{"id":1204,"date":"2013-09-08T11:30:42","date_gmt":"2013-09-08T10:30:42","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/abbeylandsresidents.org.uk\/?p=1204"},"modified":"2022-02-12T11:44:10","modified_gmt":"2022-02-12T11:44:10","slug":"develop-a-sponsored-street-improvement-scheme","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ourlocality.org\/abbeylands\/develop-a-sponsored-street-improvement-scheme\/","title":{"rendered":"Funding High Street regeneration"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Edinburgh<\/a>
Edinburgh Grassmarket BID is strongly supported by residents<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Improving the fortunes of the High Street will not be cost neutral, and will need funding. So what are the options to lever in more finance? Whilst it is possible to recycle the money saved from unnecessary, low payoff or expensive schemes, businesses (and residents) have a limited control or vote over what this money would be spent on.<\/p>\n

Larger businesses are a potential source of sponsorship for certain schemes, as I mentioned in a previous article.\u00a0At a very low level, local businesses (large or small) could support the creation of minor street improvements, such as high quality\u00a0benches, hanging baskets or developing imaginative tree plantings. Even as a local resident I would happily sponsor hanging baskets, and I am sure a number of business owners would be happy too.\u00a0The traditional sources of finance, which include mainly Government and various foundations, can only go so far in supporting local economic development.<\/p>\n

I believe that we need a different sort of partnership and new finance, and that this should come in increasing amounts from the private sector, which locally has a disproportionate impact on our living environment, but this could and should lever in more from public sources.<\/p>\n

The most obvious avenue is to develop what is known as a Business Improvement District (BID).\u00a0Born out of Town Centre Management Partnerships, the concept was originally set up in Canada but really took off in the US from the 1970s. BIDs have a good track record.\u00a0The BID concept has proved so successful in growing the local economy and helping to maintain and improve asset values (including home owners) that legislation has been passed to enable them in the UK and more recently in Scotland. Several BID partnerships in Scotland are now implementing their second 5 year plan. There are now 19 Scottish towns with BIDs and the same number planning one\u00a0[1. In Scotland their are now 19 BID towns, including places like Alloa, Bathgate, Clarkston, Dunfermline, Edinburgh, Elgin, Falkirk, Inverness, and Kirkcaldy. Businesses are collectively investing over \u00a317 million and\u00a0local authorities and other investments accounting for\u00a0a further \u00a317 million\u00a0pounds.<\/p>\n

A further 19 towns are developing a BID, Carluke, Giffnock, Linlithgow, Milngavie, Paisley, Glasgow, West Dunbartonshire, Loch Ness and Inverness Tourism, Edinburgh West End, etc. with further interest being registered from towns across the country.].<\/p>\n

A BID is nothing more than businesses working together in partnership and investing collectively in local improvements, but it is more than a business association or a talking shop. The caveat is that it has to be additional to that delivered by a local authority or the other statutory government bodies, and would be geared principally to stimulating sustainable (meaning durable) growth of the local economy. It cannot be used by local authorities as an additional tax or to fund its services, as it is anyway business-led.<\/p>\n

Working together businesses can use BIDs to do a variety of things, which can include narrower business improvement objectives (such as reducing costs, sharing risks or creating new platforms for growth – my idea that we could be supporting local enterprises to go beyond bricks and mortar), as well as wider investments in the public realm (for example protecting Dunbar’s Conservation Area status as a way of attracting more tourists). There are interesting BIDs all around Scotland and beyond that have been developed in the hospitality sector, tourism and visitor markets, rural areas, or other sectors where businesses wish to collectively improve their business environment.<\/p>\n

The additional investment is used to strengthen the local economy but also give local businesses a unified voice, helping to provide an arena for businesses and local authorities to increase their understanding of each others priorities.<\/p>\n

BIDs are developed by a working group who, with consultant support, construct a 5 year costed business plan. The BID is a managed process and initially is supported by the government to pay for the business plan and the consultation process (allow \u00a340-50k, perhaps a bit less depending on the width and scope of the BID). I expect Scottish Government to come up with a response to Malcolm Fraser’s Town Centre Regeneration report to contain further support and stimulus for BIDs.<\/p>\n

But without a mandate the BID cannot go ahead. The plan is paid for by way of a \u00a0levy, which businesses must vote in favour of, before the BID can be established. Each business that is liable to contribute votes in a ballot on whether or not the BID goes ahead.\u00a0The interests of both large and small businesses are protected through the voting system and an equitable formula can be constructed for the levy based e.g. on the rateable value or turnover, and this – if I understand it correctly – is entirely at the discretion of the BID proposers.\u00a0A BID can last for no more than five years, and will either be dissolved at the end of its term or will seek a new mandate by way of a renewal ballot.<\/p>\n

To my mind there are at least 2 potential BID areas to look at, possibly more. One which is centred on the High Street and the harbour economies and a broader area one which is focused on the re-emerging Tourism and Leisure sectors, which e.g. is seeing growth in outdoor pursuits, whether its is golf, cycling, walking or surf. I would see town centre regeneration being part of this. \u00a0I’d like to see the objectives for the Dunbar Conservation Area being weaved seamlessly into both.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Improving the fortunes of the High Street will not be cost neutral, and will need funding. So what are the options to lever in more finance? Whilst it is possible to recycle the money saved from unnecessary, low payoff or expensive schemes, businesses (and residents) have a limited control or vote over what this money … Continue reading Funding High Street regeneration<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":155,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[8,17],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1204","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-opinion","category-ten-things-to-improve-dunbar"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":1200,"url":"https:\/\/ourlocality.org\/abbeylands\/form-an-association-of-residents\/","url_meta":{"origin":1204,"position":0},"title":"Form an association of residents","author":"templar","date":"September 6, 2013","format":false,"excerpt":"A primary motivation for setting up a residents association might be to organise and articulate the residents' perspective, which to my mind has long been neglected on Dunbar High Street. Tenants and Residents Associations typically: keep residents informed of the issues affecting their area campaign on local issues e.g. be\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Opinion"","block_context":{"text":"Opinion","link":"https:\/\/ourlocality.org\/abbeylands\/topics\/opinion\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Brown-signs","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ourlocality.org\/abbeylands\/files\/2013\/09\/Brown-signs1.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ourlocality.org\/abbeylands\/files\/2013\/09\/Brown-signs1.jpg?resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ourlocality.org\/abbeylands\/files\/2013\/09\/Brown-signs1.jpg?resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":1081,"url":"https:\/\/ourlocality.org\/abbeylands\/battling-to-save-britains-high-streets\/","url_meta":{"origin":1204,"position":1},"title":"Battling to save Britain’s high streets","author":"templar","date":"July 10, 2013","format":false,"excerpt":"Throughout July to mark\u00a0Independent Retailer Month\u00a0some shops are offering discounts, others running competitions and still more putting on live music in a bid to get mre custom. But nothing here in Dunbar:\u00a0Independent Retailer Month Events. A month of events could have been used to raise awareness, but it looks like\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "News"","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/ourlocality.org\/abbeylands\/topics\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"We're a TAG! member","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.tagpassiton.com\/images\/for_esteemed_word_spreaders\/tag_web_member_336_280.png?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":1192,"url":"https:\/\/ourlocality.org\/abbeylands\/improve-signposting-and-free-up-private-car-parking\/","url_meta":{"origin":1204,"position":2},"title":"Improve signposting and free up private car parking","author":"templar","date":"September 2, 2013","format":false,"excerpt":"Parking availability in Dunbar isn't as bad as people make out. There are quite a few areas that are under-utilised and there are only a few problem areas. I've heard all the objections about the on street facilities, and frankly most of them don't warrant a great deal of attention.\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Opinion"","block_context":{"text":"Opinion","link":"https:\/\/ourlocality.org\/abbeylands\/topics\/opinion\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ourlocality.org\/abbeylands\/files\/2022\/02\/image.png?fit=1200%2C738&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ourlocality.org\/abbeylands\/files\/2022\/02\/image.png?fit=1200%2C738&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ourlocality.org\/abbeylands\/files\/2022\/02\/image.png?fit=1200%2C738&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ourlocality.org\/abbeylands\/files\/2022\/02\/image.png?fit=1200%2C738&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ourlocality.org\/abbeylands\/files\/2022\/02\/image.png?fit=1200%2C738&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":515,"url":"https:\/\/ourlocality.org\/abbeylands\/the-greater-good-the-case-for-convenient-parking\/","url_meta":{"origin":1204,"position":3},"title":"The greater good: the case for convenient parking","author":"templar","date":"June 30, 2012","format":false,"excerpt":"There are 2 stakeholders whose views won\u2019t be heard very loudly in this minority debate about parking versus social housing at Abbeylands. \u00a0The people who could occupy the accommodation that may now not be built, whose voice usually goes unheard. When it is, there\u2019s always an unhealthy voyeuristic angle to\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "News"","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/ourlocality.org\/abbeylands\/topics\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"The problem with parking","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ourlocality.org\/abbeylands\/files\/2012\/05\/DSC_0288-001-300x201.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":1164,"url":"https:\/\/ourlocality.org\/abbeylands\/ten-things-to-improve-our-high-street\/","url_meta":{"origin":1204,"position":4},"title":"Ten things to improve Dunbar High Street","author":"templar","date":"August 29, 2013","format":false,"excerpt":"There are literally dozens and dozens of ways to improve our High Streets and as you would expect some people have thought about this at greater length than me, so I am not going to give you an orthodox list. Some of the issues that are faced are structural and\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Opinion"","block_context":{"text":"Opinion","link":"https:\/\/ourlocality.org\/abbeylands\/topics\/opinion\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":295,"url":"https:\/\/ourlocality.org\/abbeylands\/shopping-list\/","url_meta":{"origin":1204,"position":5},"title":"A Political Shopping List","author":"templar","date":"April 7, 2012","format":false,"excerpt":"In the weeks ahead you may be wondering what to ask local politicians. \u00a0Here's some things that you could ask about, in no particular order:- Will you support the retention and improvements to residents parking at the Abbeylands end Dunbar High Street? What will you do to secure the Abbey\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "News"","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/ourlocality.org\/abbeylands\/topics\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/ourlocality.org\/abbeylands\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1204","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/ourlocality.org\/abbeylands\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/ourlocality.org\/abbeylands\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ourlocality.org\/abbeylands\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/155"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ourlocality.org\/abbeylands\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1204"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/ourlocality.org\/abbeylands\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1204\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2602,"href":"https:\/\/ourlocality.org\/abbeylands\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1204\/revisions\/2602"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/ourlocality.org\/abbeylands\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1204"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ourlocality.org\/abbeylands\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1204"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ourlocality.org\/abbeylands\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1204"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}