BUSINESS leaders are defending their record in delivering a scheme that will bring £2m of improvements to Winchester.

The business improvement district was launched last month (March), after lengthy work by the Winchester City Centre Partnership.

It has been under the microscope after one of its employees, city centre manager, Graham Love, was suspended.

Neither he, nor the partnership, has commented on why the decision was made.

However, Jeremy France of Jeremy France Jewellers, who chairs the organisation, defended its record this week.

He said the board members - who tackle their partnership duties for free - worked hard to deliver the BID.

"An enormous amount of effort was required with volumes of paperwork and statistics, and looking at other successful BIDs."

He added that board members spent at least 30 minutes each day on their duties, along with tackling post. There was at least one meeting per month as well, which usually lasts two to three hours, and job interviews.

"We've been striving, in my case for 10 years, to make Winchester a better place to shop and work."

He added that they would monitor city centre footfall to see if the BID draws in extra people.

"We are absolutely dedicated to getting the very best value for the money that will be collected and spent, and it will be spent transparently," said Mr France.

The BID will operate by central Winchester firms paying a ring-fenced levy on their business rates.

Around 700 companies pay into the scheme, and several improvements are already planned.

They include graffiti removal, providing new radios for the Pubwatch and Shopwatch schemes, and an extra £205,000 for Christmas lights.

Two police community support officers - funded by the BID and Hampshire Constabulary - will also be recruited for the city centre.

Winchester firms were balloted last August on whether the scheme should proceed. Of those who voted, 54 per cent said yes.

At the time, Mr Love lobbied many companies to back the BID, supported by his deputy, Keith Wilson.

Mr Wilson took on Mr Love's duties when the latter was suspended in February. Mr Love was made redundant in late March, and Mr Wilson's post will be phased out on July 1.

The partnership said they could both apply for new posts that are being created to oversee the BID.

Along with Mr France, the partnership's board includes Winchester City Council leader, Cllr George Beckett, and Mark Broad, a partner at Dutton Gregory solicitors.

The other members are John Harrocks, chief executive of the North Hampshire Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and Professor Chris Turner of the University of Winchester.

Three further members are being recruited in the coming weeks to oversee the BID.

9:13am Friday 18th April 2008

Print

Email this