City centre works blamed for Business Improvement District delays

A ballot to decide whether Wrexham should press ahead with a Business Improvement District (BID) has been pushed back, with the extensive works on the city’s High Street taking the blame.

Discussions around creating a BID – which sees a small extra tax levied businesses within a defined geographical area – in Wrexham have been ongoing for several years.

It’s a formal levy, not a voluntary system, so makes it compulsory for those inside the boundary – even if they do not agree to it which some critics say is potentially undemocratic.

The money generated would be administered by an independent BID company made up of businesses taking part.

The idea is that as a collective the BID generates the money and spends it how they see fit, with ideas backed by business, and crucially with it being ‘led by business’ rather than councils or politicians.

Business Improvement Districts are already in place in many towns and cities across the UK, including a successful operation nearby in Chester.

But in Wrexham there have long-running issues and failed attempts to set up a similar operation locally.

Wrexham.com first reported on a potential funding attempt for a BID in 11 years ago back in 2013, when local businesses had a now defunct collaborative group the ‘Town Centre Forum’ and requested that the idea was taken forward.

Five years later in 2018 the city missed out a share of £260,000 Welsh Government funding after interested local businesses, and Wrexham Council, failed to get their act together to access the pot of money. Subsequently the idea was taken forward and grant funding acquired.

Work and consultation on the current BID has been underway since 2020, with members of the council’s employment, business and investment scrutiny committee set to receive an update on progress on September 4.

However a ballot on whether a BID should be created in Wrexham has been pushed back to October due to the ongoing works on the High Street.

According to Wednesday’s report the impact that the works have had on businesses on the High Street could “influence the ballot.”

At the time of writing the BID Business Plan, which was scheduled for completion by the end of the month, has not been finalised and we are told the businesses involved who should be leading the BID and inputting their ‘wishlist’ to that plan are unaware of its contents.

It is expected to be circulated to members ahead of Wednesday’s meeting – leaving little time for members of the BID Task Group to input or sign off the contents – or give councillors time to prep their questions.

We spoke to several people involved on the BID Board who have told us that they have yet to see a copy of the plan – meaning that councillors could be privy to information ahead of businesses set to take part in October’s ballot.

Some have expressed their frustration at the council being aware of what was described as ‘their’ business plan, with concerns that it could be signed off by councillors leaving little room for tweaks or changes if required from the business community.

Along with a lack of information being provided to members we have also been told that attendance at public meetings to to discuss the BID have been poorly attended.

This is something that is of concern as the process to get the BID implemented requires some kind of momentum and campaign from businesses who will be charged the additional levy to get the vote over the line.

The report will be considered by members of the employment, business and investment scrutiny committee on Wednesday 4 September.