. A review of the business pages on the Council’s website and the format and style of the Bromley Business e-bulletin would be undertaken, and would include information on the town centre development work.

Work was also continuing on the Local Parades Initiative, which had received further applications, and had funded lights along Chatterton Road and a tree in Eden Park over the Christmas period.

Ms Frances Forrest, Your Bromley BID Company advised members that it had funded Operation Gemini, which had provided extra security in the town centre over the Christmas period, giving businesses additional reassurance. It was intended that this would be replicated over the February half term, which usually saw a spike in shoplifting and anti-social behaviour, and an area of focus would be rough sleeping and aggressive begging in the town centre.

From March 2019, Your Bromley would be introducing a service of cost-reducing analysis, which would measure a business’ use of things such as electricity, water, gas, phones and credit card machines, and suggest alternative suppliers.

Events taking place included an inter-business bowling competition at the Pavilion Leisure Centre on Tuesday 29^th January 2019. Health and Wellbeing week would be taking place in February, during which there would be various offers, and a guide to highlight and promote ways to help people make long-term changes.

Ms Sharon Baldwin, Orpington 1^st BID Company informed members that footfall had been good in the town centre over the Christmas period, up 4.6% in November 2018, compared to a national average of -4.5%, and up 0.2% in December 2018, compared to a national average of -2.9%.

Events and the branding of the town had been successful in terms of the attendance and structure, and had been extended with the Santa Dash. This had been in collaboration with Mytime Active, and had seen the number of participants increase, which meant that the town centre could retain the event in 2019.

Orpington's Finest Awards 2019 had been launched, and were open for entries until the end of January. The winners would be announced at the Gala Awards Evening on Thursday 28^th March 2019.

New events would be taking place in the town centre across the year, including ‘Enchanted’ which was delivered by Bla Bla Productions, and had been extended to become an arts programme over a three month period. The role of the BID during its second term was to increase inward investment, and put in place a co-ordinated plan for mixed use schemes. It was important to ensure that the services provided are those that were needed and, as a modern town centre, could include car clubs, cycling and improving the attractiveness of the landscaping.

A member highlighted that parking was a challenge in Bromley town centre and advised that before Christmas, Merton Council had trialled free parking in the town centre car parks. As a result, there had been a huge uplift in footfall and sales in the shopping centre. The Chairman responded that this idea had been discussed previously, but the need was for more parking spaces to be provided, as the town centre car parks had all been full in the run-up to Christmas. As part of the town centre improvements, the Council was looking at the possible redevelopment of The Hill car park, to provide better parking space and lighting, and there had previously been discussions about adding an additional floor to the Civic Centre car park.

Another member noted that the Council had previously implemented a ‘Park and Ride’ service into the town centre over the Christmas period, and enquired whether this could happen again in an attempt to stop the roads from being gridlocked. The Chairman responded that this had been trialled around twelve years ago, and feedback had been that the ‘Park and Ride’ service had not been well used. The Chairman agreed that he would raise the issue, and see if it could be considered again.

RESOLVED that the recent work around the Business Improvement Districts and Business Support in the 3^rd quarter of 2018/19 be noted.