1 Wearewaterloo BID Business Plan 2016-2021

WeAreWaterloo BID Business Plan 2016-2021

Vision for Waterloo – foreword from the Chairman

Central London neighbourhoods are experiencing the full force of London’s rapid transformation and more than ever business communities are working together at a local level to mitigate negative impacts and create opportunities out of that change.

Business neighbourhoods in London need not only weather the challenges created by development, growth and contraction, but to thrive we need also to present a cohesive offer, to set ourselves apart from other places - a narrative which explains why our district is a desirable destination for visitors, in which to do business, or even to live.

Business Improvement Districts without a strategic vision for their neighbourhood can be little more than the sum of the services they deliver, but this misses a trick - there are few organisations more appropriately placed to drive forward a vision at a neighbourhood level. In our third term, WeAreWaterloo will work on further developing this narrative, embracing and preserving our unique character whilst making us resilient to new challenges and open to new opportunities.

Where patterns of shopping, working and living are changing, our BID aims at creating a modern city neighbourhood to meet the needs of 21st century citizens. Our vision recognises the interconnection between the business community, residents, visitors and institutions: local residents shop locally where the offer meets their needs; local workers linger after office hours where there are good bars, restaurants and theatres; the economic fortunes of the area are improved with adequate social infrastructure and with job vacancies taken up by local people; productivity and health is improved where people are able to enjoy fresh air, open space, exercise and culture.

In recognising this, the business community will play a key part in improving the reputation, experience and prosperity of Waterloo.

I will be voting Yes in February 2016 to renew WeAreWaterloo for a further five year term and encourage you to join me.

John Rushton, Chairman, WeAreWaterloo Managing Director, Small Back Room

Our Business Improvement District WeAreWaterloo was established in 2006 following a vote of local businesses. Previously called Waterloo Quarter BID, we were one of London’s first Business Improvement Districts. In 2011, we were renewed for a second five-year term, with 84% of our members supporting the renewal. We are now seeking renewal for a third five-year term.

BIDs are business-led organisations funded by a mandatory levy on business occupiers, charged in addition to their business rates. They are established following a vote of eligible businesses within a defined area and governed by legislation. BIDs enable businesses to have a sense of ownership of their local areas and raise funding for the delivery of projects and services, set out in a BID Proposal and business plan, for the benefit of themselves and their locality.

All funding generated through the BID is ring-fenced for the benefit of the local area.

A ‘levy share’ arrangement is in place for Waterloo Station, whereby the BID revenue generated is split 50:50 between South Bank BID and WeAreWaterloo. We work jointly with

3 our neighbouring BID and station businesses to improve links, integration and promotions between the station and the surrounding area.

Area Expansion WeAreWaterloo covers the area to the south of Waterloo Station. At the request of our existing members and neighbouring businesses, we are proposing to extend our current boundaries to bring the benefits of the BID to a wider area.

In particular, we are extending south to include London South Bank University and the Imperial War Museum. These two key anchor organisations at the south of the area will help provide critical mass to the promotion of the cultural offer in Waterloo and enhance our links with local educational organisations.

The expansion of the BID will also facilitate the improvement of key walking routes and the visitor experience in Waterloo as we address the needs of the large numbers of visitors, staff and students these organisations bring to the area, along with the many new hotels and residential buildings, and link them with local shops and services.

We are also extending our boundaries to the north to border our neighbouring South Bank BID, as well as to the west along Carlisle Lane to address poor pedestrian routes along the railway arches in this area.

BID Renewal In February 2016 you will be invited to vote on the proposals set out in this business plan to renew WeAreWaterloo for a third, five year term. They have been developed in consultation with existing BID members, businesses in the proposed extension area and key partners including Lambeth and Southwark Council, the Police and residents’ groups. Together they comprise an ambitious vision for the area that the business community can subscribe to. A majority of businesses - by number and by the total value of property they represent - must vote in favour of these proposals for the BID to be renewed.

Enhance the environment

The condition of the public realm reflects the economic health, reputation and unique character of the area. Waterloo benefits from an enviable location, excellent transport links and a characterful and pleasant environment.

Your Priorities – Our Objectives

You have told us that the local environment is key to the experience of all who work, visit and live in Waterloo, and reflective of the brand of the area.

We will renew, maintain and invest in the streetscape, improving the experience of the area and enhancing key walking routes. We will increase investment in the public realm and overcome navigational challenges presented by Waterloo Station.

Along with most other areas in the country, Waterloo is faced with the impact of drastic cuts to public sector budgets and reductions to core Council services.

We continue to lobby against reductions to public services but, at your request, will take a pragmatic response to this issue, identifying areas where the Council’s provision is not adequate and topping up where appropriate.

We understand that crime and anti-social behaviour is a concern for you and your staff, but that you wish us to work with agencies to get to the root cause of the problem and support those affected. You want businesses to be up to date with current security issues and empowered to respond, but in many cases are reluctant to see more uniformed wardens in the area.

You welcome initiatives from the BID that help you improve your environmental credentials whilst also saving money. In addition to our innovative recycling scheme, we will promote further bulk-buying of energy, and will push for improved air quality and greening in the area.

We promised and we delivered

- £6,787 average saving to businesses participating in our free recycling scheme

- 21% increase in number of businesses recycling

- Secured almost £6m investment for public realm improvements in Lower Marsh, Westminster Bridge Road and railway tunnels

Our commitments in the new BID term

Free and subsidised commercial recycling and general waste collections

Enhanced additional street cleaning (new)

More planting and greening

Free graffiti removal

Waterloo Licensing Forum

Radiolink and secure intranet - Business Crime Reduction Partnership BCRP

Additional security for specific local issues and counter-terrorism briefings (new)

Support for the homeless population

Westminster Bridge Road redevelopment project

Improvements to Emma Cons Gardens (new)

Capital fund for projects such as decorative lighting (new)

Joint purchasing of utilities

Improvements to walking routes – Waterloo Road, Westminster Bridge Road, Cornwall Road and Leake Street (new)

See our full Key Performance Indicators at page 20.

Connect and Represent

The long-term strength and success of Waterloo as a community relates in large part to the extent the individual organisations, groups and individuals within it connect with each other. Our collective lobbying influence, buying power and ability to make positive change is stronger when we work together and with our community.

Your Priorities – Our Objectives

The pace of change in Waterloo, number of new developments being built and rapidly evolving and diminishing public services have a huge impact on the business community.

Keeping pace with this change and being briefed on issues affecting you has consistently been identified as an area of WeAreWaterloo’s services that you value the most.

We will continue to keep you up-to-date with issues affecting you, will update you on new opportunities to do business and will lobby hard on your behalf for positive change.

Waterloo continues to face challenges with youth unemployment, reduced public services, lack of affordable housing, homelessness and a fear or crime and disorder which threaten our economic potential. Our members believe that Waterloo can be improved by greater connections between the business and residential community and have asked for the BID to consider a broader social agenda than business services alone.

Businesses have asked WeAreWaterloo to continue to promote links with local charities and community groups, providing support to the most needy through projects such as the FoodBank – and utilising your expertise as employers to support people into work, encourage start-up businesses and educate and inspire young people as they consider their future careers.

“”95% of you value an organisation to lobby on your behalf on issues affecting local businesses”

“95% of you value updates on new developments and planning applications”

We promised and we delivered

- Secured an exemption for members from a new ‘late night levy’

- Secured 10% group business rates reduction for businesses affected by streetworks

- 2.5 tonnes of food donated to the Waterloo Food Bank by local businesses through our supporters scheme

Our commitments in the new BID term

Networking events and business briefings

Quarterly business newsletter

Review and respond to planning and licensing applications

Updates on road closures, utilities works, events and filming

Secretariat of SoWN, the Neighbourhood Forum (new)

Grow the Waterloo FoodBank supporters scheme

Promote links with local charities, community events and residents associations

Enhanced EmploySE1 free recruitment service (new)

Careers and employability work with schools and colleges (new)

Develop a new business incubator with affordable workspace (new)

See our full Key Performance Indicators at page 21

Business Incubator

Working with developers Urbanest, we have secured a rent-free lease on a new business incubator facility at the former York House building.

WeAreWaterloo will develop this facility as an incubator for start-up businesses in the architecture and built environment sector, providing affordable workspace and training opportunities for new businesses.

The facility will aim to:

- Provide affordable small workspace for up to 40 businesses people - Offer training, networking and mentoring support - Deliver partnerships with industry experts and local educational organisations - Provide a meeting space and creative hub for the local business community

WeAreWaterloo will also base its new offices at the incubator.

CELEBRATE & PROMOTE:

The diversity and character of Waterloo’s community reflects its great potential to be developed as a unique business and visitor destination in the capital. We benefit currently from an enviable central London location, independent shops, a neighbourhood character, significant cultural assets and proximity to the attractions of the South Bank.

The area is changing, with the arrival of major hotels, more residential properties and the large-scale development of new buildings. This will create new markets which will advantage parts of our business community and expose others, not least through rising rents.

The BID will develop a strategy which is reactive to this change, but which also champions the unique character of the area.

You have also asked us to focus our resources on the quality of the Waterloo experience in general, to ensure that as many people as possible, from residents to tourists, recognise and appreciate the offer. The quality and experience of the local environment is just as much a part of our local brand as the attractions and amenities on offer.

You have told us that the WeAreWaterloo brand should be visible across the neighbourhood and that you want to see Waterloo ‘put on the map’. Our marketing will help dispel any residual negative perceptions of the area and a network of like-minded members will act as ‘brand ambassadors’ for Waterloo, rather than uniformed wardens.

We will examine the relationship of Waterloo and the South Bank – the neighbourhoods are different but each adds value to the other. We will develop linkages between the two brands that still acknowledge and celebrate our difference.

We will step up promotion of what’s happening in the area – from events and offers to concerts and new restaurants; encouraging people to spend more time and money in Waterloo. We will still deliver events and festive dressing of the public realm, but our focus will be more on promoting the vast array of events and activities that is already taking place. We will further expand our social media to reach new markets.

“85% of you feel that local marketing and promotions benefits your business; and 81% of you feel it benefits your staff”

“85% of you agree that improved signage benefits your business”

“£132,737 additional funding secured for marketing activity”

We promised and we delivered

- Quadrupled web traffic during the food festival over four years

- 34% increase in visitors to website over past 12 months

Our commitments in the new BID term

Annual Christmas lights display and Christmas tree

Grow the WeAreWaterloo website and our social media presence

WeAreWaterloo consumer e-newsletter

New-format food festival (new)

Press and media promotion

Promote the area’s unique independent businesses

Develop improved routes to the South Bank and grow our partnership with the South Bank Marketing Group (new)

Deliver a refreshed Packed Lunch project promoting events and activities to local employees (new)

Supply walking maps and business directories

See our full Key Performance Indicators at page 22.

Lower Marsh Market

Since assuming direct control of Lower Marsh Market under license from the Council, the BID has strengthened its profitability and built solid foundations on which to expand the range of stalls. The market presents perhaps the best opportunity for the BID to engage in direct place-making activity, curating a retail offer to respond to the needs of groups, which are currently under provided for.

 We will grow the market with more specialist events and traders, enhancing the brand and improving its visual appearance with new stalls and signage. We will introduce regular themed markets, such as vintage/flea markets, street food and local designer-makers.

 We will recruit traders that complement the existing retail in the area, seeking to integrate the market with surrounding activity to ensure it is embedded in the local offer and promoted as such.

 We will develop the social value of the market, promoting it as an incubator for exciting start-up businesses and a place for employment, training, test-trading and business support.

 We will seek new sources of revenue from additional trading sites such as the new Leake Street pocket park and reinvest this into the development of the market and the maintenance of the area.

Governance

How are we governed? Waterloo has an extremely diverse business community – from creative industries to independent retailers, world class theatres to charity headquarters, major public sector bodies to an emerging group of high end hotels.

It is important that the make-up of our Board and steering groups reflects this diversity to ensure we are delivering a programme of activity that meets the needs of all our members.

The Board is responsible for agreeing the strategic direction of the BID and overseeing the delivering of major projects, financial management and key performance indicators.

Current Directors of the Board are:

 Hugh Rosen Bourne Capital  Phillip Oppenheim Cubana Bar & Restaurant  Jorge Gil de Gomez H10 Waterloo Hotel  Ian Clark Kingsley Maybrook (Treasurer)  Patrick Mahon London General Buses  Nick Rampley Morley College  Michael Johnson Naganjohnson (Vice Chair)  John Langley National Theatre Studios  Liz Sillett The Old Vic  John Rushton Small Back Room (Chair)  Steven Chapman The Walrus  Vinod Vara Toolshop Group  Simon Atkins Union Jack Club  Paul Marshall Young Vic

The Board is supported by three steering groups, drawn from the wider BID membership. The groups are responsible for developing BID projects and services in line with the

10 overarching strategy of the company. Each steering group is chaired by a Director of the Board:

 Marketing & Business Development (‘Celebrate and Promote’ theme)  Environment & Public Realm (‘Enhance’ theme)  Corporate Social Responsibility & Employment (‘Connect and Represent’ theme)

WeAreWaterloo is managed by a small, energetic staff team:

 Chief Executive, Helen Santer  Chief Operating Officer, Ben Stephenson  Operations and Services Manager, Will Dyson  Marketing and Communications Manager, new post to be recruited  BID Support Officer (Apprentice), Bettina Ogbomoide

Finance We never forget that it’s your money we’re spending and this is why we have linked the business plan so closely to your priorities.

WeAreWaterloo has rigorous financial and project appraisal systems in place to make sure your money is spent wisely. Financial matters are overseen by a sub-group of the Board called the Finance & Administration sub-group. This group comprises the Chair, Vice-Chair and Treasurer of the Board. Budgets are set and approved annually by the Board and progress against spend and delivery of the BID’s activity is reviewed on a quarterly basis. WeAreWaterloo undertakes a voluntary independent audit every year to provide further reassurance about how your money is being managed.

All projects are subject to an appraisal system to ensure they meet the key criteria of:

*Demonstrable need *Demonstrable Benefit *Deliverability *Inclusivity *Value for Money

Projects and services are monitored against a set of Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) agreed by the Board. Each project is assigned a number of KPIs at appraisal, which are designed to assess its impact. Typical KPIs include: number of businesses participating in a service; impact on footfall; consumer satisfaction.

The proposed BID, including the extension area, would generate £615,000 per annum for the delivery of WeAreWaterloo’s core projects and services. Over the course of the BID term, a guaranteed £3,265,119 will be raised to be spent solely for the benefit of the Waterloo area.

In addition, the BID works hard to use your money to lever in addition investment to the area – both additional cash match-funding in the form of grants, sponsorship and other contributions – and also through influencing large-scale investment of public funds into the area on public realm projects and additional services.

We have historically generated at least £100,000 in additional funding every year to support the delivery of projects and services and aim to grow this figure year-on-year.

Budget

Year 1 Year 2 Year 3 Year 4 Year 5 Total Income BID levy income 615,000 633450 652453.5 672027.1 692187.9 3,265,119 Collection fees -33,500 -33,500 -33,500 -33,500 -33,500 -167,500 Contingency -19,050 19621.5 20210.15 20816.45 21440.94 63,039 Waterloo Station income 20,000 20600 21218 21854.54 22510.18 106,183 Sponsorship and concessions 15,500 17965 18503.95 19059.07 19630.84 90,659 Rebates and management fees 2,650 3729.5 3841.385 3956.627 4075.325 18,253 Other income (target) 100,000 100,000 100,000 100,000 100,000 500,000

Total 700,600 761,866 782,727 804,214 826,345 3,875,752

Expenditure Staff overheads, rent and operating costs 70,620 Enhance 197,355 Represent and Connect 152,409 Celebrate and Promote 150,833 Capital fund 48,560 Depreciation 45,000 Reserves 35,000

Total 699,775

The expenditure plan is for Year 1 of the new BID term. Subsequent budgets will be set and approved annually by the Board with input from the members regarding their priorities.

Contingency fund

A reserve capital fund is proposed to be built up over the course of the five year BID term to contribute towards the delivery of capital projects later in the BID term.

For prudence sake, a contingency fund of 3% of the BID levy is set aside annually to allow for reductions in income caused by properties temporarily being taken out of rating.

BID levy arrangements In order to be renewed, the BID needs to receive a ‘yes’ vote from a majority of businesses voting in the ballot, by number and by the total rateable value they represent.

If established, the BID will be financed by a mandatory annual levy, which is then ring- fenced for the delivery of the BID business plan.

The BID area spans part of the boroughs of Lambeth and Southwark. The ballot will be conducted by the Electoral Services team at Lambeth Council for businesses in both Lambeth and Southwark.

The levy will be calculated on the basis of 1.5% of the business’ rateable value as per the 2010 ratings list (www.voa.gov.uk) or the first available rateable value for properties built or valued after this time.

All businesses with a rateable value of over £6,500 (this includes all businesses except the very smallest shops, kiosks and offices) will be liable to pay the BID levy. There is an upper cap of £40,000, which is the maximum amount the largest businesses would have to pay, regardless of their rateable value. The levy is indexed by 3% each year. Charities receive a 50% reduction.

Full details of the BID levy arrangements are set out at p23.

Key Dates

 A formal Notice of Ballot will be issued by the Ballot Holder in the second week of December.  Postal ballot papers will be issued on Friday 22nd January 2016  The ballot will close on Thursday 25th February 2016 at 5.00pm  The announcement of the result will be made on Friday 26th February 2016

If you would like to speak to a member of the WeAreWaterloo team about these proposals, please get in touch:

Tel: 020 7620 1201 Email: [email protected]

In person:

WeAreWaterloo Suite 2, 45-46 Lower Marsh London SE1 7RG

Thank you for your support.

Appendices

What you’ve told us:

In August 2015, we surveyed our members to understand your priorities for the area and the activity that the BID should deliver in its next term. Called ‘Shaping the next five years’ the survey gave us a clear steer of your issues and requirements.

The business plan has been developed with input from the survey, individual meetings with businesses in the existing BID and the extension area and themed focus groups.

ENHANCE: Environment & Public Realm

91% of you have said that cleaner streets would benefit your business

82% of you value WeAreWaterloo’s free recycling service

75% of you want additional planting and greenery in the area

90% of you have said that crime and safety are a concern to your business and staff; however, only 29% want additional policing or wardens in the area and only 13% would be willing to pay for this. 55% of you want no additional policing or wardens at all.

*answered ‘agree’ or ‘strongly’ agree in our research

CONNECT AND REPRESENT: keeping you up to date, lobbying on your behalf, linking you to your fellow businesses and the wider community

85% of you welcome briefings on issues affecting your business, such as new legislation

76% of you value the opportunity to meet other local businesses and community groups

91% of you value a single port of call for advice on issues affecting your business

95% of you value an organisation to lobby on your behalf on issues affecting local businesses

95% of you value updates on new developments and planning applications

65% of you value subsidised activities arranged for your staff

*answered ‘agree’ or ‘strongly’ agree in our research

CELEBRATE & PROMOTE: Showcasing Waterloo and its vibrant business community

85% of you feel that local marketing and promotions benefits your business; and 81% of you feel it benefits your staff

78% of you agree that online marketing benefits your business

57% of you agree that outdoor events benefit your business – you have asked for a change in focus to less direct delivery by the BID of outdoor events and more promotion of the events that are already taking place

85% of you agree that improved signage benefits your business

We promised and we delivered – our commitments at the last renewal ballot

At our last renewal ballot in 2011, we committed to deliver a range of projects and services in the event of a successful ballot.

Our delivery against these commitments is set out below.

Enhance

- Develop the recycling scheme to include food waste and electrical equipment

o Delivered, with further addition of confidential waste, batteries, toners and office furniture; number of businesses recycling increased from 177 to 215, an increase of 21%.

- Smarten up trouble spots missed by the Council

o Fortnightly spot-cleaning of problem areas and monthly clean-up days

- More planting

o 100 new recycled barrel planters delivered with weather resistant plants

- Remove graffiti and fly-tipping

o Over 2,000 incidents reported to the Councils; top-up graffiti removal service from private property

- Deal with street drinkers and nuisance beggars

o Rolled out new Business Crime Reduction Partnership, providing radio-link and secure intranet for 34 Waterloo and South Bank businesses; Worked with Councils and BCRP members to refer people to services and secured exclusions for the most troublesome individuals

- Permanently light 17 trees along major routes in the area

o Delivered, with further sites planned

- Provide environmental advice to businesses

o Referred 57 businesses for free environmental advice through Smart Green Business programme saving 163 tonnes of CO2 and diverting 174 tonnes of waste

- Bi-annual deep clean and gum removal from pavements

o Responsive clean-up service enhanced to spot-clean worst areas

- Secure external investment into the public realm

o Worked with partners to secure £2.7m investment into the area through the Lower Marsh Regeneration Project; collaborated with development of Westminster Bridge Road project, securing £250,000 investment into the area to date, with a further £3m allocated to this project.

- Invest in more signage

o Artistic directional signage delivered at two sites along Station Approach Road, close to Exit 1 of Waterloo Station, a key route into the area. Implemented new Legible London signs.

- Lobby for improved signage in Waterloo Station

o Signage to Waterloo attractions from platform level delivered by Network Rail

Additional services and projects – delivered over and above the business plan

- Energy savings

o Joint purchasing project delivered with Utilitywise for gas and electricity; savings to businesses of average 0.5 pence per unit

- Leake Street pocket park

o New public space delivered at entrance to Leake Street in collaboration with Lambeth Council, levering in £90,000.

Connect & Represent

- Help businesses develop links with local charities

o Over 2.5 tonnes of food donated by 20 businesses to the FoodBank scheme; OurWaterloo project launched to link businesses with local charities; 48 Waterloo businesses registered to Employ SE1 recruitment service for local unemployed

- Deliver programme of lunchtime activities for local workers

o 100 local employees participated in activities

- Develop a business-to-business offer for local firms to promote themselves

o Delivered at least four networking events a year, from payments workshops to development briefings, and developed web facility for B2B promotions

- Keep pressure on public services to ensure streets remain safe and clean regardless of cuts o No reductions to Council cleaning services on Zone 1 streets in the area; supplied top-up cleaning to address shortfall in Zone 2 streets

- Represent your views and lobby on your behalf o Secured an exemption for the BID area from a new ‘late night levy’; briefed you on transport restrictions during Olympics

- Fight for more parking improvements

o Secured free 30 minute customer parking as part of the Lower Marsh Regeneration project

- Develop Licensing Forum – work with landlords to iron out problems and issues in the area o 80 members of the licensing forum, 34 businesses signed up to Business Crime Reduction Partnership

- Co-ordinate rates appeals for businesses affected by construction works o Secured 10% rates reduction for Lower Marsh businesses following co- ordinated group appeal

- Deliver updates on planning applications to members and represent views to planning authorities o Responded to 35 major planning applications

- Work with Police to increase uniformed presence in BID o The uniformed presence has decreased. Work proposed in next BID term to ensure smarter patrolling to meet business needs. British Transport Police now a member of the licensing forum and supporting premises in vicinity of Waterloo station

- Consult with and update businesses during public realm works o Spoke to over 250 people during the initial engagement phase of the Westminster Bridge Road regeneration project in November 2014 and secured 633 questionnaire responses during the formal consultation in July 2015

Additional services and projects – delivered over and above the business plan

- Supported launch of South London Procurement Network to notify businesses of new contract opportunities across Lambeth, Southwark and Wandsworth

Celebrate & Promote

- Promote local venues

o 286 articles produced in the WeAreWaterloo e-newsletter promoting local venues; 98 consumer-facing businesses listed

- Film friendly location

o Major shoots have included the new O2 advert and the film Legend about the Kray brothers.

- Generate press and PR

o Secured 92 positive press articles about Waterloo and its businesses

- Promote Waterloo Food Festival and encourage more businesses to submit offers

o 2,524 offers redeemed during the 2014 food festival. Number of businesses running events increased from 13 in 2011 to 28 in 2015.

- Create event to promote area’s shopping diversity

o Annual ‘Waterloo’s favourite independent retailer’ vote and celebration through Independents Day and Small Business Saturday

- Annual Christmas event and new lights

o 115 new Christmas light motifs installed in the area

- Keep supporting Waterloo Carnival o Delivered. Participant numbers grew to 499 in 2014, a 7% increase on the previous year.

- Increase perceptions of Waterloo as a destination in its own right o Developed WaW website for consumer promotions; web traffic during food festival grew from 6,236 in 2011 to 28,125 in 2015

- Double visitors to WQ website and treble followers to Twitter page in first year o Delivered, with further increase of 34% in 2015

Additional services and projects – delivered over and above the business plan

- Production of a Waterloo Retail Guide, promoting 55 local retailers - Secured £87,737 from the Mayor’s Office for Portas Pilot funding to promote Lower Marsh & The Cut - Secured £20,000 from the Mayor’s Office for the WeKnitWaterloo signage and community engagement project - Secured £25,000 from Lambeth Council for the development of a ‘click and collect’ pilot project

Our commitments in the new BID term

We have set Key Performance Indicators for the new BID term, providing additional detail about our main projects and services and how we will measure their impact.

Our KPIs will be reviewed annually and new, challenging targets set each year by the Board and Steering Groups.

Enhance

Increase the number of businesses participating in WeAreWaterloo’s free and subsidised commercial recycling and general waste collections, aiming to bring an additional 30% of those not currently using the scheme on board.

Double the BID’s current cleansing service, providing additional cleaning of streets over and above Council baseline, including additional leaf sweeping

Planting of 103 barrel planters and beds across the area with drought-tolerant plants; deliver enhanced planting in Emma Cons Gardens funded through income from food concession.

Update ‘green infrastructure’ framework and lobby for more planting and greening by developers and partners including possible green wall at Lambeth North tube

Free removal of graffiti from commercial premises

Represent businesses at Police ‘Safer Neighbourhood’ Forums in both Lambeth and Southwark

Facilitate the Waterloo Licensing Forum, extending benefits for licensees and hotels

Expand membership of radiolink and secure intranet scheme (Business Crime Reduction Partnership BCRP) for sharing information about offenders, crime warnings and anti-social behaviour, aiming to grow the WeAreWaterloo membership by 50%

Develop a communications strategy for crime and anti-social behaviour issues, including the possibility of a free phone or app-based system to support businesses not participating in the BCRP to share information with their neighbours and the BID

Investigate ad hoc purchase of additional security to respond to localised and time- specific issues e.g. anti-social behaviour following squat closures, and prior to homeless centres opening

Work with agencies and homelessness organisations to seek support for Waterloo’s street population and a long-term strategy for this issue

Work with partners to drive through completion of Westminster Bridge Road redevelopment project, keeping relevant members informed during implementation, lobbying for improved design and signage to complement the transport improvements

Secure investment for improvements to the streetscape; implementing improvements to Emma Cons Gardens (opposite Old Vic), a key crossroads in the area that currently experiences a very poor environment

Create a capital fund to attract match-funding for new capital projects such as new decorative tree lights to improve key routes through the area (new)

Increase number of businesses participating in joint purchasing of utilities to secure cost-savings on power bills, aiming to increase the number participating by 50%

Develop a strategy for the improvement of key walking routes through the area, including Waterloo Road south of the Old Vic, Westminster Bridge Road and Cornwall Road and secure investment for its implementation. Work to bring more events and animation to Leake Street to improve and open up this key route from the South Bank

Connect & Represent

Deliver at least four networking events a year, as well as smaller briefings for businesses on issues affecting them and new opportunities

Keep you updated on issues through our quarterly business newsletter, growing the number of click-throughs

Review planning and licensing applications in Waterloo, informing you of those that affect you and responding on your behalf to influence positive development

Update you on events impacting on your business operations, including road closures, utilities works, events and filming

Lobby on your behalf on issues from business rates to support for the homeless population

Represent business interests on the Neighbourhood Forum working to secure investment of developer contributions to projects that benefit the area

Grow the Waterloo Food Bank to help local employees support families in hardship, aiming to increase the number of participating businesses and the amount of food collected

Promote local charities and community events and opportunities for businesses to support them via the wearewaterloo.co.uk website and showcase best practice

Develop links with local resident associations to promote collaboration on issues affecting the whole community

Develop EmploySE1 free recruitment service to widen pool of quality candidates and support sector-specific training and recruitment e.g. for the hospitality sector; aim to increase the number of vacancies filled and improve employer satisfaction

Work with schools and colleges to support their careers and employability work with pupils, brokering relationships with local businesses

Develop a new business incubator on Westminster Bridge Road, providing affordable workspace for start-up businesses and training and networking support for businesses in the architecture and built environment sector

Celebrate & Promote

Install Christmas lights display annually across the area

Grow our in-house marketing capacity through the appointment of a full-time Marketing & Communications Manager to provide dedicated support to local businesses

Continue to grow the WeAreWaterloo website, developing content to attract new audiences, in particular new office workers, residents, students and hotel guests, and developing a new events listing function

Build the audience of the monthly WeAreWaterloo e-newsletter to build awareness of events, promotions and area information

Grow our social media presence, building our Twitter network through local and regional influencers, and generating new content for Facebook and Instagram

Launch a new-format Waterloo Food Festival, promoting and supporting in-premises events, growing the visual presence of the festival brand and marketing the event through the ever-popular gastro passport

Proactively seek positive press and media for Waterloo and its businesses, generating new content and sourcing stories for local and regional press

Promote the area’s unique independent businesses and specialist retailers; working with planners and developers to source the next generation of independents and ensuring there is adequate, affordable business space for them.

Develop links with the South Bank through physical improvements and animation of Leake Street and Cornwall Road, and growing our partnership with the South Bank Marketing Group to attract new audiences to the area.

Deliver a refreshed Packed Lunch project, focusing on promoting the many events and activities in the area to local employees, encouraging them to shop, walk and volunteer locally

Supply walking maps to Waterloo businesses and venues, including a local business directory and deliver area training to local hotel concierges

Technical and budgetary information

This section sets out in further detail the technical and budgetary information relating to how the two Business Improvement Districts (BIDs) in Lambeth and Southwark will operate as one under the umbrella organisation WeAreWaterloo.

Who is proposing this initiative? The BID proposer is the Board of WeAreWaterloo (registered name Waterloo Quarter Business Improvement District (BID) Ltd.)

The BID body will be WeAreWaterloo.

How will the BID be run?

The Southwark and Lambeth BIDs will be run as two ‘trading arms’ of WeAreWaterloo. The BID Regulations require the accounts for the two boroughs to be held separately. However, the overall aim is for the BID to achieve parity of service for all businesses, regardless of the local authority area in which they sit.

The BID will be run by the WeAreWaterloo BID Company. Its Board of Directors is formed from representatives from the local business community, all of whom are BID levy payers. Representatives are drawn from both the Lambeth and Southwark sections of the BID.

It is important that the make-up of the Board and steering groups reflects the diversity of the local business community to ensure we are delivering a programme of activity that meets the needs of all our members.

The make-up of the Board will be as follows:

 Office 5  Retail 3  Pub, Bar, Restaurant 2  Community/Other 3  Hotelier (new dedicated Board place from 1 April 2016 to represent the interests of this growing sector) 1  Property owner 1  Resident 1

Observer places on the Board are held by the following:

 Lambeth Council, officer and member  Southwark Council, officer and member  Metropolitan Police

The Board is responsible for agreeing the strategic direction of the BID and overseeing the delivering of major projects, financial management and key performance indicators.

The Board is supported by three Steering groups, drawn from the wider BID membership. The groups are responsible for developing BID projects and services in line with the overarching strategy of the company. All businesses are given the opportunity to be represented on these sub-groups and the Board. Each Steering group is chaired by a Director of the Board:

 Marketing & Business Development  Environment & Public Realm  Corporate Social Responsibility & Employment

Lower Marsh Market is a subsidiary company of WeAreWaterloo. It has two Directors:

- The Chairman of the BID - WeAreWaterloo (Corporate Director)

The market is a not-for-profit company limited by guarantee. WeAreWaterloo is reimbursed by the market company for management costs incurred in the running of the street market, making the operation of the market cost-neutral to the BID. Any surplus generated by the market is reinvested into its development and promotion.

The new business incubator will be run by WeAreWaterloo through a newly created not-for- profit company. The BID will receive an income from the incubator company for management costs incurred in running the facility.

How long will the BID last? The BID term will be five years in duration from 1 April 2016 to 31 March 2021. Before the end of this period, the BID Board may choose to seek renewal of the BID for a further term, through a renewal ballot.

What area is covered by the proposal? The area covered by the proposals comprises parts of the London Boroughs of Lambeth and Southwark as shown in the map at page 3, and covering part or all of the following streets:

Lambeth Station Approach Tenison Way Aquinas Street The Cut Baylis Road Theed Street Brad Street Virgil Street Carlisle Lane Ufford Street Centaur Street Waterloo Road Coin Street Webber Street Cons Street Westminster Bridge Road Coral Street Whittlesey Street Cosser Street Windmill Walk Cornwall Road Wootton Street Duchy Street Frazier Street Southwark Greenham Close Greet Street Barons Place Grindall Street Blackfriars Road Hatfields Borough Road Hercules Road Boundary Row Hercules Terrace Brook Drive Johanna Street Burrows Mews Kennington Road Colnbrook Street Launcelot Street Colombo Street Leake Street Cooper Close Lower Marsh Dodson Street McAuley Close Garden Row Mead Row Geraldine Street Mepham Street Gerridge Street Mitre Road Gladstone Street Morley Street Gray Street Morton Place Hatfields Murphy Street Isabella Street Newnham Terrace Joan Street Pear Place King Edward Walk Pearman Street Lambeth Road Pontypool Place Kell Street Roupell Street Keyworth Street Sandell Street London Road Sidford Place Meymott Street Spur Road Morley Street

Ontario Street St George’s Mews Paris Garden The Cut Peabody Square Thomas Doyle Street Pontypool Place Ufford Street Rotary Street Valentine Place Scoresby Street Valentine Row Short Street Waterloo Road Southwark Bridge Road Webber Row St George’s Circus Webber Street St George’s Road Whitehorse Mews St George’s Row

Shouldn’t the Council be paying for this through business rates? There is no link between the amount of business rate collected by the Council and the amount it receives back from Central Government to deliver services in the area.

A BID, in comparison, generates revenue that is 100% ring-fenced for the area in which it is collected, to be spent on projects for the benefit of businesses that pay the BID levy as determined by the businesses themselves. All services provided by the BID will be additional to those provided by The Council.

Additionality is ensured through the production of a ‘Baseline Agreement’ with each Council to set out the standard level of service that is already provided for the BID area. This ensures that the BID levy only funds services and projects over and above this level.

How will the ballot work?

In order to be renewed, the BID needs to receive a ‘yes’ vote from a majority of businesses voting in the ballot, by number and by the total rateable value they represent.

If established, the BID will be financed by a mandatory annual levy, which is then ring- fenced for the delivery of the BID business plan.

The BID area spans part of the boroughs of Lambeth and Southwark. Historically, two separate ballots have been required. However, changes in legislation have meant that a single ballot can be conducted for the whole BID area. The ballot will be conducted by the Electoral Services team at Lambeth Council on behalf of businesses in both Lambeth and Southwark.

The ballot will be a secret postal ballot of the eligible hereditaments on the Ratings List at the time of the Notice of Ballot being issued.

A formal Notice of Ballot will be issued by the Ballot Holder in the second week of December.

Postal ballot papers will be issued on Friday 22nd January 2016

The ballot will close on Thursday 25th February 2016 at 5.00pm

The announcement of the result will be made on Friday 26th February 2016

Who is eligible to pay the levy? Are there any exemptions?

All types of business are eligible for the BID levy. Hereditaments (rated ‘units’ of business space) with a rateable value of less than £6,500 will be exempt from paying the levy and therefore will not be eligible to vote in the ballot.

Businesses with a rateable value of less than £6,500 will be welcome to contribute on a voluntary basis, which will allow them to be involved in the BID Company. If, as a result of a re-valuation, a business’ rateable value shall exceed £6,500 at any time during the BID term, they will become eligible for the levy.

The BID levy payer in cases of unoccupied hereditaments will be the owner of the whole of the hereditament and the BID levy will be 1.5% of the rateable value. Where hereditaments are unoccupied at the time of the notice of ballot, the owner will be entitled to vote in the BID ballot.

Businesses with mandatory charitable relief from business rates will be given a discount of 50% of the BID levy. Those hereditaments which are exempt from empty property rates will not be exempt from the BID levy.

Where the occupants of hereditaments pay an inclusive rent or other charge for occupying space that includes the rates charge, the owner is liable to pay the BID levy and, consequently, is eligible to vote in the ballot.

Businesses which begin to occupy existing hereditaments during the BID period will be liable to pay the levy for their period of occupation, providing the hereditament remains eligible for BID membership. The BID levy will be extended to occupiers of hereditaments built or first occupied in the BID area during the life of the BID, assuming that they are otherwise eligible. In these cases the levy will be calculated on the rateable value entered in the 2010 Rating List or the most recent available rateable value if there is no entry in the 2010 Rating List

The following will not be eligible for the BID levy, or for the vote:

 Business units with a rateable value of less than £6,500  ‘Central List’ properties that are not contained in the local rating list. (NB. These include British Telecom and the gas and electricity supply networks.)  Advertising rights, telephone masts, and kiosks  Residential estate offices  Schools

 Places of worship

How much will this cost?

The BID levy is a daily charge. Occupiers and owner-occupiers will pay the levy at the rate of 1.5% of rateable value. The BID levy will be charged at 1.5% of the rateable value of each hereditament listed in the 2010 Ratings List as at the date of notice of ballot generating approximately £610,000 per year for the area.

The BID levy will increase by 3% annually to take inflation and cost increases into account. The BID multiplier will be as follows:

Year 1: 1.5% Year 2: 1.53% Year 3: 1.56% Year 4: 1.59% Year 5: 1.62%

The table below sets out the indicative levy payable for businesses depending on their rateable value in the first year of the BID.

Indicative rateable value Indicative BID levy £10,000 £150 £50,000 £750 £100,000 £1,500 £200,000 £3,000

An upper cap of £40,000 will be set on the BID levy payable. No single hereditament will have to pay more than this amount.

If you’re not sure what your rateable value is or how much your levy would be, please get in touch with the BID team.

How will the BID levy be collected?

Arrangements for the collection of the BID levy will be set out in two formal Operating Agreements between WeAreWaterloo and Lambeth and Southwark Councils. The Councils will be responsible for collecting the BID levy on behalf of the BID. The BID levy will be payable in one instalment per year. Bills will be raised in March and payment will become due on 1st April each year. Enforcement measures for the collection of the BID levy will be detailed in the Operating Agreement between WQBID and Lambeth and Southwark Councils.

The BID levy is a mandatory charge and collection is enforceable in the same way as the business rate. After 14 days non-payment of the BID levy, a reminder will be sent giving a further 14 days to pay. If after a further seven days from the payment date stated in the

Reminder Notice the outstanding sum of the BID levy has not been paid the Council shall make an application to the Magistrates Court for a Liability Order to recover the outstanding sum of the BID levy. Non-payment of the BID levy will incur additional costs to the business in question.

Who will pay for the costs of the ballot? The costs of the BID ballot, if successful, will be met by Lambeth and Southwark Councils. In the event of a failed ballot, Southwark and Lambeth Council may choose to pass on the costs of the ballot to WeAreWaterloo.

How can I get involved in the running of the BID? All new BID levy payers and all existing BID levy payers not currently formal Company Members, will be invited to become a Member of the Company. Company Members may subsequently nominate themselves for directorships in their relevant sector or to sit on one of the BID’s steering groups.

Can the BID arrangements be altered?

Only minor amendments can be made to the BID arrangements without seeking formal approval from the BID Members. BID arrangements may be altered without an alteration ballot, as long as there is no proposal to alter:

• The geographical area of the BID • The BID levy in such a way that would:

i. cause any person to be liable to pay the BID levy, who was not previously liable to pay; or ii. increase the BID levy for any person other than for inflation purposes as set out above

Where BID arrangements may be altered without an alteration ballot, the alteration will be made by a decision of the WeAreWaterloo Board, following consultation with both Councils.