Campaign launched to secure second five year term for Peterborough city centre improvement team

About 360 businesses in the city centre are eligible to take part in a vote that will decide if the Business Improvement District, overseen by Peterborough Positive, gets a second five year term.

The vote will take place later this summer and a simple majority of yes votes are needed to keep the BID in operation.

Pep Cipriano, chief operating officer of the BID, who has been at the helm since the Peterborough BID secured an 84 per cent ‘Yes’ vote from businesses in 2021, said: “We needed time to get the BID properly set up, so really we’ve only had three and a half years in which to begin making a difference.

He said: “But in that time we have taken some great steps forward but we want to make huge strides forward in a second term.”

Mr Cipriano said: “This is a pivotal moment for the BID.

"We have been going for about four years and an opportunity to work like this for five more years could create more momentum, build more trust, more credibility, and more opportunities to work with partners like the local authority and the police.

He added: “We are all in this together. We all want a better city centre for all of us and by working together and giving us an opportunity to work for five more years it gives me and my team the opportunity to make strides forward rather than steps.”

Mr Cipriano, who has a team of four people, said that a business plan setting out objectives for the second five year term would be with members by Monday.

He said the BID would be making some tweaks to its earlier proposals but would largely be looking to build on its successes of the last three and a half years.

Mr Cipriano said: “We will be looking to continue on the same trajectory but being bigger and better with a focus on reducing crime, improving safety for visitors to the city, enhancing the visitor experience and marketing the city.

"We will continue to grow our business community and to lobby in the interests of business and to create a better visitor experience for everyone.”

The original ‘yes’ vote for the Peterborough BID unlocked £1.8 million of funding for the city centre.

Mr Cipriano said: “Five more years will bring additional investment

"The purpose of the BID is to help attract more people to the city centre, which in turn means more potential customers for businesses.

He said “So businesses pay a levy to the BID but benefit financially because the city centre is attracting many more people.”

Bid members pay a levy of 1.5 per cent of their rateable value to the BID which helps generate about £1.8 million over five years for works and events to improve the centre.