City centre set for £4 million boost as BID proposals are voted in

York will now have additional resources of £800,000 each year for the next five years to be spent on a number of initiatives aimed at improving the business environment within the city centre.

After a year-long consultation, and a month-long ballot, the results were announced yesterday at Thor’s Tipi Bar, part of the St Nicholas Fair, and revealed a 42 per cent turnout, with 76 per cent voting in favour of establishing a Business Improvement District (BID) for York.

Around 1,070 businesses, with a rateable value of more than £12,500, were balloted, with all now set to pay a levy on their business rates, the equivalent of one per cent of their rateable value, whether they voted or not.

The York BID team will now begin work on setting up the company, recruiting a BID director and preparing to start delivering services from next April, when the first round of money will be collected.

Adam Sinclair, York BID chairman, and managing director of Mulberry Hall, said: "I am delighted so many businesses and professions have voted to back our proposal.

"This gives the York BID a clear mandate to make improvements to York city centre over the next five years.

"We will now respond to our members and focus on street cleaning, rubbish collection, safety, the public realm, car parking, Christmas lights, street events and the evening economy.

"York city centre is ambitious but needs to inspire and satisfy its marketplace and thereby attract fresh investment."

The BID has been promoted as a new means of attracting big-name brand retailers and new independents to York as well as attracting more professional and financial employers to locate in the city centre, marketing the city to visitors and residents, and in turn increase footfall, dwell time and spend.

The promise from those behind BID proposal also includes improving the centre’s appearance and environment, enhancing the city’s festivals and events, and the development of an early-evening economy.

The BID will be business-led but has the backing of City of York Council and York’s new destination management organisation Make it York.

City council leader, Cllr Chris Steward, said: "I am delighted that businesses have voted for a BID for York. We know this will bring many benefits to improving the quality of our city centre.

"I look forward to working with the BID company to ensure the centre of York continues to be a successful place to do business. Inevitably there were some businesses that did not vote for the proposals as they were understandably concerned about an additional cost. I am particularly focused on showing them the money will be a great investment."

Steve Brown, managing director of Make it York, added: "Make It York is delighted that the BID has got the green light.  We will work tirelessly to ensure that Make It York and the BID complement each other and work as a really close partnership.

"It is a fabulous opportunity to further develop the York experience for both residents and visitors.

The BID team published its business plan  ahead of the vote, which was the culmination of almost a year-long project starting with a comprehensive feasibility phase, undertaken from October 2014 to May 2015.

The initial consultation involved more than 100 businesses, through a series of presentations and workshops, individual meetings and a business survey.

In May the consultation was extended with a high-profile launch at the offices of Aviva attended by more than 50 key stakeholders in the city.

Consultation continued with a series of BID drop-in events at different locations in the city, talks to business support groups, and scores of individual meetings.

The views raised during the consultation was what shaped the proposals put forward in the business plan.

THE "YES" vote for the BID comes just over a year after the idea to introduce one in York was first mooted in the city.

The promise from those behind BID proposal has always included improving the centre’s appearance and environment, enhancing the city’s festivals and events, and the development of an early-evening economy.

The BID team will also work in partnership to improve safety and reduce crime, as well as provide business support and development, and create a strong leadership voice to lobby on issues such as parking and transport.

York BID's business plan focuses on the four key areas; Appearance and Environment, Safe and Secure, Events and Festivals, and Business Support.

Among the action points stated in the business plan, under Appearance and Environment, are plans to:

- “Provide an enhanced street cleaning service. This would include deep cleansing, extra litter collections, rapid response and graffiti removal, in addition to the service provided by the city council.

- "Improve ease of navigation around the city with the use of consistent, visible and appropriate signage for all areas.

- "Add to and enhance floral displays and street art."

In the Safe and Secure section of the plan, there are, among others, promises to:

- "Appoint a team of ambassadors and volunteers (initially on Saturdays) to welcome visitors, report any environmental or safety issues that damage our city’s appeal."

- "Work closely with North Yorkshire Police and the Safer York partnership on a range of issues, especially around excessive drinking, begging and unlicensed or intimidating street trading."

In the third area of Events and Festivals, among the proposals are:

- "To work with partners to further develop York city centre as a pre-Christmas tourist and shopping destination. This will include a spectacular and expanded Christmas lights display which we would seek to extend beyond its existing boundaries and develop over the five years of the BID."

- "To develop the early evening economy by encouraging more late-night shopping (on certain nights or at certain times of the year), open-air entertainment and cultural events aimed at encouraging visitors and people leaving work to spend more of their leisure time in the city centre."

While finally, in terms of Business Support the BID plans to:

- "Seek to address concerns over transport and parking. Meaningful talks have already been held with City of York Council with a view to the introduction of pay on exit at its major car parks. ”

- "Work with businesses and other partners to develop new ways of coordinating the collection and recycling of trade waste."

BUSINESSES and organisations have reacted positively to news that a Business Improvement District is to be created in the city.
Frank Wood, chairman of the York Retail Forum, pictured above, said: "This demonstrates that York businesses are prepared to work together. A 76 per cent vote in favour is a massive yes vote.
"It will show York working to improve itself which will be attractive to businesses looking to invest and relocate.
"It was vital that York got this, with surrounding cities of Leeds, Sheffield and Newcastle all having BIDs, we would have been left behind. We need to make sure this city is as fantastic as it can be."
Nick Brown, managing director of Browns department store, said it had voted in favour, but said it was essential the money was not squandered and was used "pro-actively and imaginatively to keep the city centre’s reinvigoration going – hopefully with some match funding from the local authority".
Neil Settersfield, manager at Fenwick in York, said: "We are thrilled. The big thing for me is to see the creation of a city centre that is open for business at 9am, and developing an early evening economy."
Colin Crawford, business finance manager at Aviva, said: "Aviva has been a strong supporter for the BID. We have experience of working with a BID in Norwich, which has been very positive.
"We are very optimistic it will be the same here in York, bringing improved prosperity, and general quality of life, which for a big employer like Aviva is great to have in a city where we operate."
People were also reacting to the news on social media.
The team at Pairings Wine Bar in Castlegate, said: "Amazing news on the YES vote @theyorkbid We'll be celebrating with a glass of something delicious."
York Minster's twitter account said: "Fabulous news from @theyorkbid - well done on the YES vote!"
The team behind Leeds BID tweeted to say: "Congratulations to our friends @theyorkbid - It’s amazing news, not just for York but also for the northern powerhouse of Yorkshire!"