7th December 2012

The Future of Canterbury City Centre

Where is the UK now?

Towns are complicated…

Town Centre

Retail

Culture

Residents

Public Services

Leisure & Entertainment

Private Services

Commercial & Industrial

Education

With many different users…

Public funding

• National finances are an on-going challenge: Public expenditure as a % of GDP:

• And Council expenditure is also diminishing…

2000/2001 2011/2012 2016/201735% 42.1% 36.5%

2010/2011 2011/2012 2012/2013£22.5m £19.8m (-12%) £18.7m (-13%)

The challenge for local communities

“…the involvement of local business people in the governance of their communities has dwindled, and their energy and innovation has been lost. The local economic leadership that drove the UK to the forefront of the world economy has disappeared.” (Lord Heseltine 2012)

Mary Portas

Canterbury City Partnership• £75k income• Members & Sponsors = 15% businesses in the City Centre• Achievements:

– Business support: Startmybiz with C4B– Sectors: Leaders Lunches, Retail Conference– Planning: responses to consultation– Ready to Trade: Bloom, Big Clean, High St traffic survey, Purple

Flag, Late Night parking– Footfall: Festival Parade, F&D Festival, Destination Mgt. Plan– People & Skills: Apprentices, internships, GEW, Emp. Points

Scheme

Background on BIDs• Legislation 2004• Originates in USA• 157 successful ballots since then incl a number of 2nd

ballots. In the last 12 months: Guildford, Chichester, Cambridge, Norwich, Durham

• 33 unsuccessful ballots incl 2 in Maidstone• No town centre BIDs in Kent• Discussion emerging about potential of Tourism BIDs

(TBIDs) & Super BIDs

How do they work?• First stage is extensive consultation• Agree geographic area by street• Agree proposed levy: 1 – 3% of RV• Agree cut off point by RV: no levy below £20k?• Create a ‘Proposal’ to put to the vote (binding)• Adhere to timings set by Government• Set a date for a ballot: need a majority by number

and rateable value of those voting

What do successful BIDs do?• Winchester: BID Levy 1.5%: £566k in 12/13• Premises, admin and staff costs: £175k• BID Project costs: £424k including:• Street cleansing: £35k• PCSOs: £65k• Marketing £80k• Christmas lights and festival: £55k• Floral display: £40k• Pub & Shop watch: £16k• Footfall cameras and KPIs: £15k• City & Evening economy events: £16k• We are visiting on 18th December

What does it cost businesses?

• Winchester: 700 business• Rateable value: £36.3m• 13/14 levy: £538k (1.5%)• Average £655 pa per business• Mean £266 pa or less (half paying this or less)

Canterbury

BID Rateable Scenario's

Number of rateable businesses

% of rateable businesses Total Rates Paid 1% levy

> £5,000 711 92.58% £41,048,850.00 £410,488.50

> £10,000 567 73.83% £39,971,200.00 £399,712.00

> £15,000 460 59.90% £38,990,450.00 £389,904.50

> £20,000 386 50.26% £37,625,000.00 £376,250.00

Issues in Canterbury

• Westgate Towers Traffic scheme: created a protest culture; mistrust of CCP?

• Whitefriars Service Charge Payers: why pay more?• Strong presence of national chains who are anti: BhS

etc.

Potential timeframe• November: autumn Conference: ‘Your city, your Future, Your

Say’ consultation• December: develop Build a BID workshops• Jan – April 13: run 15 – 20 Workshops with local business

people by street• May: BID Conference• June – August develop Proposal & Business Plan• September: present Proposal and call Ballot• October: hold ballot• January 14: (if successful) launch BID

Questions