Open debate on Rugby First and BID

The "review" launched by Rugby Borough Council into the future of town centre development company, Rugby First, and the business improvement district (BID) is running into the sand.

The Rugby Observer (4 December 2014) reports Helen Blamires, owner of Vanilla in Albert Street, as saying that the review 'put hardly any probing questions to Rugby First'. Other traders have questioned the size of the levy they pay to Rugby First. It must be very challenging for the review's chair, a conservative councillor, to objectively scrutinise the performance of Rugby First when three of its directors are themselves conservative councillors.

Rugby Borough Council currently spends £300,000 a year on Rugby First. (This is about a quarter of Rugby First's total annual income. The rest of Rugby First's money mainly comes from a compulsory levy on businesses in the town centre).

Cllr Jerry Roodhouse (Lib Dem, Paddox) has called on Rugby First to open up to the public and show what Rugby's Council Tax payers are getting for their money. "We need an open debate on Rugby First and BID" he said.

Links:

Rugby Observer article on Rugby First http://www.therugbyobserver.co.uk/2014/12/04/news-Rugby-town-centre-firm-under-fire-during-review-122394.html .

An analysis of the most recent published accounts of Rugby First http://rugbylibdems.org.uk/en/article/2014/974145/what-rugby-first-s-accounts-don-t-tell-us .

Another independent trader's view of Rugby First http://rugbylibdems.org.uk/en/article/2014/952832/would-you-bid-twice-the-price-for-a-two-legged-stool .