City centre promotion chief stands down amid criticism

Published on Friday 28 January 2011 07:37

The head of a company set up to improve Edinburgh's city centre has revealed she is to stand down amid criticism of its performance.

Jane Wood is set to leave her role as chair of Essential Edinburgh, the organisation responsible for promoting and managing the city centre.

It comes amid criticism from some members of the business community, which largely funds the company, that it is failing to provide any proper return for the fees paid.

It also follows news that the company slid to a six-figure loss because businesses are failing to pay up.

Essential Edinburgh suffered a 186,040 loss in the year to the end of June 2010.

The company is also being headed on an interim basis by former catering entrepreneur Liz McAreavey as its chief executive Tom Campbell has been on sick leave since mid-December.

Award-winning chef Tony Singh, who owns Oloroso, is one of the businessmen who pays 2,000 per year to the company and is unhappy with what he gets in return.

He said he has lobbied other city centre businesses to have Essential Edinburgh wound up and has taken legal advice.

Mr Singh said: "I'm sure there are other businesses who are not happy about the return they have had for their money.

"I am told by Essential Edinburgh that I have no choice but to pay the levy under the current legislation but I've decided I've had enough. There's no transparency about what they're spending money on."

Mr Campbell defended the company, saying he was "not aware of any other complaints".

Ms Wood, chief executive of the organisation Scottish Business in the Community, said she was planning to resign next week as she was too busy to remain in the role.

It is thought she may be replaced by Denzil Skinner, a former director of jewellers Hamilton & Inches.

The Evening News revealed last month that Essential Edinburgh was owed 229,200 by "trade creditors" - thought mainly to be the companies within its city centre "business improvement district" (BID), which are obliged to fund it.

The company, which was set up more than two years ago, also receives a 72,500 grant from the city council.

It was designed to boost promotion of the city centre, help organise special events and campaigns, deliver extra services for business and create better links with the police.

Acting chief executive Ms McAreavey added: "Essential Edinburgh continues to deliver good value for our 600 levy payers in the city centre.

"Our latest annual report showed that we delivered 27 projects."