This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Work underway to create pilot Business Improvement Districts
10/06/2005
Proposals to create Business Improvement Districts
(BIDs) to promote economic growth have taken a significant
step forward today.
Finance Minister Tom McCabe announced that all
the recommendations of a working group set up to consider
the way forward for BIDs have been accepted.
One of the recommendations is to establish pilot BID
areas and work will now get underway on these.
Tom McCabe said:
"There is no doubt that BIDs are a potentially powerful
tool in our drive to regenerate our town centres and grow
the Scottish economy. In due course we will be introducing
legislation to underpin the new arrangements, which will
allow local businesses to decide what their own priorities
are for the local economy, and the means to bring about any
agreed improvements.
"BIDs can benefit all those with an interest in renewing
town centres. Improvements that lead to more shoppers
coming into an area will benefit local businesses. Local
authorities will be helped towards achieving their
objectives to improve the quality of life of their
citizens. And creating town centres which are attractive
and safe places to shop and to visit will benefit local
residents.
"I am extremely grateful to the Working Group for
producing its report. They did not have an easy task but I
believe they have come up with a model that can work for
all. I can confirm today that we have accepted all the
report's recommendations and that work on the next stages
will begin immediately.
"Business Improvement Districts will succeed best where
there is a true partnership between the public and private
sectors. If we are to achieve our goals of creating a
dynamic economy which can meet the needs of the Scottish
people it is imperative that we work together to achieve
this. I believe that BIDs can be an extremely useful tool
in facilitating this partnership working."
The Working Group proposed two types of BID pilot
projects, Pathfinders and a Demonstration Project.
Pathfinders will be funded by the private
sector, with a small contribution from the Executive to
cover start-up costs. Expressions of interest will be
invited to take forward a Pathfinder project in each of the
following categories:
- Prospering City Centre Area
- City Centre Renewal Area
- Prospering Town Centre
- Business Park/Science Campus
Demonstration projects will be fully
funded by the Executive and will serve as an example of how
BIDs can help to regenerate a medium-sized town centre in
need of renewal.
The organisations represented on the BIDs Working Group
were: Scottish Executive, COSLA, Scottish Retail
Consortium, Association of Town Centre Management, the
British Property Federation, Scottish Chambers of Commerce,
Scottish Enterprise, Forum of Private Business in Scotland,
Federation of Small Businesses and the Boots Group.