Retailers United Shrewsbury - Email regarding funding given by SABC to the Chester Boat Company

From: DAVID GRIFFITHS
To: Enterprise HQ
Sent: Wednesday, February 20, 2008 4:12 PM
Subject: Re: Retailers United Shrewsbury

Victoria
When this issue was first raised by Fay before xmas she reported that she had been inundated with retailers concerns on this and would be happy to provide the contacts if I wished to talk to them about it. Despite two requests nothing has been forthcoming so could you tell me who this membership is beyond you and Fay as I would like to make direct contact ?
In summary the funding came from the residue of the west end regeneration budget and was also agreed by the private sector chair / Business Chamber. It was a joint deal agreed with Morris Property as the only way a boat operator could be attracted back to Shrewsbury which involved  funding on both sides. Our funding was partly a one off grant to cover the costs of relocating the boat and the rest was an underwriting of losses should they occur. Unfortunately the bad summer weather and river levels led to losses in 2007. The 3 party agreement runs for 3 years and the boat company are actively involved in marketing activity to build up the business and make profits but weather and river levels have a major influence on this. Indeed if it was not for an unusually bad summer last year they may not have made a loss which for the first year of a new start up operation would have been a good performance and we would not have supported it unless we felt there was a good chance of it becoming a sustainable business.
The funding is not from Destination Shrewsbury's core budget and is a 'one off ' opportunity to bring back a commercial boat onto the river , to bring more vibrancy to Victoria Quay , nearby businesses , the town centre and  the river and to support the objectives in the community and visitor economy strategy in making more use of the river and encouraging visitors to stay longer and spend more money
regards
David

>>> "Enterprise HQ" <f.easton@enterprise-hq.co.uk> 18/02/2008 16:05:44 >>>
Hi David  
Hope you are well.   I have been asked by the membership to find out more information in relation to the funding given by SABC to the Chester Boat Company. Please can you let us know from which fund they were funded from, was it from existing Destination Shrewsbury budgets - if so what will be effectd by the diversion of these funds? I look forward to hearing from you soon  

Kind regards
Victoria  

Victoria Katz
Chair
www.retailersunited.co.uk