Campaigners push Liverpool BID proposal

Business support organisation, Professional Liverpool, is holding a breakfast briefing to promote the yes campaign for the Business Improvement District vote.

Garry Banks, a director of Ove Arup & Partners and a member of the board of Liverpool Commercial Business District, will explain the background behind the proposed Business Improvement District at The Red Rooms, The Plaza, 100 Old Hall Street, Liverpool on Wednesday 18 May at 8.00am.

A spokesman for Professional Liverpool said: "Liverpool's Commercial District has witnessed impressive growth over the last five years largely due to the additional services and raised profile provided by the Liverpool Commercial Business District Partnership. A new model is now needed to increase funding, build upon our achievements and safeguard the future growth and prosperity of the district.

"This free presentation will provide some background to the BIDs, set the context for the Commercial District, and also outline the process, timescales and key objectives of the business plan. It will allow you to access vital information, express your views and hear those of fellow businesses."

More than 800 ratepayers will be balloted on the BID proposal, Liverpool's second after one for the main retail area, which seeks to raise more than £600,000 a year for enhanced marketing, maintenance and physical improvements through a levy equivalent to 1% of rateable value.

A majority yes vote is required to bring a BID into force. The ballot opened on Friday 29 April and will close on 27 May, with a final decision expected three days later.

The proposed new BID area would be bounded by Leeds Street in the north and James Street in the south and run from west-east from The Strand to Pall Mall, mirroring the boundaries currently controlled by Liverpool CDP.

  • To book your free place, please RSVP to trisha@professionaliverpool.com

Your Comments

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The Business Improvement District is not necessary in these times of austerity. Their achievements to date are insignificant and have only served to provide an unwanted layer of do gooders in a city full of do gooders and not enough achievers.

By Sense

I agree. What is the actual benefit of the commercial business partnership? Surely all the landlords are not wanting to provide significan imput at this stage of the property cycle?

By Paul

Is Mark Chadwick still involved????

By Stuart

This article is slightly misleading in one respect. The statement that the proposed new BID area mirrors the boundaries currently controlled by the Liverpool CDP is incorrect. The CDP area does not extend beyond Chapel Street. The BID promoters have extended the area to the South West to James Street. This extended area contains many older buildings which do not have the same ‘occupier appeal’ as many in the CDP area. Ratepayers in the extended area have to be confident that the levy they will pay will benefit the entire area and not be concentrated on the former CDP area.

By Paul

@ Sense – you clearly have no knowledge of what the BID will do as set out, and is therefore legally binding, in its Business Plan. Which of the CDP’s achievements are insignificant? Replacing all the street lighting in the area or ensuring that – in the face of reduced budgets and political pressure to redirect the money elsewhere – millions of pounds have been spent to upgrade the public realm in Dale St, Old Hall St & Castle St, perhaps? It is in such austere times that BIDs are even more necessary as they give business the autonomy to ensure the money is spent on what is really needed, not what the pubic sector thinks is needed.

 

@Paul – major landlords such as Downing, Bruntwood, English Cities Fund & UK Land & Property have been amongst the biggest champions of the BID as they take the view that an improved physical & business environment can only benefit their investment in the medium to long term. I may be justifiably accused of many things, but our record over the past 5 years with the CDP has clearly demonstrated we fall very heavily on the achiever rather than do-gooder side of the things

@ Stuart – Mark Chadwick has never been involved in the CDP or the BID. He was employed by Professional Liverpool but was made redundant when NWDA removed substantial funding from that organisation. Professional Liverpool support the BID and hence have organised this event to support the yes campaign as per the article.

@ Paul – the CDP boundary was actually extended over a year ago & we have made numerous interventions since then in terms of street management, ensuring the public realm improvement works went ahead in Castle St & Dale St, liaising with businesses & contractors to minimise disruption, etc. Over the past few months we have also ensured we have consulted with businesses in the wider area to identify priorities and potential initiatives at a micro level – hence the support we have now been assured from the likes of Weightmans, CBRE, Medicash & Falconer Chester Hall. If anybody wants to discuss the BID further before the ballot closes, please do not hesitate to email me at paul.rice@liverpoolcdp.com or call me on 0151 600 2984. Paul Rice Chief Executive Liverpool CDP

By Paul Rice

Yep I agree with Paul – “Sense” you are so way off the mark. As a resident and business owner in the BID I can only see significant improvements in the area – won by the BID. your comments begger belief in its stupidity. There is only one thing worse than a “do gooder” and that’s a “do nothing’er”. and I suspect you are the worse kind of those.

By BID Resident

Liverpool BID may be 100% productive and positive (however I doubt it) but there are so many "publicly" funded bodies that add layers of cost. I would not be surprised that for every £1 spent on actual "product" – the lighting and public realm, then a further £2 was spent on expensive consultants and "public sector professionals", and sadly I expect this is no different…

By WW

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