Agenda item

Following the recommendation of this committee in July 2016, the committee is requested to consider the level of support provided by this Council to Chichester Business Improvement District, to review the initiatives undertaken to better deliver our joint objectives, and to make any recommendations to Cabinet.

The committee considered the report circulated with the agenda (copy attached to the official minutes).

Mr S Oates presented the report. Mr C Hicks, Chair of the BID, gave a brief overview of the BID’s position in relation to the Vision, the development of Visit Chichester and working with the Chamber of Commerce to provide assistance to businesses and with Chichester Businesses Against Crime (ChiBAC). The BID had moved away from areas where it has no responsibility such as planning and highways issues, and wishes to work more with local authorities to ensure that the city centre is kept ‘current’.

Summary of responses to Members’ questions and comments:

·         150,000 maps are printed twice a year. The BID is working with a centre for adults with learning difficulties to enable the map dispensers to be filled regularly. Businesses are signed up to sponsor the printing of the map. The BID is working with the Rotary Club’s network of volunteers to put in place city welcoming.

·         Chichester has depended on ‘supply’ for a long time and it needs to become more ‘demand’ focused now. The profile of Chichester has changed since the crash in 2008. The challenge is how the city can be promoted to become more well-known so we develop the ‘demand’.

·         There is a desire to bring licensing under one roof as a one stop shop to enable all those involved with licensing issues in one forum. 

·         The length of planning and highways processes is one of the biggest problems BID levy payers have.

·         The BID would like to have better communication with the Council and vice versa. There is good synergy around the city at present with all three councils but there are other organisations the BID would like to be talking to. The BID was not at the table when considering the A27 and Mr Hicks welcomed being part of any future consultation on the A27, the Local Plan and the Southern Gateway.

·         Business incubation units – The Enterprise Gateway is not in the city, however there are start-up units in Drapers Yard in the Hornet. The BID is working with the Chamber of Commerce who have a much wider remit. There has been a problem with closure of some of the retail sites in the city centre where incubation areas have been lost. There is a proposal at present in Crane Street to divide up a large office space into smaller ones.

·         25% of the BID’s members are Business to Business (B2B) activities – businesses selling to businesses (rather than consumers) and would like to get access to other businesses therefore the BID needs a different focus here.

·         The footfall decrease in the city of 30% (nationally 20%) is due to a number of issues - closure of summer festivities in 2012; no shelter when it rains; increased online shopping (nationally 18%). However in comparison to others Chichester is not doing badly. The vacancy rate for shops is 4% (national average 9%). There are 107 major chains and 353 independent businesses in Chichester. The city is offering heritage, culture, learning, discovery, wellbeing and meeting places. We have a large number of self-employed people in the city so there is a good entrepreneurial spirit.

·         Chichester’s transport problems need to be resolved – particularly access to the city from London and from the north of the district.

RESOLVED

1)          That the support currently provided by the Council to Chichester BID to deliver joint objectives be noted.

2)          That regular briefing and updates on issues which the BID wishes to promote are provided to members in the monthly Members’ Bulletin for information.

RECOMMEND TO CABINET

3)          That the Council carry out early consultation with the BID in relation to proposals which affect the city such as transport issues, Local Plan development and Southern Gateway.