a better business environment

Colmore Business District BID

Newsletter 4 - January 2009

www.colmorebusinessdistrict.com

VOTEYES

for a better

business

environment

• Promote a clear identity�

• Deliver a high quality� ‘streetscape’

• Enhance cleaning and maintenance

standards

• Provide a safe environment

• Improve accessibility� and connections

• Operate as a business led ‘voice’

• Promote business networking

• Provide visible improvements

• Support businesses

• Deliver additional services

The Colmore Business

Improvement District

will...

www.colmorebusinessdistrict.com

Look to the Future! The BID in outline

The BID is being promoted by the private sector in the form of Birmingham Forward and Birmingham Future, supported by the Birmingham City Centre Partnership and Birmingham City Council.

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.

Core funding will be raised via a fair and transparent annual levy. 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 at £25,000.

As with the other Birmingham BIDs, the City Council has agreed to collect the levy without charge and this, coupled with the levy that they will pay on the properties they occupy within the District, are tangible signs of their commitment to this BID.

The BID will take specific and early actions including:

• A major commitment to identify and promote key opportunities to upgrade and maintain higher environmental quality including a first year investment of £230,000. Of this £170,000 will be allocated to improving the streetscape and public realm environment including the commissioning of sculpture, greening, floral displays and festive lighting. In addition, Birmingham City Council is responding positively with a £1million capital allocation from the Big City Plan to complement the initiative being taken by the business community.

• The early introduction of a team of “street wardens” to provide both meet and greet in addition to safety and security services to staff and visitors alike, an annual £160,000 BID commitment.

• The provision of a range of street and IT based signage and information media with up to £50,000 investment in the first year.

• Working with Marketing Birmingham and others to position the District for development and growth opportunities and promote local trade, recruitment and business networking with a combined year one investment of £117,500.

• The appointment of a dedicated BID Manager and Operations and Administration Coordinator to lead the BID implementation and provide locally based points of contact for assistance and troubleshooting.

IMPORTANT BALLOT INFORMATION

The BID will be decided by a postal ballot conducted by Independent Scrutineer, Electoral Reform Services. Key dates are:

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

• January� 19th 2009 - Ballot papers will be dispatched

• February� 27th 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 1st.

Look out for the envelope and blue ballot paper as shown.

If you receive more than one envelope, this is not an error. It is because you have more than one rateable property in the District, each of which carries a separate vote. Please inform your post room not to destroy any envelopes and reply to them all.

To make your vote count, place a cross in your chosen box, sign each ballot paper and post in the reply paid envelope to arrive no later than 5.00pm on Friday 27th February 2009. Please reply as soon as possible.

It is now up to y�ou! Look to the future and support y�our BID.

Vote YES

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CONTAINS IMPORTANT INFORMATION

ROYAL MAIL

POSTAGE PAID GB

HQ 13085

J812_P201 Despatch:Layout

1 18/12/08 14:37 Page 1

Barwick StreetBennett's Hill (part)Bull Street (part)Chamberlain Square (part)Cherry Street (part)Church StreetColmore CircusColmore Circus QueenswayColmore Row (part)Colmore SquareCornwall StreetCorporation Street (part)Eden Place

Edmund StreetGreat Charles Street Queensway (part)Hill Street (part)Livery Street (part)Margaret StreetNeedless Alley (part)

New Cannon PassageNewhall Street (part)New Market StreetParadise Circus Queensway (part)Paradise Street (part)Printing House StreetSnow Hill QueenswaySt Chad's Queensway (part)St Philip's Place (part)Steelhouse Lane (part)Suffolk Street Queensway (part)Temple Row (part)Temple Row WestThe Priory Queensway (part)Victoria Square (part)Waterloo Street (part)Weaman StreetWhittall Street (part)

This vote is in respect of –

I confirm that I am entitled to vote in respect of this hereditamentSigned............................................................................Name (in block capitals) ............................................................................Position held

............................................................................

(To be completed if the person voting is doing so on behalf of a company or partnership)Note: for your vote to be valid this ballot paper must be signed and returned in the envelope

provided to the ballot holder at Electoral Reform Services Limited by 5pm on FRIDAY

27th FEBRUARY, 2009.

LOCAL GOVERNMENT ACT, 2003BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT DISTRICTS (ENGLAND) REGULATIONS, 2004

BALLOT PAPERAre you in favour of the Business Improvement District proposals

forColmore Business District which includes the following streets:

NOYES

VOTING INSTRUCTIONS1. Please read the enclosed documentation2. Mark your preference with a cross (�) in the appropriate box

3. Sign and print your name4. State your position within the company, if applicable5. Detach the Ballot Paper from this sheet (tear along the perforated line)

6. Insert the Ballot Paper into the enclosed reply envelope and post

To be counted your Ballot Paper must reach Electoral Reform Services by 5pm on

FRIDAY 27th FEBRUARY, 2009.

DET

AC

HH

ERE

Place a cross (X) in the box of your choice.

7This was the up beat message given to an audience of some 100 business representatives who attended the pre Christmas launch of the Colmore Business District BID Proposal. Hosted by PricewaterhouseCoopers, the event provided the opportunity to emphasise that the BID sets out a five year plan to create a better business environment for the whole of the Colmore Business District.

Speakers, including Gary Cardin, BID Champion and Partner of Drivers Jonas, stressed that taking action now and maintaining a positive outlook will make all the difference. Gary 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 locally managed BID Company working with partners including Birmingham City Council, West Midlands Police and Centro, dramatically change the District’s environment and atmosphere. During the five year term, the BID will directly invest at least £3.5 million and, along with other investment which we confidently expect to secure, 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 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. As potentially the first UK BID with such a high concentration of commercial occupants at over 90%, this presents a unique opportunity to position and promote the District as a whole, including those important supporting businesses.

The area welcomes and caters for 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 current Big City Plan consultation.

Since the launch, more local businesses and organisations have indicated their support for the BID

“ If the BID can help create an identity for the area, that’s a good thing. It’s important that people know what this area has to offer and that it’s for local people as well as visitors to the city’. Businesses working together to get things done has got to be good for us all.”

Glynn Purnell, Purnell’s Restaurant, Cornwall Street

“ We feel the BID will foster links between companies in the area and bring opportunities for partnerships of mutual benefit. As a community interest company, we encourage business involvement with not-for-profit organisations for example through CSR activities or choosing a social enterprise supplier. All profits from our social enterprises – such as Enta Catering, used for a number of years by local clients including Anthony Collins Solicitors – go towards changing lives and changing communities in Birmingham.”

Charlotte Light, Enta CIC (www.entapeople.com)

“ Although the district is inherently safe we find that some of our staff find the area lonely and somewhat intimidating if they are leaving later in the evening. The idea that there will be friendly wardens available to see them safely to their bus or train has got to be a really positive move. The more we hear about the BID the more we are in favour of it.”

Mike Kimmons, Chief Executive of St Philip’s Chambers

“ My company was interested in the original concept and, having now seen the commitment and details set out in the BID Proposal, will be voting ‘Yes’ in the ballot. We are confident that the combined investment of additional resources and effort will be good for our business, staff and visitors and the District as a whole.”

David Tuck, Regional Office Head, Weightmans LLP.

“ Having read the Proposal for the Colmore Business District, it looks like an excellent and exciting piece of work and we can see the many benefits that a BID could bring to our area. We will be voting for it!”

Terry Peate, General Manager, BADGER Group, Whittall Street 7

Where can I find out more?

For more information on the BID or for more copies of this leaflet please contact one of the following members of our BID Development Team:

Gary Cardin Drivers Jonas – BID Champion0121 236 8777 garycardin@driversjonas.com

Richard BrennanBirmingham Forward – CEO0121 632 2206 richard.brennan@birminghamforward.co.uk

Nigel Peardon Bidology – BID Consultant07804 272895 nigelp@bidologyconsulting.co.uk

Julie Moss City Centre Partnership – Working Partner0121 616 2494 julie.m.moss@birmingham.gov.uk

www.colmorebusinessdistrict.com

®

marketing

Big City Plan Consultation

Have you commented on the Big City Plan? Consultation runs until February 6th 2009 and we would like to hear your reactions, particularly in relation to the city centre core and the options for future office and other commercial development. The BID will provide an important ‘voice’ for businesses in the Colmore Business District so your views are important to us. Further details are to be found at www.bigcityplan.org.uk

Send your comments to richard.brennan@birminghamforward.co.uk

And finally�…How much do you know about the history of the Colmore Business District? Try your hand at these 5 questions set by our good friends at the Rabbit Guide. 

1. How many� people allegedly� came to watch the last public hanging in Birmingham near the corner of Livery� Street and Great Charles Street in August 1806? 

2. How tall is Terry� Gormley�’s Iron Man in Victoria Square? 

3. When did the original Snow Hill Station open? 

4. Name the Grade 1 listed building in Newhall Street between Colmore Row and the Queensway�

5. Who created the four stained glass windows in St Philip’s Cathedral? 

The first three all correct answers ‘pulled from the hat’ will each receive a copy of the recently published Rabbit Guide to Birmingham (third edition) with a set of ‘Advised in Birmingham‘ cufflinks or a bouquet of flowers, as appropriate, for the first correct entry drawn.

Email your answers to julie.m.moss@birmingham.gov.uk by 12.00 noon on Friday 30th January 2009.

Competition RulesLate entries will not be considered. Anyone associated with Rabbit Guides [RG] or the BID Development Team is not eligible for entry. Only one entry per person. RG’s decision will be final in all matters and no correspondence will be entered into. Winners will be advised during the week commencing 2nd February 2009 and acknowledge as part of submitting an entry they are happy to be included in press releases in relation to this competition.