NEWSLETTER 4 - JANUARY 2009 by Tahreen Kutub Kutub

Colmore Business District BID

usiness B e r o m The Col ent District m Improve will...

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VOTE

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a better business environment www.colmorebusinessdistrict.com Newsletter 4 - January 2009

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

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.

“ 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

BALLOT INFORMATION

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.

• J anuary 9th 2009 - Notification of the ballot will be sent out to all those businesses eligible to vote. • J anuary 19th 2009 - Ballot papers will be dispatched

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.

• F ebruary 27th 2009 - Ballot will close at 5 pm • M arch 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. :Layout J812_P201 Despatch

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N INFOR MATIO

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

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

LOCAL BUSINESS IMPROVEME GOVERNMENT ACT, 2003 NT DISTRICTS (ENGL BALLOT PAPER AND) REGULATIONS, 2004 Are you in favour of the Busin ess Improvemen forColmore Business Distri t District propo ct which includ Barwick Street sals es the follow Bennett's Hill ing streets: (part) New Canno Bull Street (part) n Passage Newhall Street Chamberlai (part) n Square (part) New Marke Cherry Street t Street (part) Paradise Circus Church Street Queensway Paradise Street (part) Colmore Circus Printing House (part) Colmore Circus Street Snow Hill Queen Colmore Row Queensway (part) St Chad's Queen sway Colmore Squar e St Philip's Place sway (part) Cornwall Street (part) Steelhouse Corporation Lane (part) Street (part) Suffolk Street Eden Place Queensway (part) Temple Row Edmund Street (part) Temple Row Great Charle West s Street Queen The Priory Queen Hill Street (part) sway (part) sway (part) Victoria Squar Livery Street e (part) Waterloo Street (part) Margaret Street Weaman Street (part) Needless Alley (part) Whittall Street (part) Place a cross (X) in the box of your choice .

VOTING INS TRUCTIO

Please read the enclosed documentati 2. Mark your prefer on ence with a 3. cross ( ) in Sign and print the appropriate your name 4. box State your positio n within the 5. company, if Detach the applicable Ballot Paper from this sheet 6. Insert the Ballot (tear along Paper into the the perforated To be count enclosed reply line) ed your Ballot envelope and Paper must FRIDAY 27th post reach Electo FEBRUARY, ral Reform 2009. Services by 5pm on

YES

This vote is in respect of –

I confirm that I am entitled to vote in respec t of this heredi tament .................... .................... .................... ................ .................... .................... .................... Position held ................ .................... (To be compl .................... .................... eted if the person ................ voting is doing so on behalf Note: for your of a compa ny or partne vote to be valid this rship) provided to the ballot holde ballot paper must be signed 27th FEBR r at Electoral UARY, 2009 Reform Servic and returned in the envelo . es Limited pe by 5pm on FRIDAY Signed

DETACH HERE

This 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.

IMPORTANT

The BID in outline

to: N1 0WW please return 46556, London If undelivered s 9am-5pm) Services, PO Box 8889 9203 (Weekday Electoral Reform telephone:- 020 a query please eform.co.uk In the event of services@electoralr or email customer

Look to the Future!

Name (in block capitals)

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 you! Look to the future and support your BID.

Vote YES

www.colmorebusinessdistrict.com

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. H ow 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. N ame the Grade 1 listed building in Newhall Street between Colmore Row and the Queensway 5. W ho 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 Rules Late 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.

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 Champion 0121 236 8777 garycardin@driversjonas.com

Richard Brennan

Birmingham Forward – CEO 0121 632 2206 richard.brennan@birminghamforward.co.uk

Nigel Peardon

Bidology – BID Consultant 07804 272895 nigelp@bidologyconsulting.co.uk

Julie Moss

City Centre Partnership – Working Partner 0121 616 2494 julie.m.moss@birmingham.gov.uk

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