There doesn't seem to be anything about the specific improvements that that BID will deliver.
Mainly because they want to discuss the requirements and get proposals from the businesses before they start the ball rolling. I know it's not what WBC do but asking and then forming a plan is a good way of going about it.
Mainly because they want to discuss the requirements and get proposals from the businesses before they start the ball rolling. I know it's not what WBC do but asking and then forming a plan is a good way of going about it.
Surely they must have some idea of what they want to do, so that those consulted know the limits of what's possible. I doubt they're really asking "We're not sure what we're doing, can you give us some ideas?" and I would have thought they set their aims out in their business case for the project. Will this be distributed to the local businesses involved?
Not sure what WBC have to do with this either, can you tell me?
Apart from the fact that West Berks are bank rolling a lot of the project through donations to the strategic partnership and so on, nothing at all. But I agree with User23, you would think that this had been thought through before getting to this stage.
Apart from the fact that West Berks are bank rolling a lot of the project through donations to the strategic partnership and so on, nothing at all. But I agree with User23, you would think that this had been thought through before getting to this stage.
Yes, I would have thought they'd set out a few specific aims of the BID, even if they were fairly broad at the moment.
"We'd like to tax you more but we haven't worked out what to spend it on yet" doesn't seem the most likely strategy to win enough yes votes from local businesses for it to go ahead.
Until the terms of the BID are settled and for this they have taken the positive step of employing someone to drive it forward, there has not been any request for any extra 'tax' and one could be assured that a strategy will be in place before it happens.
Very often, there is a plan to do something or provide a service and the thoughts are laid on the table for all to see. This is an open and sensible way of moving something forward. If the whole thing had been carried out in secret, behind closed doors so to speak, the slightest whiff of it on this forum and they would be castigated for running a secret society. If you cast your mind back, isn't that exactly what the TCP were accused of on here a while back. Which way do you want it.
For User, my parallel with WBC was that there is a body that is very secretive about major plans until suddenly they present us with a fait accompli. The Pavilion springs to mind.
In any project one should set out some specific aims and objectives from the outset. From what I can see, this hasn't happened here but let's hope this doesn't hamper the project which could being great benefits to our town.
If what Richard says is true, that West Berks are bank rolling a lot of the project it would be nice if us taxpayers could have a say in it too.
We've already pumped £2,000,000.00 into the business community in the form of a fancy road surface that has done zilch to improve the fortunes of retail businesses.
In any project one should set out some specific aims and objectives from the outset. From what I can see, this hasn't happened here but let's hope this doesn't hamper the project which could being great benefits to our town.
If what Richard says is true, that West Berks are bank rolling a lot of the project it would be nice if us taxpayers could have a say in it too.
I'd rather scrap the lot and establish an open, transparent and fully elected TCP.
Businesses in the town centre. Meetings should be open to every business in town, and they should elect from within themselves.
That is what happens as far as I can see. The chair is a person who runs an independent business in Newbury. It's run for the retailers by the retailers. Certain people are invited to serve on the group because they can assist the town centre. Police, Racecourse, WBC etc. You go on about the TCP as if it was some sort of secret society. Are you a bit miffed because they can't be a**ed to deal you in. You are not a retailer and as such, I don't really see how you can be critical about what they do or don't do.
Shouldn't us taxpayers and shoppers, the ones that fund the whole thing get a say?
Why not pop along and ask. You will find that the chairperson is a very nice person and if you believe you could carry out an active and meaningful role, I'm sure that your efforts would be appreciated. Of course, we know that won't happen, don't want your cover blown do we.
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