Agenda item

PRESENTATION - PENGE AND BECKENHAM BID

Minutes:

The update on the Beckenham and Penge BID was provided by Zoe Brown (Beckenham and Penge BID Manager). 

 

Ms Brown informed the Committee that her office was based near the Tesco Superstore at Elmers End. Members were informed that the operational agreement for the Penge and Beckenham Bid was signed in August 2018. The levy for the Beckenham BID was £940k, whilst for the Penge BID it was £600k. Ms Brown was developing her relationships with business owners and with volunteers, and had been heavily involved in the Christmas preparations that had taken place in Beckenham. The Penge Traders Association had merged with Penge SE20 BID.

 

Some residents and local businesses had been under the impression that the Beckenham scheme was being funded and administered by the Beckenham BID, whereas in fact the scheme was primarily funded by TfL, with some additional funding from the Council. ‘Beckenham Together’ had held an open meeting for BID levy payers; those who attended were informed that the TfL roadworks were in no way related to the BID.  Ms Brown explained that she worked 2.5 days each week on each BID.

 

‘Shop Safe’ was being launched in Penge on Thursday 14th March. The scheme helped to make the business owners feel safer, and when it was launched—fifteen business owners had signed up. The Beckenham BID now had its own website. Penge SE20 BID had its own section on the Penge SE20 website.

 

As part of the work of the Beckenham Town Centre Working Group, an accessibility audit had been undertaken in Beckenham. As a result of the audit, many businesses became more aware of the needs of disabled shoppers and started using ramps for wheelchairs—when they did this they were provided with a sticker to put in their shop window.

 

Advice had been provided to businesses regarding business rate relief. In Beckenham. An application was being submitted to retain Purple Flag status. Strategy days were being planned for both BIDS.

 

A Member stated that in Biggin Hill the local businesses settled on using a Whats App Group rather than ‘Shop Safe’ to save money. Ms Brown responded that the businesses in Penge preferred to use ‘Shop Safe’ as they could communicate with each other, and because the system linked into local CCTV. They felt that the cost involved was not significant compared to the security benefits that were provided.

 

The Chairman enquired if the businesses were seeking a new direction or if they just wanted to progress with additional marketing. Ms Brown responded that this was the idea of the proposed ‘Strategy Days’—so that these issues could be discussed. It was not easy to arrange these days as most businesses were focussing on making a living.

 

Ms Brown commented that plans would be determined by what resources became available through the BID Board, and by what funding streams could be accessed. She expressed the view that plans and strategies would be easier to develop in Penge than Beckenham. This was because Penge High Street was a long straight road, whereas Beckenham was divided into three distinct areas that were not particularly well linked. 

 

The Chairman thanked Ms Brown for attending and for her informative update.

 

RESOLVED that the Beckenham and Penge update is noted.