City Finance Tactics

City finance is often the key to feasability. This collection of solutions and blocks provides a quick summary of resources on this topic.

Establishing a resilient city financing structure

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Bristol will explore options for establishing a Resilient city financing structure by aggregating a suite of small and large scale place-based projects focusing on improving local resilience (e.g. flood defences, green infrastructure, community facilities and new housing). The structure would seek to blend public and private money and take a long term view (at least 25 years) to achieve a social as well as a financial return on investment.

Financing through advertising

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It is a “smart system” with electronic monitoring and standardised IT-based stations with credit card payments, which allowed investment in reasonably advanced and attractive, three-geared bikes. If the bike is not returned in on time or is damaged, a fine is automatically charged to a user. And Vélib' is a large-scale public-private system, financed through advertising. Paris has signed a contract with JCDecaux, which means that the advertising company bears the full cost of Vélib in return for exclusive control over a certain number of billboards. The model is actually just a development of the company’s previous contracts for bus stops. The feasible funding model is perhaps the main reason for Vélib's success. Problems of theft and vandalism have haunted Vélib' too. As many as 80 percent of all bikes which were put out on the streets the first two years needed to be replaced with new ones.

Natural Capital Trust

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We will support the development of the Natural Capital Trust (NCT) as an innovative mechanism to deliver enhancement in the quality of the natural environment across the West of England region. The NCT will act as a conduit of funds from developers, and from potential beneficiaries of Payments for Ecosystem Services schemes, to support a range of projects which ensure provision of services by ecosystems, enhancing (amongst other things) resilience to the effects of climate change and of the region’s infrastructure.

Performance Based Contracts

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Results-oriented contracting methods focus on the output, quality, or outcomes of a service and tie at least a portion of a contractor's payment, extensions, or renewals to the achievement of specific, measurable performance standards. These contracts define performance metrics and payment terms upfront, fairly balance risks and rewards, and are set for an appropriate length of time to manage risk and provide a reasonable return on investment.

Resilience and West of England devolution deal

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Bath, Bristol and South Gloucestershire councils have proposed £1bn West of England devolution deal which is now up for public consultation. The deal would devolve, from the government, agreed funding and powers to the region, including decisions regarding transport, investment, funding, skills training, business support, housing and strategic planning. A workshop will be held to explore how devolution of funding and powers could improve city resilience through integrated into the new governance structures.