A Business Improvement District (BID) is run by and for the benefit of businesses to improve trading conditions within a defined commercial area.

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1 WHAT IS A BID? A Business Improvement District (BID) is run by and for the benefit of businesses to improve trading conditions within a defined commercial area. BIDs raise money to deliver activities to improve local trading conditions Business-funded through a levy based on a percentage of the rateable value BIDs aim to leverage additional funding from other sources Established through a ballot of businesses in the area Businesses vote on a BID proposal All businesses become members of the BID, which is managed and operated through a non-profit limited company BIDs must seek re-approval after a fixed term of up to 5 years Business-led but working in partnership Today there are 190 BIDs in the UK and ROI There are three established BIDs in Wales, with 10 more proposed, including Bangor and Caernarfon BIDs are established by achieving a majority at ballot of both number of businesses and rateable value Pioneered in Canada and the US in the 1970s Legislation passed in UK in 2003, first BIDs established in 2005 Examples of a few BIDs in the UK Merthyr Tydfil Swansea St Austel Bedminster Bathgate

2 A BID FOR BANGOR In November and December 2014 we consulted with 82 businesses in Bangor Types of business responding to the open consultation Do you think a Business Improvement District (BID) for Bangor is a good idea in principle and should be tested in a ballot? 49% Independent NOT SURE 77% Yes 2% Independently owned franchise YES 21% 49% Part of a wider 2% No group Not Sure What are the main reasons for establishing a BID in Bangor? Bangor is crying out for something to be done about the High Street Coming to Bangor needs to be a pleasurable experience We re looking for something innovative, we re happy to pilot new initiatives We see the High Street developments in Bangor as just half a job and want to see more Improving trading environments through co-ordinated and collective investment There is no free-loading everyone benefits and everyone contributes BIGGEST ISSUES Parking Footfall Marketing and promotion Cleanliness of public areas Community engagement Business networking IMPROVEMENTS Cheaper / flexible parking Fill empty shops Improve shop fronts Increase promotional activity Host high-profile calendar events Improve signage Increase public seating areas

3 BID ACTIVITIES Key issues and priorities voiced by businesses during consultation included: Reducing the price of parking Improving the look of the city centre Increasing footfall through events and promotion Therefore the BID s vision for Bangor as a place for visiting, working, living and enjoying, is for the city to be: Once the BID is Clean & Green, Smart & Safe established members will be able to influence the BID in order to deliver projects that best suit the changing needs of BANGOR BID the city centre. Influential and intergrated Proudly Promoted The BID will produce a detailed action plan and an annual evaluation of progress towards its targets.

4 BID ACTIVITIES 1. Clean & Green, Smart & Safe Projected BID investment over 5 years: 212,500 Enhancing Bangor s image by making it a more attractive and welcoming city by managing its cleanliness, and the general ambience. A rapid response street team will ensure Bangor is significantly cleaner Flowers and greenery will bring colour to the streets This will open up the High Street to complement other significant attractions. By partnering with the University, the police and the Bangor and District PubWatch Scheme, the BID will help address anti-social behaviour, littering and nuisances in the day and night. The BID will focus on the following activities under the Clean & Green, Smart & Safe theme: New and additional cleaning Additional greening City centre information and landing areas Improving shop fronts Creating a safe environment 2. Proudly Promoted Projected BID investment over 5 years: 107,500 This is our opportunity to raise the standards and presentation of Bangor as a business, retail, and tourist destination and to increase footfall. The BID will support a key events programme for the city centre. Run in partnership with local community groups and others we will work together to engage residents and visitors, animate the streets and encourage everyone to spend time in the city centre. The BID will also establish a City Centre Challenge to engage school, college and university students with their city centre, and offer enterprise opportunities through pop-up shops. The BID will sponsor awards, work experience and training opportunities for all ages. The BID will design and implement marketing and promotional activities according to plans tailored to the BID area s various audiences: Visitor Welcome Plan Warm Welcome / Croeso Cynnes BID website and local business directory I Love Bangor / Rwy n Caru Bangor 3. Influential & Integrated Projected BID investment over 5 years: 168,600 City Centre Liaison Bangor BID will have an active part-time BID manager who will act on behalf of BID members to ensure that it is serving their needs. The responsibilities of the BID Manager will include: Project management Advocate for businesses Liaison with other organisations Generate additional funding Growing Business The BID will deliver the following activities to help grow and support businesses in Bangor. Helping existing businesses grow and improve, networking and signposting New businesses and start-up mentoring scheme Collective purchasing, helping businesses get better deals Awards programme and celebration events

5 YOUR CONTRIBUTION THE LEVY Bangor BID will be financed through an additional, annual levy of 1.5% of the rateable value of the business. The levy will apply to all business rates payers with a rateable value of over 2,000. Through its levy Bangor BID would generate an income of 127,000, or 635,000 over the five-year term of the BID to invest in projects and services to benefit businesses. This will help to leverage in additional funds from other sources including: securing grant funding and sponsorship, voluntary contributions from businesses outside the boundary and landlords. Businesses with a rateable value below 2,000 may contribute voluntarily in order to be included as a voluntary member of the BID. Business Rates 2015/16 Rateable Value Only 10% of businesses will contribute more than 2.50 per day Maximum Annual Levy 2,410 5, p 4,820 10, p 9,640 20, ,100 50, , ,000 1, Maximum Daily Equivalent Cost Only 1/3 of businesses will contribute more than 1 per day The levy is an investment In return for your investment businesses will benefit from projects that you would not get without the BID. The BID company will be accountable for all monies received or generated and will be able to report to businesses informing what they are receiving for their investment. How much do you spend annually on advertising? The BID will provide excellent free advertising opportunities. The largest annual levy income for UK BIDs is 2,814,000. There are 7 BIDs with annual incomes of more than 1m. The smallest annual levy income for UK BIDs is 22,400. There are 15 BIDs with annual incomes of less than 100,000.

6 MANAGEMENT, GOVERNANCE & TIMELINE MANAGEMENT & GOVERNANCE A BID Company will be established as a not-for-profit company limited by guarantee. It will be run by a board of directors made up of representatives from the private sector, including national and local independent traders. It can also include public and third sector representatives. Board directors will serve voluntarily. Directors will be elected to the Board by members at the Annual General Meetings, to be held from September 2016 onwards. Any levy paying business will be eligible to stand as BID directors. All levy payers can be members of the BID Company. As members, you can control how the BID funds are spent and can hold the BID Company to account. The BID will also employ a manager to ensure projects are delivered effectively and efficiently, to seek additional funding and be the main point of contact for the BID. The levy will be collected by Gwynedd Council on behalf of the BID and will be paid to the BID Company. TIMELINE Notification of the postal ballot July 2015 Receive voting pack August 2015 THERE ARE A NUMBER OF STAGES TO ESTABLISHING A BID. Here are proposed timescales for the next steps, check the website for more updates. Postal ballot closes & ballot results announced September 2015 Establish the BID company October 2015 March 2016 BID company goes live & first levy collected April 2016 BID AGM September 2016 Year 2 AGM September 2017 Year 3 AGM September 2018 Year 4 AGM September 2019 Year 5 AGM September 2020 BID renewal ballot December 2020