Council to back Crewe's plans for new business improvement district
Cheshire East is backing Crewe's plans for a business improvement district (BID), saying the low cost to the council could result in big improvements for the town.
A BID is an area where business rate payers have voted in a ballot to pay a levy into a fund for a fixed period, usually five years, for projects to benefit the BID area. This is in addition to business rates.
The proposal for the Crewe BID encompasses the town centre, Grand Junction Retail Park, and covers an area to the south to include businesses around Nantwich Road.
Development and regeneration delivery manager Jo Wise told the Tuesday 14 November 'meeting of the economy and growth committee the council owned 13 properties within the proposed BID area and would have 13 votes.
She said if the BID goes ahead Cheshire East would have to pay a total levy of about £16,500 per annum for the five-year period of the BID.
Mrs Wise said the proposal 'does align with council policy and the council's aspirations for central Crewe and should support the council's efforts to revitalise Crewe town centre'.
At the beginning of the meeting, the committee heard from Crewe town councillor Simon Yates, who is also secretary of the Nantwich Road Action Group.
He told the meeting: "By voting yes today you are supporting business to play a much bigger part in the life of the town.
"We all know how difficult it is to engage businesses, particularly small retail businesses and national chains in town planning.
"Yet what the BID has done for the first time has been able to attract interest and support from the owner/operators on the retail park, from independent traders in the town centre and, in a great example of 'build it and they will come,' businesses on Nantwich Road who have picked up the lead from Cheshire East Council and supported the alley clearing scheme and hosting defibrillators."
Cllr Janet Clowes (Wybunbury, Conservative), said she was fully supportive of the Crewe BID.
"We're involved in the Wilmslow BID as well and we know how well that turned out, it's already beginning to pay dividends," she said.
Crewe councillor Connor Naismith (Labour), said there seemed to be cross-party agreement on this.
"It's encouraging to hear that turnout is higher in the Crewe BID proposals than it was at the same point in the Wilmslow vote, because that shows us that businesses are positively engaging with the initiative," he said.
Cllr Dawn Clark (Labour), said: "As a Crewe town councillor I know we are all fully on board. It is what this town needs at the moment."
Odd Rode councillor Patrick Redstone (Conservative), said: "The actual cost of this is low for the council and yet the benefits could be magnificent really, it could really transform this area of Crewe which can only be great news for everybody."
Committee chair Mark Goldsmith (Independent), who sits on Wilmslow BID board, said the first year had been nothing for positive for the town.
Councillors were unanimous in their support for the council to vote in favour of the Crewe BID.
Whether or not the BID goes ahead will depend on the outcome of the overall vote by businesses which is taking place this month.
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