UP TO £100,000 will help light up the fireworks and Christmas until a new body to replace Dunfermline Delivers can be set up.

Fife Council will be asked for “transitional expenditure” to keep town centre initiatives and events going after the demise of the BID (Business Improvement District) company.

After losing its renewal vote, it will be wound up by September 20 but councillors will be told it could be converted into a community interest company, which would help retain the team and its activities.

At the policy and co-ordination committee meeting today (Thursday) they will be asked to underwrite up to £100,000 “for this financial year only to allow key initiatives to continue and provide time for Dunfermline Delivers to develop a new, fit-for-purpose model”.

However, a report warns that if financial support is not forthcoming to bridge the gap until a new body is up and running, the council “faces significant risks” and the town will suffer.

Gillian Taylor, community manager for Dunfermline, said: “There is likely to be a backward slide in the economy of the town centre, a rise in vacancy rates and loss of engagement with the business community.

“The appearance of the town centre will deteriorate. Dunfermline Delivers carry out regular inspections and acts as the ‘eyes of the town’.

“They are proactive in dealing with issues such as graffiti, drug misuse and fly-posting.

“Initiatives to improve the appearance of the town centre such as floral enhancements, decorative lighting to promote safer walking routes and enhance dark areas of the town centre, organised clean-up projects and shop front grants, will stop.

“The Purple Flag public safety initiative will cease. This will result in the loss of bus marshals, taxi marshals and the safe zone.

“The knock-on effect is likely to be a rise in town centre crime and anti-social behaviour.”

She added: “There will be fewer town centre events organised for the benefit of businesses and the community.

“Existing events run by Dunfermline Delivers including the Food and Craft Weekend, Outwith Festival, fireworks display and Christmas light switch-on will stop.

“The result will be a drop in footfall, vibrancy, consumer spend, dwell time and community cohesiveness.”

In addition, external funding could be lost, there would be less localised support to help new start-up businesses to locate in Dunfermline and the proposed enterprise hub on Maygate “may be at risk”. Ms Taylor’s report said it was accepted that Dunfermline was “performing well in comparison with other Scottish town centres” and that the Dunfermline Delivers team was “held in high esteem nationally and internationally” for their work in the town.

She said: “There is genuine commitment and support to work together to develop a new business-council-community model and for Dunfermline to be a national pathfinder.”

She said the Scottish Government were “keen to support this” and that seedcorn funding – a small sum that may lead to bigger things – may be available.

Independent legal and financial advice suggests the Dunfermline Delivers BID could be converted into a CIC, a non-charitable limited company.

And Ms Taylor said: “A CIC offers perpetuity to make long-term plans as town centres change and has less constraints than the BID model while retaining safeguards and strong governance.”

The BID model saw around 400 businesses pay a levy which then funded town centre improvements – replacing that money is the biggest issue.

Potential sources include a business rates incentivisation scheme and a recoverable levy on the small business bonus scheme.

She added: “Several local businesses have engaged with Dunfermline Delivers following the ballot and have pledged their voluntary financial support for a new model.”

Her report also said there was disquiet about the BID voting system as, despite a 99-51 majority of businesses voting in favour, it was decided on rateable value which was £4.1 million to £3.6m against. Ms Taylor said: “This poses a dilemma, as a model where the decision-making power is in the hands of larger businesses now seems outdated and does not protect individual town centres.”

On that subject, the Carnegie UK Trust will host a ‘What’s next for BIDs?’ discussion in Dunfermline today.