THE Dundee city centre Business Improvement District initiative will not be derailed by the council’s scrapping of an important project to protect retailers from crime and anti-social behaviour.
The assurance was given by Dundee BID steering group chairman Jon Walton after a meeting of his panel to discuss the local authority’s shock proposal to end the DUNC.A.N network
“If DUNC.A.N is ended then there are a further 60 wholly positive projects that the BID will deliver,” he stated
“The funding allocated will simply be rerouted to other projects designed to make the city safer.”
The BID business plan explains that DUNC.A.N is one of the projects businesses receive from the council, Police Scotland, Tayside Contracts and public transport organisations in return for their business rates.
These allow the BID project to offer the 60 additional schemes.
Supporters say significant enhancements to Dundee city centre worth £1.6 million are within the grasp of businesses in the area if they agree to pay to establish a Business Improvement District.
In return for contributing £330,000 over each of the next five years, the Dundee BID steering group say the city centre can fulfil its rich potential.
It can be a pleasant place to work, attract trade and tourism and be vibrant, safe, clean and lively with a real pride of place.
Four objectives have been set out:
* To deliver growth through marketing, events and promotion.
* Managing the streets through improved safety and security.
* An enhanced trading environment.
* Looking after business.
A list of rewards has been drawn up as goals for businesses in the city centre in return for their support.
These include:
* An increase in footfall.
* Reduction in crime and anti-social behaviour.
* Fewer empty shops.
* Higher customer and business perceptions of the district.
The BID business plan and ballot papers containing details of the project will be sent to all 440 eligible voters next month.
The project has received provisional backing in a consultation exercise, but approval in the formal ballot is needed for it to go ahead.
Opponents have questioned the validity of the project and are unhappy at being asked to pay for services they feel they are already paying for.
Mr Walton and BID consultant Neil Cooney believe the critics may be misunderstanding the project, which successfully operates in many parts of the UK.
They point out that BID legislation dictates that BID levies must pay for additional and not existing services.
The total five-year budget paid by Dundee city centre businesses would be £1.65m, but their annual levies range from £225 to £8,000, are based on rateable value, and reductions and exemptions can be applied.
Mr Walton has appealed to the council to defer the DUNC.A.N cut for a year. Councillors will decide the issue at their budget meeting next month.
The SNP administration wants to scrap the DUNC.A.N scheme to save £54,000 as part of £3.3m of cuts in next year’s council budget.