Bloomsbury Squared Baseline Report Executive Summary 1. Background The London Borough of Camden has commissioned this baseline analysis report to inform the development of their Bloomsbury Squared Rethinking Parks project. This is an 18 month pilot project funded through a grant from Nesta, the national innovation foundation, to explore the potential for establishing a Parks Improvement District in Bloomsbury, London. This report has been prepared by Shared Assets, an organisation that specialises in the development of new enterprising models of management and governance of environmental assets. 2. Methodology The sites included in the study are Argyle Square, Bloomsbury Square, Brunswick Square, Queen Square, Red Lion Square, Regent Square, Russell Square, St George’s Gardens, and Tavistock Square. Whilst ownership of the sites varies, all are currently managed by London Borough of Camden. A wide range of existing data regarding the condition, ownership, management and governance of the 9 sites was gathered and analysed. A user survey was conducted, gathering information and views from 542 individual users on their current use of the squares, their views about current condition and potential improvement and how they might wish to contribute to their management. Semi-­‐structured interviews were conducted with 21 stakeholders including residents, landowners, businesses, institutions and Friends groups who were also asked their views about the current condition of the squares and how how they might be improved. They were also asked their views about a range of different approaches to increasing income and other resources to support the improvement of the squares and the potential for a an area wide approach to their governance. Initial analysis of the baseline data focused on the potential to increase income to maintain and improve the site through a range of approaches. Whether these approaches should be considered on an area wide or site-­‐by-­‐site basis was also considered. 3. Conclusions & Recommendations The baseline review identified that the overall maintenance costs of the sites in 2015/16 would be in the region of £460,000. These costs include upkeep of the features, landscape areas, waste cleansing and security along with an allowance for LB Camden officer time but are likely to be conservative. Total costs per site varied between £22,000 and £121,000 and costs per m2 between £3.74 and £11.86 (2014/15 figures). Income from events (net profit) and concessions across the sites to date is £60,800 in 2014/15. The contribution to this figure from events alone in 2014/15 to date is £26,800 – of which £7,400 was returned to the parks department. Net profit from events in these sites is predicted to rise to £40,000 by 2017/18. Changes in financial management within the Council mean that in future all events income will be returned to the central budget, however it may be possible for any net profits over and above the Council’s income targets for these sites to be reinvested in their management. In general users and stakeholders felt that the current condition of the sites was good although amongst stakeholders there were some concerns that quality was declining. All were concerned at the impact that decline in management of the squares would have on the overall quality of the squares and surrounding area. 3.1 Business Levy Site by site levies are likely to be too complex to administer and voluntary levies are unlikely to be effective. A compulsory area-­‐wide business levy is likely to be the most effective means of generating substantial new income to contribute to the improvement of the parks and the surrounding area. A limited term business levy of 1% of ratable value would raise significant new income, in excess of £1M / year. This could be used to invest in the infrastructure of the sites and surrounding area in ways that will enhance their ability to generate sustainable income in the future. Whether or not BID regulations will allow the possibility of using levy income to develop an endowment fund should also be explored. It should be noted that under the BID regulations a business levy can only be spent on the provision of services that are additional to those provided by the local authority and not used to replace existing public sector services. Recommendation 1: A compulsory business levy across the whole area should be explored, considered and consulted upon in more detail. 3.2 Resident levy There was little support for a resident levy that would provide a relatively small annual contribution to the costs of improving the management and maintenance of the sites; a 1% levy on all council tax bills would raise in the region of £88,000 / year. There was a strong connection made between payment by residents and private use, either an assumption that residents would benefit from private access or a perception of unfairness that residents would be paying for the benefit of non residents. It should also be noted that sharp socio economic differences across the study area raise issues of equity in applying an area wide resident levy. Recommendation 2: There should be no further consideration of a resident levy. 3.3. Events Whilst there was some tolerance of increased use of some sites for events, acceptability was largely dependent on any net profits being seen to be invested back into the sites. Given the small financial returns provided by events and the sensitivities of local residents events are unlikely to create significant new income to the sites. However a curated programme tailored both to the individual sites and to the character and heritage of Bloomsbury could add significantly to the sense of place and the overall value that the sites provide to local businesses, institutions, residents and visitors. Recommendation 3: Consideration should be given to how events can add value to the area and deliver income back to the sites, and the level of investment required to enable them to be delivered successfully and with minimum disruption. 3.4 Cafes and concessions High quality provision of food and drink facilities has the potential to significantly increase the level of income derived from concessions, increase footfall and add to the overall perception of quality e.g. in Bloomsbury, Brunswick, Queen, Russell and Tavistock squares. Recommendation 4: Consideration should be given to how increasing the quality and number of cafes and concessions can add value to the area and deliver income back to the sites, and the level of investment required to enable them to be delivered and managed. 3.5 In kind support There was interest and capacity to undertake more in kind support from existing Friends groups, Commissioners and institutions, however this was dependent on identifying mechanisms to allow a greater degree of coordination and liaison with these groups with regard to management plans, contracting arrangements etc. Recommendation 5: Consideration should be given to identifying mechanisms through which stakeholder groups can be more closely engaged in the maintenance and management of the individual Squares, maximizing the potential input from this valuable volunteer resource in considering how to reduce costs, increase income and improve quality across all of the areas squares and gardens. (See also comment on 3.8) 3.6 Off site asset development In addition to the overall investment in the sites as assets (increasing their capacity for events and the development of concessions) there may also be the potential for the development of adjacent sites and buildings as sources of rental or profit share income e.g. the car parks beneath Bloomsbury Square and within the Brunswick Centre and sites adjacent to Brunswick Square. Recommendation 6: Adjacent sites and assets should be reviewed for their potential to provide income that could support the maintenance and improvement of the sites. 3.7 Other new income/improvement activities Other activities that have been identified as having potential to contribute to the costs of maintenance, improvement of the sites or increasing footfall include provision of wi-­‐fi, sponsorship or opportunities for individual donations towards specific improvements, facilities or features, Recommendation 7: A broad range of opportunities to generate new income from all of the sites should be explored with local stakeholders. 3.8 Site by site governance There is potential for Friends groups, Commissioners and other local stakeholders to provide increased in kind support or become more closely involved in governance and income generation, however this will require greater coordination by the Council in order to bring stakeholders together to develop a shared approach to the improvement of the site Recommendation 8: Greater coordination should be provided by the Council to bring together stakeholders to identify opportunities for increasing income and the provision of in kind resources to deliver improvements on a site by site basis. 3.9 Area wide governance There is potential to explore the benefits of creating a new single purpose body to manage the squares independently of the Council. Such a body would have the benefit of bringing together both the income generation and expenditure aspects of the use and maintenance of the squares and gardens, and would be able to develop income-­‐generating events and activities that compliment the character and heritage of the area and contribute directly back to the improvement of the sites. The successful implementation of an area wide levy will also require the establishment of a new independent organisation to manage the improvement district, but it would be possible to have a Parks Improvement District or Association with a mix of other funding streams, not just a voluntary or compulsory levy Recommendation 9. Alongside the development and consultation on the proposal for an area wide levy the Council should engage stakeholders in exploring the potential for the development of an area wide approach to the governance and management of the Bloomsbury squares and gardens, and the creation of a Bloomsbury Parks Improvement District or Association irrespective of whether or not it is possible to progress with a formal levy. Such a body could enable amore coordinate approach to the management of the Bloomsbury squares and gardens and develop a range of enterprising and philanthropic income streams. 4. Next Steps In the second phase of this work: Shared Assets will: • develop a more detailed proposal for an area wide business levy • suggest a timeline for the establishment of a Parks Improvement District (PID) • develop an outline business model for an area wide PID • suggest options for governance of an area wide PID London Borough of Camden will: • work with stakeholders of 2 sites in order to o co-­‐create a set of short term actions and activities that will contribute to the improvement of the site o explore the relationships between stakeholders and the Council and the potential for greater joint working and coordination to develop and implement long term proposals for the improvement of the sites