Epsom is to set the wheels in motion to establish an independent company tasked with improving the town centre, while continuing its hunt for a new business development manager (BDM).

Adam Worley, Epsom’s first BDM, quit the £43,000-a-year role at the start of August after just a year in post.  

The position was funded by Epsom Council, using money awarded to it by the ‘Mary Portas’ high street innovation fund, and match-funded by The Ashley Centre.

Epsom town Residents’ Association councillor Neil Dallen admitted that perceptions of the independence of the BDM role had dogged Mr Worley and that Epsom Council is still in discussions about the post's future management.

He said it is hoped Mr Worley’s successor will be in place by early next year, on another year’s contract to be funded by Epsom Council and The Ashley Centre, again on a 50:50 basis.

But, in the longer-term, he said Epsom will also start the process of establishing a Business Improvement District (BID) which will eventually take over the employment and management of the BDM role.

A BID is a scheme designed to improve an area funded by its businesses, who pay an additional tax to pay for projects within the area, and involves establishing an independent company through which projects can be driven.   

In the meantime, although The Ashley Centre has said "no sale" of its leasehold has yet taken place, Coun Dallen said "encouraging" discussions are being had by the council with the new would-be owners, about continued funding for the BDM role.

Coun Dallen said: "How we manage a new BDM is still being debated.  

"We don’t want them to be seen as a council officer. 

"We didn’t want Adam to be seen as a council officer but unfortunately some people saw him as that because he was employed and paid by us.

"Because of the perception, Adam was constrained which must have been very frustrating for him."

Coun Dallen said establishing a BID was on the agenda when Mr Worley was in post, but the council has not yet started the process.

"Ideally we would have a BID in place," he said.

"Epsom is one of the few towns which doesn’t have one.

"It takes time and money, but we need to do it.

"There would be an independent company to run the projects agreed on in the BID and they would employ a town centre manager and businesses would be involved in that.

"Every other town does it - they have a marketing slogan and a company which works for it. 

"The Ashley Centre does well marketing itself but no one is marketing Epsom.

"Someone needs to sell Epsom and we need everyone under one umbrella singing from the same hymn sheet.  

"And we need the BID and the structure behind the BID in place to do that."

When asked whether having a BID managing the BDM role would increase the latter's independence, Coun Dallen added: "I think it’s always been independent, but this will secure the perception of it being independent."

But Liberal Democrat Epsom councillor Julie Morris said she believes the BDM role should be a part-time role funded solely by the council.

She said: "It’s a great shame that we lost our BDM. 

"The danger with any sort of BID is that you might not get it.  The problem is more urgent than that.

"From the town centre’s point of view, I think the BDM could take a more holistic approach if they were independent from The Ashley Centre.

"There will always be a problem with having someone based at and part paid by The Ashley Centre.

"Epsom town is more important than just The Ashley Centre.

"We expected that we would have something immediately coming to committee to get someone in post and there hasn’t been any drive for it."

Labour Epsom councillor Dan Stevens added: "It does make sense to have someone acting independently from the council and The Ashley Centre. 

"The Ashley Centre is very important to Epsom town centre but we have a lot of businesses in the town which deserve attention."

When asked about rumours that four people are being recruited for the BDM role, an Epsom Council spokesman said: "High level discussions with a number of stakeholders are ongoing about the future of this role. 

"It is too early to say how these will resolve.

"As this is the case it is impossible that anyone ‘is in the frame’.

"All council recruitment is undertaken transparently and with careful consideration of recruiting the individual with the best skills, at the best value for the taxpayer - this role, when the requirements are agreed, will be advertised openly."

What do you think? Leave a comment below or contact Hardeep Matharu by emailing hmatharu@london.newsquest.co.uk.