Gloucester BID Launches Countdown to Ballot Campaign

Business support body Gloucester BID launches its campaign to vote yes in the run up to a second term ballot.

BID, which stands for Business Improvement District, is an independent, business-led and funded body. Gloucester BID operates within Gloucester city centre and provides vital services for businesses such as patrolling City Protection Officers, summer planting and key events in the city.

Gloucester BID will ballot its businesses for renewal this June.  The first ballot was in 2017 when business ratepayers voted to invest collectively in local improvements that are in addition to those delivered by Gloucester City Council. Gloucester BID collects an annual levy from 572 hereditaments each of whom pay an annual levy derived from 1.6% of the rateable value of their premises. Every five years, businesses vote to continue the BID for a subsequent term, based on a set of proposals (see below for Business Plan)

Gloucester BID works on behalf of businesses to enable a Safer, Attractive, Supported and Promoted city.  Examples include: flowering and planters; working with a number of key partners such as Gloucester City Safe, Gloucester City Council and the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner to provide award-winning City Protection Officers and funding of several key events including Bright Nights, Tall Ships and the Gloucester Goes Retro Festival.

The Gloucester BID team will be launching its campaign to promote the work it does to make a difference during a ‘pop-up’ at the Cathedral Quarter on Westgate Street from Monday 14-Friday 18 March. Businesses and the public are invited to find out more about improvements and plans for the city.

In July 2017, 83.1% of voting businesses voted yes in the first ballot of Gloucester BID. The ballot has to meet two tests. First, a simple majority of those voting must vote in favour. Second, the aggregate rateable value of the hereditaments of those voting in favour must exceed the aggregate rateable value of the hereditaments of those voting against.

A recent ‘health check’ of Gloucester BID praised its ‘exemplary’ business crime reduction partnership (BCRP) with the Gloucester City Protection Officers and Gloucester City Safe. The British BIDs Health Check report focused on all areas of the BID including: management and operations; financial matters; performance management and communications and reporting.

In particular, the report praised, ‘exemplary quantitative feedback from their crime reduction partnership.’ This recognised how Gloucester BID has worked towards a safer city for those who work, study, visit and shop in Gloucester. From 2017, the BID cooperated with Gloucester City Safe to introduce City Wardens and after universal approbation, it continues to provide funding to support highly visible City Protection officers who patrol the whole BID area.

Along with these positive findings, Gloucester BID has welcomed new members to the 10 strong BID board which is made up of a variety of business owners who make decisions on behalf of the levy payers in the Gloucester district.

Co-Vice Chair Peter White said, ‘I’m very pleased with all we’ve achieved in Gloucester through a very difficult period, and we are now looking to steer Gloucester BID through the ballot campaign to achieve a Yes vote for a second term. We look forward to being part of key investments and exciting plans for the city!’

Gloucester BID Business Plan for a new potential five-year term:

We will deliver Gloucester as a safer, attractive and vibrant, supported and promoted city where all businesses, whether large or small, can develop and thrive. We are committed to being an effective business voice in Gloucester, we will realign our objectives to overcome today’s challenges and deliver for all BID levy payers, whatever sector they are in. We recognise that the past few years have been difficult for our businesses so we will do all this with no increase in the BID levy rate.

Our priorities for the next five years are:

Priority 1: A Safer City – Ensuring our city is considered a safe and welcoming place which is accessible and inviting to all.

We will continue to:

1. Deliver a team of City Protection Officers, in partnership with Gloucester City Council and the Office of the Police Crime and Commissioner, that are the eyes and ears on the street. A reassuring presence for those in the front line of retail crime, anti-social behaviour, and welfare cases.
2. Work in partnership with Gloucester City Safe promoting Gloucester’s Business Crime Reduction Partnership.
3. Deliver and fund in partnership with Gloucester City Council a team of Night Safe Officers who patrol Eastgate Street and the city centre and carry out other core functions, from working with the local taxi companies, door staff, street pastors and medics to targeting hotspots and providing advice if they have incidents.
4. Work in partnership to maintain and develop Gloucester’s Purple Flag Status.
5. Support in partnership the Street Medics.

In the next five years we will also:

1. Ensure that the partnership with the Gloucestershire Police and city partners is strengthened and that topics such as anti-social behaviour, street drinking and aggressive begging are addressed and dealt with.
2. Promote the Best Bar None awards alongside Gloucester City Council management of them.

Priority 2: An Attractive and Vibrant City – Keeping our city centre looking pleasing and clean. Supporting the animation of our city’s spaces through a calendar of footfall driving events.

We will continue to:

1. Install the summer planters and hanging baskets.
2. Maintain the existing wooden planters in partnership with Gloucester City Council
3. Work in partnership with Gloucester City Council to ensure city cleansing and appearance is a priority.
4. Report and support businesses in reporting fly-tipping and graffiti.
5. Partner to deliver footfall driving events to attract visitors, encourage return visitors and promote local businesses by supporting City events such as Gloucester Tall Ships, Gloucester Goes Retro and Bright Nights. Support and deliver in partnership, Gloucester Folk Trail, Gloucester Sea Shanty Festival and Gloucester’s Rhythm and Blues Festival.
6. Support the Evening and Night-time economy with our safer city priorities and various promotions.

In the next five years we will also:

1. Introduce additional hot-spot cleansing that is not delivered by Gloucester City Council. Helping to keep our city centre buildings clean and free of graffiti where and when it crops up
2. Work in partnership to address the up-keep and maintenance of empty units, street furniture and car parks.
3. Work in partnership to maintain wayfinding tools within our city to enhance the visitor experience
4. Support Gloucester Quays and Kings Square events.

Priority 3: A Well Supported and Promoted City – Promoting what goes on in Gloucester and delivering an environment that is compelling for visitors and supportive for local businesses allowing them to thrive is a key focus for us.

We will continue to:

1. Offer the opportunity for all businesses to sign up and accept the Gloucester Gift Card and promote the programme.
2. Offer the opportunity for all BID members to be part of the growing national Mi Rewards app.
3. Promote and amplify local businesses and events in the BID area through all media channels.
4. Work in partnership with Gloucester City Council to offer free parking at Christmas.
5. Work in partnership with Visit Gloucester promoting Gloucester as a destination.

What we will do:

1. Develop footfall and data reporting to members.
2. Work in partnership with Gloucester City Council to deliver a travel and parking initiative.
3. Work in partnership with the University of Gloucestershire to support education and activities in our city.
4. Work in partnership with Visit Gloucester, King’s Walk, Eastgate Shopping Centre, and Gloucester Quays on city wide campaigns.

We want to be more visible, proactive and hands-on our city on a day-to-day basis. We will realign team roles and schedules to ensure that a BID team member is more available for on the ground face-to-face support and advice.