Future Focus – Paul Fielding – Future member and BID Director

Birmingham Future’s growing influence on important matters that affect us all in the city has been demonstrated once again by the announcement that we have been given a Stakeholders seat on the Board of Directors of the Colmore BID. Paul Fielding, of Brewin Dolphin and current chair of the Events Committee, has been appointed as that future representative. He gives below his answers to some questions that our members may have about the BID.

What is the Colmore BID?

The BID is a ring fenced, not-for-profit, company that is financed by other firms in the area agreeing to pay a fixed levy over the five years of the BID. This financing was agreed in a recent vote where 50% of those companies voted and a large majority agreed in favour of a small surcharge based on their rateable value. The BID company will use this money to improve the district by working alongside the council but never duplicating or replacing existing services.

Why is the BID needed?

The Colmore Business District provides visitors to Birmingham with a wealth of top class national and globally renowned business from many different professional sectors. These sectors include Accountants, Lawyers, Property specialists, Financial companies such as Banks and Investment Managers, PR companies and many others.

The BID is therefore needed for a number of reasons which include:

- Further improving the area’s identity,

- improving the look of the area by making it cleaner, greener and more attractive,

- improving transportation in and around the area

- making the area more safe and welcoming.

By tackling important matters such as these we can help to further enhance the area’s reputation as a prestigious place to do business not only nationally but also internationally.

How will this be achieved?

The BID board will shortly appoint a BID Manager who will work alongside the Board. The Board will determine this individual’s role but it is likely to include matters such as liaising with the council, police and transport companies, managing a team of Street Wardens, helping to brand the area, arranging for events, extra cleaning and organising more floral arrangements etc…

Why is it important that Birmingham Future is involved?

Birmingham Future is one of the main voices of the young professional in the city and one of its aims is to try and ensure that the top young talent want to stay in the city. Birmingham Future can therefore help to achieve this by having a say in matters such as the BID. Hopefully our involvement in this company will see that collectively we are helping to influence major decisions that are made in the city.

How will Young Professional’s be able to have their say?

If there are any matters that you feel need to be addressed please feel free to get in touch with me or any member of the leadership team and I will ensure that your thoughts and ideas are relayed to the rest of the Board. If you would like my contact details please contact the office and they will send them on to you.

The Colmore Business Improvement District is go go go…

The Colmore BID is being led by Birmingham Forward and Birmingham Future, supported by Birmingham City Centre Partnership and was launched last week at an event hosted by PwC.

The BID Prospectus lists the ten BID pledges, details the key actions that will be undertaken, provides a detailed breakdown of the first year’s budget and explains the voting process for early 2009.

The Colmore Business District is Birmingham’s premier concentration of professional and business service firms and home to some 500 companies that employ almost 24,000 people. The area welcomes many of the city’s business visitors and is due to play a major role in the development of the city centre as detailed in the Big City Plan.

This is the first UK BID with such a high concentration of commercial occupants at over 90%.

A part of the BID’s key pledges is a promise to promote a clear identity for the district and to deliver a high quality and user friendly “streetscape.” Also contained within the prospectus are pledges to make the area safer and cleaner. It is also hoped that the BID will bring a collective voice for the business community within the area and opportunities to network and engage with neighbours.

Within the specific actions detailed by the BID is the recruitment, during the first year, of a team of “street wardens” to provide both meet and greet in addition to safety and security services to staff and visitors alike. There is also a commitment to improve safety with upgraded lighting and other physical improvements and to initiate a range of street and IT based signage and information media.

The BID will be financed by an annual levy being collected by Birmingham City Council. All business sectors will be included and a 1% levy of rateable value will be charged on all properties with a rateable value in excess of £10,000 per annum. The largest occupiers in the district will have their contributions capped.

As part of the prospectus the BID team presented the first year’s spending priorities from an anticipated budget of £680,000. Of this £170,000 (25%) will be allocated to improving the streetscape and public realm environment including the commissioning of sculpture, greening, floral displays and festive lighting.

£160,000 (23.5%) will be set aside to finance the full time uniformed street wardens.

£40,000 (5.9%) will be allocated for the BID caretaker service to ensure maintenance and cleaning is kept up to standard.

At the launch, the team confirmed the BID Ballot timetable.  The Ballot will be conducted by Independent Scrutineer, Electoral Reform Services.

• January 9^th 2009 – Notification of the ballot will be sent out to all those businesses eligible to vote.

• January 19^th 2009 – Ballot papers will be dispatched

• February 27^th 2009 – Ballot will close at 5 pm

• March 2nd 2009 – The result will be announced and if it is in favour, the BID will formally be established for a five year term on April 1^st.

 A not-for-profit company will be formed to run the activities of the BID with a voluntary Board made up of representatives from different sectors of the business community taken from firms situated within the BID area and from other strategic partners. The BID will be run by a dedicated manager and a small support team based in the BID area.

Commenting on the launch of the BID Prospectus, Gary Cardin said; “This is a very exciting initiative for one of the city’s most prestigious business areas. If the BID is successful we will, through the BID company and by working with partners such as Birmingham City Council and West Midlands Police, change dramatically the environment and atmosphere of the Colmore Business District.  During the five year term of the BID we are able to invest just under £3.5 million pounds into this important area of the city centre that will significantly improve the landscape for the firms and their staff who work here and also provide a more welcoming and pleasant place for our visitors.”

The ten Colmore Business District BID pledges:

·       Promote a clear identity and profile for the District and the businesses within it.

·       Deliver a high quality and user friendly ‘streetscape’ throughout the District.

·       Achieve enhanced environmental cleaning and maintenance standards.

·       Provide a safe and welcoming business environment.

·       Improve the District’s accessibility and wider city centre connections.

·       Promote local business networking and community  engagement.

·       Operate as an effective business led ‘voice’ with the resources to make things happen.

·       Engage with and support businesses

·       Deliver visible improvements and get things done – it will not be a talking shop.

·       Deliver projects and services that are additional to those provided by Birmingham City Council and others.