THE city council gets “excellent value for money” from Worcester BID, leader Lynn Denham has said.

Cllr Denham was speaking as the council’s Place and Economic Development committee approved the BID’s business plan for 2025 to 2030.

She said: “The council owns land within the city centre and is a contributor to the BID financially as well as a beneficiary and we have a vote in terms of continuing with the BID.

“The financial contribution from the council, because of the value of the properties we own in the city centre, we’re due to pay just over £25,000 into the BID levy - and I think that’s excellent value for money, for the benefit that the city achieves overall for that.”

VALUE: Councillor Lynn Denham says the BID does a lot for the cityVALUE: Councillor Lynn Denham says the BID does a lot for the city (Image: Lynn Denham)

Samantha McCarthy, chief executive of Worcester BID, said the past five years have been challenging with Covid and the cost of living crisis.

“It has allowed us to think ‘what do the businesses need, how do we invest their money correctly?” she said.

“So we looked at infrastructures, we looked at festoon lighting, into stuff that had never been in streets before - so New Street and Friar Street never had Christmas lighting.

“To be able to put that infrastructure in place, that’s a legacy for those streets. Not only did it make the streets look more aesthetically pleasing, it created safer streets.”

The BID is looking to increase the number of Safer Streets officers in the city centre and has recently set up The Base, a youth centre for 11 to 17-year-olds.

It is looking at ways to fill vacant shop units in the city centre and is about to launch a membership card for staff of Worcester BID members.

Cllr Hannah Cooper asked what the BID was doing to help businesses reach net zero targets.

Councillors were told the University of Worcester would be providing training to businesses on how to lower their carbon emissions.