Agenda item - Croydon Business Improvement District (BID)

Cabinet Member: Cabinet Member for Communities, Safety & Business Recovery, Councillor Manju Shahul-Hameed

Officer: Interim Executive Director Place, Sarah Hayward

Key decision: yes

The Leader of the Council delegated authority to the Cabinet to make the following decisions:

RESOLVED: To

1. Agree that on receipt of the Croydon Business Improvement District (BID) agreed proposal for the renewal of the proposed BID activity, the Interim Executive Director for Place in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Communities, Safety & Business Recovery be given delegated authority to:

1.1Consider on behalf of the Council as billing authority, whether the proposal conflicts with any formal adopted policy of the Council and if it does, give notice of this in accordance with the Business Improvement Districts England) Regulations 2004 (“the BID regulations)”;

1.2Determine whether the Council should support the Croydon BID proposal and to vote on its behalf in the BID ballot. If a no vote is proposed, this will be referred to Cabinet for further consideration;

1.3Formally manage the ballot process in accordance with the BID regulations;

1.4That subject to a “yes” vote at ballot:

a. the Council will act as the relevant billing authority and will manage the billing and collection of the additional levy, and its transfer to Croydon BID;

b. the Council meet the Council’s obligations in paying the extra BID levy, as a non–domestic ratepayer in the BID area, in accordance with the BID regulations over the life of the BID

c. the Council enter into key operating agreements with the Croydon BID Company regarding the operation of the BID and the delivery of Council requirements and baselines

The Cabinet Member for Communities, Safety & Business Recovery (Councillor Manju Shahul-Hameed) informed Members that the report set out recommendations to support another term of the Croydon Business Improvement District (BID) in their work to drive economic growth in the town centre. It was noted that the council had supported the work of the BID for 15 years which had seen the local business community interests being put first. The BID had also worked tirelessly during the pandemic to provide additional or improved service for over 500 organisations across the retail, commercial, leisure, hospitality and public sectors.

Members were informed that the council was a key partner and levy payer and would vote in the ballot on the future of the BID. In light of the council’s financial pressures, the Cabinet Member highlighted the financial implications in relation to the renewal of the BID; including the ballot process and the administration of billing and collection of the levy. However, it was noted that there no implications to the council’s revenue budget from those responsibilities as the costs were recharged to the BID.

The Cabinet Member highlighted that the council paid the levy on eight properties at a costs of over £50,000 per annum. However, it was noted that an important relationship with the BID had been developed which had supported town centre businesses throughout covid-19 lockdowns; including the Raise the Bar campaign. The Cabinet Member stressed that the council and the BID would continue to work together, in partnership, following the renewal of the BID to ensure a real difference was made to the town through initiatives and much needed services.

Matthew Simms (Croydon BID Chief Executive) was welcomed to the meeting to present the Croydon BID proposal for 2022 to 2027. It was highlighted that the resilience of the business community had been tested like never before during the preceding 18 months. The pandemic, it was noted, had accelerated levels of change to the local economy, but had enabled greater collaboration with partners to enable the BID to deliver more support to the business community and to make a difference.

Members were informed that in the previous five years, the BID had been central to supporting the business community by delivering:

· 40,000 extra hours of dedicated policing for the town centre;

· 51,000 hours of patrolling by the ranger team since October 2019;

· 1,000 hours of additional dedicated deep cleaning, graffiti and gum removal;

· 197,500 square meters of thoroughfares had been cleaned;

· 24,500 plants had been planted to provide year round colour;

· 6,000 hours of winter lights on the ten main streets;

· 3,000 hours across 380 days of diverse events and activities;

· 100 new pieces of street art; and

· 20,000 business engagement visits.

The Raise the Bar campaign was highlighted by the BID Chief Executive as a national campaign which had led to a change in policy which had unlocked billions of pounds in financial support for businesses when they needed it most which had been possible due to collaboration. He stated that he was grateful for the support the BID had received from councillors, London Assembly Members, Members of Parliament and council officers.

Going forward, Members were informed the BID’s vision was for Croydon to be one of the most vibrant, sustainable, welcoming and culturally diverse locations in South London in which to do business, work, live and visit. It was stated the BID was realistic in terms of the challenges facing the town centre but that it remained optimistic for the future and it would continue to drive forward improvement.

The BID Chief Executive noted that the business plan covered five strategic themes and work would include:

· Putting safety first by working with the Metropolitan Police Service to target business crime. The Ranger team would also be extended to provide assistance and greater visibility;

· Working with the community to tackle the challenge of homelessness;

· Refreshing the streets by providing targeted business cleansing service;

· Transforming neglected areas of the town centre with colour through the installation of planting and delivering activities such as crazy golf and Wimbledon viewing areas; and

· Promoting and marketing Croydon businesses.

As part of the Borough of Culture in 2023, the BID would look to build on the opportunity to champion the interests of the 550 businesses it represented. The BID Chief Executive suggested the organisation was a “one stop shop” for many of its members as it provided communications and championed the economy.

It was noted that Croydon needed certainty in terms of the future of the town centre; as such the BID would work with stakeholders to provide support and attract inward investment. One scheme, Members were informed would be to launch a partnership campaign to reclassify East and West Croydon stations as being in zone four. As part of this, an economic impact assessment would be commissioned. Furthermore, the BID would look to support harnessing the opportunity contained within the borough as it was stated that if there was ever a need for a BID it was then.

The Cabinet Member for Croydon Renewal (Councillor Stuart King) noted that the Croydon BID’s track record was impressive and that he felt that there was a good platform in place for them to build upon should the ballot come back positive. The Cabinet Member felt that the vision set out by the BID was one that was vibrant, sustainable, welcoming and culturally diverse, and one which the council could support. He stated that he was keen to see how the Croydon BID could work with the council to deliver the ambitions of the Borough of Culture.

The Cabinet Member for Culture & Regeneration (Councillor Oliver Lewis) noted that it was good to hear what the Croydon BID had achieved and stated that he felt the BID model was a good example of the council, business communities and other stakeholders working together for the betterment of the town centre. In terms of the Borough of Culture, he stated that he looked forward to working with the BID on a number of initiatives.

In response to the Cabinet Member for Culture & Regeneration’s question, the Cabinet Member for Communities, Safety & Business Recovery stated that Members had heard of the positive impact of the BID and as such would support it going forward, including in the ballot during autumn 2021.

The Cabinet Member for Resources & Financial Governance (Councillor Callton Young) queried what the risks were should the ballot not return a yes vote. In response, the Croydon BID Chief Executive stated that a 50% yes vote was required and should that not be achieved then Croydon would lost £4.5 million of investment. Additionally all of the services and initiatives which had been put in place, such as street cleaning, planting, patrols and championing of the local economy would cease.

The Shadow Cabinet Member for Communities, Safety & Business Recovery (Councillor Andy Stranack) wished the Croydon BID luck in the ballot and thanked the BID Chief Executive for his time, vision and work in the borough.