The post you are reporting:
Thanks David.
Firstly, the Town Team have the support of the Town and District Councils do they not ?
If there is a political will from both Councils for Dover to move forward and succeed and a will from other stake-holders, it shouldn't be too difficult for them to pledge financial support - £10,000 each would be enough to get it off the ground.
I understand that DDC have already offered office space in the Market Square.
Someone with the full backing of the Town-Team could be calling on people and organisations letting them know what is being done and the projects/initiatives that are going to be worked on and ask for their financial support.
That person can also be calling on businesses letting them know what is planned and looking for Town-Team membership; at the same time, they could be given the survey to complete, so you will know what their problems are, what their aspirations and needs are.
All of this is in my Plan of Action that I have sent to all members of the Town Team and the Town Council and many other people and bodies.
The Plan of Action should be linked to the Tourism Strategy and the paper on bringing a successful market to Dover, as all are part and parcel of Dover's success.
By working on the initiatives and projects and letting businesses know what is going on - even having a weekly article in one of the local papers (the Express has come out in support of you), greater confidence will be given to those thinking of packing it in.
Help with businesses rates - helping businesses to check if they are paying the right level (there are many anomolies on rates for a number of businesses) that if someone was appointed, would help resolve.
The fact that someone is there to offer help and support will make an enormous difference to the independant traders - I helped a few to write their fire-risk assessments when I was with Dover Chamber of Commerce.
If the precepts contained in my paper on how to bring a successful market here, were followed, we would be encouraging new entrepreneurs, who will want to start a retail business - help with a Business Plan will make an enormous difference to them taking the plunge.
The Plan of Action explains how to set up a Town-Team body with a Board and a Manager who will work on the initiatives, including those in the Tourism Strategy.
It's not too easy (nothing worthwhile ever is), but although I know I won't do the job, I know I could do it, if circumstances were different.
The only rebuff I take David, is being ignored.
Inclusivity not exclusivity is the way ahead, forging partnerships with local businesses who are not (yet) linked to the Town-Team, letting all of them know what you are doing.
You, as a business owner as well as the other members of the Town-Team, can't spend all your time working on this, you have your own businesses to keep your eyes on and that's another reason why you need a Town-Team Manager/Co-ordinator.
Roger
