Here is the link: http://www.newburybid.com/brochure/index.html

Quoted from richard.garvie

As far as I was aware, the voting for what's included in the business plan ends soon. So starting at the top, and working your way down, how many items do you think will be provided?

£60k salary for BID manager.
Office costs.
Admin costs.
£10k a month marketing "brand newbury", and that's a conservative estimate providing you can barter a good raddio / print package. If they decide to go for TV like Festival Place, you are looking at much more.

£80k running costs per year plus £120k marketing budget = £200k. Not much small change after just one item on the list, which is why there were rumours about the levy being 1.5% or even 2%.

Well here's the plan and you were not that far off. £60k running costs and £210k to spend (of which 40% is on marketing).
http://www.newburybid.com/brochure/index.html

It looks nice and sounds great (although a few vested interests outside the BID area have wormed their way in). But as we know with Newbury, the devil is in the detail.

Two things concern me.

1. The board can change the projects/budgets at any time without asking the businesses.
2. The board composition appears pre-cooked. WBC are on this board, and apparently there's a need for TWO "property professionals" AND one finance representative (wonder who they could have in mind). Seems strange to me when there's no rep from say the pub trade/markets. While anyone who pays can become a board member, it doesn't say how the 5-strong Executive Committee is decided?

I sincerely hope that Mr Garvie is wrong and that the TCP cronies are not going to hijack the top posts on the BID. Perhaps NewburyP can put our minds at rest.

PS - I love the "what happens if I vote no" page!

Ooh...also....only one place for 'shopping centre managers' on the board, even though it goes against government advice to have landlords running BIDs.

A very comprehensive report.

Should make good bedtime reading over the weekend.

Quoted from BrianB

A very comprehensive report.

Should make good bedtime reading over the weekend.

Whatever floats your boat!  

Let's hope that this new committee can do something about the crap set of Christmas lights that currently adorn the town.

Half the bulbs are not working and there seems to be a complete set missing in Northbrook Street.

Years ago, Newbury used to have a very colourful display. We might just as well not bother with what we have now.

Quoted from Archie

Let's hope that this new committee can do something about the crap set of Christmas lights that currently adorn the town.

Half the bulbs are not working and there seems to be a complete set missing in Northbrook Street.

Years ago, Newbury used to have a very colourful display. We might just as well not bother with what we have now.

This seems to be a recurring problem in Newbury?

CCTV that has been upgraded but is about as much use as a chocolate fire guard, result - taxpayers paying good money for a system that might as well have been scrapped?

Taxpayers paying for Christmas lights that are really an embarressment - as you say may as well have not bothered?

Taxpayers paying for refuse collection that now only happens one a fortnight - result plastic rubbish sacks accumulating- taxpayers have to take own refuse to recycle center or fly tip?

Victoria Park play area refitted - result even a sign of rain and it floods and is covered in mud - broken play items and no safety fencing?

But they are proud to say they have not raised council tax![b][/b]  

This block voting thing has to be wrong. Whatever happened to OMOV?

So if I have a shop in the Kennet Centre, I can't vote against the BID because my landlord has already decided on my behalf and will charge me for it whether I want it or not. This cannot be right!

Quoted from scaramouche

This block voting thing has to be wrong. Whatever happened to OMOV?

So if I have a shop in the Kennet Centre, I can't vote against the BID because my landlord has already decided on my behalf and will charge me for it whether I want it or not. This cannot be right!

What? Are you trying to stop the same people running Newbury that have always done so. Come on, this line of thinking will never do?
No wonder the country is going to the dogs?  

Quoted from Cognosco

What? Are you trying to stop the same people running Newbury that have always done so. Come on, this line of thinking will never do?
No wonder the country is going to the dogs?  

Posters on here are always moaning about the same people running Newbury. It may be, but if those persons didn't get involved, who would. Because a few people are interested enough in the town and probably their own businesses, what would the moaners like to happen. Everybody just walk away from it and let the town degrade for lack of interest or is there some smart plan which they might like to put forward. Just looking at the annual cost of the BID, it's not that onerous per shop or business and I'm sure the benefits outweigh the costs if the booklet is anything to go by. The other factor that I find strange is that the aforementioned moaners are not even shop or business owners so why object to something which is nothing to do with them.

Quoted from scaramouche

So if I have a shop in the Kennet Centre, I can't vote against the BID because my landlord has already decided on my behalf and will charge me for it whether I want it or not. This cannot be right!

...and as you don't, why do you believe that you need to comment and query the rights and wrongs. Do you know of any of the owners are not happy with it. Of course you don't, but if you are a shop owner then do let me know the error of my posting.

Quoted from brian

Posters on here are always moaning about the same people running Newbury. It may be, but if those persons didn't get involved, who would. Because a few people are interested enough in the town and probably their own businesses, what would the moaners like to happen. Everybody just walk away from it and let the town degrade for lack of interest or is there some smart plan which they might like to put forward. Just looking at the annual cost of the BID, it's not that onerous per shop or business and I'm sure the benefits outweigh the costs if the booklet is anything to go by. The other factor that I find strange is that the aforementioned moaners are not even shop or business owners so why object to something which is nothing to do with them.



...and as you don't, why do you believe that you need to comment and query the rights and wrongs. Do you know of any of the owners are not happy with it. Of course you don't, but if you are a shop owner then do let me know the error of my posting.

This reply is about par! It has nothing to do with you even though you are a taxpayer! As to Newbury degrading for lack of interest, I thought it was already too late? Just because some posters are not shopkeepers should not prevent them commenting. After all it is non shopkeepers you rely on to keep you in business. You will find that to to try and enforce people to do something they really do not wish to is counterproductive. Much more sense to all go along with a strategy that the majority agree on, not with a strategy that a certain few would like.  

Any how disregard my comments as I am not a shopkeeper so as you say nothing to do with me. Like so many now are doing I will take my money elsewhere!  

Quoted from Cognosco

What? Are you trying to stop the same people running Newbury that have always done so. Come on, this line of thinking will never do?
No wonder the country is going to the dogs?  

No he's trying to prevent a takeover by the shopping centre managers.

Quoted from Cognosco

This reply is about par! It has nothing to do with you even though you are a taxpayer! As to Newbury degrading for lack of interest, I thought it was already too late? Just because some posters are not shopkeepers should not prevent them commenting. After all it is non shopkeepers you rely on to keep you in business. You will find that to to try and enforce people to do something they really do not wish to is counterproductive. Much more sense to all go along with a strategy that the majority agree on, not with a strategy that a certain few would like.  

Any how disregard my comments as I am not a shopkeeper so as you say nothing to do with me. Like so many now are doing I will take my money elsewhere!  

You just haven't thought this through really. It makes no real difference if you are a taxpayer as the Bid asks for a contribution from the shop owners. The TCP have been trying to channel the focus of Newbury towards being a pleasant and enjoyable experience for shoppers and perhaps make the job of earning a living for themselves a little less stressful. The national chains have something to contribute to the town of course as without them there really would be a bare town but I believe it is important that local shops also have a say in the way the retail town works and runs.

Can I understand from your final line that if a town has a BID in operation, you won't shop there either.

The BID's looking really good, and some of the projects will do Newbury a world of good.

I want it to get off to the best possible start, and as rents ALWAYS go up in BID areas, it's poor form to have landlords voting on what projects get the go-ahead.

As for the "same old faces"....we need the skills to match the projects (ie marketing, web and events)...not members of the same Grand Lodge.

Quoted from brian

You just haven't thought this through really. It makes no real difference if you are a taxpayer as the Bid asks for a contribution from the shop owners. The TCP have been trying to channel the focus of Newbury towards being a pleasant and enjoyable experience for shoppers and perhaps make the job of earning a living for themselves a little less stressful. The national chains have something to contribute to the town of course as without them there really would be a bare town but I believe it is important that local shops also have a say in the way the retail town works and runs.

Can I understand from your final line that if a town has a BID in operation, you won't shop there either.

Having read the text quoted in your post he seems to be saying that if businesses in a town take it upon themselves to improve their town centre with their own money then he'll shop somewhere else. Bizarre.

Quoted from user23.3

Having read the text quoted in your post he seems to be saying that if businesses in a town take it upon themselves to improve their town centre with their own money then he'll shop somewhere else. Bizarre.

Eh up User! I knew you could not resist indefinitely?  

I was refering to the comments made that if we are not shopkeepers then it had nothing to do with us and we should not be commenting!

My original post was regarding the same people running the BID as have always run Newbury, so no new ideas coming through then?
The town is not just for the shopkeepers and business, it is for all taxpayers.
I would have thought the more input from business and the general public alike would have been welcomed? Not to have the general public told to shut up it has nothing to do with you - seems a very strange way to operate especially as it is the general public who business relies on to keep them in business.

If there are members of the general public who can point out possible flaws with the bid then surely it follows that there must be proposed members of the bid may have the same view?

Personally I would be worried that the same people who have run Newbury in the past would be allowed to dominate the BID.
I would be worried that my contributions to the BID would only be used as a form of donation to enable certain people to finance their own agendas which, possibly, may be detrimental to my business?

Unless it can be shown that the BID will assist all the members, equally, then I would not personally vote for it.
It is still not clear if Parkway is included in the BID? I would be of the opinion that without Parkway it would be fruitless.

I am not against the BID as such I am able to see if done properly it may be of benefit to business but with the above caveats.

If the same old faces were to be running Newbury then it would be a disaster in my opinion and therefore I would take the only action that is open to me and vote with my wallet by not spending my hard earned cash in Newbury.