Kendal businesses ponder payments for town improvements (From The Westmorland Gazette)
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Kendal businesses ponder payments for town improvements
10:10am Tuesday 20th November 2012 in Business
By Helen Perkins, Reporter
A CONSULTANT has started a debate in Kendal regarding whether the town should become a Business Improvement District.
Councillors expect Chris Kolek to spend around 12 months discussing the concept — where each local firm pays one per cent of its rateable value to fund independent town enhancements.
A vote on the BID proposal is expected to take place next September and, if more than half the local businesses vote ‘yes’, the funds will be collected from each business in the town.
Mr Kolek has visited 250 companies in Kendal so far to answer questions about the scheme, which was turned down in Windermere and Bowness last year and is currently being debated for Penrith.A website at www.kendalbid.co.uk has been created to communicate with and inform the town.
Comments(27)
kolekconsulting
says...
1:29pm Tue 20 Nov 12
I am determined to prepare a proposal written from the perspective of the town's businesses and I want to involve as many of the town's businesses and organisations as possible in this important work.
Come and have your say at:
Riverside Hotel 21 Nov 12-1pm
Shakespeare Centre 29 Nov 6-7pm
Riverside Hotel 5 Dec 6-7pm
These are open meetings so please consider what a BID could mean for Kendal and have your say!
Kent123
says...
3:32pm Tue 20 Nov 12
MJ-kendal
says...
4:46pm Tue 20 Nov 12
kolekconsulting
says...
4:47pm Tue 20 Nov 12
As for the selection criteria, I am presently focusing on Kendal town centre using the Conservation Area boundary as a guide until the BID area is established.
If anybody wants further details just give me a call on 07900 608085 or email me on chris@kendalbid.co.u
k
kolekconsulting
says...
5:13pm Tue 20 Nov 12
So far, businesses in town have suggested that its purpose should be threefold:
• To create a resource to take action (including initiatives to increase and retain footfall in Kendal)
• Using that resource to effect change and influence policy
• Generating stronger collaboration to unite the town
This work certainly does need to include more than just retailers as non-domestic ratepayers are, as you say, a diverse group. My visits to all non-domestic ratepayers, including non-commercial organisations in the town centre, should help to meet this need.
Kent123
says...
5:39pm Tue 20 Nov 12
kolekconsulting
says...
5:49pm Tue 20 Nov 12
You can access the Conservation Area map online at:
http://www.southlake
land.gov.uk/pdf/Kend
al%20Conservation%20
Area%20Revised%20Bou
ndary%20REV2.pdf
Kent123
says...
6:00pm Tue 20 Nov 12
LK2010
says...
7:34pm Tue 20 Nov 12
What has he already written.....
Come and have your say at:
Riverside Hotel 21 Nov 12-1pm
Shakespeare Centre 29 Nov 6-7pm
Riverside Hotel 5 Dec 6-7pm
kolekconsulting
says...
8:09pm Tue 20 Nov 12
Further to this I will visit any business in town that requests an appointment to discuss the BID.
Contact chris@kendalbid.co.u
k
Kent123
says...
8:12pm Tue 20 Nov 12
kolekconsulting wrote:I didn't appreciate how many businesses there were in this area. Does that mean there are 800 businesses paying rates within the area. If so, a one to two percent levy should raise quite a substantial sum.
There are over 800 premises in the Conservation Area and my intention is to contact face-to-face with as many as practically possible by a variety of means.
Further to this I will visit any business in town that requests an appointment to discuss the BID.
Contact chris@kendalbid.co.u
k
Kendal Jock
says...
9:49am Wed 21 Nov 12
kolekconsulting wrote:What a load of 'Leftie' sounding Mumbo Jumbo! How much is this 'consultant costing? Seems like another waste of council tax payers money. What traders need, is a reduction in the rates, not an increase. Get rid of the over-paid paper shufflers and pen pushers in the various departments (and there are many) OR, reduce their salaries and give the tax/rate payers a break. Encourage visitors to Kendal by reducing parking costs and, not closing free ammenities such as toilets and parking, as you have done.
MJ-Kendal asks what is the purpose of a BID?
So far, businesses in town have suggested that its purpose should be threefold:
• To create a resource to take action (including initiatives to increase and retain footfall in Kendal)
• Using that resource to effect change and influence policy
• Generating stronger collaboration to unite the town
This work certainly does need to include more than just retailers as non-domestic ratepayers are, as you say, a diverse group. My visits to all non-domestic ratepayers, including non-commercial organisations in the town centre, should help to meet this need.
Plain logic does not require consultants.
Lakeuk
says...
12:50pm Wed 21 Nov 12
Would any money raised just be spent in areas that the council would of put the money up for anyway in the past - granted probable after much arm twisting
Maybe the council should commit to a extra 1% saving in their cost against business rate income which is earmarked to BID
life cycle too
says...
2:19pm Wed 21 Nov 12
Windermere BIDs failed largely because those businesses that were largely in favour, failed to appreciate the complicated voting system, and lobby their fellows to accept the proposal.
Kent123
says...
2:31pm Wed 21 Nov 12
life cycle too wrote:SLDC are very good at not fully explaining what happens to business rates!
Business rates don't go to the council - they go to the Government, so SLDC would be very unlikely to commit anything to making businesses run better in the current economic climate!
Windermere BIDs failed largely because those businesses that were largely in favour, failed to appreciate the complicated voting system, and lobby their fellows to accept the proposal.
Yes they do go to the Government BUT the Government gives SLDC a very similar amount back!
kolekconsulting
says...
5:22pm Thu 22 Nov 12
life cycle too wrote:The estimates for Business Rates (Non-Domestic Rates) published by SLDC state that a total of £37,280,000 will be collected in the district and paid to the Government. Of this total only £4,380,200 will be reimbursed to the district to pay for local services.
Business rates don't go to the council - they go to the Government, so SLDC would be very unlikely to commit anything to making businesses run better in the current economic climate!
Windermere BIDs failed largely because those businesses that were largely in favour, failed to appreciate the complicated voting system, and lobby their fellows to accept the proposal.
The reality is that local authorities across the land will struggle to support initiatives to strengthen their local economy. Hence the need to look at alternatives. Business Improvement Districts may be part of the answer. My job is to help the town to investigate this option and most businesses do
seem to understand that.
Kent123
says...
8:41am Fri 23 Nov 12
The SLDC accounts for the year ended 31 March 2012 show receipts from central government exceeded £25m. SLDC even say in their accounts "Central Government .... provides the majority of its [SLDC's} funding in the form of grants..."
whitevanman2
says...
6:56pm Fri 23 Nov 12
More wasted money I think
LK2010
says...
7:38am Sat 24 Nov 12
MJ-kendal
says...
10:29am Mon 26 Nov 12
LK2010 wrote:I want to know what the money will actually do for the town. I don't want to pay for "a resource to affect change", but I would pay for decent toilets, signage, and some other direct impact things. I think that retailers should be funding some of these things directly, but all businesses have an interest.
Some of these comments are frustrating to read. For those moaning and suspect, just sit back in your chairs then and snipe from the sides, do nothing and watch your business or your town fail....well done, you are all so clever!
Don't the Chamber of Commerce already have a list of things they'd like to see? Why aren't they leading this? And if they are, then why not list the top three things it would pay for.
Kent123
says...
10:55am Mon 26 Nov 12
Perhaps you should be the business spokesman?
In my opinion too much of the process, despite the glossy image, is being carried on behind closed doors.
kolekconsulting
says...
11:20am Mon 26 Nov 12
MJ-kendal wrote:To attempt to do anything that involves around 800 businesses necessitates a period of consultation and awareness raising. In other words, listening to their views and ideas as well developing their understanding of what Business Improvement Districts are, and how they work.
LK2010 wrote:I want to know what the money will actually do for the town. I don't want to pay for "a resource to affect change", but I would pay for decent toilets, signage, and some other direct impact things. I think that retailers should be funding some of these things directly, but all businesses have an interest.
Some of these comments are frustrating to read. For those moaning and suspect, just sit back in your chairs then and snipe from the sides, do nothing and watch your business or your town fail....well done, you are all so clever!
Don't the Chamber of Commerce already have a list of things they'd like to see? Why aren't they leading this? And if they are, then why not list the top three things it would pay for.
These vital tasks only take a few weeks and from these we should have a list of practical things to do - to be publicised early in the New Year.
The Chamber of Commerce is a key partner in this process but the BID is likely to include many businesses who are not part of the Chamber's membership.Everybody this might affect must be given the opportunity to contribute their ideas and opinions.
I do understand that this may all seem unnecessary to some people but ultimately the businesses themselves will decide on the proposal for a BID through a ballot. It is therefore vital that the proposal they vote on contains actions which are relevant to them and reflect the current priorities of businesses and organisations in Kendal.
snuggle-bunny
says...
8:21pm Mon 26 Nov 12
Kendal Jock
says...
7:52pm Tue 27 Nov 12
Why have so many businesses closed
over the last few years? I would assume, high rates and lack of visiting shoppers through high parking charges and toilet facilities etc. Just look at the K Village, Westmorland centre and 'White Elephant Yard'.....What do you see? empty units. Does that not tell the powers that be, something.
Still like to know much the consultancy fee is? No doubt will be kept under wraps.
kolekconsulting
says...
11:23am Wed 28 Nov 12
snuggle-bunny wrote:I agree with the comments that many businesses will be paying enough as it is but, without any powers to reduce the business rates, what CAN be done to avoid so many business closures and to address the lack of visiting shoppers in Kendal?
the buisness of kendal pay enough as it is . How much is this' conultant' getting paid and what, if anyything, will the town gain from this. Someone, somewhere will be laughing all the way to the bank
A Business Improvement District (BID) could help businesses by generating an increase in numbers of people using the town, increasing sales and by reducing their overheads through group purchasing or similar initiatives that take advantage of the economies of scale. Most importantly, the BID can focus on what CAN be done to address some of the challenges facing businesses in Kendal.
There is keen interest to know how much I am paid to do this work; to consult with hundreds of businesses and to develop a BID proposal for the town compliant with BID Regulations i.e. to meet the requirements of the brief. My fee is commensurate to the costs of a part-time appointment over a period of 12 months. The only significant difference is that I am independent, self-employed and therefore carry the on-costs myself. These include tax, NI, pension, insurance, travel expenses, car parking charges, etc. I do not believe I would have secured the work if my tender had not been very competitive on price.
Am I a waste of money? A few individuals may already have formed their own opinions but those who have witnessed my work will testify to my thoroughness in approach and my hard-working nature. I did not take this on to 'be laughing all the way to the bank'. I actually do believe that my work could help Kendal to be the vibrant town it should be. That is my primary motivation.
life cycle too
says...
12:07pm Wed 28 Nov 12
For myself, it is the time it takes to get into the town, and the cost of parking, and the number of "chain" outlets which are already present in nearly every other town... including Bowness.
I can travel to Barrow on a Sunday, find more shops, park for FREE, enjoy a drive along the coast road and Newby Bridge roads - and if time allows, visit the Dock Museum or the Wildlife Park at Dalton for free (Winter only for the Wildlife Park!).
When I visit my mother in law, I go to Southport - park and ride is £1.50 and there are a lot more independent retailers.
life cycle too says...
1:05pm Tue 20 Nov 12
Most businesses are nervous of how it works, and the voting system, as well as being annoyed at the manner in which SLDC do so much to harm businesses.
The BID scheme IS well worth while - but requires a greater degree of cooperation than is usually the case.