Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Cllr Jacqueline Sweetman, Cllr Payal Bedi-Chadha, Cllr Martin Waite, Cllr Daniel Warren and Cllr Val Evans. 

Cllr Philip Bateman declared a non-pecuniary interest as a Member of the National Trust. He also declared a non-pecuniary interest as a Member of the West Midlands Partnership.

Cllr Jonathan Yardley declared a non-pecuniary interest as a Member of the National Trust.

[To approve the minutes of the previous meeting held on 21 November 2017].

The minutes of the previous meeting were confirmed as a correct record.

[To consider any matters arising from the minutes of the previous meeting].

There were no matters arising.

The Chair welcomed the witnesses to the Scrutiny Panel meeting.  He asked Mr Colin Parr (Head of Governance – City of Wolverhampton Council) how the new Market Contract was progressing.  In response the Head of Governance stated that the current contract was reaching the end of its life.  The contract presently covered three markets on Dudley Street.  It included the delivery of the Sunday Market and other themed markets across the City including the Tettenhall “Make it or Bake it Market”, which had been very successful in the last few years.  The Council would be going out to tender the following week. 

The Head of Governance stated within the new contract there would be additional days built in for the prospective promoter to have more themed markets, festivals and fayres akin to the “Make it or Bake it event.”  Pop up markets were a key component of the offer in a number of towns across the country and not just in the region.  The new contract would have in-built flexibility not just for the standard themed market programme but a wider range of smaller themed markets, which was acting upon a specific request from community groups. 

The Chair stated that the “Make it or Bake it event” was only held twice a year and questioned whether this was part of the tendering process.  The Head of Governance confirmed that the “Make it or Bake it event” was part of the contract.  The Chair stated that the event had been started by local people in the community with a focus on selling items that had been built in the home locally in Tettenhall, which gave it a unique special feel.  He asked whether this would be subsumed into a greater contract with more events and therefore lose its originality.  In response the Head of Governance said a promoter had supported the “Make it or Bake it event” under the themed market contract.   It would not be subsumed as part of the contract as it was already part of the themed markets programme delivered by an external promoter.  He confirmed the status quo would be maintained. 

The Chair asked the Head of Governance for his opinion on having more events, fayres and festivals in the Tettenhall area and whether he thought there would be good public support.  In response, the Head of Governance stated that a few years ago there had been proposals to hold more events in Tettenhall.  These had potentially not been sympathetic to the make-up of Tettenhall and the wants of the community, resulting in some negative feedback.  He hoped, with the “Make it or Bake it event” and the events held in the City Centre recently, that perceptions had changed.  If there was a will from community groups and Members in Tettenhall to have more themed markets, craft fayres and festivals, he believed he would be able to commercially find promoters to work with community groups willing to deliver.  He believed he could find promoters for cheese festivals,  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.

[The Director of the Wolverhampton BID, Cherry Shine will be in attendance to give a presentation and answer questions from the Scrutiny Panel.  The original business plan for the BID is attached]. 

Cherry Shine, Director of the BID and John Henn, Chairman of the BID and independent business owner gave a presentation on the Business Improvement District (BID).  The Director of the BID stated that Wolverhampton BID was launched in April 2015 after a long period of public consultation with businesses in the wider City Centre area.  The BID area was a defined location.  There were 560 individual BID Businesses in the BID area, paying a levy between £150 per annum and £15,000 per annum.  This collectively brought in nearly £504,000 per annum. There was a BID Board with representation from a variety of sources. 

The Director of the Bid stated the whole BID development process had started with a feasibility assessment.  A business plan was constructed after the consultation, developed by businesses for businesses.  The objectives of the BID were to improve perceptions of the City, enhance accessibility, increase footfall and raise the City’s profile as a destination.  It was recognised that these objectives could be achieved under four themes, clean safe and welcoming, marketing, promotions and events, accessibility and parking and business support. 

The Director of the BID said there was a team of City Ambassadors who were a welcoming team, branded with the Enjoy Wolverhampton logo on their uniforms. They were the eyes and ears for the City Centre and could guide people across the City with useful information.  They communicated via radio link into the BID Office.  They were also the business engagement team, visiting businesses regularly.   There were three Officers working for the BID including herself.  A key priority was to keep the City Centre clean and so consequently the City Centre was jet and hot washed two nights a month in hot spot areas.

The Director of the BID remarked that public surveillance was provided via CCTV which linked to the team of 5 City Ambassadors, Police, PCSO’s, transport interchanges, the Mander Centre and security staff.  The City Radio link connected over 110 businesses, which had been proactively promoted by the City Ambassadors.  These tools enabled the BID to have a good understanding of the movement of people, including anti-social behaviour within the City.  It also enabled issues to be dealt with straight away before becoming a serious incident.  Statements could be made to support evidence for legal action and criminal behaviour orders.  Partnership working took place with the Police, and City Tasking and WBCRG (Wolverhampton Business Crime Group). 

The Director of the BID said they ran the alternative giving campaign established because there was an element of homelessness and begging in the City.  People could donate at 19 donation points across the City Centre.  They were currently looking to develop the campaign with the Council to set up a business CSR Charity arm.  The BID were members of the Tacking Rough Sleepers Task Force. 

The Director of the BID said they paid for 32 additional Late Night Safe Haven nights.  They also managed four promotional spaces to promote a vibrant High Street.  They dressed vacant  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.