GLOUCESTER BID SECOND TERM
Gloucester BID aims to build on its success in delivering a safer, attractive and supported city for a new potential five-year term. Here we share with you an outline of the priorities for the Business Plan for 2022-2027.
View & Download our Second Term Business Plan below
Gloucester BID is making a difference
We will continue to deliver our support to Gloucester to make it a safer, attractive and vibrant, supported 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 section 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.
Without Gloucester BID, we wouldn’t have:
- The Gloucester City Protection Officers and Night Safe Officers.
- Key events such as Folk Trail, Blues Festival and Shanty Festival along with funding of Gloucester Goes Retro and Gloucester Tall Ships.
- Additional City Cleansing.
- Summer planting and flowers.
- Gloucester Gift Card and MiRewards.
- Business networking, marketing and support.
- Dedicated city-based team.
SAFER CITY
Ensuring our city is considered a safe and welcoming place with is accessible and inviting to all.
We will continue to:
- Deliver a team of City Protection Officers with our partners at Gloucester City Safe, Gloucester City Council and the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner.
- Deliver and fund in partnership with Gloucester City Council, a team of Night Safe Officers who patrol Eastgate Street and the city centre.
- Work in partnership to maintain and develop Gloucester’s Purple Flag status.
In the next five years we will also:
- 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.
- Promote the Best Bar None awards alongside Gloucester City Council’s management of them.
- Support in partnership the Street Medics.
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:
- Install the summer planters and hanging baskets.
- Maintain the existing wooden planters in partnership with Gloucester City Council.
- Work in partnership with Gloucester City Council to ensure city cleansing and appearance is a priority.
- Report and support businesses in reporting fly-tipping and graffiti.
- Partner to deliver footfall driving events to attract visitors, encourage return visitors and promote local businesses in supporting city events.
- Support the evening and night-time economy with our safer city priorities and various promotions.
In the next five years we will also:
- Introduce an 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.
- We will also work in partnership to address the upkeep and maintenance of empty units, street furniture and car parks.
- Work in partnership to maintain wayfinding tools within our city to enhance the visitor experience and support Gloucester Quays and King’s Square events.
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 endevour to keep supporting our members, listening and engaging with businesses and work as a voice for the businesses.
We will continue to:
- Offer the opportunity for all businesses to sign up and accept the Gloucester Gift Card and promote the programme.
- Offer the opportunity for all BID members to be part of the growing national Mi Rewards app.
- Promote and amplify local businesses and events in the BID area through all media channels.
- Work in partnership with Gloucester City Council to offer free parking at Christmas.
- Work in partnership with Visit Gloucester promoting Gloucester as a destination.
- Act as a voice for businesses.
- Hold regular networking opportunities.
In the next five years we will also:
- Develop footfall and data reporting to members.
- Work in partnership with Gloucester City Council to deliver a travel and parking initiative.
- Work in partnership with the University of Gloucestershire and Gloucestershire College to support education and activities in our city.
- 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 in our city on a day-to-day basis. We will realign our team roles and schedules to ensure that a BID team member is more available for on the ground face-to-face support and advice.
 Meet the BID Board
CLICK HERE
Gloucester BID is making a difference
We will continue to deliver our support to Gloucester to make it a safer, attractive and vibrant, supported 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 section 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.
UPDATES
What is a BID?
Wondering what a BID is and what it does? There are over 330 Business Improvement Districts (BIDs) in the UK. They are business-led and business funded bodies which are formed to make improvements to a defined commercial area. BIDs were first formed in the US and...
What is a BID?
A BID (Business Improvement District) is a not-for-profit organisation funded by and working for levy paying businesses within a defined area of a town or city centre. There are now over 320 BIDs operating in the UK.Â
The BID is an independent organisation, working for the collective benefit of businesses in the area. BIDs provide additional services to the area and should not be confused with local authorities who provide statutory services.
Who funds Gloucester BID?
The BID is funded by businesses occupying a property with a rateable value of £10,000 or more in the BID’s defined operating area in the city centre.
Businesses pay into the BID through an annual levy and these funds are spent on delivery improvements to the city in line with the BID’s business plan. Gloucester BID collects on average £410,000 each year.
Why does the BID have to hold a renewal ballot?
Under BID legislation, all BIDs are required to hold a renewal ballot every 5 years, giving businesses the opportunity to vote is they would like their town or city to become or continue to be a Business Improvement District.
What determines a successful ballot?
In order for Gloucester BID to continue operating for a second term the ballot need to be successful on two counts:Â Â
- 51% of businesses who vote must vote yes.
- Of the businesses who vote in favour, their combined rateable value must exceed the combined rateable value of the businesses who vote no.
What happens if the BID ballot fails?
If businesses do not vote to keep Gloucester BID, the BID company will cease to exist on 30th September 2022. The BID’s projects, services and events and event support will stop. Gloucester will lose over £2 million of investment over the next 5 years.
Who will carry out the BID's services, projects and events if the BID isn't renewed?
No one. There is no alternative organisation to Gloucester BID.
If I vote no in the ballot, do I still have to pay the BID levy?
If the ballot is successful, all businesses within the defined operating area will be requires to pay the annual levy regardless of whether they voted for or against the BID, or indeed abstained.
How much do I have to pay?
The BID is proposing to reduce the levy multiplier to 1.5% of rateable value on businesses occupying a property with a rateable value of £10,000 or above.
Is my business in the BID area?
You can view Gloucester BID’s area at the top of this page https://www.gloucesterbid.uk/second-term/
Why is the BID reducing the operating area?
The majority of the alterations are to remove residential areas from the operating area, who are not levy payers.
Who governs the BID?
Gloucester BID is governed by a Board of voluntary Directors, all of whom are levy paying businesses or organisations within the city. The Board is currently Chaired by Kieron Bates
(Landlord of The Fountain Inn). The Board is responsible for the strategic and financial management of the BID. You can view the Board here: https://www.gloucesterbid.uk/second-term/
Who delivers the BID's initiatives?
The BID employs small team who are responsible for the day-to-day management of the BID and delivery of project, services and events. View the BID team here: https://www.gloucesterbid.uk/second-term/
