Issue - meetings

Public Question

Ms Preston raised the following issues:

      i.          Referred to a Council meeting in 2012 where members of the public were concerned that security guards would be employed by the Grand Arcade. The Council gave assurances that security guards would not be present on the city streets.

    ii.          More recently, Ms Preston had been reassured by Mr O’Shea regarding security guard arrangements around St Andrew’s Street, but she still expected them on the perimeter of the Grand Arcade. Ms Preston asked if this role could be undertaken by maintenance staff. Ms Preston still had concerns about security guards on the city streets.

 iii.          Queried why the Business Improvement District (BID) report had moved from Strategy & Resources Committee to Environment Committee.

The Director of Environment said the BID report had moved to Environment Committee due to the rearrangement of Executive Councillor responsibilities.

The Head of Tourism & City Centre Management said the BID had committed not to have enforcement powers or security guards. Security guards were privately hired by the Grand Arcade, not the BID.

Scrutiny Considerations

The Committee received a presentation from the BID Manager regarding the activities of Cambridge BID Limited since its launch on 1st April 2013.

In response to Members’ questions the BID Chair and BID Manager said the following:

       i.          Legislation set out the BID was required to pay the City Council for services provided.

     ii.          A typographical error had led to a delay in payment of some historic invoices, but this issue had been resolved since telephone payment details had been amended.

   iii.          The BID Rapid Response Team would not duplicate the responsibilities of the City Council Rapid Response Team, they would work in partnership. Details of the service were being worked up based on good practice from elsewhere.

   iv.          BID Ambassadors would provide general information plus specific BID organisation information to members of the public on request.

    v.          The BID would undertake projects that others would not find viable, these could be old and new ones. For example, Christmas lights. The BID website had full details of projects on offer. BID Officers offered to liaise upon request with Councillors post meeting regarding projects offered by the BID.

   vi.          The BID would cease in five years unless members voted to continue.