Peterborough BID backed by business for second term but 'what does BID do for me?'

For Pep Cipriano, the chief operating officer of the Business Improvement District, who is jubilant at being given a new five year term, the question is better answered by asking ‘what would the city centre be like if BID did not exist?

He said: “Actually, we are a business focused organisation but our mission is also to make people feel comfortable in a city that is clean, a safe place to be and a city to which they want to return.”

Mr Cipriano said: “If the BID did not exist, then I think people would see a different city centre to the one they see today.

“That’s not to say it’s the finished article and we still have some way to go.”

The complicating factor is that the BID, which operates under Peterborough Positive, is funded by a levy paid by more than 300 city centre businesses.

Its remit is largely directed by a business plan that was put before business leaders before the vote.

That plan has several key strands which include improving safety, attracting more people with events designed to bring people into the city, cleanliness and a marketing strategy designed to attract people from further afield.

But Mr Cipriano said: “The individual visitor does benefit from the work we do.”

One of the key focus points of the BID is helping to ensure the city centre looks clean and tidy.

He said: "Our staff are out and about all the time and are the eyes and ears of the city centre and any matters of concern are reported quickly to the council or the police.

"We get graffiti dealt with quickly..

"“We use community pay back teams to clean up the easy to get to graffiti and use professional services to get to more awkward graffiti so it is not around for long.

"I am also lobbying for more regular cleaning of the city centre, particularly to get rid the deep seated oil and grease stains left by vehicles.”

The BID also has a key role advising on how the £1.2 million of government Pride in Place grant will be spent to bring in a range of facilities and attractions to the city centre from public toilets, to new flower planters, better signage and imaginative use of the Guildhall.

Helping to tackle crime, which helps make visitors feel safe, is a major feature of the BID’s work.

Mr Cipriano said: “Our DISC system allows shop owners to quickly report retail crime. There are 150 businesses on the online information-sharing DSIC, including some from outside the city centre, and there are 30 police officers with access to DISC, which brings a quick response to retail crime.

"We are also encouraging the police to do more ‘plain clothes’ operations in the city centre to tackle crime.”

“We hope our work will encourage more people to spend more time in the city centre.”