Socialholic

Caught in a web of social media

About those Exeter Christmas lights…

with 7 comments

I have put my head above the parapet on something and it seems from my inbox that I am not alone on it!

Over the past few weeks, a campaign has been running to raise money for the Christmas lights in Exeter City Centre. The main focus of the campaign is to get money out of city centre businesses – and, in particular, the banks.

On Twitter, the City Centre Manger, John Harvey (who, I want to put it on record, I like a lot) has been attacking various targets for not putting money in to the pot.

Due to the deficiencies of Twitter (140 characters and all that), it’s not easy for me to put my point across on this and I feel a bit like I’m talking in soundbites. So I thought a blog might be in order to put some flesh on the bones. So, here we go…

This year, for various reason, there is no money for Christmas lights. Traditionally, this was something paid for out of the Council’s budget and it appears to cost somewhere in excess of £50,000 to put on. The lights are lovely.

Exeter City Council is, at the moment, making some big cuts to services. The pressures are coming at them from all angles – losing money in Icelandic banks, general Government cuts, spending on failed unitary bids and so on. But, at the same time, they are also writing off over £600,000 of unpaid rent and Council Tax. So they are obviously in no position to put their hands in their pockets.

Neither is Devon County Council. They are under pressure too.

So, the campaign is targeting the city centre businesses.

Now, maybe I’m looking at this a bit too simplistically but, if the Councils have no more money, why go after the businesses? Why assume they have money? Or that we are somehow entitled to it? Given how difficult it is to walk through Exeter without getting attacked by dozens of chuggers, it is possibly not surprising that they same tactics are being used now against the city’s businesses.

The level of vitriol being directed to these companies is simply wrong. They have already paid what has been asked of them. They have put in their contribution and now they are under attack.

I also do have a problem with a non-elected, predominantly publicly funded person attacking private companies for not donating money to something – whatever it is. It is their decision and they are not required to donate – respect that and don’t call them out. To read “Unacceptable that other #HighStreet banks haven’t yet come forward to support” on Twitter from the City Centre Manager is, I think, really unacceptable.

It is not right that organisations in Exeter do not feel they can speak out about this for fear of getting cast as the bad guy or somehow mean-spirited. And trust me, from the contacts that I have had that is exactly how they feel. They should feel free to speak and feel free not to contribute without fear of retribution.

I am now going to say something really unpopular but I hope that the illustration I give makes the point:

It is not mean-spirited to say that we have priorities and, when times are hard, maybe a few Christmas lights aren’t that important.

We are in the middle of an economically difficult period – possibly the worst there has ever been – and there is not an awful lot of money floating about. If we cannot afford Christmas lights, it will not kill us to go without them until there is enough money to pay for them. And if we can afford them, in the circumstances, maybe giving the money to one of the many organisations who are facing cuts that protect and support the most vulnerable in society would be a better use of it.

In fact, wouldn’t not having the lights and giving the money to the most vulnerable be in the real spirit of Christmas?

—

This attack on Exeter businesses has been very public so far and, therefore, I think it is only right that this discussion of the counterpoint is in the public domain too. I would welcome your contributions to this – especially from you, John! This is a discussion and I hope that you will take it in the manner in which it is meant. Your right of reply is absolute!

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Written by admin

October 14th, 2011 at 1:05 pm

Posted in Controversy,Democracy,Exeter

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  • Ben

    I think John does an excellent job for us with businesses in the centre, and agreed with his approach to the lights issue. But I also agree with the comments about the cash shortage here. And it’s not just a slowdown in consumer spending; ingoing costs are going up (utilities, labour, the Bid, food costs ( I have a restaurant)). My sales are up 10% this year, but my profits are down by 10%. I need to reduce spending, and would not welcome a request to contribute to lights (but I am off the main drag so have not been asked). 

    One positive; I do get a sense from other retailers and caterers (especially non-chains) that we are all in this together and they are prepared to discuss trading problems. And this is one of them. well done ‘Socialholic’ for saying something.

    Two specific points. 1. If there was an election for CCM, I would vote for John (lights or no lights!) 2. I avoid the high street sometimes because of the ‘chuggers’ (I assume this is the term for bright young things who want to tell me all about their latest discovery, “Amnesty International”. Shopping on the High Street is not relaxing because of them. 

    Cheers
    Ben
    Tea on the Green

  • http://www.socialholic.co.uk James Barisic

    Thanks for taking the time to comment, Ben. I would probably vote for John too. I think he does a great job for the city centre – a really great job.

    However, I don’t think ‘naming and shaming’ anybody or any company for not donating to something they are under no obligation to contribute to is appropriate. It is tantamount to blackmail – it’s saying ‘if you do not give us money, we will tell people and people will think less of you and take their business elsewhere’. It’s just not right.

    And it’s also hardly conclusive to debate – after all, if you’re going to get castigated for not giving money, who knows what will happen if you disagree!

    Again, thank you for your comments – will sort those chuggers out soon too!

    James

  • Ian

    Great article. I tweeted about a divide between People spending their own money or other peoples. If I don’t work hard and sell I don’t get paid

  • Father Christmas

    It’s an emotive issue. And we forget; Christmas Lights in every High Street is a relatively new invention. 

    There are a number of truths in this particular case:

    1. Christmas Lights are expensive these days (£50,000 = a lot of dosh)
    2. Christmas Lights, if done properly can significantly boost the local economy
    3. Most people prefer Christmas Lights than none
    4. If businesses have paid their taxes and there is no more left in the pot, then they shouldn’t be guilted into giving
    5. Mentioning no names – It’s not right for anyone – elected, non-elected or otherwise – to be telling anyone else what is right or wrong in this matter.

    This is a matter for both the head, and the heart. The head, given the economic woes that we all share, looks like winning this one.

    However, I have to say – has no-one read their Dickens? ‘A Christmas Carol’ was first published in 1843, in an age of real austerity. Sure, times are hard now, but nothing like as back then. Since then, our lives have been immeasurably transformed over the decades by labour saving devices, improvements in working conditions, and even our individual financial standings. 

    Whenever I consider decisions that are a balance between head and heart, I think of the people who have travelled before me. I simply ask ‘what would my Granddad want to do’.? Often, I find that reflecting on the toil and labour of those that go before me adds a sense of balance. And on this occasion, this is also true. 

    It’s easy for anyone to stand in judgement, telling others what they should do. Collectively, I think we all share a responsibility to ensure these great traditions – like Christmas Lights – don’t get forgotten. If it’s simply a matter of ‘how much?’, I’m not sure any of the great people in the world would do, or would have done, what they have. 

    So, I ask the question of us all. ‘How much?’ How much to make things great? Well, it turns out, not much at all. To have a great Christmas in Exeter this year, it’s £50,000. Given that in 2009, there was estimated to be 118800 people in Exeter, if half of those pop a quid in a pot, we’ll have enough for a street party too.

    I’m ready and willing to share a small donation. I would urge all of us to do the same.

  • Evadesign

    Good for you. Well said.

  • Jenny Bishop

    Christmas lights are a relatively new invention – one designed to attract people in to SPEND MONEY in city centre shops.

    I don’t see why a council struggling to balance the books should pay for Christmas lights which in Exeter will predominantly benefit the national chains and brands, who take their profits out of the city. So, if having an attractively lit city centre is important to traders and will boost their bottom line, then why shouldn’t they help fund it through financial contributions? Although I do agree, naming & shaming isn’t the right way to go.

    If Exeter deems lights important I would much rather see them installed in areas around independently run local businesses to drive footfall their way, keeping profits and jobs in the local ecomony.

    Had Exeter traders voted in the Business Improvement District (BID) at the recent ballot then lights and Christmas activity would have been provided from that pot of cash – just look at Plymouth to see how its BID is throwing everything & the kitchen sink at Christmas to attract shoppers from all over Devon and Cornwall. If Exeter wants to compete for Christmas shoppers – and let’s not forget that this is what the lights are about – it does need to invest somehow, but in as fair a way as possible.

    Jenny
    @missbishops:twitter

  • Fred2

    Why not put some christmas trees and lights on street corners like the old days ,that would not cost anything like £50,000.