Inholborn Goes to Ballot.
On February 1, 2010 the ballot opened for the business community to communicate their support for the renewal of the inholborn business improvement district.
Since 1 November 2009, when inholborn launched its business plan 2010-15, Tass Mavrogordato, Chief Executive, and the team have been working towards successfully renewing the organisations mandate from businesses in Bloomsbury, Holborn and St Giles. During the past 14 weeks we have met with 200 businesses of which over 80 percent have communicated their support for an extended mandate of 5 years.
Our objectives are:
• To ensure Midtown is a safe area with low crime levels
- to cut crime rates by 50%
• To reduce business costs and deliver carbon savings
- to make the BID membership cost neutral
- to reduce carbon emissions by 10% across the district
• To promote Midtown as London’s commercial district of choice
- to obtain perception survey results which show a 100% improvement in the area
- to cut vacancy rates by 50%
• To enhance the retail offer and trading environment
- to enable retail and service providers to show sales increases of 50%
• To enhance the quality and functionality of the public realm and transport infrastructure
- to successfully deliver 2 public realm/transport related projects
• To manage, leverage and represent the business voice
During the consultation period communication has incorporated:
• The delivery of business plans to all businesses embraced within the initiative
• All businesses being directly contacted regarding the ballot campaign
• The offer of one to one meetings with all constituents (over 200 meetings)
• District presentations
• External communication via banners and press coverage
• Updates in the quarterly review, newsletters and website
The campaign itself is the culmination of 12 months dialogue with the business community. In May 2009 a 4 month consultation period commenced designed to better understand the business community’s view to the performance of inholborn and the appetite for extending its boundaries; to represent a ‘mid-town’ district between the West End and City of London. This consultation, which reported overwhelming support for the initiative, included an extensive programme of communication; one to one meetings, district presentations, public events and telephone interviews.
Specifically:
• Communication was made to all businesses in both the current and expansion area
• Each business was sent a copy of the consultation document (544)
• A total of 3000 consultation documents were circulated for comment
• All businesses were given the opportunity to meet a member of the inholborn team
• 203 voter meetings were held with current businesses and those in the expansion area
• A survey of 119 retailers were undertaken
• All businesses were invited to presentations on the proposal
• 3 public events were held to seek the input of the general Holborn community
• 3 foyer events were held to seek the input of Holborn employees
• Communication was made with all major property owners
• Camden Council leadership, local councillors and relevant officers were consulted
• Progress was communicated on inholborn newsletters, quarterly updates and website
With a positive response from business, inholborn’s second 5 year term will commence on April 1. So don’t forget make sure your business plays its part in driving the commercial wellbeing of Holborn forward in 2010 and beyond.
If you haven't received the ballot paperwork from Camden Council or have a question regarding the ballot process please do not hesitate to contact our Chief Executive, Tass Mavrogordato who will be pleased to hear from you. Tass can be contacted by phone on 0207 7078 7077 or at Tass@inholborn.org.
