This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Minister highlights Business Improvement Districts
23/09/2003
Minister for Finance and Public Services Andy
Kerr today encouraged businesses to share their views
and ideas to help shape Business Improvement
Districts.
The Minister was speaking at the Association of
Town Centre Management and Scottish Retail Consortium
Conference where he encouraged interested parties to
express their views on Business Improvement Districts
and the opportunities they offer to businesses and the
wider community.
A Business Improvement District (BID) is a
partnership agreement between a local authority and local
businesses to secure additional services in order to
improve the business environment. The Scottish
Executive is currently consulting with local authorities
and the business community on how they can best be
achieved.
Mr Kerr said:
"Business Improvement Districts are part of the
Scottish Executive's commitment to promote conditions
for long-term sustainable growth and to create a Smart
Successful Scotland.
"They are a potentially powerful tool and are
relevant to all businesses and all types of areas.
They can benefit city centres, town centres, industrial
estates, business parks and anywhere where local
authorities and businesses see an opportunity to stimulate
economic growth.
"Businesses Improvement Districts have already been
successful elsewhere. You only have to look at Times Square
inNew Yorkto see the massive improvements they can make to the
look and feel of an area.
"I believe these partnerships could deliver real
benefits for communities inScotlandtoo. Improvements in priority areas like
transport, tourism and the working environment are just
some of the many genuine benefits BIDs could provide.
"Business Improvement Districts will only work if
there is a true partnership between the public and private
sector. The power will be with the business
community to make a real difference in their local
area."
Director of the Scottish Retail Consortium, Fiona
Moriarty, said:
"If BIDs inEnglandandWalesprove to be successful, businesses and communities
inScotlandwill be at a competitive disadvantage if they don't
grasp this opportunity.
"This is a chance to find the perfect model for BIDs
inScotlandand this conference today has played a vital role in
advancing the debate on BIDs."
Chairman of the Association of Town Centre Management
inScotland, Gordon Reid, said:
"There is widespread political and business will for
the development of BIDs inScotlandand the speakers at today's conference led a healthy
debate on this funding mechanism that will take forward
urban regeneration.
"This proposal has the potential to radically change
the nature and appearance ofScotland's towns and cities and I look forward to the concept
being legislated upon."
The consultation on Business Improvement Districts
began on the 3rd July2003 and will close on the 10th October.
The development of the Business Improvement District
system inScotlandwas recommended by the Local Government Committee of
the Scottish Parliament in its Report of Inquiry into Local
Government Finance.