Having received a successful yes vote from the businesses within the town centre this June, Southport BID are preparing to move forward into their second term. Southport BID was re-elected for a second term in June of this year following a successful ballot result. The new term officially begins on the 1st November this year and runs until 2024.
Interim Chair of the BID, Susannah Porter, knows there are big challenges ahead for the next five year term but says the team of passionate and committed Directors are feeling confident and positive about what can be delivered and are making plans to build on what has already been achieved. “It was a great show of positivity and support from Southport businesses for us to have received the yes vote, and we are grateful for it. We know there have been challenges but we have learned a lot and we are determined to evolve. There is lots to be done to take Southport forward and we are working hard behind the scenes to start our second term strongly.
Over the coming weeks, we will be listening closely to the views of the levy payers to make sure the projects we invest in represent their priorities for the town. As such we will be undertaking a consultation project which will give our levy payers a chance to tell us, what is important to them and be heard. This consultation, and ongoing focus groups, will form the core of all our project priorities. We want to work harder to talk to our levy payers and the wider Southport Community, constructively and positively and make sure that stakeholders are more actively involved”
Southport BID’s vision for their second term is to make a meaningful difference to the future of Southport. By working in partnership, the BID’s main aim will be to work to help make Southport a forward-facing town. Representing over 740 businesses of all sizes in the town centre, the BID will use the money invested from them via a levy, to deliver projects designed to make Southport greener, cleaner and safer, to add value to the town through events and to attract and support new and existing business.
Susannah encourages businesses to follow the BID on Facebook or Twitter to ensure they have access to all the latest updates and news and find out how they can benefit from activity; “The BID’s website is full of information about projects and how levy money is spent and we will be ensuring we have full transparency. Signing up to our email updates is another great way to stay part of the conversation. My door is open too, and levy payer wanting to discuss the new term should email me on chair@southportbid.com and I am happy to arrange a chat! As someone who lives and works within the town centre I am accessible and willing to talk”
To launch the new term, the BID will host their annual AGM on the 14th November. The event will host key note industry speakers and will provide a chance for levy payers to meet the team of Directors and find out more about the plans for the next five years. Full details of the event will be announced soon on their website – southportbid.com.
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