The Bray Town Team comprises of individuals with broad sector experience across many disciplines and covers a wide geographic spread and provides an opportunity for different local stakeholders to come together. The vision of the Town Team is to improve the prosperity of the town and enhance the wellbeing of the community, creating a viable and sustainable economy.
More towns and cities are increasingly looking at co-operative approaches and ways to ensure the survival of their respective towns. Several are looking at the Business Improvement District Scheme (BIDS) model and others are currently supported under the Town Team initiative by Retail Excellence Ireland.
Funding will be made available for projects identified by the Town Team and some of the initiatives will include:
- Creating a business plan for Bray
- Identifying pilot projects linked to the town's performance
- Consumer & business surveys and footfall indicators introduced
- Building appearance
- Car parking incentives
- Vacancy rates
- Purple Flag Accreditation renewal
- Assessment of other towns and positive experiences
- Comprehensive and free listing for every business within the district on Bray.ie
Bray Municipal District was delighted to pilot this new initiative, which follows the standard in the UK. This was rolled out by the leading town centre management professionals, the Association of Town and City Management (ATCM). Bray Town Centre secured the prestigious Purple Flag accreditation in 2014 and successfully renewed it in 2015. The award recognises excellence in the management of town and city centres at night. Bray is one of a number towns and cities to hold this award on the island of Ireland.
One of the primary objectives of the Town Team initiative is to encourage more collaboration, communication and cooperation between the local authority and the business community. Part of the Town Team process will involve developing a business plan for Bray and ensuring unity of message and strategy for the town – in essence, one voice from one team for our town. The team has met on a couple of occasions at this stage and discussed items across the following four areas:
- Marketing & Promotion
- Infrastructure & Public Realm
- Festival & Events
- Business Development
The Town Team initiative will identify building block projects that will positively impact on an economic performance for Bray across several measures. Bray will be in a position to access best practice and to learn from other towns and cities’ positive experiences.
The Town Team is cross sectoral and comprises a geographical representation of the main retail and tourist areas of Bray Town centre.