International Precinct Management: UK Case Study

Catherine Mitton, Executive Director

The BID Foundation & Institute of Place Management

@Cat_Mitton | @BIDFoundationUK | @PlaceManagement

Presentation Outline

1 Development of BIDs in the UK2 Defining the urban/precinct management concept3 Best practice in UK BIDs4 Fundamental issues facing UK BIDs5 Establishment of The BID Foundation

1.Development of BIDs in the UK

Sources of Information

• Institute of Place Management, 2019, A state-of-the-art review of Business Improvement Districts: Setting the agenda for policy, practice and research, Manchester Metropolitan University: Manchester

• Institute of Place Management, 2018, Scottish BIDs: An Independent Review, Manchester Metropolitan University: Manchester.

• Bristol City Centre BID, Business Plan, https://bristolcitycentrebid.co.uk/about-us/

Scrutiny group

BID

Formal

Informal

Private funding

Public funding

Public-private partnership

(Regeneration)Community

interest company

Traders’ Association

Civic Society

Town team

Town Centre Management

Source: Adapted from Coca-Stefaniak et al, 2008

“A [UK] Business Improvement District is a defined area where business rate payers [levy payers] agree to pay a levy into a fund for a fixed period. Specific agreed initiatives are then delivered to improve the area for businesses.

A BID is commenced when an independent ballot has been conducted. To be successful there must be both a simple majority of the number who vote and a simple majority of the aggregate rateable value represented by those who vote.

A BID cannot deliver services that the council currently delivers.”

What is a UK BID?

320 BIDs in the UK

80 are Members of The BID Foundation

BIDs by their legal form

RECENT RESEARCH

Provide a detailed outline of the development of BIDs

Analyse the antecedents of the current position of the BID ‘industry’ as at the end of 2018

Identify and discuss current - and potential future - issues facing BIDs, to inform potential policy initiatives

England

81%London

19%

Ireland

2%

Northern Ireland

3%

Scotland

12%

Wales

4%

BIDs distribution (%)

Geography Number of BIDs per

million inhabitants.

Date legislation

introduced

Average levy

UK 4.59 N/A £355,422

England 4.41 2003/4 £423,084

Scotland 7.04 2006/7 £163,894

Wales 3.87 2005 £280,456

Northern

Ireland

4.21 2013/4 £505,000

Geographical variations in BIDs

Cumulative Number of BIDs (start date)

1430

4261

7989

106

134

154

187

211

252

279

303320

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019

First Term

55%

Second Term

28%

Third Term

15%

Fourth Term

2%

BIDs and their term period

Year BID

Established

Number of BIDs

Established

Average Annual BID Levy £

Average Number of Hereditaments

2005 14 £629,002 517

2006 16 £294,552 377

2007 13 £311,807 363

2008 19 £358,862 583

2009 18 £302,501 496

2010 10 £387,695 438

2011 17 £309,924 448

2012 29 £332,252 441

2013 22 £330,952 331

2014 35 £222,502 408

2015 28 £385,134 567

2016 44 £369,993 481

2017 32 £391,481 466

2018 28 £349,252 394

Average 23 £355,422 450

BID Income(UK)

2. Defining the urban/precinct management concept

Sources of Information

• Parker, C, Ntounis, Millington, S, Quin, S and Castillo-Villar, F, 2017, ‘Improving the vitality and viability of the UK High Street by 2020: Identifying priorities and a framework for action’, Journal of Place Management and Development, 10, 4, 310-348

• Institute of Place Management, 2018, Scottish BIDs: An Independent Review, Manchester Metropolitan University: Manchester.

The framework that enables BIDs to define their scope is contained

within Schedule 1 of the BID Regulations (clause c, d and e) as follows

(c) a description of the geographical area (including a map showing that area) in which

the proposed BID arrangements are to have effect;

(d) a statement of whether all non-domestic ratepayers in the geographical area or a

specified class of them are to be liable to the BID levy, an explanation of how the amount

of the BID levy to be levied is to be calculated and an explanation of whether any of the

costs incurred in developing the BID proposals, holding of the ballot or implementing the

BID are to be recovered through the BID levy;

(e) a statement of the specified class of non-domestic ratepayer (if any) for which and the

level at which any relief from the BID levy is to apply;

How do we define BIDs in UK?

201 factors influence vitality and viability

1.How much influence each factor has on the vitality and viability of the High Street

2.How much control a location has over the factor

Child-minding centre

Leadership

Location

Opening hours

Political climate

Get on with it!

Live with itForget it

Not worth it

Ho

w m

uch

co

ntr

ol o

ve

r a

fa

cto

r

How much each factor influences vitality and viability

ACTIVITY HOURS

APPEARANCE

RETAIL /SERVICE OFFER

VISION&STRATEGY

EXPERIENCE

MANAGEMENT

MERCHANDISE

NECESSITIES

ANCHORS

NETWORKS & PARTNERSHIPS

DIVERSITYWALKING

ENTERTAINMENT AND LEISURE

PLACE ASSURANCE

ATTRACTIVENESS

ACCESSIBLE

PLACE MARKETING

COMPARISON/CONVENIENCE

RECREATIONAL SPACE

BARRIERS TO ENTRY

CHAIN VS …

SAFETY/CRIME

LIVEABLE

ADAPTABILITY

2,7

2,9

3,1

3,3

3,5

3,7

3,9

3,3 3,5 3,7 3,9 4,1 4,3 4,5 4,7Ho

w m

uch

ce

ntr

e c

an

infl

ue

nce

fa

cto

r

How much factor influences vitality and viability

Top 25 factors

Scottish BIDs Activities

3. Best practice from UK BIDs

The Issue:

24/7Consumer

Convenience

The Answer:

Better Local Planning Policy

Enforcement

“We were hit in Swansea by out-of- town complexes, along with internet sales and this whole era of convenience everything. But because we have a strong partnership with the local authority, there is now a policy of no more out-of-town developments.”

Juliet Luporini, Chair of Swansea BID

“Build Studios plugs a hole in the built environment sector by bringing together the most creative young businesses to work in an affordable central London setting. We’ll only take members who can demonstrate that they understand the ethos of the place, which is to support each other to grow and learn, to team up to pitch for work, to raise the aspirations of the generation after them and to think about the problems of modern city living.”

Ben Stephenson, Chief Executive,

We Are Waterloo

The Issue:

Affordable Business

Space

The Answer:

Co-working Spaces

The Issue:

Diminishing Police Funds

and Resources

The Answer:

Blended Resilience

Teams

The Answer:

Curating the High Street

The Issue:

Vacant Retail

Property

C159 is the pioneering project putting Camden Town at the heart of the UK’s creative community, tackling unemployment, declining commercial occupancy and the overall image of the area as a place to live and work. This is achieved partly by taking on the leases of office/retail units to create mixed-use developments; providing pop ups, events spaces, skills training spaces prioritized for local people, all provided for free.

4. A synthesis of the fundamental issues facing UK BIDs

BIDs and Government

National – TBF as co-ordinated voiceRegional - LEPs as important relationship for BIDsLocal – Improvements in consistency needed

BIDs and Local Government

Levy collection/Operating agreement• Efficiency and effectiveness of collection concerns

(Cap/Outsource?)• 2017 Revaluation raised unanticipated consequences (budget

deficits/unwanted cost increases/treatment of ‘inflation’)

BIDs and Local Government

Additionality/Baseline agreement• See-saw effect of public sector cuts v need• Both ends of the spectrum witnessed – do all v do none• What does ‘place management’ need ‘cherry on the cake’!• We must demonstrate to Government where the tipping point

is for business willingness/ability to support

Governance

• Professionalism of staff is paramount• Effective and robust engagement of Directors – Liable

parties!• Transparency is key

• BID material in public domain• Ballot notifications – early trigger = good democracy• Appeals – learn from them not shrouded in secrecy

Future of UK BIDs

• ‘Specialist’ BIDs – concept crisis or consolidation?

• ‘Community’ IDs – concept creep or positive evolution?

• Property Owner BIDs – when, where, how?

13 Recommendations

• The BID Foundation Positioning• Voice• Policy Influence• Broker for Review and Change

5. Establishment of The BID Foundation

Sources of Information

• Rocket Science, 2016, Representing BIDs: Meeting the changing demand for BID services in England: Analysis and options

Core Objectives of The BID Foundation

1. We will act as the custodian of the UK BIDs industry evolution and reputation, providing the strategic direction that enables BIDs to better serve their levy payers and stakeholders

2. We will advocate for BIDs, providing trusted and authoritative information that will develop a wider understanding of the role and significance of BIDs, and representing the BID industry to a wide range of stakeholders including national and local government

3. We will increase the impact BIDs have, advancing best policy, practice and innovation across the industry to ensure BIDs make the most positive contribution to the places and stakeholders they serve

4. We will ensure accountability and transparency, supporting and accrediting BIDs and setting the industry’s standards.

5. We will professionalise the industry through acting as an impartial and collegiate community of BIDs that enables the development of both shared and individual expertise and effectiveness.

EVENTSANNUAL CONFERENCE – LIVERPOOL & LONDON FOCUSSED SEMINARS – SHREWSBURY & READING

HIGH STREET FUND WORKSHOP - MANCHESTER 2030 CONSULTATION INQUIRY EVENT - LONDON

PRODUCTS & SERVICESREVIEW & RECRUIT

CHAIRS NETWORK

MONTHLY E-NEWSLETTER

BID MAP & BALLOT TRACKER

INDUSTRY MINIMUM STANDARDS EVALUATION

DEVELOPING BID GUIDANCE - COMING SOON

Advice for local authorities and others who are considering setting up a BID, with a view to improving industry standards at entry level

Advice and guidance on recruitment processes including review of job descriptions and person specifications

Evaluation of BID websites against a definitive checklist to meet minimum standards, supported by MHCLG, BRC and REVO

Comprehensive and exclusive one-stop data map on BIDs across the country, including ballot results

Bi-annual meeting to update and support BID Chairs, run by industry expert Dr Julie Grail

TRAINING AND RESEARCHGOVERNANCE

This 1-day course supports BID Managers and Boards to improve this vital component of BID administration

MASTERS IN PLACE MANAGEMENT AND LEADERSHIP

BEST PRACTICE SHOWCASE

This training programme is a part-time taught course that is predominantly for existing practitioners in the place management sector

This booklet features a dozen case studies of projects delivered by BIDs in UK and offers advice on how to replicate and measure success

Research programme for 2020 to look at what effect BIDs have on local economies

ECONOMIC IMPACT OF BIDs

POLICY & PUBLIC AFFAIRSINFLUENCING THE DEVELOPMENT OF POLICY

PARLIAMENTARY RECEPTION WITH MINISTER JAKE BERRY MP

Contributing to the debate on BIDs by publishing reaction to articles and creating thought pieces challenging industry perspectives

Working at all levels of government to represent the interest of BIDs

SUPPORTING DELIVERY OF GOVERNMENTAL PROGRAMMES

Acting as liaison between members and programmes, including grants and funding schemes

INDUSTRY THOUGHT PIECES

Hosted a BIDs Parliamentary Reception at the House of Commons on 24th June 2019 to promote the benefits of BIDs to the Minister’s Parliamentary colleagues and to encourage MPs to better engage with them.

Thank you

Catherine Mitton, Executive Director

The BID Foundation & Institute of Place Management

@Cat_Mitton | @BIDFoundationUK | @PlaceManagement