Business Improvement District was formed in 2005 following a vote of businesses in Liverpool’s main retail area and now includes more than 600 businesses who all pay a levy. Tony McDonough reports

Liverpool BID Company is pledging to invest a further £5m into the city’s retail district as it asks local business to vote to retain the Retail & Leisure BID for a fourth term.

The BID (Business Improvement District) was formed in 2005 following a vote of businesses in Liverpool’s main retail district, which initially excluded Bold Street. It is funded by a levy paid by more than 600 local businesses on top of existing business rates and its main aim is to improve safety and cleansing and boost footfall through events and animation.

The current BID area includes Bold Street as well as other key areas such as Cavern Quarter, Church Street, Williamson Square, Clayton Square, Queen Square, St Johns and Metquarter – but does not include Liverpool One.

Liverpool BID Company also runs a separate Commercial District BID around the Old Hall Street and Castle Street areas of the city centre.

Following a consultation with its levy payers, the BID has drawn up a business plan for the area ahead of a ballot of levy payers to decide if a fourth term can begin in November. It covers four specific areas:

• Safety – Continuing to work alongside Merseyside Police, Liverpool City Council and levy payers to tackle anti-social behaviour, shoplifting and street dwelling to ensure the BID is a safe place to visit and work in.
• Cleansing – Actively work alongside Liverpool City Council in creating a cleaner district, whose environment actively encourages businesses to thrive and visitors to return. This will be through added investment for a dedicated on-street team to clean public and private areas
• Animation & marketing – Facilitate a programme of events that animate and populate the streets throughout the year – attracting local, national and international visitors, and raising the profile of the area to encourage repeat visits.
• Business support & connectivity – Continue to champion the voice of its members. Proactively work with its levy paying businesses to develop employee skills and encourage high standards in customer service through its Mystery Shopping programme.

Bill Addy, chief executive of Liverpool BID company, said: “As set out in the business plan, the Liverpool BID Company has a key role to play in supporting our levy payers in the rapidly changing landscape of the high street, providing additional services to support cleaner and safer streets, along with a well promoted and animated city centre that encourage repeat visitors.

“This is now more important than ever when in this current climate difficult austerity measures have been placed upon our local authority and police service. We must all work together to improve our city.”

Levy payers can send their postal ballot for a new BID term (November 1, 2018 to May 31, 2023), from May 29 – June 28, 2018. For more information about Liverpool BID Company’s Retail & Leisure BID ballot, visit http://www.liverpoolbidcompany.com/ballot