Annual Review 2017 – 18 ________ www.theyorkbid.com 1 YORK BID | Annual Review 2017 – 18 Message from our Chair & Executive Director Michael Hjort | Chair | York BID Andrew Lowson | Executive Director | York BID I have once again enjoyed the privilege of serving as In the second year of the BID, we have looked to build Chairman for York BID over the past year, working closely on the foundations set in Year One and reinforce our with the Board, levy payers and wider partners on issues reputation as a company that gets things done. That is which matter to businesses in York. Our overarching not always easy in the public realm, but the team and I aim continues to be a voice for city centre levy payers have stayed focused on the issues that are important to and to create a healthier trading environment in which levy payers and tried to be as responsive as possible to businesses can flourish. businesses that contact us. In two years, the BID has become a well established I am very proud of our Street Cleansing and Street Ranger body working within the city centre. This is evidenced operations. Both services have matured to play important by the number of partners you will see referenced in this roles within the city centre. The Street Ranger service document. We can also be pleased with the financial works very closely with the Police and is making a real contributions made by partners towards BID projects; difference to many businesses. The service has caught something that would not happen unless the BID was the attention of national media, with both the BBC and viewed as a credible body. Sky News having run features on the Rangers in 2017, (with the Sky article also receiving circa 7,000 views on The York BID team is only small, so working collegiately social media). The Street Cleansing teams are also doing with others maximises the potential of what can be an equally important job, arriving early in the city centre achieved. Whilst the BID will always have its own projects to clean up things neither businesses nor the public want to run, it has formed positive relationships with trade to see! associations, to help them deliver small projects that make a difference for their area. Other keynote projects we delivered included window dressing 14 vacant properties within the city centre Our Board of Directors and Advisors have continued to improve their appearance. Taxi Night Marshals at to provide invaluable knowledge and skills to support Duncombe Place were well received by nearby businesses Andrew and the York BID team and I commend the and members of the public and we expanded festive lights, enthusiasm and passion which they continue to provide. which contributed to the city being voted as the UK’s most festive (in a Virgin Media poll). In a time of economic uncertainties, York does perform well compared to other cities. Footfall was marginally What continues to please me is the interaction with up in 2017 against a national decline. For professional businesses that has seen a number of projects delivered services the main issue is a lack of grade A office space across the city. Projects such as the Fossgate Banner; as opposed to a lack of business growth; but it is good Coloured Umbrellas at Coppergate; Snow on the to see projects such as the Hudson House redevelopment Shambles; the Micklegate Soapbox Challenge; York and York Central moving forward. There remain Fashion Week; and many more would not take place challenges for some of our traditional high streets, where without BID funding. These are projects that are shaped large units are unoccupied and there is not a queue of by the businesses as opposed to the BID delivery team, takers. However, York has a thriving independent scene which is a testimony to positive engagement. and we must embrace this as it offers a unique experience the 21st century shopper craves. Year 3 will be a crucial one for the York BID. We now have an established team and good partnerships in the city, so We have delivered against a good number of our targets, we will look to continue our focus on customer service and but there is still much to do to achieve the priorities set delivery, with an aim to make further progress on the issues out in the original business prospectus. At the Board’s that matter to businesses. strategy day earlier this year, we agreed that in 2018 there would be a focus on costs savings for business; lobbying the local authority on upgrading car parking technology; and working with partners to understand how we can best market the city to a local audience. Both the Board and the delivery team remain committed to achieving the goals set out in the prospectus and making York a great place to trade, live and visit. 2 Year 2 in Facts & Figures Jet washed nearly Deterred 1,044 criminal incidents and addressed 60,000 square metres of 706 cases of anti-social York pavement behaviour 160,000 LED lights spanning 15km were installed during the Winter Lights display Recovered over Dressed 14 empty premises and helped introduce York’s 79 £12,600 first pop-up gallery Businesses signed up to the anti-loitering scheme of stolen stock Removed over Leveraged £74,000 from public partners 1,700 to help support pieces of graffiti Y1/2 projects Street rangers support Assisted/directed Street Rangers gave first aid on 84% 70 occasions 4,392 55 of users felt safer due members of the public vulnerable people to Taxi Marshal trial Removed circa Over £50,000 invested in business led projects 300,000 pieces of chewing gum and events 3 Safe & Secure York BID is working closely with partners to tackle issues that matter to businesses regarding safety in York’s streets. Our mission is to ensure that the city centre is a safe and pleasant environment for both residents and visitors to spend time and enjoy themselves. Street Rangers Anti-loitering The Rangers are a familiar The Anti-Loitering Scheme is in presence in York city centre. Last place to aid businesses in deterring year whilst patrolling the streets anti-social activity on their private they made 6,105 visits to local premises and doorways. The 79 businesses, logging areas in need businesses currently signed up to of attention as they went. The the scheme each have a sticker Rangers are often the first to on their shop fronts giving the respond to businesses reporting Rangers permission to ask those low level crime. Last year they who engage in this activity to prevented 1,044 criminal incidents, vacate. In circumstances where deterred 706 cases of anti-social the Rangers encounter vulnerable behaviour and recovered over individuals, they carry information £12,600 of stolen stock. and advice on where to find shelter and support. Partnership Working The BID sits on all the relevant Taxi Marshals River Safety city partnership groups including The BID levered funding from The student population is the night time economy and several sources including the important to York’s economy. counter terrorism group, ensuring Guildhall Ward Committee, Deans During Freshers Week the York that business has a voice on all Court Hotel, residents and taxi BID and the University of York issues that involve keeping the drivers to undertake a 6 month joined forces to enhance student city safe. This has allowed the trial of taxi marshals, operating safety. River safety in York has BID to influence partner working late evening/ early morning hours been a concern for many and e.g. when the Theatre Royal had of Fridays and Saturdays. An the BID worked with YorMed to concerns with drug taking in their evaluation of the scheme found provide two ambulances and a vicinity during panto season, that 84% of rank users (including crew, positioned strategically it was the BID that brought locals and visitors) felt safer and near the river walkways. Over partners together to target welcomed the enhanced level this period, the ambulance patrol resources. The BID Rangers also of customer service. The success made 16 interventions with host a weekly meeting, which is of the scheme means it will be students in trouble, either treating attended by both the Police and repeated in 2018. them at the scene or transporting Neighbourhood Enforcement them to a recovery centre. Not Officers to share information only did this remove students from and pool resources. immediate danger, it also saved the NHS over £5,500. Secure Cycle Parking York BID is working with City of York Council on how to improve secure cycle parking in the city. We have consulted with York Civic Trust and cycling groups to identify areas in the city where capacity can be increased. Delivery is estimated to take place in 2018. 4 Appearance & Environment York is regarded as one of the UK’s most beautiful cities and is internationally renowned as a destination for tourists and shoppers. The city deserves our ongoing care and respect. York BID are committed to developing projects that keep the streets looking their best and maintain the city’s unique shopping and leisure experience. Street Cleaning The York BID’s cleaning teams have worked tirelessly over the last 12 months to keep our beautiful city as clean as possible. Their work regularly receives positive feedback from businesses and members of the public. On the evenings our cleaners begin their deep cleaning sessions, jet washing and removing gum from the city’s pavements, street by street. During the last year the team covered nearly 60,000 sq/m of streets in the BID area removing circa 300,000 pieces of chewing gum.