Dunfermline Delivers Renewal Ballot

Dunfermline Delivers, the not-for-profit BID company, is pleased to announce that Fife Council’s City of Dunfermline Area Committee has agreed to support the renewal ballot at the Committee meeting on Tuesday 26 March 2019. This is one of the first stages in the BID consultation and renewal process leading up to the ballot in summer 2019. Levy payers will be invited to vote on the renewal of another five-year term of the BID company when ballot papers, including the business plan, are sent out in early May. Voting closes on 20 June 2019. As part of the legislative process, the local team at Dunfermline Delivers has drafted a business proposal for consultation which outlines achievements to date and sets out the plans for the next five years until 2024. With the support of the Board, the BID team has detailed how they will continue to be the driving force behind town centre regeneration if there is a Yes vote in June. BID Manager, Lisa Edwards and Events Manger, Chris Foote have drafted plans for inward investment, fundraising, supporting BID businesses and lobbying on members behalf, on issues such as rates and car parking, in the five-year programme.  Increasing the national profile of the town by representing Dunfermline in national forums such as Business in the Community, BID in Bloom and Purple Flag are also detailed. Plans to expand events such as the Outwith Festival and the Food & Craft Weekend and support for other events in the town centre will also build on the increased national profile of Dunfermline. If the BID Levy payers vote yes, there will be a continuation of the popular annual Fireworks Display and the Christmas Light Switch On. Along with events, the draft plan details how creating a safe and attractive town centre will help generate footfall. Decorative lighting around the town centre, already installed at sites such as the Abbey, Bruce Street and the High Street, will be expanded.  Purple Flag initiatives to support the night time economy are also recorded in the proposals; the Pub watch scheme, the Bus and Taxi Marshals along with the Safe Zone will be coordinated by Dunfermline Delivers.  Lisa Edwards, BID Manager said: “We have shaped these proposals around the valuable input from our members but I would urge BID levy payers to keep giving us feedback and suggestions on how we can support their business.  We are still at consultation stage. The Business Plan will be finalised and send to BID businesses at the end of April and early May. “When we talk to other towns we realise that we’re lucky in Dunfermline to have such a great business community that works together, supports us and each other and makes a huge contribution and commitment to the town centre and the local community. A yes vote means that we can build on this momentum and press ahead with these exciting plans. “We believe Dunfermline is bucking the trend compared with similar-sized town centres. Investor confidence can be seen in a steady stream of new businesses opening and the significant residential developments that are underway in Dunfermline.” BID Businesses have been consulted in a number of ways. They were surveyed in November 2018 by research company, 4 Consulting to ask them what they would like to see in Dunfermline Delivers Business Plan. Lisa has engaged with many businesses, holding over 200 one-to-one meetings with BID members. Earlier in the year, a booklet reporting on BID activities during 2017/18 was posted to every BID business and all members were invited to the AGM in February 2019 to hear the report on last year’s accounts. Lisa Edwards said: “We’re continually contacting businesses to arrange one-to-one BID meetings but we welcome them getting in touch with us to arrange a meeting,  by either emailing info@dunfermline-delivers.co.uk or calling us on 01383 732226. Dunfermline’s town centre BID was established in 2009 and achieved a successful renewal in 2014. The proposals were submitted to Fife Council and the Scottish Government on Wednesday 14 March. Fife Council manages the ballot process in compliance with Business Improvement District legislation, ensuring that BID Businesses receive Ballot papers and Dunfermline Delivers Business Plan in early May, six weeks ahead of the June deadline for voting.