Promote Committee Meeting February 2025

18^th February 2025, 2.30pm

COMPLETED EVENTS

• Christmas 2024 - Meeting held with lighting contractors to address issues and plans in place to bolster our 2025 displays.

CITY DAY

• Council led big event on Saturday 1^st March to celebrate Sir David Amess’ legacy and the day Southend received its city status.

• Full day to night event focused around the High Street. Includes main stage in Victoria with community acts, DJs and Denise Van Outen kicking off the night time party in which there will also be Xylo bands and the disco ball featured at LuminoCity. Stage at Royals Square will be focused on local song writers. Street food and pop-up bar, selfie spot by bridge with luminocity light benches, street art in the deeping.

UPCOMING EVENTS

• Easter Trail Date: 5^th – 21^st April (tbc)

In collaboration with the South Essex College (SEC), all designs created by the students. Need 9 businesses across the zone to feature the trail. Forum and IndiRock volunteered as venues.

• Pride

Intention to continue sponsoring the event. Discussions around what happens in the city and the events available to the LGBTQ+ community all year round.

• City Jam Date: 29^th – 31^st August

The intention to sponsor.

• Southend Cocktail Week 24^th October – 2^nd November (tbc)

Look to get this sponsored again, good event to support the BID NTE businesses.

• Christmas Switch On 15^th November

Maintain current branding.

Discussions around focusing more on the activities from 3pm onwards. Idea around businesses character sponsorship on the following festive Sundays (e.g. tshirts with their logos on), some businesses may have mascots some may already have characters also discuss opportunity with the college and university students.

• Other Events

IndiRock - 1^st March is their 3^rd birthday and they will be hosting a climbing competition and entertainment, nicely coincides with City Day. Easter Egg hunt around the climbing wall for Easter.

Royals - egg hunt for Easter. Southend Portrait Artist taking place on various dates from 27^th April – 7^th June with different heats. Will also be a Waddle on Sea location.  

Revive – hosting a networking and training event on the 27^th March at 5.30pm.

STREETSCAPE

• Cleaning

Street cleaning has been undertaken ahead of City Day and there will be on a regular jet washing schedule from March. Deployment of the gladiator awaiting permissions of water pipe usage but will be utilised to deep clean targeted zones. The railway bridge is also due to have the graffiti removed in the next week or so.

Council employing contracts inspectors to monitor the contract in person once Suez contract is live from 4^th April.

• Signage

Building and shop facia cleaning opportunity discussed.

• Bollards

Noted that bollard warning signs removed south of High Street. Discussions around the new access policy.  

OPPORTUNITIES

• Social platforms

Will share all positive BID stories on to various Southend sites. Idea around ‘spotlight on’.

• Christmas Windows Competition

Proposal to run from Switch On, until the New Year. Council does a competition for city wide but could focus on BID businesses.

• Dry January Trail

Discussed the sober nights idea that came from the last meeting at Pubwatch, there may be appetite this for January from venues which could help their quieter month.

• Hidden Gems Project

Discussion around highlighting the independents that live alongside our nationals – best of both in Southend.

• Markets

Discussions around the market needing developing to attract visitors. Council do not have the personnel.

AOB

Visit Southend - include instructions on loading events to be sent out.

Note - Homelessness, bollard, Deliveroo, and lighting all fall within the ‘protect’ committee and discussions and updates will be followed up within those meetings.

Next meeting - 13th May at 9.30am