Chichester BID Annual Report 2019-20

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THE CHICHESTER BID AREA

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WHO IS CHICHESTER BID? A Business Improvement District (BID) is a business-led partnership which gives local businesses the power to decide what improvements they want to make in their city centre; helping accelerate regeneration by providing services, projects and solutions that fall outside the public sector remit. There are now more than 320 established BIDs across the UK. Chichester BID was formed in April 2011 and is a not-for-profit organisation representing the businesses of Chichester. In October 2016, the city businesses voted in favour of Chichester BID continuing its service for a second term of five years, which commenced on 1 April 2017 and will continue until 31 March 2022.

The BID Team delivers a range of projects and services to help ensure that the city is promoted, safe and secure for businesses, customers, shoppers, visitors and residents alike.

Chichester BID reports to an independent Board of Directors, who oversee the delivery of the city centre strategy and the funds allocated to it. Our Board Members represent a range of industry sectors within the city and provide invaluable skills, insight and experience.

More information about Chichester BID and the Board of Directors is available on the BID website: chichesterbid.co.uk

Useful abbreviations: BLP. . . . . BID Levy Payer CCC . . . . Chichester City Council CDC . . . . Chichester District Council WSCC. . . West Sussex County Council VC. . . . . . Visit Chichester

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A YEAR IN REVIEW PROMOTING CHICHESTER The BID Team are dedicated to promoting Chichester as an attractive and viable place to work, live and visit. The BID work closely with members, local authorities and partners to invest in promotional events and campaigns that will maximise footfall and increase local economy such as: • Marketing & PR including innovative campaigns in print, broadcast & online throughout the year supporting city centre businesses.

• Press coverage with 40 + articles about the city centre & individual businesses from Jan – Dec 2019, estimated media value £16,180 (not including online coverage).

• Coverage secured across Chichester Observer, Chichester Post, BBC Sussex, Spirit FM, South Coast Journal, Places to Visit, Sussex Life, Visit Chichester, Etc Magazine & Love Chichester.

BID CAMPAIGNS: FACTS AND FIGURES Summer Campaign: • Annual Independents campaign extended from one day in 2017 to a 3 month integrated marketing campaign in 2019 • 28K copies of Independent Passport produced, featuring 190+ independent city retail businesses, “Get Stuck In” loyalty scheme, destination brands, places to visit and city centre map

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• 46 x “Love Local, Shop Local” city centre banner flags designed and installed including 3 year planning consent • “Love Local, Shop Local” bunting for 120 shop fronts • City centre generic bunting in partnership with CCC • BID Team secured FREE editorial for 20+ businesses in Chichester Observer’s series supporting the Summer Campaign

• Super Saturday – A BID organised event with a footfall increase of 13% • Summer Street Party in partnership with CDC • Sponsored radio campaigns for Super Saturday, Summer Street Party & Chichester Gift Card • Total redesign of Visitors Map featuring all bars, cafes & restaurants in the city centre.

Distributed via 51 x map boxes, the TIC & Visit Chichester’s Leaflet Exchange

Annual Review 2019–20

• Promoting Chichester city centre as a destination via Visit Chichester, securing free online business listings on their website for all BID Levy Payers.

The BID also funded a Visit Chichester advertising campaign on Southeastern Railway (50 station platforms). In 2019 Visit Chichester was jointly funded by Chichester BID & CDC.

Winter Campaign: • Sole provision: Christmas city centre lights (23 Nov – 6 Jan) covering 16 streets, 3.4 miles of lights • Sole funding: 88 illuminated Christmas trees in Little London, South Street, North Pallant, The Hornet, St Pancras, Baffins Lane • Illumination of trees in Cathedral Green, East Street, Eastgate Square & Little London • Illumination of the Market Cross and the façade of Butter Market • Installation of the Recycled Christmas Tree for a second year in partnership with CDC & WSCC • 12K Festivities Brochures produced featuring 40 city centre events, distributed to Chichester District, Portsmouth, Southsea, Emsworth, Havant

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households & 230 visitor attractions across the region • 5K Festivities Brochures distributed to Chichester city centre businesses & attractions • Christmas Elf Trail (12 businesses) • Window Competition with celebrity judge, Hugh Bonneville (29 businesses) • Virtual Advent Calendar (11 businesses) • Provision of 18 on-street performances for Christmas shoppers • 215% increase in website traffic over Christmas period • 120.1K reach on Facebook for promotion of late-night shopping event

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A YEAR IN REVIEW ORGANISED & SAFER CITY The BID provides support and services which help maintain levels of cleanliness in public areas and aesthetical improvements such as planters and hanging baskets to enhance the streetscape.

• 105 hanging flower baskets installed in summer 2019, in partnership with CCC • Refurbishment of Crane Street planters, new seasonal planting & maintenance • Provision & installation of seasonal city centre bunting in partnership with CCC • General street cleaning, 6-month city cleaning programme in partnership with CDC • BID sole funding of 12 week deep street cleaning programme in North & East Street • Assisting CDC in the coordination of the cleaning, refurbishment & design of Northgate underpass

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• Installation of Roman Week flags • Vandal proofing 51 city centre map dispensers.

• Provision of two BID Rangers 3 x weekly for 12 months & the extension of these hours to full time, 7 days a week in the 8 week run up to Christmas.

Dual funded project with CCC • BID Rangers retrieved £10,655.30 worth in stolen goods for retail Levy Payers (Figs. April 2019 to Jan 2020)

• Attendance & information sharing at Joint Action Group (city centre stakeholders including CDC & Sussex Police etc) • Part funding of ChiBAC services within the city, including reduced membership for all BLPs, radio & DISC use • Security Walkabouts with CDC, ChiBAC, Police and other city businesses

• 1K x “Useful numbers to contact” crime & anti-social behaviour reporting procedure flyers compiled, produced & distributed to all city centre businesses

Annual Review 2019–20

BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY The BID team are constantly exploring options to provide support and opportunities for businesses to help with the development and promotion of the city centre as a retail and cultural destination.

• BID website re-launch in June 2019: 9,993 total users; 25,224 total page views; 22% traffic via social media (Figs. June 2019 – Feb 2020) • 11 monthly E-newsletters sent to BLPs and subscribers • 450 x printed newsletters, hand distributed to BLPs each month • 146 participating retail businesses currently signed up to the Chichester Gift Card, 424 cards purchased totalling £16,490.25 (Figs. Dec 18 to Dec 19) • ‘Super Saturday’: BID event, 24 businesses donated £3K+ worth of prizes, Spirit FM outside broadcast from Market Cross, promotion of Independent Passport, 13% increase in footfall on the day.

• Provision of 5 x free social media training courses for BLPs, delivered & funded by the BID.

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• Social Media Competitions for Summer & Valentine’s Day campaigns • Festival of Chichester Window Competition with celebrity judge James Nesbitt • Summer Street Party in partnership with CDC. BID funded Spirit FM outside broadcast and donated Team time to assist with stewarding • Support for Fiver Fest Campaign to promote Independents • 30K copies: Re-designed Visitor Map produced, listing 118 city businesses (distributed to 51 map boxes in 11 city centre car parks) • Over 680 posts across Facebook, Twitter & Instagram in 2019 • 59% growth in Facebook followers over the last 12 months (Jan 2019 v Dec 2019) • 7% growth in Twitter followers over the last 12 months (Jan 2019 v Dec 2019) • 87% growth in Instagram followers over the last 12 months (Jan 2019 v Dec 2019) • AGM and networking event • Delivery of 3 BLP Focus Meetings

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A YEAR IN REVIEW STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP The BID represents the private sector’s voice to West Sussex County Council, Chichester District Council and Chichester City Council; and works closely with private sector partners at the Chamber of Commerce and Visit Chichester.

• £25,562 Additional income secured • £75,000 of inward investment raised (match-funding with appropriate council body) • Business Rate Retail Discount: BID Team highlighted this scheme to all BLPs, championing its benefits & how

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to apply; how to challenge square footage & the urgency of completing the application in time.

• The Vision: The BID commissioned an independent Wayfinding analyst to create an improved scheme for the city centre which was then presented as a recommendation to the relevant enforcing council

• ChiBAC Business Against Crime (BCRP) is a business crime reduction partnership that aims to deter crime and provide support to BLPs who are ChiBAC Members. The BID part funds this scheme, which reduces the membership rate for our BLPs • Visit Chichester (Destination Management Organisation) The BID part fund Visit Chichester with CDC

Annual Review 2019–20

Projected Income 2019–20 Net Levy Income Generated Additional Income

FINANCE

Total Income

£373,009 £16,460 £389,469

Actuals 2019–20 Income Net Levy Income Generated Additional Income Total Income

£349,709 £25,562 £375,271

Expenditure Against Business Plan (% of levy) Strategic Partnership (42%)

£148,042

Business Opportunity (2%)

£8,000

Organised & Safer City (26%)

£92,603

Promoting Chichester (36%)

£126,983

Total Expenditure

£375,628

Estimated 2020–21 Income Net Levy Income

£350,000

Fundraising £25,000 Total Income

£375,000

Expenditure Against Business Plan (% of levy) Strategic Partnership (31%) Business Opportunity

£107,000 £1,600

Organised & Safer City (22%)

£77,500

Promoting Chichester (50%)

£173,900

Total Expenditure

£360,000

2020–21 Reserves The BID Board sets aside reserves each year to support city centre businesses and cover for non-collection shortfalls Appeals Provision (3%) 2021 Ballot (1%)

£10,000 £5,000

Carried Forwards from 2019-20

£62,485

Total Reserves (inc 5% contingency)

£77,485

(Chichester BID is currently operating on an Emergency Budget for 2020–21)

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Annual Review 2019–20

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Chichester BID 82 North Street Chichester West Sussex PO19 1LQ T: 01243 773263 E: office@chichesterbid.co.uk

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Chichester BID is the trading name of the Chichester City Centre Partnership, a registered company in England and Wales no 07961000 VAT Reg No 139304813 Annual Review 2019–20