City Central is a Business Improvement District representing approximately 630 businesses in the retail and leisure heart of Liverpool city centre. The BID covers 49 acres and includes 61 streets: Bold Street, Church Street, Lord Street, the Cavern Quarter, Whitechapel, Williamson Square, Queen Square, Ranelagh Street and all inter-connecting streets. Key shopping centres located within the City Central area include: Cavern Walks, Clayton Square, Metquarter and St. Johns. The BID raises a 1.2% levy on the annual business rates of its members to fund a five-year programme that enhances the public services of the local authority to provide a safe, clean, attractive and well promoted trading area within Liverpool city centre. Its core aim is to enhance the experience for shoppers, visitors and workers to the city centre and establish the high standards necessary to support Liverpool's reputation as a premier European city. The BID sits under the umbrella of Liverpool BID Company and is a company limited by guarantee. It reports quarterly to an Executive Board and also to an Operating Board whose members are re-elected annually at its A.G.M. The BID will seek to enter a third term through a ballot of its members in May 2013, which would run until 31 October 2018. In November 2013 the Chief executive Ged Gibbons was suspended, no explanation was given.
History
The concept of BIDs originated in North America where the initiative was developed in the 1970s. In the UK a national BID pilot program was launched by the UK Government through the Regional Development Agencies. Liverpool Stores Committee and Liverpool City Council applied to establish City Central as a pilot BID in 2003. The pilot period allowed businesses to understand the advantages and the role of BIDs within city centre management. Moreover, it gave enough time to develop business consultations, elaborate a proper business plan and strengthen networking and partnerships. Safety, event and marketing initiatives were established as tasters of a fully fledged BID. After the approval of the Business Improvement District Regulations in 2004 by the UK Parliament, the creation of a proper BID was possible. The ballot took place in 2005 for a period of 3 years. City Central won the ballot with 62% in favour by numbers and 51% of the rateable value. The second ballot was in 2008 for period of 5 years. City Central influence area was increased in the second ballot due to Bold Street joining the BID. In the second ballot City Central 64% of the businesses were in favour and 68% by rateable value.
Area
Liverpool is ranked as one the UK's top five retail destinations and in the top 25 in Europe. The Main Retail Area is formed by City Central and Liverpool One. There are different areas within City Central:
Church Street + Lord Street
They are the main retail streets in Liverpool city centre. Most of the anchor tenants are located here. It is the border between City Central and Liverpool ONE.
Bold Street
Bold Street is regarded as one of the UK's best shopping streets due to its eclectic and charismatic retail mix of independent shops, cafes and bars. The Church of St Luke is situated at the top end. Bold Street is included in the RopeWalks area, which is one of the most important night time economy areas in Liverpool.
Metquarter
Metquarter, opened in 2005 and is a luxury shopping centre consisting primarily of boutique stores located on Whitechapel in Liverpool city centre and home to 40 stores. Metquarter is the third largest shopping centre in the city, behind Liverpool One and St. Johns. Recent new tenants include Jack & Wills, Illamasqua and Carluccio's.
City Central delivers a range of services identified by businesses as their key targets and priorities outlined in the City Central business plan. The four strands of the business plan are:
Safety
A safe city centre is key to delivering the whole business plan as it allows a stable and trustful atmosphere for businesses, customers and visitors. Key achievements include:
Co-funding of the UK's first privately paid for police station at St. Johns.
Purple Flag status for the safety record of the city centre's night time economy.
Radio Alert Scheme linking stores to combat shoplifting and other crimes with data and intelligence shared with the Police.
Support of Child Safe Zone in St Johns Shopping Centre and Clayton Square.
Dedicated enforcement patrols throughout City Central BID area seven days a week.
Environmental and enhanced management
“Cleaner and greener" has been a key focus. City Central has worked in partnership with Liverpool City Council's Environment Team targeting trade waste, fly-tipping, aggressive begging, buskers, charity collectors and anti-social behaviour issues. Key achievements include:
Animating City Central is a key objective of the BID as the benefits of an events programme can be multiple: create footfall, increase dwell time, raise the profile of the city centre and raise revenue to reinvest in future events. Key achievements include:
Liverpool city centre's first bandstand – Summer 2012.
Liverpool first real ice-rink– Christmas 2010.
Host different events within the BID area: Curious Garden, Liverpool Blitz 70th anniversary, Taste of Spain, Bold Street Festival, 3D Pavement Art tribute to The Beatles.
Promoting a city centre requires a multi-level communication plan which involves all the businesses. The target is to promote the unique characteristics and selling points of Liverpool. Key achievements include:
Instigated Liverpool's first joint retail Christmas campaign with Liverpool One, Metquarter, Geraud Markets and Merseyrail.
